Ubani

Every Georgian restaurant in New York has its two show pieces: the famous cheese boat, and a big, brothy khinkali. This Bay Ridge restaurant has great versions of both, but don’t sleep on the rest of the menu. The Georgian salad and its creamy walnut dressing is our favorite dish here, and the cauliflower in walnut sauce and veal stew are tied for second. They’ve also got a good bar game. Pick Ubani over the other Georgian spots in the neighborhood when you want to chase your khinkali broth with an icy clementine cocktail or Georgian wine. The modern minimalist dining room—light wood, plants, and mirrors—works for a date, but we prefer to sit at the picnic tables and comfy blue couches in their enclosed backyard. They also have another location in the West Village.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Neha Talreja

Georgian Salad With Walnuts

Georgia’s creamy walnut dressing, heavily spiced with coriander, should be more famous. Get this salad, it’s our favorite thing here.

photo credit: Neha Talreja

Imeruli Khachapuri

Ubani has eight different varieties of khachapuri and lobani. They’re all good, but this flaky flat version, filled with scallions, is a good appetizer (as opposed to the cheeseboat, which usually takes over the meal).

photo credit: Neha Talreja

Khinkali

These are basically giant soup dumplings filled with beef meatballs and an herbaceous broth. Ubani’s wrappers are extra thick and chewy.