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Romania

Romanian restaurants in Romania

  1. A

    Grand Plaza

    Not far from the train station, this simple and busy Romanian restaurant passes on the gimmicks and focuses on tasty Romanian food, which the locals file in for.

    reviewed

  2. B

    Roata

    Housed in a back-alley building, with tasty traditional Romanian dishes served in clay plates, this joint is best for sitting on the small terrace and vying for space amidst potted plants and moss-covered stones. Traditional music puts a little bounce into the air. People know it's good, and it's almost always busy.

    reviewed

  3. C

    Trattoria Il Calcio

    Run by 'Romania's George Best' (football legend Gino Lorgucescu), this pasta/pizza place looks Tuscan, if not for the framed Futbol journals from the 1960s on the walls. The food's great, with hearty meals and good salads. It gets busy at lunch.

    reviewed

  4. D

    Crama Sibiul Vechi

    This popular, evocative brick-cellar spot off the main crawl reels in locals for its tasty Transylvanian armoury of mutton, sausages and beef and fish. There's live music most nights.

    reviewed

  5. Trei Sarmale

    Revel in your touristness! This traditional Romanian restaurant embraces kitsch with its folkier-than-thou décor and live music, but the food is mouthwatering. Set inside a 17th-century inn about 5km south of the town centre, this could be a fun place for a small group if you get into the mood. The Bucium winery outlet shed is across the road. Call before you head out there as it is often booked by tour groups.

    Take a taxi or bus 30 or 46 from Piaţa Mihai Eminescu and ask the driver for Trei Sarmale.

    reviewed

  6. E

    Casa Tărănească

    Casa Tărănească This traditional restaurant stays open day and night, offering such Romanian comfort food as sarmale, ciorbă, mămăligă, knuckle of pork and, um, 'bear with wild sauce' (we dare you). Tourists and locals alike flock here for group outings or post-clubbing detox meals where the pictorial menu satisfactorily serves both non-Romanians and those too drunk to read.

    reviewed

  7. F

    Casa Pogor

    Where to sit? In the insanely cosy (if damp) basement that used to house the famed Junimea wine cellar; the elegant main dining hall furnished with antiques; or on the multi-tiered terrace overlooking a quiet square? Focus on the great atmosphere and ignore the dreadful service. While not extraordinary, the food is good and the menu (with some veggie meals) unexpectedly varied.

    reviewed

  8. G

    Casa Lavric

    Up the hill from Casa Bolta Rece is one of Iaşi's newest dining options, owned by singer-musician Laura Lavric and decorated in classic musical instruments. The menu – including a short vegetarian page – is devoid of English, but the staff's language skills more than make up for this. Reservations required on weekends.

    reviewed

  9. H

    Casa Doina

    Off the grand avenue, this casawas an ornate 1892 villa, with almost Raj-style rooms complementing its high-quality Romanian fare. The best option is to sit outside near the fountains in the inviting courtyard (too bad about the Carlsberg banners). Try the beef carpaccio with olive oil and lemon juice (around €10).

    reviewed

  10. Caraffa

    The menu offers Italian and Mexican, but you should aim for the Romanian dishes and the salads, which are startlingly fresh. Try the Tochitura Moldovenesca - roughly 'Moldovan Heart Attack' - with pork, traditional cheese, polenta, eggs, bacon and sausage. Time of death…

    reviewed

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  12. I

    Café D'Art

    This is an intimate place snuggled up to the Drama Theatre. Especially popular as an evening drinking hole (cocktails €2), it's also packed during the day by those seeking a good place to people-watch while enjoying a light meal.

    reviewed

  13. J

    Leo

    Covered sidewalk seats fill first in this buzzing all-hours restaurant, popular for tasty grilled meats (a specialty is the lovely grilled pork with corn grits, fried eggs and garlic sauce), pizzas, big salads, beer or ice cream.

    reviewed

  14. K

    Crazy

    This is an upscale eatery with a mature menu selection rarely found outside of Bucharest. The giant, overstuffed leather chairs, flat TVs and bar seating invite people to linger long past dessert.

    reviewed

  15. L

    Burebista

    Dark-shaded patio seats outside, with tree-trunk tables and furs inside, rustic Burebista is a popular spot for excellent quality grilled meats. Salads start at around €2.50.

    reviewed

  16. M

    G City Grill

    Outside tables at this appealing villa, just east of Piaţa Charles de Gaulle, draw a stylin' biz crowd seeking typical Romanian fare in a modern setting.

    reviewed

  17. Ferdinand

    On the way up/back from Peleş, Ferdinand's rustic dining room is an ante-upped option; chicken in raspberry wine sauce is the house speciality.

    reviewed

  18. N

    Crama Bastion

    Romanian dishes vie with the wine list for attention at this traditional restaurant housed in an 18th-century fortification.

    reviewed

  19. O

    Casa Universitatilor

    Meals are geared for destitute students, but the lime-tree–festooned terrace is great for a lazy beer.

    reviewed

  20. P

    Restaurant Lloyd

    Dine here on exquisite international/Romanian dishes of shark, smoked salmon and a spit-roast joint.

    reviewed

  21. Q

    Corona

    This cosy dark-wood restaurant is yet another good choice for pizza and Romanian favourites.

    reviewed

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  23. R

    G City Grill

    Outside tables at this appealing villa, just east of Piaţa Charles de Gaulle, draw a stylin' biz crowd seeking typical Romanian fare in a modern setting.

    reviewed

  24. S

    Casa Lavric

    Up the hill from Casa Bolta Rece is one of Iaşi's newest dining options, owned by singer-musician Laura Lavric and decorated in classic musical instruments. The menu – including a short vegetarian page – is devoid of English, but the staff's language skills more than make up for this. Reservations required on weekends.

    reviewed

  25. T

    Casa Româneasca

    Deep in the Schei district, away from trolling tourists, this casa serves tasty sarmalute cu mamaliguta (boiled beef rolled with vegetables and cabbage) and a very meaty 'rustic tray' grab-bag. Live music adds to or subtracts from the experience, based on your taste.

    reviewed

  26. U

    Casa Bolta Rece

    Set in a 1786 house, Iaşi's formerly top dining experience has been overshadowed by spunky newcomers, but is still worth a novelty visit. The patchy service ranges from curt to slap-you-on-the-back friendly. Eat in the wine cellar or on the pleasant terrace and skip the starchy dining room. English, both written and spoken, is adventurously scant.

    reviewed

  27. V

    La Mama

    Mama knows what she's doing. This converted villa, with a sprawling covered deck that's filled to all hours, dates from the late 19th century, and deserves its many fans, thanks to the very tasty, meat-heavy options. Sheep pastrami with polenta is a winner, but the roasted pork neck with country-style potatoes is unbeatable.

    reviewed