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29 August, 2014
Restaurant
Bolognese, the Italian restaurant, which is situated in Almaty, on intersection of Gogolya and Zheltoksan streets, was chosen as a subject for review this time. I chose it since the reviews about the place were controversial, and plus I was not there yet. Also – because I know the original Italian cuisine, the performance of other Almaty places, so can judge it relatively well. So, I really became interested. Though it is important to realize that Italian cuisine is the cuisine of products, and it is rather hard to spoil the meals, if the correct authentic products are used. So, lets see.
ATMOSPHERE
As it turned out, the restaurant had two entrances – from each street, Gogolya and Zheltoksan. We entered from Gogolya street and were greeted by…no one. There were no waiters at entrance. There was a single couple having lunch right near the entrance. We walked along the small halls of the restaurant – the place was the office before, so the zoning of the premises was not standard. It turned out that the bar and administrator were near the entrance which was on Zheltoksan street, and that was the place where guests were being welcomed and seated. Well...I guess proper guests shall not come in from other side, since there was no one.
It was a pleasant interior there – something similar to countryside, with tender colors, large intimate lamps, pretty furniture and large distance between the tables. It was sad only that the windows too high. But there was no other option – it is practically a basement premises. The intimate light though is perfect for the date.
It is not allowed to smoke inside of the restaurant, even though there is a good ventilation. Not loud music does not irritate at all, just calms down. Even though it was a holiday, there were not many visitors inside – only few tables were occupied. The thing I was not comfortable about – absence of hangers for coats. Theoretically in the end of the hall there was cloakroom, but since we were not advised to use it, I just make a conclusion that it does not work. Overall – a typical Italian restaurant with checked tablecloths and textile napkins.
It is necessary to mention the famous Bolognese’s restroom. It was noted a lot enough, and I will note it too. The first surprising thing is when you enter the restroom is darkness. Then the eyes get used to it and it becomes clear that the lamps with the limitedly directed light are only above the key subjects in the restroom, the rest area is practically in a complete darkness. I hope such situation is only in men’s room, since it is not clear how women go there, do makeup and hair. Though it is important to note that in men’s room there is some device manipulated by the leg pedal, which replaces the standard water tap. It looked pretty and fun. A creative approach.
It is necessary to mention the famous Bolognese’s restroom. It was noted a lot enough, and I will note it too. The first surprising thing is when you enter the restroom is darkness. Then the eyes get used to it and it becomes clear that the lamps with the limitedly directed light are only above the key subjects in the restroom, the rest area is practically in a complete darkness. I hope such situation is only in men’s room, since it is not clear how women go there, do makeup and hair. Though it is important to note that in men’s room there is some device manipulated by the leg pedal, which replaces the standard water tap. It looked pretty and fun. A creative approach.
CUISINE
Cuisine is my favourite thing. I wanted to order something different from a standard pizza and pasta, something which is being cooked well here, since according to given business card the chef of Bolognese was someone named Simone Ariano. I guess a native host of the culinary traditions.
Cuisine is my favourite thing. I wanted to order something different from a standard pizza and pasta, something which is being cooked well here, since according to given business card the chef of Bolognese was someone named Simone Ariano. I guess a native host of the culinary traditions.
At the entrance there was such board where like within best European traditions there was written by a chalk that the meal of the day is – Straccetti, The beef in a balsamic vinegar with cherry tomatoes and arugula. Without hesitation this was what I have ordered as a hot meal. Plus I ordered Deliziosa salad and raspberry Icetea.
In relation to straccetti – the situation is difficult. Generally, in Italian cuisine Straccetti Dimanzo is a warm salad out of grilled beef, tomatoes and arugula. Bolognese surprisingly made it a hot main meal, and the beef became braised in a balsamic vinegar. Well…the cuisine is a flexible thing, if not the only fact that balsamic vinegar is a vinegar. And to roast a meat in it is not a perfect idea. Yes, the meat gets the typical pleasant aroma and becomes softer, but it is still heavy to digest, since the vinegar irritates the mucosa. It is better to put the vinegar on a ready to go meal, if a person wishes, and not to roast the meat in it. It reminds the marinating of the tough shashlik in table vinegar. It is soft for teeth, but hard for the stomach. As a side dish there were served potato wedges with caraway, and it was delicious. I liked it the most.
Raspberry Icetea was as I expected, as well as free bread with the butter which is traditionally being served in the beginning of the meal. It was fresh and aromatic.
Salad Deliziosa needs to be mentioned separately. It is a mix of strawberry, tomato and salad leaves which is very light and tasteful. I liked the unusual mixture of sweet and herbal tastes. I am not sure what traditional Italian cuisine thinks about it, but the idea is definitely not bad.
As for desert I ordered coffee Mocca and Moelleux desert. For some reason the coffee was served in a glass where usually the whiskey is being served and with a straw, though the drink was hot.
Moelleux – is a famous French desert which is a chocolate cake with the liquid chocolate filling inside. It was cooked not perfect, but well. While being served, the cake was broken down. But overall the cuisine was much better than I expected while reading the reviews.
Moelleux – is a famous French desert which is a chocolate cake with the liquid chocolate filling inside. It was cooked not perfect, but well. While being served, the cake was broken down. But overall the cuisine was much better than I expected while reading the reviews.
Menu was bright, vivid, but a little old, which was not good. Though the pictures in menu were exactly as served meals.
SERVICE
I did not have any complaints except that no one was greeting me: the waiter worked quickly, always taking out the dirty plates and tissues, and was very polite. Usually it takes about 20 minutes to get the order in a restaurant, here everything was much quicker.
VALUE FOR MONEY
Every time I was passing by Bolognese, looking at exterior and location, I thought that there are very expensive prices. Apparently, I was wrong – the prices are absolutely normal and moderate for the Italian restaurant. The hot meal costs within 2000-2500 tenge, and the total bill for one person usually will not exceed 5000 tenge. It is a very medium price for the restaurant. Quality is not perfect, but having looked to the price, there is a certainly balance.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
It is not allowed to smoke inside, there are no smoking halls, as it should be. It is very convenient since the menu has marks: vegetarian, fish. There are no marks indicating the kids menu, and no kids play zone. There is also no nutrition information of the meal. Next to each meal there are ingridients written, but not always there is indicated the way of cooking – so you just have to guess. I did not select any sizes of portions, but menu is silent about it too. Generally, the social responsibility is not a priority for the restaurant.
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