Pomegranate

Pomegranate – A Passport to Authentic Russian & Georgian Cuisine Pomegranate isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a rare gem where true Russian and Georgian flavors come to life without the need for a plane ticket. The borsch is the real deal: rich, hearty, packed with tender beef and vibrant red beets—just like the classic recipe. The pork shashlik? Grilled to perfection, so authentic it took me straight back to when I was grilling it myself at ten years old. And the Georgian khinkali? Juicy, fresh, bursting with flavor, and perfectly paired with their signature sauces made to order. If you’re craving bold, soulful Eastern European food without leaving town, this spot is an absolute must.

I was craving some of the foods posted by so many who've eaten here that I finally went. Service is really good; the staff is very attentive. The atmosphere is okay, a bit dated. The walls all over the dining room had messages and graffiti scribbled on them from the base of the tables almost to the very high roof. We tried several dishes, some were I believe appetizers. First was the beet salad... it was surprisingly good despite saying it had walnuts (didn't know how they would taste with the beats. The salad was kind of pureed. Next we had pelmeni, a kind of small dumpling filled with chicken and served with a dill yogurt sauce. Very tasty. Next we tried the cachapuri (potato and cheese).served very similar to a 10-12 inch pizza. I was hoping to get the more traditional shape, although I doubt the taste is different. I had never tried it and it was quite tasty. Personal preference would have been if the bottom would have been crisper, tasted a little undercooked. The best part of our meal was the honey cake. They drizzle a pomegranate molasses on top of a scoop of vanilla ice cream that is served with a very generous sized slice of this exceptional dessert. Another comment is we never got a clean plate after we were served the beet salad, suggest they provide clean plates with every dish served. Again, the staff and service were very good, food was tasty but nothing out of this world, other than the cake.

This was our first foray into Russian cuisine. It was a refreshig surprise! The food was very tasty, and the service was great. The atmosphere was lively, and the portions were generous! The only complaint is parking can be tough, and inside dining space is tight.

This was my first time trying Georgian cuisine, and I’m absolutely blown away! Everything — from the khachapuri to the salads and the Georgian wine — was top-notch. The flavors were incredible, and you can truly feel the heart and tradition in every dish. The atmosphere was cozy, and the service was excellent. Thank you for such a wonderful introduction to Georgian food — I’ll definitely be back and bringing friends!

Continues to be a favorite! Delicious and most importantly - consistent! Can’t go wrong with several dishes but our favorites are the golubtsi (cabbage rolls) and sampler platter which is great for 2 people. Don’t forget to try Georgian wine and beer or the vodka flight. Friendly staff and unique atmosphere.

If I was just rating for food, this place is definitely getting a 5. Unfortunately, the service was not there. Walked in on a Monday night and it was seated quickly, but had to wait a while for a server to take our order. I ordered a Georgian red wine and the Georgian Eagle for food, which all came out very quickly. My food was delicious, and we all enjoyed everything. Once we were done, no one came to attend to us and we had to track down a server. Our server didn’t have the best attitude when we asked him for separate checks and gave us a single check after we explicitly asked for separate. Maybe they were having a short staffed night, but the wonderful food here was diminished by the service.

This Russian-Georgian restaurant offers a uniquely captivating dining experience, far from ordinary cuisine! Georgian spices and Russian heartiness blend in perfect harmony. Every bite delivers an exotic richness and satisfaction you’ve likely never tasted before. Whether you try their signature Georgian dumplings (Khinkali） aromatic stews (like Chakapuli), or any of their appetizing cold dishes, you’re guaranteed delightful surprises—even if you order blindfolded! The food itself brims with character and style, while the interior radiates authentic Russian charm. Paired with excellent service, this spot is absolutely worth exploring. For adventurous foodies—don’t hesitate to give it a try! 🥟✨

Please be aware this is a delightful restaurant but gets very crowded early in the evening when we left around 6:30 there was a line down the street and parking is very tight in this neighborhood. This is a hybrid Russian Georgian restaurant with heavy Georgian leadings the pomegranate juice is very strong and I had to dilute it with a little bit of water. We really enjoyed our food. We’re not sure we should’ve got the salad sampler because we definitely enjoyed some salads more than others. My sister loved the pierogies and think there are some of the best pierogies she has had recently. The yummy Georgian bread is always yummy.

One of the best restaurants in SD, fast and good service, polite staff and cozy atmosphere. Good is wonderful, everything was cooked fast and tasty. Highly recommend this place to visit. Kids are welcome!

Great experience at Pomegranate. A Russian-Georgian restaurant. The service from Sasha was awesome. We had Salat sampler platter, cheese boat bread adaruli, shared a stroganoff, honey cake with Turkish coffee. Khinkali was a little salty but still delicious! The pricing was reasonable for the amount of food!

Simply put, this was one of the best meals my wife and I have ever had. This was our first time having true authentic Georgian/Russian cuisine, and it was truly a fantastic experience. Service was quick and attentive as we arrived right as the restaurant opened. Ambiance was both cozy and connected to the community as there are many notes and signatures from previous patrons written on the walls, which is a unique touch. The beef stroganoff was easily the best we've ever had, wouldn't have changed anything, simply perfect. The Georgian Chicken stew was incredible with flavors I haven't experienced before, so tender, and the rice was light and fluffy. Then for dessert the honey and nut layered cake with vanilla ice cream, strawberries, and a pomegranate reduction sauce was insanely delicious. This is a meal we won't ever forget. If you're even slightly interested in these cuisines or dishes, you should absolutely make a point of visiting Pomegranate.

I had to take a star away because the service wasn't great. Our waitress didn't seem particularly interested in checking on us or answering questions. Having said that, they still got 4 stars because the food is amazing! The Georgian chicken stew is absolutely dream worthy. It's something you might not think to order by the description, but if you do, your palette will be soooo happy. The fresh herbs blend well to make a savory and tantalizing dish that still feels light. Highly recommended. The lamb stew was also really good with a rich umami flavor. The bread boat was super yummy but the tableside presentation wasn't as exciting as I had hoped. And the honeycake was really good- it kinda felt like carrot cake, but without the carrots or carrot cake spices.

This is a wonderful restaurant to experience food you don't often see. This was my second time coming to this restaurant, and the food is yummy, the service is good, the restaurant is homey. On my recent visit, I tried the vegetarian stroganoff with mashed potatoes. You can also opt for noodles instead. It was so yummy with a creamy mushroom sauce. My table of girlfriends also ordered the adjurali kachapuri (if I spelled it correctly?) Which is a cheese bread board with a raw egg cracked on top. Tableside, they whip the egg into the warm cheese very well so it turns into a fondue. The cheese bread is sooo delicious, but rich so you definitely need to have a table who will agree to share with you. It's A LOT of cheese. I've also tried the beet salad, eggplant salad, pierogis, and vegetarian borscht. The salads are cold which was refreshing to try something new.

We first visited this restaurant 12 years ago. We enjoyed it very much so we had to come back as soon as moved back to SD. We ordered every non-veggie dishes and they were all so delicious. I especially loved Golubtsi (cabbage rolls) and beef stroganoff. We also ordered lamb chops that are only available on weekends. Deliciousness!!!! We shared one of their popular desserts - honey cake with ice cream. It was right amount of sweetness. I surely left restaurant with a full belly.

Good food, good service nice casual ambiance. Parking can be challenging but I think they worth the effort. Highly recommend Pomegranate

This was a lovely date night spot to try out new food! I love the ambiance, it's got moody lighting, the walls are scribbled with the love and delight of past customers and some funky vintage decor. Date & I ordered: - Adjaruki Khachapuri - Pierogis - Beef Stroganoff - Honey Cake For about $80, we got a deep food coma after. Although the beef stroganoff looked small when it first came out, there was enough carbs in everything to make me full fast and there was more beef in that small bowl than we thought. We felt that the cheese bread was a little too salty for us, probably would be better shared in small doses. Pierogis were yummy, chewy. Stroganoff was deep in flavor. The star for me was the honey cake as I'm a sweet tooth. Please get this if you come here! I never had anything like it before!

Service was great, very friendly host and wait staff. Food and drink were excellent! Best Moscow Mule I've ever had! We also got the Beef Stroganoff and Khachapuri. Delicious! Ambience was superb. Def recommend!

My friend invited me out for dinner and I'm so happy she showed me Pomegranate! At first, I was like how does Georgia fit in with Russian food? And then I learned that it's a small country near Europe and Asia! Who knew. Anyways, we went at night time and it was pretty packed. It was also cold, they had seatings outside available with little to no wait. But it was way too cold to eat outside, so our group didn't mind waiting 20-30 minutes for an inside table. I'm honestly so glad we sat inside! The atmosphere was so lovely and homey. I think the pale yellow walls really gave it that home feeling and the lighting was dim and warm. The tables near the windows had unique table top lamps. It was a little loud... The service wasn't super fast, but they did come around often to ensure everything was ok. And we got more water. They were friendly. The menu was quite simple but also diverse. They had options for vegetarians, vegans, and meat lovers. My vegan friend ordered us the ($19.50) salad platter for an appetizer. The salad platter was so delicious. I wouldn't have thought an all carrot or all beet salad could be tasty-- but I was wrong! We ate this on some bread & it was a new experience and taste. I really enjoyed the eggplant one, and this is coming from someone who doesn't like eggplant. The apple, cabbage, and carrot one was surprisingly tasty and zingy. I love the vinegar taste. The bean dip was pretty average. I had the ($12.00) potato pierogis with sour cream, it comes with caramelized onions on it as well. Not too much, but just the perfect amount. I've never had pierogis before & I feel like many people order this for their first time here. But I thought it was pretty good! It was a bit plain after eating more than 4 of them. I would pair it with some of the salads, to freshen up my palette because it could get a little stodgy after a bit! My friend told me they were petite, but I thought they were your average size. Russian-Georgian food is so new to me, but I'd definitely come here again. This seemed like a popular date night spot as well as place to go with friends or family! I had no idea this place was in the area... It's a must try! The prices are pretty reasonable. Just watch out for that tax, the options were 18,20,22%.

So, few couple days I visited this place with my boyfriend. I was so impressed! Pomegranate has amazing service, employees were really friendly and polite. If we are talking about dishes, I tried and liked a lot adjaruli. Also khinkali were so delicious! And another favorite dish was beef stroganoff. I will, exactly, come back!

Haven't frequently been on the search for Slavic food, but this place was recommend by two separate friends so I had to satisfy my curiosity. The aesthetic of the place is a little dim and very Western bloc, but it obviously fell in theme. We grabbed dinner early at 5, but by the time we left around 7 there was a long line outside waiting for tables. We ordered several different dishes, including the adjaruli, pelmeni, chakhokhbili, shashlik, and our friends go the chakapuli, some borscht, and the pieorgies. Personally, felt all the dishes were very flavorful - like I said, not necessarily well versed in this type of cuisine, but we liked everything we tried. Would come here again if in the area.

There aren't many Russian Georgian restaurants around but pomegranate is all you need. The restaurant was super busy the Wednesday after Christmas with wait times of about a half hour and it seems like they only take reservations for groups of five or more. The service was a little slow but really just allowed you enough time to enjoy your meal and not feel rushed. The food was all top notch. The salad platter had all sorts of flavors and the pierogis were awesome. We shared a khachapuri which I could have eaten by myself it was so good. And we shared the chakapuli and the beef stroganoff. The chakapuli was super flavorful and not overly minty and the lamb was super tender and fell right off the bone. The beef stroganoff was the definition of a comfort food and hit every tasting note you could dream of. Pomegranate is a great place for a family style meal and can't wait to come back

I absolutely love this place! One of my all time favorite meals since moving to San Diego and it is worth the wait! Parking, I have to say is an absolute mess. Only street parking and I was circling for at least 30 mins but luckily was able to snag a parking spot right in front. Their menu is extensive but I would recommend the cabbage rolls, pirogies, their salad sampler, borchst, lamb entree and their potato egg bread boat! I love the ambiance and the servers were all so lovely.

Ok this is an unusual review in that we ended up having to take our entree food to go :( because we were running short on time, so when you visit maybe budget like at least 2 hrs for dinner! Khachapuri was bomb, unless you're lactose haha, although I was pretty whatever about the mega large soup dumplings. This place is pretty European, in how relaxed (and thus kind of slow) the service is, but honestly the staff was pretty great in my opinion! I was pleasantly surprised at how quick we were able to be seated for a party of 5 (I think we just happened to luck out and a large party was leaving at the same time, but also we were kind of early at 6pm on a Saturday). And if you're not familiar with Russian or Georgian food, the waitress had excellent explanations and recommendations. Decoration is lowly lit and homey but also kind of romantic, and if we had more time to enjoy our meal, I'm sure I would've had a great experience. But yeah, we were definitely sitting awhile and not getting our food, so we had to flag our waitress and request it to go. For fair warning, we ate the entrees a couple hours later, so I feel like this wouldn't be an accurate review, but the shisalik with the carrot rice probably held up the most and they forgot our pasta with the beef stroganoff. The lamb soup was good but kind of too rich for me, but the meat was fall off the bone tender. Overall, I was disappointed to not have a complete experience, but I'll definitely try to revisit again (and try their honey cake!)

A delightful surprise! I came in having never tried Russian/Georgian food before and I have to say I am a fan after this experience. Salad sample platter: Really delicious all around, everything was good and tasty. I would definitely get this again! My favorites were the carrot salad and beets salad. Cheese bread boat: Pretty good has a ton of cheese! It did some amazing cheese pulls. This one is quite heavy and a very large portion. We had 5 people share it and I felt it was the right amount. Borscht soup: Soooo good easily my favorite thing I ate. The soup is rich and has a nice vegetable flavor. The meat was soft and tender and so was the vegetables inside! The flavors and textures were just amazing. We ordered a small but next time I'm getting the bigger size. Cabbage rolls: Good cabbage rolls! Came with side of mashed potatos. Meat was tender and it had a lot of tomato flavor. Stewed chicken: A generous portion of chicken! I was so surprised actually it's a TON of chicken. It was cooked till it was falling off the bone, so tender and soft and juicy! Honey cake: A nice slice of cake with some sort of balsamic dressing. I would've liked more of the dressing with the cake. Overall Pomegranate is the perfect place to get food during the colder winter months. It's hearty and delicous and warms the soul.

Love the ambiance in here and the food was very good! This is my second time having Georgian food and I loved it all. The staff is very kind and attentive. They're definitely popular so I recommend showing up early (before 6pm) since they won't take reservations for parties of two (only larger groups I believe).

Decided to try this restaurant last week as it's something out of my comfort zone. Before talking about the food, parking definitely sucks. I drove around for about 10 minutes trying to find something on the street, as they do not have a parking lot. There are only about 5 metered parking spots that are directly in front of their restaurant. Service on the other hand, I feel like I can't comment on because we were the first customers when it opened at 4pm. The restaurant is large and can seat a lot of people. My friend and I ordered the beef stroganoff, the pierogis (Russian dumplings), cheese egg bread boat (feta & mozzarella) and Russian black tea. The cheese egg bread boat has a little presentation that comes with it where they mix it tableside and as for taste, it's extremely cheesy and heavy. The pierogis were pretty bland and nothing really special to them. The beef stroganoff was pretty good, but portion was extremely small and not worth the price they charge for it. As for the Russian black tea, it's served with a pomegranate syrup, but it's nothing special and just taste like regular black tea. Definitely glad I tried it, but would not be returning!

Staff was super nice and personal! It was pretty dark inside with cute lamps on each table, unique and intimate ambiance. I really loved the Russian pierogies and beef stroganoff

A wonderful place for a great meal. I ate here for New Year's Eve dinner with my husband and some friends. All of the food was delicious and so fresh! The atmosphere is Inviting and relaxing. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone! I need to come back sometime soon

Amazing food every time, generous portions, very friendly staff, great ambience! Absolutely recommended!

Still dreaming of that. Kachapuri! Heard about this place from a friend and wish we had come here sooner! Really nice aesthetic of the place with a homey feeling. Go to glimpse of the kitchen while I was waiting to go to the bathroom and everyone making the food seem like they knew what they were doing and were making authentic Russian/ Turkish food. Carrot Salad (Carrots and walnuts, aioli, garlic) Surprisingly absolutely delicious! Perfect amount of that mayo and carrots and right amount of crunch from the walnuts. Flavors went together so well. It was a subtle sweet savory blend. Adjaruli Khachapuri (Cheese-filled bread boat with egg) Talk about food lover dreams come true. Bread was so fresh and soft and slightly buttery, and the cheesy egg mixture in the middle was delicious! Absolutely delicious! I asked for some crushed chili flakes to add to the cheese blend and this just made it perfect. So so good. And honestly it didn't even feel so heavy. My husband and I could have both finished one of our old if we hadn't ordered other food, haha. Chakhokhbili (Traditional Georgian stewed chicken with fresh herbs, tomato) I really lot of flavor going on in here as well. Chicken with sauce soft and perfectly cooked. It fell off the bone. And this was a really good thing. Could definitely get the fresh herb flavor coming through from the stew. Love the portion size as well. It gave me some rice on the side that was also delicious on its own. Tkemali (Georgian tart plum sauce) Got this one just to try for the sake of it. I think they recommended with something else on the side but we just got it plain so it was just okay.. It was tart just as described. Babushka's Surprise (Baked apple filled with dried fruits, walnuts, and honey) Nothing outrageously great here to be honest. I was expecting chopped up dried fruits and nuts in the middle, but it was a large baked apple with a big piece of walnut, big piece of dried apricot and dried plum inside. Flavors did go really well together though with the honey on top. Like the ice cream on the side on its own, haha.

I ordered the moment I saw this restaurant while scrolling down Yelp for things to eat since I've never tried Russian cuisine. The pieorgies were sooo good and had really great seasoning. They were small and bite sized, but still had a good ratio of meat. The beef stroganoff was also seasoned very well and tasted fantastic with the pasta. The beef was cooked perfectly and wasn't dry at all. The borscht was soooo good and refreshing. The vegetables were cooked perfectly and it tasted really nostalgic like a chinese beet soup that my mama cooks up. I know I got the Russian cuisine basics, but I'm very excited to come back and try more dishes!

Came here for dinner after to hang out with some friends - it's a cute big place compared to when you look at it from the outside. The food is definitely more on the heavier side, so come hungry. If you really want the full menu, I would come on a Friday to Sunday because there was one main dish that was not available on those days I am involving meat. We got the salad sampler, which was a mix of eclectic beats, and herb - none of it was spicy, which is good. Especially the carrot portion. It's big enough to share as you can see in the pictures. Bread was warm and fresh so definitely get that to go with the salad. I forgot to take pictures of the main dishes, but to the borscht was very good with fresh beets so soft. I also got the chicken stew which they actually give you like a chicken leg in there -full of vegetables and spices. Not so much liquid, but it was very savory. The pierogies were small just like dumplings and had some crunchy onions on there. Overall, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Note that all the dishes can definitely be shared. Parking is typical street parking.

I was visiting a gf of mine in San Diego and she had told me how much she loves this restaurant so we decided to go and it did not disappoint! I've never had Russian-Georgian food, but she's from Uzbekistan and said this place reminds her of her mom's cooking growing up. For an appetizer we got the Olivier. As a Southerner, I'm all for a good potato salad and it was delicious. We got the pelmeni dumplings as well. Next, borscht! The meat was so tender it melted in my mouth. Chefs kiss! The imeruli khachapuri was hands down my favorite! We didn't even get to any main dishes we were so full off of the dishes we ordered and had some to take home too! To end the night, we got the medovik cake. Despite being full, it was so good we finished the whole piece. We were too busy enjoying the food for pictures, but I did manage to grab one of the Imeruli Khachapuri. The atmosphere is great too. It's a pretty good sized restaurant, so even though there were several dinner parties, it still felt nice, cozy, & quiet. The waitresses are very friendly and really went out of their way to make sure my first experience was the best. Definitely check this place out if you get a chance!

Had to come back when I was down in SD again! Everything was still so yummy, and we tried new dishes. Our waitress was also very helpful in suggesting what courses to try. Kind of busy as we went on a Saturday night and waited about ~15 min. Pomegranate, you have done it again!

Besides reading reviews we had no idea what to expect and it turned out to be a such an amazing, flavorful meal! Started with the salad sampler, which had small portions of five different salads. All were tasty and had perfect texture. Not sure how they shred the beets and carrots but it was the perfect consistency to hold the dressing and spices. Raisins and herbs found their way in to some of the salads. All were tasty, definitely enough to share among 2-3 people as a starter. I didn't know what to expect when we ordered a cup of borscht but this was delicious. Very hearty beef base yet brightly colored from the beets. The beets and beef were both quite tender and it was a very well-rounded dish. Palmeri are perfect little dumpling bites served in a bright yogurt and dill sauce. The bite starts off with tangy yogurt and dill then you get the doughiness of the dumpling followed by a pop of flavor from the beautifully seasoned meat filling. Couldn't stop eating these! Final dish was Chakapuli, which is a lamb shank stew. The broth is crazy delicious. Very bright background of white wine, tarragon and plum contrasted against the savory depth of the braised lamb shank. An amazing, comforting dish. Drink up every drop of the broth and mop up the bowl with bread. All of this was more than enough for two of us to share. Everything paired well with a glass of the Georgian wine (can't remember the name but it's the only Georgian wine by the glass and not the "house wine"). Tastes like a very young wine despite being dark in color. The brightness was a good contrast to the heaviness and herbiness of some of the dishes that may fight with a fuller wine. All in all a great dinner experience. The staff was friendly and helpful in navigating the menu. We got there around 5 on a Saturday and it was already 25% full. By the time we left a few minutes after 6 it was packed. Parking is a challenge, need to find street parking on the side streets off of El Cajon Blvd.

i posted asking for Valentine's Day restaurant recommendations and basically every single person said Pomegranate so i had to uphold the democratic ideals of our nation and pay them a visit. Pomegranate is located on a pretty unassuming stretch of El Cajon Boulevard, but super nice inside with warm lighting and all the writing on the walls! noticed a fair amount of horse and manga girl drawings...thanking teenage girls for their service. not super busy on a Sunday night, but the dining room is split and there were just enough people to make it comfy. ambience 5/5 service was 5/5 - attentive and quick to answer any questions we had. the two of us ordered the adjaruli khachapuri (bread boat), beef stroganoff, golubtsi (beef and pork cabbage rolls), and medovik torte (honey cake). the adjaruli khachapuri is a must-have!!! i am lactose intolerant but i would trade several hours on the toilet for that thing. thankfully i did not have to do that. my stomach must have recognized how good it was and made an exception. cheese was so nice and MELTY and complemented the crispiness of the bread so well. still tasted great on day 2 as soggy microwave leftovers so you know it's real. beef stroganoff and golubtsi were so creamy and flavorful! heavy dishes, but the mashed potatoes or pasta that comes with them definitely helps. i would switch up the entrees next time for a bit more balance. we took the honey cake to-go because we were so full, so unfortunately missed out on the ice cream and pomegranate molasses that it comes with. nearly fell to my knees on the first bite...soft and pillowy--but not overwhelmingly so--and layered so beautifully with a perfect crumble on top. i would give it a Triple B rating (Bussin Beyond Belief). food was an easy 5/5! overall....you need to be finding your way here Right Now. fun fact: if you Google "my location to Pomegranate" it will just route you to the nearest supermarket and then you will feel like a modern-day caveman scrounging around for a Fruit. highly recommend Pomegranate (the restaurant) for a great and cozy meal!

While I rarely stray from the foods I am familiar with, I'm so very glad I took a chance and tried this Russian restaurant. The food here has really opened my mind to trying foreign cuisines. While I cannot spell any of the food I tried. The cheese bread appetizer will definitely be one of the items that stick with me. Our server was very helpful in explaining what was in the dishes and their various flavor profiles. Inside, the setting is quite dark, minimal lighting, almost makes you feel TOO comfortable haha. Very cozy dim lighting that a friend had to use their phone flashlight so we could get good shots of our food. I have every positive endorsement for this restaurant and will be back as soon as my diet permits.

Russian-Georgian ethnic restaurant that can be categorized as a hole in the wall type of place. Cozy atmosphere with amazing food! Parking is bit challenging so plan accordingly. We managed to get in without reservation and were seated right away! However 30 minutes later there was a wait! So for me this was a first time experience with these cuisines. And it was interesting! Adjaruli (boat bread with cheese and egg ) was our appetizer! It is rich and heavy yet good. 3 of us could not finish it. Borscht was must have, and again first time that I tried it! Pierogis were pretty darn good, and Shashlik with pork shoulder was to die for. Finishing meal with honey cake (medovik) was just a right touch! For me the restaurant was very unique, and service albeit slow was pleasant. The fact that complete staff was Russian and Georgian spelled authenticity for me. The only downside is that food is really heavy!!!

I'm not sure how long this restaurant has been around, but from the look and feel I think it is one of the longer standing restaurants in the area. We have heard nothing but great things about this place and we've been meaning to try it. We came here on the Sunday of memorial day weekend at 5pm with no wait for a party of 2. I don't know if reservations are usually necessary, but we did see big parties and families gather here the night we came. There might have been a short wait when we left. Our waitress was really enthusiastic explaining the menu to us and their best sellers. We ordered quite a bit -- their salad sampler (definitely recommend for first timers and is a pretty big appetizer, comes with a bread basket), the cheese & egg bread dish, the Georgian eagle (chicken) stew (comes with rice pilaf) , and a slice of honey cake to-go. We each got a Ukranian beer -- his the amber ale & mine the golden ale, which I thought was really good and had a buttery flavor to it. I would recommend everything we had here! We didn't get to order pierogi's (my boyfriend's favorite thing) because they apparently had a really busy evening the night before & completely sold out. I'd love to try the rest of their other dishes in the future. The prices here are reasonable and definitely worth sharing different items. PS bring a sharpie! This is a place you can write on the walls which gives it that home-y feel.

Arrived for Sunday dinner right when they opened at 4pm. Service around this time was pretty quick and came with great recommendations. Street parking (meter) may be limited, but definitely doable. We sat on the patio since it's dog friendly. They provided water for my dog, Yuna, which was appreciated since it's a warm summer late afternoon. Overall, the vibe was pretty quiet on the patio. Food in general was super flavorful and delicious. Definitely worth trying a lot of things on their menu. Their menu is small, so not overwhelming but Yelp helped with looking up what the plates looked like. Everything was really appetizing. Our favorite would definitely have to be the Adjaruli Khachapuri (Georgian egg and cheese bread boat). We love that they mix it for you (video attached). Would definitely recommend this place to others.

Came on Sunday night right at opening. Friendly staff and was sat immediately. We sat inside and the interior decoration gave this place a really ambient and homey feel. So glad my partner and I came to try this place out for our anniversary dinner. The food is delicious and definitely something new for us. We only ordered appetizers today but would come back for entrees next time. Salad sampler platter: 4/5 Lots of interesting flavors to try. The beet was my favorite. Borscht soup: 5/5 Much like a vegetable soup with beef, the beets again were delicious. Get the full portion you won't regret it Pelmeni: 5/5 Tastes similar to a Chinese beef dumpling in my opinion, but light flavors thanks to the yogurt and dill. I've had Pierogis before but never this and I'm pleasantly surprised! Adjaruli Khachapuri: 5/5 MUST TRY!! Perfectly baked bread in a mountain of cheese mixed with egg. Cannot forget to try this when you come. Overall, a great experience here. Would recommend.

This restaurant is one of my favorite spots in San Diego. I am giving it 5 stars because of the delicious food, amazing drinks, pleasant ambiance. Service is also very good. Servers are knowledgeable and smiling. They have a great feel when to come to your table. My only suggestion is to make Olivie salad for Slavic audience. Olivie said there is honestly the worst. I did make this comment several times while being there, but it never changed. Other than that, keep doing great job, Pomegranate!

The food is topnotch here. You can't go wrong. Definitely get the cheesy bread and salad sampler - they are a must! I also love the borscht and pierogis. Everything is a pretty saucy and you gotta love sour cream! The restaurant itself is pretty lowkey yet super clean and you can write on walls to leave a personal touch.

OMG DUDE SO FREAKING GOOD. Me and my friend cane here for a little dinner and there was a such a long line on a saturday night so we had to put our names down and waited for almost an hour. Honestly, that was the only bad part, but it was so worth it and we just got drinks next door so it wasn't too bad. The palace itself was pretty big, but there were many large parties spending their birthdays there so it was pretty packed. There's a homey ambiance about the place and just felt like I was at some Russian grandma's house as there random writings and things all over the place. Also it was pretty dark so the candle lit tables kinda made it so much better. The food though DUDE, so mf good. We ordered way too much than we could consume but honestly it was so worth!!!! Even the leftovers were so good. - Borscht: 8/10 this was our first app and my first time ever trying it and omg this was so good. there were big pieces of beets and beef. they were both soft and it was somewhat sweet from what im guessing is from the beets. The beef itself was super melt in your mouth almost and so flavorful. The cream on top also just added a sense of creaminess to the dish without overpowering the earthiness of the soup. Gobbled this up and probably was the reason we were so fulll by the time our entree was served to us lol. - Pierogies: 7/10 this was honestly pretty good, it just wasn't my favorite. my friend really liked this though! It was perfectly seasoned, not too salty and the filling was super soft as well. The matching pair with the sour cream was so good as I felt like the dish was a little dry but not due to the cooking itself- just the overall dish? Still pretty good though if we didn't have so many options - Adjaruli: 10/10 HOLY HEAVEN. This was so so so good. The server came to our table and mixed the egg and cheese for us and that was nice entertainment LOL. This dish was sooooo good though. it tasted like a cheesy bread if it was on crack. It was super rich and gooey. A little salty, but it was still balanced :) - Beef stroganoff: 1000/10 omg this was my main dish and this was soooo bussin!!!! by the time this got to our table, i was already full so i barely ate some but holy shiiiii!!! this was so good and buttery and also kind of gravy-y tasting. it was unlike any beef stroganoff iver ever had and i would say this is the best. the beef was also super tender and almost melt in your mouth. and the mashed potato paired with it (you can choose pasta or mashed potato) and that also tasted unlike any mashed potatoes ive ever had. i cant describe it other than it being creamy but not like buttery. it was sooo good!!!! i had some for leftovers and this heated up so well and still tasted as good as the day before. definitely worth a try!! - medovic/honey cake: 9/10 kind of crumbly crunchy texture with cake. very good!!! subtle honey sweetness which was perfect as an end to such a great meal!! the ice cream was vanilla with a sour type of syrup over it which was a little off putting so i ate it seperately from the cake but it was still pretty good. Overall, definitely coming back to eat the beef stroganoff specifically but the other items was also very good!! place is worth waiting for!!!

Everything on the menu was amazing! Service and pace of order was also great for appetizers and mains! Would definitely go back again and again.

Absolutely amazing Russian-Georgian food. We went on a Friday around 5-6 and it wasn't crowded at all. I'm not sure if they take reservations but it doesn't seem like you really need one. We started off with pelmeni and imeruli khachapuri to share. Both are plenty for a group of 2-4. The pelmeni was small meat filled dumplings with a yogurt sauce and I could literally eat it by the spoonfuls. The imeruli was a cheese bread that was warm and gooey. Both were simple yet really good. My husband for main course got the lamb shashlik and I got the chakapuli. Both dishes came with rice and were amazing. Again, it felt simple but in a good way. Our waitress was also super nice and kept checking on us and answering any questions we had since it was our first time trying Russian-Georgian food. Really can't wait to come back here and try other items on the menu

Came here for a date night and boy did it wow us!! The food was AMAZING!! The service men and women were so friendly and kind to us, and we both decided to come here again to try more!! Pro tip...get the Russian Black Tea with the Pomegranate syrup on the side...it's so delicious!! Our faves? Beef stroganoff and the eggplant salsa salad with bread basket. Cabbage rolls were also good but not as good as the stroganoff For us...it just needed a bit more salt in the meat portion of the cabbage rolls. The sauce tho...was bread dipping worthy!! Highly recommend!!

Love this place. Consistently good. The atmosphere is cozy and the food really, really good. They make a great Cosmopolitan.

Just fantastic. I was explaining the magic of Georgian food to a friend of mine, and googled to find a place in San Diego to get it, finding Pomegranate. We went on a pretty busy Tuesday night but didn't have to wait for a table. The space is beautiful, my only slight gripe is the lower light and small font k the menu don't pair that well. We shared Adjaruli khachapuri, pelmeni, varenyky, and khinkali which were not on the menu for some reason, but available when I asked the server about them, from a picture I saw on Instagram. This all paired well with a bottle of Georgian wine. New favourite spot in San Diego? Maybe.

WOWOWOWOW a new favorite!!!!!! Oh my god. We came here last night and we were hyping it up ALL week. Never do that btw because you will usually be disappointed - not in this case!! Pomegranate really delivered! We ordered basically the entire menu. The reason we came was pierogies but we also got lamb with rice, pickled veg, chicken cutlets (this was on the specials menu), khachapuri of course (with egg on the side). My Polish friend got borscht and she did not share it with us lol. She said that it was the first time she had seen it with meat. She ate a lot of it and still took it home, so she must have liked it. Literally everything else was so good. They have a separate "sauce" section on the menu - this is the hallmark of an AMAZING restaurant. The pomegranate sauce is one of the best sauces I've ever had in my life. It's sweet and deep and rich and has LAYERS. I could drink it. Lol I didn't even read the menu and asked them if I could order pomegranate juice, my friends were like how did you know they sold it...? It's in the name y'all. Always order the restaurant's name if they have it on the menu! Pro tip loll. The waitress was really nice and tolerated us. I asked her a million questions and she seemed amused by me so I really appreciate that. We told her we would come back tomorrow but I don't think I can make it there todayI'm sorry, but I'm writing this review instead. I will definitely come back ASAP. The pierogies and khachapuri were SO GOOD. We love a starch. I'm half Polish half Lithuanian so this food is literally what built my DNA. I have to say that I was sad that they did not have beef kabob, but the rice that came with the lamb was really good (made with chicken stock for sure) and the chicken cutlets were AMAZING. If they have that as a special, you should definitely get them. I wished that more than 3 came on a plate but they are pretty substantial. Will be back ASAP. Pomegranate is one of my favorite fruits. I'm 100% sure that everything here is solid because we ordered most of the menu and it was absolutely delicious. We were groaning and all ate too much. There were huge tables of people who clearly come here all the time. You should come here all the time too.

Pomegranate is a nice date night kind of spot. There are some tables that have little candles to make it look more intimate and there was a table near me that had about 8 people seated, so it's also good for groups! I had been curious about this spot since I'd never tried Russian or Georgian food. Since I wasn't sure what to order (and since I don't eat meat), my friend recommended we split the Georgian boat bread w/ cheese and some pierogis. Pierogis - 7/10. Nice texture but a little bit lackluster for me. I wish it had more caramelized onions but we were only given a small pinch of them Georgian boat bread with cheese - 6/10. It's very rich and was pretty tasty, and it was fun to see our waiter mix the egg into the cheese. It was just a bit overwhelming for my personal taste, however. The waitress here was friendly

Great tasting food and service. The menu appears to have been "paired-down" since I last visited (the bricked chicken dish wasn't on the menu anymore) but I guess that had to happen with the Pandemic and cost of doing business.

Came here with some friends for dinner. I haven't had much Russian/Georgian food so I wasn't sure what to expect. When we entered the restaurant I felt like we left San Diego and entered a completely different country. The environment was so cool! The walls were filled with signatures from customers, decor all over the walls, and what I assume was Russian/Georgian music playing in the background. The staff was very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and gave some great recommendations. We got the Adjaruli, Pierogies, Shashlik, and a vodka flight. Everything was delicious... except for some of the vodka flavors Maybe it's because I don't drink vodka often but in the flight we tried the horseradish vodka because it seemed interesting-- and it absolutely took me out!! The waitress said it's pretty pungent and will clear out your sinuses and lord she was not kidding!! My friends and I honestly had a spiritual moment our souls left our body when we took that shot. Honestly I'm glad I tried it but I don't think I will be drinking it ever again unless I need some sort of spiritual reset in my life.

In town for a conference and my colleague wanted russian cuisine so we decided to check this place out. It was a first for me having this style of food, and omg was it good. Every dish was flavorful and the service was great. I would come back!

I don't necessarily write reviews, but I was impressed enough to do so this time. As a family we tend to experiment with different cuisines. We choose to try Pomegranate and were extremely happy with our choice. We had three different appetizers - Salad Sampler, Imeruli Khachapuri, and the Pierogies. The Salad was good, the Imeruli was outstanding, and the Pierogies were okay. For our meals we had the Beef Stroganoff, Golubtsi (Cabbage Rolls), and Pelmeni. The Golubtsi was outstanding while the rest were good. Out server was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. The ambiance was homey. It was a bit loud and it was due to how crowded it was - a good sign that the food and service were good. Some minor down sides - they don't take reservations unless the party is 6 or more. We were a party of 4 and were immediately seated at 5:45 on a Saturday. Parking in the area was a challenge. Overall very good and I'll be coming back.

First of all, I'm from the region. So I know exactly how everything should taste. I always keep away from Russian/Georgian restaurants because 1) Russia has no cuisine besides boiled potatoes 2) No Georgian owns these restaurants 1) the famous cheese pie? It's nothing like original thing NOTHING!! Just slapping cheese on bread and doing creepy egg beating in it lol wow ridiculous it tastes NOTHING as it should 2) we ordered multiple versions of pelmeni and vareniki. Go to Vine Ripe and get them frozen and make them yourself. Probably will taste better Major nope.

I've never had Russian or Georgian food before so this was a fun experience. This is what I tried: Adjaruli Khachapuri - egg and cheese mixed together on a bread boat (yes, would recommend bc anything w bread and cheese is usually a hit). Borscht soup - tomato soup with 2 small pieces of beef (tasted like regular tomato soup to me and the amount of beef was sad. I shared this with someone else and that's how I know how much beef there was. We each got 2 bite size pieces. I wouldn't get this again). Golubtsi - beef and pork cabbage rolls in tomato cream sauce Chakapuli - lamp shank stew The last 2 entrees were good but tbh, I was already full for dinner and they tasted just okay at the time of dinner. HOWEVER, as leftovers, they were AMAZING! I know for stews, they typically taste better the longer they sit so maybe that was the case. I'd definitely be back to try other dishes as this was a fun experience.

I love Pomegranate. I've been coming here for years now and it never disappoints. I always get the salad sampler platter because they're all too good to just try one or two. My friends and I shared everything so we could try more food! I recommend doing the same. Ps: Get yourself a bottle of Georgian wine and some dessert.