The best characteristic of culinary preferences of Ukrainians is pierogi and borsch. “Varenychna. Zhytomyr dishes” – is a racy restaurant which popularizes national traditions respected by us together with gastro-expert Svitlana Seiko.
Sweet-scented meat dishes on the fry pan, borsches, potato flapjacks, pancakes, zrazy and absolute hit of the restaurant – pierogi made of the finest dough and with the most special and exotic filling, can’t leave even fans of healthy eating be aside.
“Varenychna” is Ukrainian restaurant chain. Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy and Zhytomyr have successfully realized the idea of owners, and currently one of the restaurants is being opened in Vinnytsia.
Location is in the very center of Zhytomyr. If you drive through the center of Zhytomyr from Kyiv-Chop or Kyiv-Chernivtsi route, you’ll definitely come across with 12, Peremohy Square, where “Varenychna” is located. For those who are on their own, Zhytomyr tank-conqueror, which was solemnly presented in 1965, can be a reference point. There are a few meters from monument to the restaurant.
In the interior atmosphere white-red theme of pierogi-borsches designers have outgamed it in the best traditions of industrial: big and sight windows, massive tables and light-wooden drawers, metal chairs, a whole gallery of home-made canning jars, stylized as in mud hut walls with porcelain plates instead of pictures, rolling pins and dough boards.
We have counted five cozy zones where two or more people can be placed. There are also pleasant trifles, which you can entertain kids with: drawing boards and shelves with toys.
Some romantic meetings can’t probably be made here (e.g. I’d not come for a date here), but for eating tasty and hearty with friends, colleagues or family is the right place. Local atmosphere always motivates me for active communicating, dealing with some questions and discussing planes. It’s the best format for having breakfast of dinner.
Service is on a good-level here: waiters are always attentive, organized and polite.
Girls are modest, boys like joking, especially when they’re commenting the menu of brand liquors. The key point is that in general we were served fast and quality.
Menu of the place is made for Ukrainian cuisine fans. If you need to explain to foreign visitors what is Ukrainian cuisine, you can easily invite them here. There is also English menu, waiters can take your order and keep the conversation in English as well. Even today there were foreigners next to us and it seemed they liked everything.
Pierogis are host and hand-made here. One can choose classic filling or try something new: suluguni cheese with tomatoes, “quatro formaggi”.
The menu is quite brief: there are not 10 pages of unclear dishes, but 2 comfortable sheets. Pierogis with pickerel, barberries drink and amber liquor (it’s interesting what did they mean with it) have fascinated a lot. I’ve ordered some kind of lowly set, because I was at the wheel.
There are also fast dishes for those who count calories and compares ingredients with dietary books. We haven’t proceeded to desserts: together with my sister we have our own brand of sugar-free sweets so I have my own philosophy.
Price policy of “Varenychna” is very affordable and democratic: together with my colleague we’ve paid UAH 210 for dinner from both of us. It was very tasty and hearty for us, girls.
What is an interestingness of “Varenychna”? Pierogi, pierogi and once again pierogi! There are also home-made canning and ready-cook pierogis, which you can take with you.
In order to save and pass on national traditions, free master-classes of pierogi making are held here for kids on the weekends.
12, Peremohy square, “Varenychna. Zhytomyr dishes”
Menu: breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper
Free Wi-Fi
Parking lot: public one is near here
Opening hours: 7 days a week; 10 am – 9 pm
Telephone: +38 (067) 329 03 02
Nota bene: there are three restaurants “Varenychna” in Zhytomyr: two of them are in the center (13, Peremohy square and 14, Mykhailivska Str.) and also one is near bus and railway stations beside SRC “Global.UA” (77, Kyivska Str.)
Translated by Aliona Matushevich
