Uzbekistāna

Located in a quiet neighborhood, in a charming house with a cozy outdoor seating area, Uzbekistana serves traditional Uzbek dishes like shashlik and pilaf. Uzbekistana’s menu offers an array of soups, salads, hot dishes, snacks, and desserts. The interior walls are decorated with Uzbek elements such as instruments, pictures, ceramic plates, and tubeteikas (Central Asian caps); the floor is covered with vivid red Uzbek carpets, bamboo ceilings, Uzbek music playing in the background, and staff dressed in traditional Uzbek clothing. When you enter the restaurant, it’s like being transported to Uzbekistan. Kudos to the owner for the beautiful decor, which gives customers a glimpse into the culture.

The waitress who served me was nice. She spoke in a friendly tone with a smile. I visited the restaurant for dinner.

I ordered a Borscht (3.95 euros) and a lamb pilaf (9.95 euros). The cream came separately with the Borscht, which was perfect as I did not want too much cream in my soup. The soup was sweeter, but the natural sweetness that comes from vegetables was somewhat different from the Russian Borscht.

The pilaf was aromatic and delicious; the mutton pieces were tender. The rice was a bit too oily; however, the fresh tomato slices and cucumber were a great palate cleanser. Initially, I did not think much of the dish, but the more I ate, a gentle crescendo of flavors slowly unfolded in my mouth.

This is a good place for those who would like to try something different from European cuisine. I would be interested in coming back to try the other dishes.

Uzbekistāna

Website: http://www.uzb ekistana.lv/en/

Telephone:

Opening hours: 12:00 p.m. – 23:00 p.m. Daily

Address: Bruņinieku iela 33, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1001, Latvia

Miit, a vegetarian cafe

Once a bicycle workshop, this trendy hipster cafe is now a popular hangout spot for the locals. Miit offers vegetarian food and freshly baked cakes to go with your coffee. The baristas at Miit are young and professional. The cafe uses specialty coffee beans from small coffee-growing farms worldwide and uses different brewing methods to make your desired cup of coffee. There are also live music performances on Friday and Saturday evenings. Coffee beans and various teas are available for purchase as well.

Brunch is offered on weekdays for 5 euros. It was a simple spread of waffles, various salads, potatoes, omelets, jams, and bread when I was there. It was okay; the waffles were a bit dry because they were out in the open, and the salads were slightly salty. My favorite is the coffee. I loved the coffee so much that I returned for breakfast the second day. I am a fan of Cappuccino. The Cappuccino here has a slight intensity tempered by a mild sweetness accompanied by cocoa-like aromatic notes. Personally, my most enjoyable cup of coffee. After having coffee here, I stopped adding sugar to my coffee and learned to enjoy and savor the natural flavors of the coffee.

An excellent place for healthy food and a good cup of coffee!

Miit

Website: http://www.miit.lv/

Opening hours: Monday 7:00 a.m. – 21:00p.m. , Tuesday to Thursday 7:00 a.m. – 23:00 p.m., Friday 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 23:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 18:00 p.m.

Telephone:+371 2889 1351

Address: Lāčplēša iela 10, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia

Lunch at the magnificent Rundāle Palace

Located in the basement of Latvia’s most outstanding baroque architectural monuments -The Rundāle Palace, is the Café Ozollāde. As one of the three restaurants on the premises, Café Ozollāde offers Latvian cuisine at an affordable price. It is an ideal place for a quick bite or a coffee break. The palace is situated in the village of Pilsrundāle, 12.5 km from Bauska.

I was on a private tour of the palace. I arrived around lunchtime. My guide and I stopped by the cafe to grab a bite before commencing our tour. The waitresses were dressed in Latvian folk dress. You order at the counter, and food will be brought to your table. However, there is quite a wait when it gets busy because the waitress who takes the order also makes the coffee. So if a customer orders a coffee, she will make the coffee first, pass it to the customer then take the next order. This practice is quite common in cafes in Latvia.

There are five different menus – A’la carte, kids, snacks, tourist groups, and those in a rush. Details of each menu can be found on their website.

My initial plan was to get a coffee and a slice of cake. However, as I was waiting to order at the counter, I saw a waitress holding a dish of what looked like some pancake. My tour guide told me it was potato pancakes, a traditional Latvian dish. We both ordered the potato pancakes with cranberry jam (€ 3.80), and I also ordered a Cappuccino (€ 2.50).

The Cappuccino was served in a pretty floral porcelain teacup. A poached pear filled with cranberry jam sat atop the potato pancakes, garnished with a sprig of red currants and microgreens. The pancakes were not too bad; they were quite filling.

During peak season, there are a lot of tour groups. I recommend going early or later to avoid the crowd. If you plan on lunch, I suggest having lunch first before exploring the palace because it is quite a big palace.

Café Ozollāde

Website: http://www.ozollade.lv/beginning.htm

Telephone: +371 29105356

Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.

Address: Rundāles Pils
Pilsrundale, Latvia LV-3921

An elegant experience at The Dome Fish Restaurant

The Dome Fish restaurant, located in the old town of Riga within The Dome Hotel, serves delicious fish dishes prepared by Chef Sergei Siporov. Chef Siporov, trained in Michelin-starred restaurants outside of Latvia, uses fresh seasonal ingredients sourced directly from small local fisheries for most of the restaurant’s dishes.

The restaurant is elegantly decorated with dark wood furniture, upholstered chairs accompanied by a seat cushion, and dark wood tables draped with a pristine white tablecloth. The warm color palette of the interior, along with soft lighting and jazz music in the background, created an atmospheric ambiance. There is a small alfresco dining area with two tables.

Aside from the A la carte menu, the restaurant offers business lunch during weekdays and dinner on the rooftop terrace from April to October. Their daily business lunch menu is available on their Facebook page.

The staff was well-mannered and attentive; they laid out the table with care and grace. When I was about to leave, the waiter who served me apologized for the poor service, which took me by surprise because I thought the service was excellent.

I decided on the 2-course business lunch for 10.50 euros. For the 3-course, it would be 13.50 euros. I had the catch of the day with pumpkin puree, bulgur nut salad, lemongrass, and lemongrass coconut sauce. For the dessert, I went for the Balsam panna cotta with berry sauce and granola.

I was served bread accompanied by a black rock creatively adorned with whipped butter. The bread was hands down one of the best I have had in a restaurant. It was fresh and tasted like sweet rye bread. The crust had a slight crunch with a firm but soft inside.

Each dish was like a piece of art, each one beautifully plated. The catch of the day was the orange trout. It looked simple but packed with sophisticated, nuanced flavors. The trout is beautifully cooked with perfectly crisp skin. The sauce was deliciously savory and sweet, but umami. The addition of chervil added a lovely minty-like taste that accentuated the flavor of the dish. The panna cotta was refreshing. The sourish berry nutty flavor (from the sauce with the granola) was an excellent accompaniment to the sweet custard.

The lunch was intensely satisfying. I got to savor an interesting and creative combination of tastes. An elegant, memorable gastronomic dining experience!

Le Dome Fish Restaurant

Website: https://www.domehotel.lv/en/restaurant

Telephone: +371 67 509 010

Opening hours：Weekdays 7:00 a.m. – 23:00 p.m. Weekends 8:00 a.m. – 23:00 p.m.

Address:

Rozengrāls, medieval restaurant

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According to the restaurant’s website, the scripts mentioned the premises in 1293 as the most ancient wine vault and festival place of the Riga City Council! It is a favorite tourist spot, and a lot of tourists frequent it to take photos. However, do not mistake this place as a tourist trap.

As I descended the candlelit stairs, a strong sense of suspense and anticipation came over me; this being my first experience in a medieval-themed restaurant, I was in awe by the décor and authenticity – vaulted ceiling, terracotta and wooden flooring, wall niches with decorative items and candles, banners, square and rectangular wooden tables, Savonarola style chairs and rustic chandeliers. It’s like being taken to another era. The restaurant is lit with candles, giving you a strong sense of medieval times. The waiters wore medieval time outfits.

Each dish on the menu has a short historical story to it. The prices are slightly on the high side. I ordered the sea bass stuffed with cheese and horseradish served with a side of barley and lentils (€ 15) and a pumpkin pie (€2.70). Bread wrapped in linen was served as I waited for my food. It was quite fragrant with a hint of sweetness. The food was served on a charcoal ceramic plate. The presentation of the sea bass was simple and honestly not appealing. I would have preferred it to be a fillet instead of a whole fish. The dish’s overall flavor was bland and drab; it lacked seasoning. The pumpkin pie was decent.

My waiter was cordial, attentive, and always had a smile on his face. He would come periodically to check on me. Being in Latvia for almost two weeks, he was the friendliest and most smiley waiter I’ve encountered. He deserves a waiter-of-the-year award!

Overall, I highly recommend this place for the experience.

Rozengrāls

Website: http://rozengrals.lv/

Telephone: +371 67 220 356

Opening hours: Sunday to Monday (12:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.)

Address: Rozena iela, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Best French Bakery in town

Cadets de Gascogne is the first French bakery in Latvia, opened by two French men. The bakery is known for its croissants, which are made fresh every day and are said to be the best croissants in town. There are six branches in Riga, and I have been to three. The menu varies from store to store, but all three stores had croissants, canelés, and macaroons. Each store had a different décor, but the three that I have been to have had a simple and old-fashioned décor.

I had the cheese croissant and butter croissant. The crust was flaky, and the inside was soft and chewy. The cheese they used had a lovely mild nutty flavor. The croissant wasn’t overpowered by the taste of butter like many I have had in the past. The bakery on Gertrudes Iela 30 had these delicious pizza slices. The pizza slice was served cold, but it was still really good.

This is a great place to go for quick coffee and French pastries in the morning. A coffee and a croissant would cost less than 5 euros.

Cadets de Gascogne on Ģertrūdes iela 30

Ģertrūdes iela 30

Cadets de Gascogne on Krišjāņa Barona iela 52

Krišjāņa Barona iela 52

Cadets de Gascogne on Brīvības iela 73

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Cadets de Gascogne

Website:http://www.cadets.lv/#home

Telephone:+371 28 394 063

Opening hours: Sunday to Monday (7:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m.)

Address: Ģertrūdes iela 30, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1011, Latvia

Opening hours: Sunday to Monday （7:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m.）

Telephone: +371 20 393 131

Address: Brīvības iela 73, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia

Kafejnīca Vendene (permanently closed)

This Latvian-style tavern is located at the roundabout by the Cesis Victory Monument. The interior’s dim and did not feel inviting. There was only one waitress behind the counter. As I was not greeted by anyone, and there was a customer at the counter inquiring, holding a menu, I thought maybe I have to order at the counter first. Only after I inquired I was told that orders will be taken at the table. Seeing it was a beautiful day, I sat out on the terrace. The menu was printed on plain white A4 paper placed in a leather-like folder, not appealing. It also took a while for the waitress to take my order.

I had the Sauerkraut soup (granny style) and Chicken Schnitzel with cheese topping. I thought the soup would be sour but it wasn’t. It was mildly sour and savory. The soup was satisfyingly appetizing, it had barley and different types of sausages. The dill gave it a lovely herb fragrance.
I did not like the Chicken Schnitzel. It was bland and the crust was soggy and had a weird texture (like a soggy fried beaten egg).

Unfortunately for me, the soup was the only thing satisfying about this restaurant.

Kafejnīca Vendene

Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday (12:00 – 21:00), Friday and Saturday (12:00 – 23:00)

Address: Vaļņu iela 1, Cēsis, Cēsu pilsēta, LV-4101, Latvia

Telephone: +371 64 161 361

Stockpot

Stockpot is a cozy little establishment offering affordable, quick, and healthy meals. The restaurant is owned by a British man and his Latvian wife. This is a great place to have a cheap meal that is not fast food. The seating is mostly communal. Inside are two big communal tables and two small tables by the window, along with two tables outside (6 per table). In the beginning, it was awkward for me to eat in the presence of strangers. However, seeing that everyone was comfortable with it, the awkwardness did not linger for long.

The menu changes daily, serving mostly Asian / Eastern dishes. There is a detailed menu on their website, which is really helpful to decide if you want to have the food offered for that day. They also have lactose-free, vegetarian, and vegan dishes. There are two portions available – full or half. For me, the half portion with a bowl of soup was sufficient.

The restaurant gets very busy during lunchtime, so either go early or after the lunch rush.

I had dinner at Stockpot for two consecutive days. Both times I went, I really enjoyed the food. It tasted like home-cooked food. Both meals cost me less than € 5, which was really cheap, considering that this was not a fast-food restaurant.

**Update
Stockpot has moved to a new location

Stockpot
Website: https://www.stockpot.lv/en

Opening hours:

Wednesday	11 am–7 pm
Thursday	11 am–7 pm
Friday	11 am–7 pm
Saturday	Closed
Sunday	Closed
Monday	11 am–7 pm
Tuesday	11 am–7 pm

Telephone: +37127832165
Address: Krišjāņa Valdemāra iela 36, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia

Cesu Maize

Cesu Maize is a small bakery located next to the St. John’s church in the Cesis old town selling handmade traditional bread. The bread is baked from Latvian organic whole grain wheat and spelt wheat whole grain flour. Made with natural leaven (sourdough), without the addition of bread yeast (turisms.cesis.lv, 2018).

It is a tiny bakery tucked inside a building. There is a big sign outside the main entrance, you can’t miss it. When I entered the bakery, the smell of freshly baked bread had enveloped the whole place. The owner/ baker was friendly; he spoke some English. There is a poster on the wall at the entrance with information on the different bread available. There are also bread samples. The price is based on weight. I bought the spelt wholegrain wheat sweet bread with nuts, raisins, and dried apricots for €2.40. It had a dark hard crust, and the inside was dense and semi-soft.

When I had my first bite, I did not think much of the bread. Then, I started to taste the fragrant flavors of the bread on my third bite, and I was like, “Wow, this bread is delicious”! After that, I could not stop eating it. It was mildly sour, sweet with a nutty flavor.

I highly recommend this bakery if you are traveling to Cesis. It is one of the best bread I have tasted, and I am certain you will not be disappointed.

Cesu Maize

Website: https://www.facebook.com/cesu.maize/

Opening hours: 10:00 – 18:00

Telephone: +371 26 412 803

Restaurant Memories ( permanently closed)

Restaurant Memories is located in LEGEND, a residential quarter in Bulduri, in a beautiful white villa. When I entered the restaurant, it felt like I was in a classy summer residence. There is a display of Bakeberry desserts showcased in the lobby (Bakeberry is a popular dessert restaurant in Riga). I love the coastal color palette used for interior decorations. The interior is bright and cozy. There is also an outside terrace.

The waiters were polite and professional. The menu had a good variety. Their breakfast menu is surprisingly available till 16:30! I ordered the baked chicken with mashed potatoes which were €13.50. The chicken was tender and juicy, lightly flavored. Unfortunately for me, the dish was not exciting.

Nonetheless, I really love the atmosphere of the restaurant. I would go back again to give the other dishes a try.

Restaurant Memories

Website: http://memories-restorans.lv/en/memories-restaurant-in-bulduri-jurmala/

Telephone: +371 67 869 711

Opening hours: 10:00–23:00

Address: Bulduru prospekts 17, Jūrmala, LV-2010, Latvia