Sonya Hu
Google
Outstanding casual Georgian restaurant in Park View serving delicious food and great vibes. I absolutely fell in love with downtown's Supra after visiting last year, so I was super excited to learn that the creators had opened another location further north. The restaurant is far more casual than its downtown cousin, with almost industrial-like furniture, cute murals covering the walls, and upbeat pop music flowing through the speakers. The servers are all super welcoming and friendly, creating an all-around incredible atmosphere for a relaxed dinner or drinks.
The food, however, is just as amazing as I remember. I visited for a chill dinner with a couple of friends, and the three of us split five dishes, including the roasted summer vegetables, khachapuri, fried catfish, a three-piece order of khinkali, and roasted carrots. These five plates were the perfect amount of food, and honestly totaled to only ~$25 per person, which is pretty affordable for such a variety and quality of cooking, especially in DC.
It's impossible to not get a khachapuri at a Georgian restaurant, and this delightful traditional cheesy bread never fails to hit. The bread was super soft and pillowy, and it went beautifully with the hot melted cheese. It can be a little bit messy to eat and is oh so decadent, but it is absolutely worthwhile. The khinkali are another delightful Georgian classic. These dumplings are positively stuffed with whatever filling you opt for, with a thin, beautifully steamed wrapper that has a slight snap and does a great job holding all the fillings inside. They usually have two meat and one vegetable option, which rotates seasonally. We got their summer vegetarian option -- which I want to say was sweet potato? -- which had a delightful earthy, slightly sweet flavor and went perfectly with the tangy sour cream. Vegetarian dumplings can often feel like an afterthought, but they did a great job ensuring that their khinkali was packed with flavor; the mashed sweet potato was loaded with roasted red ajika, scallions, and fresh herbs, giving it a ton of flavor and a bit of freshness to keep the dish light. The fried catfish was super light and crispy, and the fish inside was nice and tender. It went great with a squeeze of lemon, and the creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy jonjoli tartar sauce was a great pairing.
The vegetables, however, were the real star of the show. The seasonal grilled vegetables were so simple, yet so beautifully prepared; they had a delightful char on the outside, and were so tender in the center, and they were served with a bright and flavorful tomato satsebeli sauce. The summer combo included zucchini, bell peppers, and asparagus, and it was clear that the veggies are remarkably fresh. They were topped with fresh sprouts and pomegranate arils, which added a great pop of tangy sweetness to the dish. Of course, our other veggie dish was just as delightful -- the roasted carrots carried the same delightful char as the grilled summer veggies, and were just as tender and sweet on the inside. They were topped with a tangy green ajika sauce and spiced yogurt, a well as walnuts and pomegranate arils for a bit of crunch and bursts of tangy, sweet fruit.