I usually prefer to avoid writing about negative experience when reviewing restaurants, or if there is something negative I always try to make impact on the good things. Unfortunately my last visit to Ukrainian restaurant Kalina in Tbilisi (on 18 Shalva Dadiani street) was a complete disaster.
But let's try to find the good things here at first - interior, yes it's pretty decent made in retro style, seems this interior style is trendy for Tbilisi this season. I was left with a copy/paste feeling - the same interior you can find at Gardenia, Barberstan... this retro interior style is trendy all over the world, chandelier lampshades, jars on shelves and so on - I first met this trend at Restaurant Bangerts and Berghof restaurant, and must admit such retro - vintage style restaurant best suites in some rural manor - Bergof wins.
Interior at Kalinka
Overall the interior is pretty fine (just boring, as have been seen dozen of times already) let's speak about food - Since this place serves Ukrainian cuisine I opted for Herring in coat, dumplings in pot with sour cream and vareniki.
Look at Herring in coat:
So called herring in coat at Kalinka restaurant
80% sliced boiled potatoes, one peace herring and a lot of mayo - well - such a disastrous herring in coat I tasted for the first time. Price - around 8 GEL.
Next came vareniki - I was surprised seeing them served in such a cheap way.
Vareniki
They tasted OK, thus I had the feeling they are bought at nearby shop instead of been prepared in restaurants kitchen (if they even have such a luxury)
Last drop in my patience was so called dumplings in the pot with sour cream
Dumplings in the pot
Again dumplings from the closest shop, but what's actually a tragedy, the sour cream was ...old and bitter.
Common people it's anything but Ukrainian restaurant, I got this feeling that no Ukrainian has been close to the kitchen or management of this place. I will never return to this place and don't recommend to you either.