We were invited out to dinner by friends - they wouldn't tell us where we were going - they picked…read moreus up and drove to Northern Philadelphia. We pulled into a shopping plaza and saw our destination - Suzani. I had never eaten in an Uzbeki restaurant - our friends, who had eaten there before said "...come hungry!" They recommended a few appetizers - we ordered the Potato with Mushrooms, Eggplant Salad, Achichuk, and Kutab. Let's start with the Potato with Mushrooms - which the menu describes as "Fried Potato Slices with Pan Roasted Mushrooms and Onions. It should say "Potato Chips with Pan Roasted Mushrooms". It was a very unusual dish, to say the least. While the chips were homemade and tasty, having roasted mushrooms and onions with them didn't work at all for me. It was difficult scooping mushrooms onto the chips - and the combination was not that tasty. The mushrooms and onions would have been better by themselves. Once the chips got soggy from the mushrooms, it was very unappetizing. Next, the Eggplant Salad - which was fried eggplant, red and green pepper, tomato, Korean style carrots, garlic and cilantro served in a soy sauce. It tasted fine - I'm not a big fan of eggplant, but the veggies tasted fresh and I had some of the bread they served with it. The next appetizer was Achichuk, which is a traditional Uzbek salad of thinly sliced tomatoes, hot peppers and onions. I did not taste the dish, but was told it was okay for spiced fresh tomatoes. The last appetizer was Kutab - which was a flattened shell, which tasted and resembled the exterior of a fried dumplings, with meat and onions on the inside. It was super thin, and tasted okay. We ordered our main dishes after we finished the appetizers. The couple we were with both ordered the Salmon Kabobs - I tasted the salmon, it tasted good, and was tender. I ordered the Lamb kabobs - the lamb was tender, but it was a little too salty. However, when I had a piece of the lamb with the saffron rice, it diminished the saltiness of the lamb and tasted fine. My partner ordered the Filet Mignon kebab. It did not come with the other 3 orders - the sever said it would be out momentarily. Almost 15 minutes later, I was amazed my partner didn't have her entree! I gave the server a 'look' - she went in the back and FINALLY brought out my partner's dish. The meat (Filet Mignon) was tough and difficult to chew. I took a piece of my Lamb kabob to compare - my lamb was very tender compared to the steak! Not only was the order overly delayed - it was below average. While the other dishes were acceptable - they were mediocre. I would like to point out we were there during the dinner hour and we were the ONLY patrons there during the entire dinner. I wasn't surprised.

Often times while traveling, my wife and I always make an effort to grab…read more different types of food that we don't have in our area. Imagine our surprise, that while in town for business, and with time to kill before an art exhibition, we discovered an Uzbeki restaurant. Immediately upon entering, we were greeted and led to a large comfortable booth in the back of the restaurant. The lighting was warm, the walls were adorned with beautiful rugs, and the customers' spirits were high. Each table had been pre-set with the resutarant's lovely plates and crystal drinkware. Given that this was our first time at an Uzbeki eatery, we asked our server for some suggestions. Upon doing so, she then asked us if we prefer meat or fish. After perusing the menu a bit more and taking her suggestions into consideration, we had decided to order a wide array of sorts, opting for the pickled herring and potato appetizer, some Tandoori Samsas, a bowl of the Kharcho soup, and an order of the Guyru Dumplings. Our dishes were brought out promptly and our server made sure to check on us periodically throughout our meal, at one point even offering to allow the kitchen to split some of our dishes up for us to make it easier to share with one another. The pallet of flavors we were presented with was colored and wonderful; the pickled hairing playing a perfect duet with the hearty roasted potatoes, pairing well balanced acidity and perfectly crisp potatoey goodness, the kharcho simultaneously lightly spicy and fully refershing with that dill coming throough alongside juiicy chunks of lamb, and the the delectable dumplings, swimming in a flavorful bath of broth and sour cream. As we were nearing fullness, we realized we had forgotten to add one more piece to this meal...the dessert! After this realization, we decided to share a piece of wonderfully sticky Phaklava, adorned with and generously filled with walnuts and golden raisans. Suzani Restaurant is not to be missed. It is a dining experience that makes me feel like you've been invited into someone's home, but also that you are sitting down for a royal banquet. Be sure to check it out if you ever find yourself in the area. 5/5 stars

This place underwent major changes and ,as I learned changed ownership around a year ago.This is a…read moregreat news for all patrons and restaurant itself. For now,they are still operating on the old menu,but in couple months they promise exciting additions to the lunch and dinner options. They changed whole concept ,place is really looking younger,their prepared food section becomes more like small food market with beautiful vegetarian dishes and imported cheeses from Georgia. Service is much better, food is very good. My favorite was green bean pkhali and as a sweet finale they offered huuuge piece of divine cake,called Sneakers,with condensed milk based frosting,meringue in the middle and beautiful chocolate cake layers. So jealous to locals,who can dine here as much as possible.

10/10 for food. This was my first time having Georgian cuisine and I loved it so much, I actually…read moreresearched recipes and attempted cooking the dishes at home the following week. There were 3 of us and we split the beets with walnuts, spinach with walnuts, eggplant with walnuts (wish this had more pomegranate arils), chkmeruli (chicken cooked in milk and garlic sauce), meat khinkali (dumplings), and khachapuri (bread filled with cheese and egg, I could have eaten this entire dish myself). I also especially loved the spinach with walnuts! Cute interior but the benches are not very comfortable. There is also a counter section where you can order many of the menu items to-go. Service was less than stellar (forgot a drink order) which is the only reason this is a 4-star review and not 5.

Uzbekistan Restaurant never disappoints us! The food is always absolutely delicious, fresh,…read moregenerous, and made with real soul. Whether we dine in or order delivery, everything arrives beautifully prepared and tastes wonderful every single time. The owner is incredibly kind, attentive, and accommodating. They have catered our holiday tables more than once, including Passover, and everything was done with such care and respect. That means a great deal to our family. As former New Yorkers ourselves, we know and miss good, authentic food, so we are not easy to impress. Uzbekistan Restaurant truly makes us happy and reminds us of the flavors we grew up with. We are so grateful to have them in Philadelphia and recommend them from the heart!

A Magical hidden gem on slow nights…read more.. As I entered the patio I felt magically transported to a city with a big reputation. Quant and romantic. Restorative. Great for everyone, Sat by the corner wishing it was a coffee lounge... tried borscht, the hummus and the Moscow fish. All so very delicious.... Great service overall but Soviet style has to relax a bit with an upsell. Loved it...

I absolutely loved getting my kettle of hot tea. And the…read moresmall mezze sampler plate. Absolutely so delicious and so plentiful and so fresh.. I really enjoyed the eggplant varieties . I absolutely had a wonderful time. The service is magnificent and it's just nice and relaxing . DELICIOUS FOOD. I'm very grateful to the hard-working people who take care of us so wonderfully. The servers, dishwashers , chefs, the farmers , the farm hands , people who pick up the phones and give service / care over the Internet. Their account list folks who did their job so well! Thank you .

We decided to go all in on the menu, and honestly, that's the reason I'd come back…read more We started with the cheese borek and lahmacun. The borek came out hot and flaky, with that perfect balance of crispy outside and soft, cheesy inside. The lahmacun was thin, slightly crispy, and packed with flavor the mix of lamb and spices hit without feeling heavy. Then came the Istanbul Mix Grill, and this is where they really stand out. You get a full spread lamb chops, Adana, chicken, kofta, gyro and everything actually tasted amazing. The lamb chops were juicy, the Adana had a nice kick, and the chicken was tender and well seasoned. Portions are generous easily enough for two. We finished with baklava, kunefe, and Turkish coffee. The baklava was solid, but the kunefe is the one you don't skip warm, cheesy, slightly sweet, and fresh. Paired with the Turkish coffee, it was the perfect way to end the meal. Service was fast, and everyone was genuinely friendly. They didn't just take orders they actually helped guide us on what pairs well together, which made the experience better overall. Price wise it's worth it. Not overpriced for the amount and quality of food you're getting. The vibe is casual and family friendly, but still flexible you can come here with friends to hang out and talk, or even make it a solid date night spot. What stood out most is that there were no weak links across everything we ordered and that's rare when you try this many dishes. If you're coming here, don't play it safe. Get the mix grill, try a couple appetizers, and finish with kunefe especially with the ice cream on top!

Definitely a fun place to try visit. Even if you have never had Georgian food, the menu along with…read moreyour server will help you pick things you will enjoy. We have been here several times since my last review and have tried other Georgian restaurants in the area and we keep coming back here. We sat out on the enclosed porch, which has a nice feel to it. The place has a full bar with Georgian wines and beer as well as more familiar options but give these other ones a try - you won't be dissapointed We had 4 other people with us who had never had this cuisine and they all enjoyed it. Our server was fun to talk with and he made the night even more enjoyable. From the Cheese Boat to the Chicken Chqmeruli (both a must try) to the Dumplings and the whole Branzino to the Kebabs, I'm sure you will find something new and delicious to try.

This is a take out review and I will for sure go back to dine in…read more I love Georgian food specifically the dumplings and bread boats. I was happy to be in the area and wanted to try them. They have take out orders towards the back of the restaurant. They also sell sauces, cheeses', beer, wine etc. My order was ready when I arrived. Packed well with utensils. I missed getting a menu but I willl be back. They have a dining room and out door patio/beer garden. It was busy and lively. Parking available. I got home and could wait to try the khinkali. They have beef and pork or lamb. I got the lamb. It was so juicy and yummy with the sour cream. I also wanted to try the Kharcho, a tomato based soup with beef and herbs. The small was $8 and very small but very good. I will defiantly go back to dine in and try all the other amazing menu items.

I Am SOLD! Chicken over rice FTW!I've lived close and been looking at this place for so long and…read moreavoid trying the food. Now that I finally did- the food is so deliciously and conveniently done without compromising the taste and quality. Such a quick yet accommodating service and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. If there's one complain I have is that I didn't order a lot ... I will definitely frequent this place more often. Oh, and did I mention it is affordable? 4stars and not 5 for my late discovery.

The falafel over rice is awesome. The only issue here is you never know when they are open. There…read moreare no operating times are posted anywhere and at the beginning of 2017 they had a 'closed for vacation sign' up and were gone about a week , so its hit or miss if you catch them open. Also the line can be rather long at times. But the food is really good and a affordable.

My family and I came here with my father-in-law and absolutely loved our meal. My kid found this…read morerestaurant after searching reviews and we wanted to try a new place. Grand Slam Home Run. We found out that most of the people (regulars) who usually come here are on their vacation season so it was not an issue getting a six-top reservation with only a day's notice. The restaurant is huge with at least two mega rooms downstairs and one upstairs. We actually went to the upstairs door to check in only to be told we had to go to the downstairs door and check in there. Once we did, the staff asked if we would be ok with being in the "party" room where there would be a DJ. We were fine with that and the staff was more than happy to accommodate us. Once at our table, the extensive menus made it almost too difficult to decide what we wanted. May want to consider reducing the food options here. My wife and I split a tomahawk steak. Once we ordered it, we were told we should probably move to an eight-top because we would have more space. The place was almost empty at 6:15pm on a Saturday so we got to move and give us some more room. We also had two serving of Plov, a prime NY strip, a roasted beet salad, and a chicken fingers with fries. We added some bread, too, along with some compote. The Plov was some of the best we've ever had with lots of tender meat. Both steaks were cooked to our liking. Fries were killer and the chicken fingers were fine. I did not care for the compote as I'm used to it with fruit still in the drink. At about 7pm, the DJ started but there was no separate party which is what we thought was going to show up. The DJ sang some and played up-tempo dance music but also threw in some known music like Ob-Bla-Dee Ob-Bla-Dah from the Beatles also in the dance music style. So much fun after drinking a lot of our BYOB alcohol. Service was excellent and more than accommodating for us. He even advised when we were getting ready to leave that it was raining hard and we could stay until it died down. The restaurant is colorful with lights and designs on the walls including projector lights and white linen sheets above. The place was clean and also the bathrooms on the lower rear level. $305 not including tip for six adults which included two steaks, two Plov, chicken fingers with fries, three breads, and a compote. I mention a lot with my reviews that I'd come back to a place. I really can't wait to return to Samarkand! It was just a lot of fun with excellent food and service. I hope it's just as good when the place is slammed and full.

We stopped in today and enjoyed some Laughman soup…read more Absolutely fresh and delicious. Consistently delectable. I love this soup and the service is so magnificent. I enjoy my time here every time. How wonderful. I recommend making a reservation. I'm very grateful to all the hard-working people here who take care of us so well!!

I've been here several times and the only downside is that it's a bit far from me. Other than that,…read moreeverything is solid. Lamb skewers are the absolute must-order. My partner and our friends love them so much that we always get extra to take home. The baked samsas (lamb pies) are delicious when hot - just order them early since they take a while to come out. The big plate chicken comes with hand-pulled wide noodles that soak up all the sauce. The potatoes are super soft and it's not too spicy. Perfect. I'm a huge fan of sour and spicy flavors, so the liang fen (cold jelly noodles) is my personal favorite. I can finish a whole plate by myself, especially in summer - so refreshing. Lamb soup and lamb polo (pilaf) both come with a huge piece of tender lamb. The soup is light and not greasy at all. The polo has that nice oily coating on the rice, but honestly I always order too much because their portions are very generous. Highly recommend if you're in the Northeast Philly area - or even if you're not!

A true taste of Xinjiang. The Ding Ding noodles were flavorful and perfectly cooked, the lamb pilaf…read morewas rich and satisfying, and the Big Plate Chicken was bold and comforting. Don't miss the fragrant Xinjiang flower tea. Authentic, delicious, and highly recommended.