This week I am taking up a difficult challenge set for me in the form of the question: Where to have dinner on a first date? (feel free by the way to send me any other questions of this nature to [email protected]).
It’s a tricky one, I give you that! In fact, it pretty much depends on what you expect from a first date in terms of feeling relaxed and ambiance.
If you are seeking to impress, then Guramma is a sure bet. Ask for a table in the spacious dining room near the large bay window (there’s a lovely view of Kyiv’s left bank). The restaurant serves very good Japanese style fusion food, and the black cod is absolutely delicious. Guramma is chic and attracts the in-crowd, so be sure to reserve a few days in advance.
A slightly more laid-back, but still very elegant spot is Concord, which has become something of an institution in Kyiv. With its international menu you are sure to be able to satisfy the taste buds of any date (bonus: the waiting staff speaks English).
The coziest and most romantic atmosphere that you could choose would be at the restaurant Citronelle. Situated in the historic heart of the capital, opposite the Opera House, this restaurant offers good French cuisine served at softly lit tables. It offers new takes on classic dishes such as the crème Brule with foie gras.
If you prefer Italian cooking, then Piccolino is an equally relaxed/romantic choice with its fresh pasta and Sicilian quail.
Other great choices are La Veranda, in up-market Lipky, serving modern cuisine with sublime desserts such as a fondant of pistachio, or Bassano Restaurant, situated near Saint-Nicolas’s Cathedral. Here you’ll get a great welcome (in English), a sophisticated wine list along with their masterful ‘apple caramelo’.
A little word of advice for a first date, avoid dishes in sauce (risky for ties and shirts), steer clear of squid-ink pasta and risotto dishes (delicious but black teeth and lips never look good), spaghetti and snails in their shells (tricky to extract and easily flicked).
As for a night-cap? In winter, entice your date to B-Hush or Bar on 8. Both are exclusive rooftop bars from which you can take in wonderful views of Kyiv whilst supping from their long list of cocktails, and more if you hit it off…
Enjoy your evening!
Guramma: Dneprovskyi descent, 1
Concord: Pushkinska street, 42/4
Citronelle: Bohdana Khmelnytskogo street, 23
Piccolino: Olesya Honchara, 67
La Veranda: Akademika Bogomoltsa street, 7/14
Bassano: Velyka Vasylkivska street, 100
French citizen Maud Joseph has lived in Kyiv since July 2013. She is an author of the “Best Restaurants Kyiv” guide. She can be reached at [email protected].
