📍Georgian House Authentic Restaurant Downtown – 147 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5V 2L7
🌍Country: Georgia    
🔥Must-try dish: Pork and Beef Khinkali
🪑Seating: Indoor seating only. 
👍The high: The Spadina location is a great place to expose Torontinians to this cuisine.  
👎The low: The Khachapuri was salty. 

Georgian food is hard not to love. As one of the world’s ancient cuisines, with roots hailing from the silk road and the surrounding Mediterranean countries, it’s also considered to be the birthplace of wine. Not to be confused with the American state, Georgia is a country in Eastern Europe that borders the Black Sea, is famous for its stunning Caucasus, and its culture from film to music to visual art. 

When it comes to food, there’s truly something for everyone –  from fresh herbs and vibrant vegetables, to rich, hearty stews for carnivores, and cheesy bread pulled from a wood-burning oven that’s in a league of its own (definitely not pizza, but just as crave-worthy).

Georgian House is impressively spacious for a downtown spot, and even on a Tuesday evening for an early dinner, every table was full. The room buzzed with date nights, friends catching up, and one large group of men who clearly looked ready for a great night. A live band likely added to the draw, but it goes without saying that the food alone is worth showing up for. The crowd was just as eclectic, from Georgian speakers to curious first-timers, a true mix of people that speaks to how approachable and adaptable the cuisine is for all palates.

We kicked things off with a bottle of qvevri white wine: dry, slightly orange-hued, and perfectly suited to everything on our table. Georgian wine lists can feel intimidating at first, with unfamiliar grape names and descriptions that don’t always offer much guidance. But a good rule of thumb? Stick with dry wines for the meal, as they’re reliably delicious, and save the sweeter bottles for after, once the food is done.

The Traditional House Salad with walnuts and Kakhetian Cheese is the ultimate palate cleanser. Crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes are coated in a crunchy, flavour-packed walnut dressing that’s fresh yet deeply satisfying. It’s the kind of dish you quietly wish you’d ordered just for yourself.

On the other hand, the Adjaruli Khachapuri is best shared with a group. It’s a Georgian-style flatbread made with the iconic Puri  bread and topped with cheese, meat, and an egg. The toppings can switch but it’s everything you love in each bite. For those wanting to avoid salt, this might not be your first choice, but   

One of the warm appetizers, the Beef Stew Ostri is rich and comforting in a bowl. It’s also a generous portion that deserves more praise than simply being a starter. But maybe Georgians eat a lot? It’s a winter stew with winter spices making it hearty and filling on a winter night. 

Khinkali is always the star of the show. While there are vegetarian and meat options, the Pork and Beef Khinkali is the one to order. Think soup dumpling, just bigger, sturdier, and built to be eaten by hand. The move is to bite off the top, sip the hot, savoury broth inside, then finish the juicy meat wrapped in the dumpling itself. It’s interactive, deeply satisfying, and life chnaging. 

If a meal at Georgian House doesn’t make you want to book a flight to Tbilisi for an extended eating tour, then something’s off. A week of only Georgian food would be a perfect secen days. 

Eat with you soon!