Sami Sumeli Georgian European Restaurant
Restaurant · Cedar Park ·
Khachapuri cheese bread, khinkali dumplings, Georgian wine
Khachapuri cheese bread, khinkali dumplings, Georgian wine
"To our knowledge, Sami Sumeli is the first (and only) Georgian restaurant within 100 miles of Austin. So the next time you find yourself hypnotized by a video of bubbling khachapuri, you’ll only need to head to Cedar Park for your own cheese-filled bread canoe. The full roster of Georgian classics is here—chewy and soupy khinkali dumplings, savory lamb kebabs, grilled eggplant rolls stuffed with cheese and walnuts—plus a long list of regional wines you won’t find anywhere else in town. To round out the experience, finish (or start) your meal with a shot of chacha, the potent Georgian brandy that might make you forget you’re in a suburban strip mall." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs, matthew jacobs, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs, matthew jacobs, nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary
"Austin hasn’t had a lot of options for Georgian food—zero, to our knowledge—until now. Sami Sumeli is bringing Eastern European classics like khachapuri, khinkali, and shkmeruli to Cedar Park. Right now they’re open for dinner, with lunch coming in the near future. There’s also a full bar with plenty of Georgian wines (and sub-$10 prices by the glass)." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs
"The city’s first Georgian restaurant opened after a soft opening this spring, with bites like phali (a traditional Georgian spread in which vegetables are ground into patties with walnuts and herbs), lobio (a salad of cold red beans), kharcho (a tomato and rice stew), and adjarian khachapuri (a boat-shaped bread filled with cheese and topped with an egg yolk). There are also loads of Georgian wines to try, some displayed in a backlit built-in bookshelf, and a cute dining room decorated in hues of blue with touches of tan and red that features those good, cozy chairs with a wide bottom." - Courtney E. Smith
"You can count the number of dedicated Georgian restaurants in the Austin area on one hand—or one finger, really. So the next time you find yourself hypnotized by photos of cheese-filled bread canoes online, head to The Depot for your own tasty khachapuri, complete with a molten egg yolk swirling in the middle. Sami Sumeli has a full roster of Georgian classics—soupy khinkali dumplings, savory lamb kebabs, grilled eggplant rolls stuffed with cheese and walnuts—plus regional wines you won’t find anywhere else in town. If you really want to lean into the experience, start (or end) the meal with a shot of chacha, the clear Georgian brandy that goes down dangerously easily and might make you forget you’re sitting in a strip-mall train depot." - taylor tobin, nicolai mccrary
"You can count the number of dedicated Georgian restaurants in the Austin area on one hand—or one finger, really. So the next time you find yourself hypnotized by photos of cheese-filled bread canoes online, head to Cedar Park for your own order of khachapuri, complete with a molten egg yolk swirling in the middle. Sami Sumeli has a full roster of Georgian classics—soupy khinkali dumplings, savory lamb kebabs, grilled eggplant rolls stuffed with cheese and walnuts—plus a long list of regional wines you won’t find anywhere else in town. If you really want to lean into the experience, start (or end) your meal with a shot of chacha, the clear Georgian brandy that goes down dangerously easily and might make you forget you’re sitting in a suburban strip mall. photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL Pause Unmute Food Rundown Eggplant Rolls Thin strips of grilled eggplant get rolled up and stuffed with a cream cheese and walnut filling that’s thick, a little tangy, and savory. These are a great start to the meal. photo credit: Richard Casteel Georgian Salad This simple but refreshing mix of tomatoes and cucumbers is tossed in a rich walnut dressing with a ton of herbs. It’s bright, crunchy, and a nice counter to some of the heavier and cheesier things you’re about to eat. photo credit: Richard Casteel Adjarian Khachapuri The main event. This is the bubbling, cheese-stuffed bread canoe you’ve probably drooled about on the internet, complete with a runny egg yolk and a knob of butter in the middle. Tear off some bread—it has the consistency of a nice pizza crust—swirl it all together, and try not to burn your mouth. It’s worth it even if you do. photo credit: Richard Casteel Khinkali Hold these big, doughy dumplings upside down by the little twisted topknot, take a small bite, and slurp out the broth before going in for the rest. They’re filled with soupy beef and herbs, and they’re slightly messy and extremely satisfying. photo credit: Richard Casteel" - Nicolai McCrary
