📍 Restaurant Tiflisi – 1970 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4L 1H8
🌍 Country: Georgia
🔥 Must-try dish: Traditional Style Khinkali
🎭 Dinner guests: Dan’s Date, Island Dan, Pornstar Sam & The Cowboy
🪑 Seating: Indoor Only.
👍 The high: Our Georgian server introduced us to lesser-known dishes from his region.
👎 The low: Prices have increased since the restaurant joined Toronto’s Michelin Guide.

To most North Americans, Georgia is a state in the southern U.S. However, Georgia is also a country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, known for its Black Sea beaches, the Caucasus Mountains, and the cobblestone streets of its capital, Tbilisi.

Beyond its landscapes, Georgia has a deep-rooted winemaking tradition—it’s the birthplace of wine. Ancient methods have been used for centuries to produce some of the world’s best grape juice. While Georgian wines don’t usually have their own section in liquor stores, you can often find a bottle or two of red in the Eastern European section. If you want a broader selection, a charming neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of Toronto’s Beaches is your best bet.

Restaurant Tiflisi, a family-owned Georgian spot, opened in 2021 and quickly made a name for itself. Alongside an impressive wine list, the menu features traditional Georgian dishes from across the country. The cuisine is approachable, accommodating various dietary restrictions, and blends European, Mediterranean, and Asian influences with a distinct Georgian twist.

With guidance from our Georgian server and guests who had recently traveled to Georgia, we mapped out an unforgettable meal.

Assorted Pkhali
This colorful spread of five vegetable dips—spinach, leek, beet, bean, and eggplant—is finely chopped, boiled, mashed, and topped with a walnut sauce. Pair it with an order (or two) of Georgian Bread for the perfect vessel. Each dip has its own unique character, making it an adventure to taste them side by side.

Saocari
These chunky eggplant rolls come stuffed with a dense, creamy cheese and are served with a side of tomatoes and pickles. If you love cheese, this is a must-try. But if cheese isn’t your thing, you might prefer the Imereti, as Saocari leans heavily on the cheese-to-eggplant ratio.

Kutaturi
This pork tongue dish hails from a lesser-known Georgian region and rarely appears on restaurant menus. Since both the chef and our server come from this area, we experienced the most authentic version. Thinly sliced medallions of pork tongue cook in a tangy green sauce made with cilantro and dill—perfect for dipping with the extra bread on the table. While tongue might seem intimidating, the fresh, zesty flavours set it apart from the rest of the menu.

Georgian Salad
This salad is a palate cleanser at its finest. Similar to a Greek salad but with a creamy walnut dressing instead of feta, it combines raw cucumbers, tomatoes, jalapeños, and onions. When the server asks if you want the walnut dressing, always say yes!

Khachapuri Kubdari
What happens when pizza meets pie? The Khachapuri Kubdari. One of Georgia’s most famous dishes, it comes in different styles. This version features a circular flatbread stuffed with seasoned ground pork and topped with another layer of dough before baking. It looks like a stuffed pizza, cut into six perfect triangles. Great for sharing or as an ideal introduction to Georgian cuisine.

Other Khachapuri varieties include cheese-filled options and the well-known boat-shaped version. Locals tend to prefer the pizza-like style, but follow your taste buds!

Traditional Style Khinkali
Imagine a sturdier, more sophisticated soup dumpling. That’s Khinkali. Eating it correctly takes some skill—bite, sip the broth, and enjoy the seasoned beef and pork filling. This dish was a highlight and an absolute must-order. It would be a crime to visit Tiflisi without trying it.

Chkmeruli
Though described as fried chicken, Chkmeruli is more like poached chicken in a creamy garlic sauce. The generous sauce keeps the meat tender, and the boneless cuts make it easy to eat. This is the definition of comfort food.

Chakhohbili
None of us had tried Georgian duck before, so this was a first. Slow-cooked in a rich tomato-walnut sauce, the meat absorbed all the flavours beautifully. Though delicious, the many bones made it a bit tricky to eat.

Pork Shashlik
This was a last-minute addition to our order, and thank goodness we got it—it was the table’s favorite. The barbecued pork had a perfectly crispy exterior and a tender, juicy center. While it might seem like a more familiar dish, the expert preparation made it stand out. Other meat options are available if pork isn’t your thing.

Kakhuri and Saperavi Wines
We tried two Georgian wines: Kakhuri and Saperavi. The Kakhuri, an orange wine, had crisp and clean notes—perfect for those seeking something different. Though Georgia is famous for its white and skin-contact wines, Canada mainly imports its reds.

Saperavi, Georgia’s well-known red, is a crowd-pleaser and a great introduction to the country’s wines. Its fruity yet dry profile paired well with our meat-heavy second half of the meal.

There’s no denying how incredible this restaurant is, and every visit brings a new discovery. If a meal here doesn’t boost Georgia’s food tourism numbers, we don’t know what will. Eat the World TO first dined here in summer 2021, and many off-duty meals have followed. Tiflisi continues to impress, and we’ll be back for more.

Until next time…

Eat with you soon,
Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)