There is much to love about the new Ukrainian-French restaurant Pan Tela Pase – not least its name.
The name is a popular Ukrainian macaronism – a phrase that in Ukrainian means “A master grazes a calf,” but can pass for French.
The name encapsulates the idea behind this place – a playful fusion of modern Ukrainian cuisine and French provincial cooking.
The restaurant is located in the center of Kyiv on the capital’s busy Esplanadna Street, opposite the Gulliver mall and business center. Once through the glass and bronze door, clients enter a cozy interior, with pleasant French music playing in the background, and, in keeping with the restaurant’s name, a sculpture of a yellow cow – which for some reason bears the autograph of Iryna Bilyk, a Ukrainian pop singer.
The dining area consists of three large rooms, all decorated with natural materials: wood, metal and stone. Soft leather and linen sofas with small cushions add to the homelike and relaxing atmosphere. The interior’s pastel colors – mostly light gray and fawn – make for the calming vibe perfect for pleasant dining.
The Pan Tela Pase’s waiters meet restaurant’s guests at the entrance, and guide patrons to their seats. They will then offer to guide clients around the menu, which can be daunting to first-timers due to its great variety of French, Ukrainian, and chef’s specialty dishes.
A recommended first stop could be the home-style coq au vin – the traditional French favorite of chicken stewed in wine, for Hr 149. But the trout with carrot puree (Hr 195) or rabbit fricassee for Hr 195 won’t disappoint a demanding gourmet either.
Connoisseurs of Ukrainian cuisine will find much to like here as well, such as jellied turkey, chicken and rabbit meat served with horseradish mousse and mustard jelly for Hr 69, an assortment of Ukrainian salo for Hr 99, or Hetman borshch with duck for Hr 85.
The restaurant also has an impressive list of delicious steak goes for Hr 295, while a rib premium steak is Hr 249.
Pan Tela Pase is also a good place for those with a sweet tooth: It serves tasty caramel-sesame rolls with mascarpone cream for Hr 95. The pear strudel with vanilla ice cream (Hr 85) or cheesecake served with sea buckhorn sorbet (Hr 77) are other popular dessert options.
And of course, there is the wine: from France, Italy, Spain, the United States, Australia, Chile and Argentina. The most expensive bottle is Rose Brut champagne (Hr 2,470), while the average wine go for Hr 500–700 per bottle.
Top that all off with its excellent service and relaxing music, Pan Tela Pase is currently one of the most comfortable places in Kyiv to enjoy a pleasant meal with friends or family. n
Pan Tela Pase restaurant
2 Esplanadna St.
Tel. 38073-031-8731
Open: 8 a.m. – 3 a.m.
www.svkus.com/en/restaurant/pantelapase
