One great thing about the former Soviet Union (as opposed to a former Easter block country) is that there are vestiges of a multicultural past there. In Lviv, we were fortunate to be able to eat at such a place. Bukhara is a place serving traditional Uzbek food located in the heart of the old city. Immediately upon entering the restaurant you know you are in for a treat. There are tapestries hanging from the walls, the music is decidedly Central Asian, and there isn't a hint of the country that lies just outside the door--you are in Uzbekistan for the time that you are dining.
The guidebook noted the option of an English menu, but none was available. We had a translator for the multi-page menu, and we made choices based on what we remembered of what sounded good, but in retrospect I beleive we could have pointed to any number of things on the menu randomly and ended up with a delicious meal because the six of us ordered about 10 dishes to share and they were all phenomenal. I was a little leary of the mutton dishes, but we ordered two because that is what the restaurant is known for. Thank goodness, because they were the very best things we ate--not a hint of gaminess to be tasted. Just rich and complexly flavored meat in wonderful sauces. Hihglights also included the shurpa (mutton soup), cheburek (Uzbek meat pie), pilaf (amazing!) and shashlik. I am ready to travel to Central Asia and eat well.
One great thing about the former Soviet Union (as opposed to a former Easter block country) is that there are vestiges of a multicultural past there. In Lviv, we were fortunate to be able to eat at such a place. Bukhara is a place serving traditional Uzbek food located in the heart of the old city. Immediately upon entering the restaurant you know you are in for a treat. There are tapestries hanging from the walls, the music is decidedly Central Asian, and there isn't a hint of the country that lies just outside the door--you are in Uzbekistan for the time that you are dining.
The guidebook noted the option of an English menu, but none was available. We had a translator for the multi-page menu, and we made choices based on what we remembered of what sounded good, but in retrospect I beleive we could have pointed to any number of things on the menu randomly and ended up with a delicious meal because the six of us ordered about 10 dishes to share and they were all phenomenal. I was a little leary of the mutton dishes, but we ordered two because that is what the restaurant is known for. Thank goodness, because they were the very best things we ate--not a hint of gaminess to be tasted. Just rich and complexly flavored meat in wonderful sauces. Hihglights also included the shurpa (mutton soup), cheburek (Uzbek meat pie), pilaf (amazing!) and shashlik. I am ready to travel to Central Asia and eat well.
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