Savor Georgian Dumplings and Wine at a Suburban Chicago Hideaway | Eater Chicago

"Founded by Tamta Sanodze, a native of Tbilisi who immigrated to the U.S., this suburban Wheeling restaurant is a roughly 50-seat spot tucked in a strip mall that aims to raise Chicagoans’ awareness of Georgian winemaking and cuisine. It emphasizes qvevri-fermented wines — long-aged in buried earthenware for distinctive tannins and flavors — through educational wine dinners and a menu built for pairing. Expect hearty traditional dishes such as khinkali (large, meaty soup dumplings), adjaruli khachapuri (cheese-and-egg bread boats), and megruli kharcho (beef cheek stew with spiced walnut sauce), along with vegetarian and vegan offerings like nigvziani badrijani (fried eggplant stuffed with spicy garlic and walnut paste). The interior highlights Georgian culture and craftsmanship with textile-inspired pillows and upholstery and passages from the national epic The Knight in the Panther’s Skin displayed in both Georgian and English, and the owner plans a future downtown location to further showcase the country’s history, dishes, and wines." - Naomi Waxman