Pomegranate Restaurant Reviews

What a surprise. On a street of Dennys and Macdonalds, the place does not have a wow factor except that as soon as you enter, you are aware that it is a charming family run place and the chef is world class. The chakapuri (a lamb stew) contained a whole lamb bone and the meat fell off the bone; the stew was aromatic and full of onions and mushrooms. The salad sampler contains five or six large salad helpings and is an ample meal in itself. Everything is beautifully plated and the wait staff are charming and knowledgeable about the food. Altogether a 5 star experience.

We went there with my husband, sister in law and her husband. The place had a very nice decor. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and gave us great recommendations on food. The sample salad tray is very good as others have mentioned. We also had the potato dumplings which were delicious. The best part of our meal was the main dish. We ordered chicken and pork kebabs and they were both the most delicious meats we've had in a long time...very juicy and well marinated. It definitely was a memorable dinner and we plan to go back with our teenagers.

It is a very odd restaurants. Staff are friendly. Food is great. But there was a silverfish on our table and when we told this to the waiter, he just kill it with his hand. He didn't even bother himself to clean the table or to apologize for their dingy restaurant! No matter how good your food is, you have to respect the customer and care about the condition of your restaurant!

We had a wonderful time at Pomegranate! We went with a group of 9 for a birthday dinner. It was loads of fun, the food was great and the service was gracious. We sampled many menu items and liked everything- especially the cheese pie, the borscht, the cocktails (basil martini!!) and the Georgian red wine. Highly recommend.

This place is great, Ive never seen anywhere else where people write messages on the wall, it was interesting to see. The food is so good and large portions. Very helpful waitress too. I had a salad to start, my husband had the beetroot and walnut salad, then we both had stroganof with pasta twirls. Good unique place to eat.

If you need a cushion to sit on, bring it so you can enjoy a relaxed time on benches or hard chair seats. The mixed salad appetizer sample is big enough for four. The pelmeni was okay. The stroganoff was tasty as was the Chou.... Chicken dish. The Russian tea was served with a Russian brand of cherry syrup not cherries. Okay beverage list. Reasonable prices. Just am not fond of the graffiti adorning (if that term can be used) all the walls.

We stumbled upon this restaurant as it was near our hotel. The menu provided many interesting options. We arrived rather late and by that time several dishes were no longer available. We both had chicken dishes. Both were delicious and served piping hot.

Four of us came for dinner. No reservations taken if you are less than 5 people, but even on a Saturday night, we only had a 15 minute wait. And the wait was worth it. The wine list is small with few options by the glass, so we got a bottle to share. We ordered their special bread and cheese which takes 29 minutes to make, so we started with the salad sampler for 4 people: carrot salad, cabbage salad, beet, eggplant and potato. Five salads and each one delicious. Then came the bread and cheese, but no ordinary bread and cheese. The bread has a deep well in it filled with two hot, melted cheeses. It is served with a raw egg in the center, which is stirred in at the table. The cheese is so hot, it cooks the egg. And voila! A delicious, delicious dish. By now we were full, but the entrees followed. Two different chicken dishes, beef stroganoff, beer borsch soup. The chicken fell off the bones. The beef literally melted in your mouth. It was wonderful. We were too full for dessert but they all sounded great. The restaurant itself has two rooms and outdoor seating. And although a little loud, we could still hear each other. You are encouraged to leave messages on the wall. There is a collection of tea sets with the czar's pattern. And samovars everywhere. Outside is a grill for the grilled meat selections. There are some very long tables for large parties or communal seating. The only downside is parking. You have to troll the streets to find s spot. But worth it!

A surprise find on El Cajon Blvd. Georgian food is so flavorful. The owner serves with an attitude of your great aunt who knows what is good for you! The casual attitude of the restaurant is reflected on the writings on the wall - literally!

Service can be a little slow and eclectic, but the food is authentic and delicious. Definitely worth a visit.

My previous experience of Russian restaurants has demonstrated the importance of vodka in Russian life and how it should accompany most meals and probably fuel most chefs. Not here though - instead there's a decent selection of beers and some wines, including a very passable Georgian red. As for the food, it was certainly very different. The soups that our neighbors were having looked great but we decided to try other things. We went as a foursome so we could try different tastes. For appetizers we had beet salad, which I was assured was very good (I don't see the attraction of beets), Ikra Badrijannaya (a pureed egg-plant dish that is wonderful), Khachapuri (cheese pie that was good but a little dry) and Vareniki (potato and cheese dumplings with caramelized onions) which were quite good. Main courses (all very big) we tried were Chakhokhbili (chicken casserole), Chakapuli (lamb, onions in a plum sauce) and chicken Tabaka (a Cornish hen that looked as though it had been stepped on by an elephant, then deep fried with enough garlic to keep vampires away forever and pomegranate juice) - I thought this was very good and our friends enjoyed their casseroles. We had too much food but we took doggy bags home. A fun and different experience. The staff was efficient and very helpful.

You absolutely have to have the borsht in this place, and the one with the beef in it. If there are two of you or more, having borsht with the sample tray of Russian salads and condiments is a good filling meal. It's a healthy meal too. The bread is over top in flavor too. The staff and owners are nice people, with a lot of heart and personality. The environment is warm, interesting and always popular. A bowl of borsht and an entree of shashlik, meat from a stick, is a hearty very filling meal. This is my very favorite place to eat, and runs nose to nose with Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneer Town, CA. Both places get's my blue ribbon. Make sure you write something on the wall at the Russian place. Write something witty and fun!

Great Russian/Georgian food. Been here twice now- Saturday and Sunday evenings. Variety salad appetizer, special dumplings, beef stroganoff were all very very good. You won't regret checking it out. Come relatively early as they do not take reservations for parties less than 6.

I've eaten hear on my last 3 trips to San Diego and never fail to be delighted. The staff is attentive and friendly, the food sublime, the atmosphere totally charming. I could spend all day enjoying just the comments and artwork inscribed on the wall by friends and visitors. This is one of those places that is not particularly quiet but has romantic touches that support an intimate dining experience. If you want it. TBT, I've always been here with friends not a date. That being said, I would feel totally confident choosing Pomegranate for a one-on-one. Enjoy!

Having driven by Pomegranate dozens of times but never stopping in, we decided to give it a try. Four of us spent a leisurely Saturday evening enjoying the food and great service. Since the names of the dishes we had were not common names to us, I can't say what we had, but every one of us was surprised at how good the meals were.

Was not sure what to expect, was pleasantly surprised, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship and the service, staff and ownership were the most gracious people in the business that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.The food was great, especially the Vareniki and the Borscht. Being of Polish descent I was greatly appreciative of the Golubtsi, absolutely the best. My recommendation is if you want good food and a great atmosphere do not miss this restaurant.

We like trying different restaurants and heard about this one. Very glad we did and tried as many dishes as we could between the four of us. This is a very good restaurant, with very good Russian food. Plenty of seating and pleasant atmosphere. Small note : Come early for the parking is sparse but worth it.

A super sweet and personal restaurant with great service and food!☺ Would recommend it for everyone to go!!

The food IS delicious, and it used to be my favorite restaurant in town until I started working there and really got a taste of the seedy underbelly of Pomegranate. Mark( the old man you will find sitting in the corner who is a partner in the buisness), simply put, is the spawn of SATAN and truly, deeply hates women! He acts nice to you when you are giving him your money! But ladies, when you turn away he says dirty and disgusting things about you in Russian. He uses all his girlfriends, talks down to women like they are dogs, and takes advantage of immigrant women working in the kitchen. He pays the workers BELOW MINIMUM WAGE, does not give them the option to legally file wages with proper tax forms, or to have adequate brakes. Some people work in the kitchen for 12 hours straight and he makes one person hustle alone serving the front during most weekdays. On top of it all, HE STEALS the majority of the tips from his waitresses! I got fired after telling him that he had no right doing these things to people and that I would not allow him to treat me like that!!!! He said what are you going to do? you are just a stupid woman! This man doesn't have an ounce of humanity in him or respect for anyone, not even his closest friends! Yes, he lies and steals even from John and Tracy who are grilling out back and are his best friends! I am still in shock about the evil that resides in that place and I continue to have nightmares almost every night about Pomegranate. Nothing hurts me more than the fact that all the amazing people who make that place happen and cook wonderful food are being treated like dirt every single day! I am not sure what to do about it, but the fact that the nightmares still haunt me is a sign that its my place to do something about what is happening. I have not gone to the IRS because they would shut the whole place down. Some of the people who work there don't speak English and wouldn't have work otherwise. Its hard to say how long this place will stay open when that kind of injustice is taking place. For a small hole in the wall restaurant, Pomegranate violates every human right possible! So... if you decide to go there, I recommend that you spit in the old man's face and make sure you personally tip your waitress! Always ask for change and give the tips to the person who served you... otherwise the money will be counted by the jerk at the counter, and less than a third of it will make it into the hands of the people who are sweating blood making and serving your food!

We went on a whim because we were feeling adventurous and wanted to try something different. We had the salad sampler which I highly recommend because you get an amazing array of different flavors to try. For our main course, the skewers (cooked over flames outside) and the lamb shank were fantastic. And can I just say Honey Cake? We felt like we were at a family restaurant in Russia, clearly lots of regulars and a team of waiters who worked very hard to make our experience one to remember.

very hearty dishes... large portions... you will love it if you long for meat and potatoes. Was stuffed by the time we were done but well content that we had a great meal.

Very unassuming and quiet, but this restaurant has great flavors. Even the bread and garlic butter was excellent. We had all the classics, chebureki (fried turnover) with beef and yogurt sauce, they were huge! The borscht was very well done, lots of beet flavor and great textures. The stroganoff was also really great, not too rich, well cooked noodles and overall really tasty. Service was pretty good, no complaints. This was my first experience at a Russian style restaurant, will definitely be returning when I come back to San Diego.

What a gem of a restaurant. We had a delicious dinner here. The salad appetizer tray was amazing, as was the borscht, both vegan and meat. The meatloaf (made with chicken) was tasty and the beef stroganoff was outstanding. I'm not a lover of stroganoff but this was the best. The staff were all friendly and attentive. I can't wait to go back again.

Warm atmosphere with an inviting owner.. He even lets you write your name on the wall after your feast of meat, meat, meat..Good place.

There were 3 things that blew our mind in San Giego - Wild Safari, Houses with the view from the tops of the hills and this restaurant. If the first two were super overpriced, this restaurant was just out of this world great with very reasonable prices. I am very picky about the food I eat and I know Russian/Georgian food style very well, there is not a week goes by in my house when I do not prepare something Russian or Georgian. I can tell you with absolute certainty that this place should be the standard or th eguage by which all Russian / Caucasian restaurants must live by. If any of my readers have not tried this type of food, do not be afraid, even though you will not find much on the menu that you are familiar with. Simply, ask to speak to the owner (Dmitry) and allow him to recommend dishes. You can't go wrong here. From salads and Khachipuri to soup kharcho and shashlyks, to deserts - everything is super fine. I get to go to Russia on business quite a lot and over the last 15 years I found only one American who did not like this type of food (but he prefers McDonalds to anything else anyway, so he simply should not be counted). Do not be afraid - give it a try and you will be hooked for the rest of your life. Thanks, Dmitry for giving me the chance to enjoy your place. PS to all in California - learn to build places with dedicated parking lots. :-)

One word: SHASHLIK! I’m partial to this dish from the menu of this delightful russian restaurant, specifically Georgian. Whenever I go here I order up the “Shashlik”, which is only offered Thursday thru Sunday. Its a MIGHTY plate, with a preparation time of 25+ minutes depending on how busy the restaurant is at the time. Shashlik is served in either your choice of pork loin or chicken which is “marinated in yogurt, grilled over various prunings that give shashlik its tantalizing aroma. It is said that this dish saved the yalta accords between stalin, churchill and roosevelt in 1944.” I always get the Pork Loin and its always MOUTHWATERING GOODNESS every time! Never fails! One of the best pork chops I’ve eaten - Hands down! For starters we had the cheese pie “Khachapuri”, which is like a good mini apple pie except instead of apple its cheese and one egg stirred in right in front of you by the server! Damn its sooo good! As the restaurant state, “life without khachapuri is not worth living”. Hence, we LIVE!!! The service is good! Our hostess was not accomodating initially for our party of 7 when we all wanted to sit together in their front patio which we took over two separate adjacent tables. Luckily our server made arrangements to simply put our tables together so we can all eat together. We pretty much had one side of the patio to ourselves! Thank you to that server!

Twice was there before. Kitchen was increadible. Chief and owner (Mark, Thak you!) were so friendly. This time I came for early dinner. Restaurant change name and owner. Now it is PETRUSHKA. They still serve East Europeon dishes. But quality of food is really average now. Design - very simple, tables is not very convinient. What I had to eat: Borshch (red beet soup), very average, not even close to ukrainian type. Hachapuri (georgian cheese pie) was so-so. Russian beer Baltika - at least better than Budweiser. Bill was $27 What was good: very nice and friendly waiter (young girl), they accept credit card now. I was told previous owner will open new restaurant somewhere. Mark, tell people where you are now!

loved everything on the menu!

What incredible food! I can't imagine visiting San Diego again and not eating here. We had take out because it was a bit chilly to eat outside. Everything was hot and perfect. Excellent restaurant!

My husband and I take all of our out-of-town guests to Pomegranate for dinner. The Beef Stroganoff is out of this world - a must-try! Overall, everything I've ever eaten here (and I've had pretty much everything) is outstanding. Everything tastes fresh, the service is great, and the ambiance is comfortable and inviting. The prices are very reasonable and portion size decent.

I had a birthday here and I loved it - the atmosphere on a Friday is fun and quirky. Amazing different food!! A must if in the area. Definitely try the Borscht soup - so good.

We went with a group of friends and tried most of the specialties. All were really good: borscht, beef stroganoff , wonderful salad platter, and cheese:egg/bread appetizer. Will go back again.

I had never heard of this restaurant nor do I consider Russian food as a dining option. However, I went to this restaurant with a Meetup group and I was blown away. First of all, the restaurant is very homey and bohemian. But it's the food I'm still thinking about. I ordered the "Georgian Eagle" (Russian name is too hard to remember) which is a chicken dish cooked in a variety of spices and herbs and which is delicious! Some others ordered the lamb shashlik which is to die for!!! It's only available Friday - Sunday and is amazing (thanks to someone letting me taste some of theirs). I try not to eat much red meat but I do have a weakness for lamb and plan to go back to have a plate of this lamb all to myself next time. Parking is an issue there. There's only street parking.

We just LOVED this restaurant. The atmosphere is lovely but casual, with grafiti on the wall for fun. There is also outdoor seating, though we didn't because of the weather. We tried many dishes to share. My favorite was the borscht. The cheese bread was great fun and delicious.

After going with a friend years ago, I have been trying to get back here to experience the fabulous food again. Last week, our friend visiting from Europe happily agreed to try it. It was every bit as good as I remembered. We enjoyed the sampler appetizer plate of salads, Cheese Pie, Lamb (Chanakhi) and Chicken (Chakhokhbili) dishes. Get yourself there to enjoy their marvelous food.

The food is probably OK, you can't get excellent food of another country outside that country. But the service team could take more care of guests, they were outright unfriendly and showing only minimal service.

Found it by accident while staying at the hotel across the street. The Khachapuri (cheese pie) was amazing. I had the beef stroganoff which was the most tender and delicious I have ever eaten. My wife had the tabaka (flattened cornish game hen). It came out on fire and she wondered what she had gotten herself into. One bite and she was hooked. To top it off, we ordered honey cake for dessert. It was by far the best meal we ate on our trip to San Diego.

I was not looking for Russian food...was not even sure what that would be.... Well all I can say is that I enjoyed one of the best meals I have had on years! If you have traveled in Europe you will feel that quaint, dark, warm feeling from this place. Run by Dimetre and Dimetre they both go out of their way to welcome you and introduce you to their world. I recommend the salad sampler for sure - we had cabbage rolls and fresh rye bread and stout. Ugh...I want to go now! Top it off with Turkish coffee served in a beautiful cup that your babushka might have!

On a road trip through California, my wife had the urge to eat some Eastern European food. As she is Polish, this seemed as close as we could find in San Diego. The owner and waitress were very welcoming and my wife could practice her Russian. The place had a very nice decor. Our waiteress was very knowledgeable and gave us great recommendations on food. The potato dumplings which were good. The best part of our meal was the chicken and pork kebabs, Tasty, very juicy and well marinated. Overall the food had not been too westernised to meet western tastes.

The waiters were friendly and helpful but did not hover, which I consider a plus. The walls are covered in graffiti from customers, and you won't feel out of place in casual clothes, but it can still feel like a special occasion restaurant. Rather than order entrees our table of three got a variety of small plates and shared, giving us a bit of the feel of a Georgian feast. Georgia is famous for Khachpuri: a cheese and bread dish. The Adjaruli version (with an egg mixed into the melted cheese tableside) was definitely the star of our dinner.

Thursday is usually our “dine out” night. This week we had friends recommend Pomegranate in North Park. The only thing we knew was Russian inspired dishes. Since we recently returned from St Petersburg Russia, we decided to give it a try. The dining room is eclectically furnished. Mismatched chairs and a combination of round and square tables. The environment is low key and friendly. We were quickly seated and given menus and water. I like water that is delivered to the table in large bottle so you can serve yourself. We drink a lot of water and quickly learned our water would never run out! Looking over the menu and the wine list we couldn’t decide on anything! Our server told us about their appetizer special (a Russian word I can’t even begin to spell) which was meat stuffed dumplings also filled with broth. Our sever also recommended a very good Georgian Cabernet. I have to point out that the wine list is pretty good and prices are very reasonable at $29! Seriously not out of control like some places that sell a bottle of wine for $50. While waiting for our appetizer we polished off that bottle of Cabernet! The short list of main courses made it easy to choose from the very hearty selections. We chose the beef stroganoff and the dinner special of meatloaf. Our dumplings arrived with a detailed description of how to eat them. There was a “knot” of dough designed for you to hold while you eat the dumplings. We probably should have ordered more because they were quickly consumed and YUMMY! Our main courses and second bottle of wine arrived. After eating all those dumplings we barely touched our delicious main courses. During dinner a group of teenage girls sang several songs. Making the evening even more enjoyable. Bottom line: you must visit Pomegranate! We definitely will be back!

We had to wait a little but all agree this was the best restaurant we visited in San Diego. Open inside with outdoor seating and tons of graffiti on the wall that was fun to read while we waited for food. Other members of our party ordered vodka and black bread and everyone loved it (I was driving). Next, Borscht all around. Rich and delicious, I cold have eaten this all night. I ordered beef stroganoff with mashed potatoes. Another rich and delicious dish and I should have stopped with this. We also, at my request, ordered the assorted pickled vegetables for the table. The pickled vegetables we really lightly pickles and the bowl was enormous! We will definitely visit during our next trip to San Diego.

We had a great culinary experience in one of the friendliest and welcoming environment. The food is simply yum, prices reasonable and portions sumptuous

We came with high expectations, but the place is not even near to the level of Russian restaurants of Washington and New York. Yes, it is fairly authentic. Yes, our server was exceptionally nice. But the food was not that amazing. Also, the appetizers, soups, and main courses were all served at the same time. The Georgian wine was of the cheapest variety. We wish they would try just a little harder.

Seriously, the ikra is delicious. It's a vegetable dish not a spread the way it's often served, and there was enough for four. But be aware that the khachapuri you may have had at other Georgian restaurants is not what is served here. The "cheese boat with egg" has a different name on the menu and is only available on Friday and Saturday. Color me disappointed. Here, the khachapuri is a cheese turnover made with flaky pastry and tasted like it might have been frozen. Not bad, just not what I was hoping for.

This was our first visit here and we were greeted right away even before we entered the door by a gracious stout Russian man and again when we entered through the door. The walls were a mural of writings on the the wall by past patrons, Some were even in Cyrillic. The bathroom was a work of art itself as there was even a telescope in there. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. The waiters and waitresses were nice and genuinely friendly. Be sure to take Johnny Cash with you as Credit Cards are not accepted.

Be had the meat filled pasta and Georgian cheese pie to share. The pasta had a LOT of black pepper, but didn't feel over-spiced. The cheese "pie" was actually a square of phyllo with what seemed like cream cheese, tomato, and some spices. It reminded me of southern tomato pie. Overall, the food felt different enough to be interesting, yet familiar enough not to taste "foreign." The atmosphere was fun... writing on the walls, fun signs, some Russian touches. The staff was friendly and had good recommendations. It was an enjoyable experience.

Went there for dinner recently with our son and his girlfriend. We shared the melted cheese bread app, which is the house specialty and outstanding. Followed with the borst and the lamb stew, both of which were great. Interesting drawings and decorations by locals on the walls. Combined with reasonable prices, it's hard to beat for Eastern European food.

Russian & Georgian dishes served that was recommended by Russian friend of the family. Beet Salad was served two ways; with mayonnaise like a salad married with Borscht & the other serving with Olive Oil. The four people at our table were fighting over it, the salad was so good and plenty to share. Started with a Hot Cheese mixed with a raw egg that turned the cheese into a fondue that was so rich and delicious, almost like an Alfredo Sauce with warm bread; so Yummy! We had Cornish Game Hen & Beef Stroganoff also which were good, but the best dish at the table was called Shashlik which can be served with a variety of meats, but we chose Chicken. It was roasted over charcoal and served with grilled red onions and peppers and bathed in a pomegranate glaze that I'm still dreaming about over 1 week later... The chicken was by far the juiciest and most flavorful that I have ever tasted. We will definitely be going back soon. The table shared a dish of vanilla ice cream topped with pomegranate sauce which was sweet and didn't compete with the sauce from the more savory sauce from the chicken. This restaurant is definitely a new family favorite!

An amazing find. From creative decor, fantastic food, brilliant atmosphere and amazing owner Dimitri and his team. Possibly the best meal I have had in San Diego. This is an absolute must for anyone's trip to Americas Finest City!

Never ever tried food form this part of the world before and was pleasantly surprised by the subtlety of the flavors and aromas and simple fares were so tasty hearty and enjoyable. Our waiter was an absolute delight and willing to explain the origin and story of every dish. The ambiance is simple yet classy. A pleasant surprise.

Great introduction to Russian cuisine. We recommend the delicious honey cake! The staff is delightful. We had a wonderful time

First time visit to this restaurant with relatives who have eaten here before. We had never had Russian-Georgian food and was very pleased with our experience. There were so many interesting choices on the menu, it was hard to decide. So we ordered a variety of items to share. We sampled the carrot salad and "Olivier" - a Russian version of potato salad, Khachapuri - cheese pie, and Chebureki - fried turnovers stuffed with ground meat, onions and herbs. In additional to the Russian borscht, they offered the fisherman's special for soups. Our party ordered both and our entrees included the lamb - Chakapuli, the cornish hen -Chicken Tabaka, Chicken Chakhokhbili, and the vegetable ragout - Ajap Sandali. Desserts included the baked apple - Babushka and the honey cake - Medovik Torte and Turkish coffees. Service was attentive and efficient and friendly. Street parking only. Only area for improvement - restaurant was much too dark for me. I would like to be able to feast eyes on my food and to see the menu and my companions!

My husband and I found the food at Pomegranate authentic--as good or better than that we ate in Russia during the month we traveled there. We ordered the salad sampler ($16.00): 5 different dishes (white beans and walnuts; potato; beets; grated carrot; and eggplant. All had a variety of spices and condiments--very tasty. They could be shared among 3 or 4 people as an appetizer, but we ate them all between the two of us and wiped the plates clean with bread. Then we split an order of the lamb shashlik which was plenty for us. Dessert was the baked apple and vanilla ice cream. We drank the samovar tea. Everything was delicious! The servers spoke Russian and were helpful and polite. Definitely not surly. They did not "hover" (which I find annoying) as many in US restaurants do, but waited until it was obvious we were finished eating to remove our plates and bring the dessert. Water glasses were refilled regularly. We will return! NOTE: our visit was early on a Sunday evening. The restaurant was not crowded or noisy.

I had no idea what food this restaurant served when I walked in - I was attracted by the warm ambience of the place. I have never eaten Russian or Georgian food so when I saw the menu I wasn't sure what to expect - but it was all delicious. I had the eggplant salad starter, which was quite a large serving and very tasty. Then I had one of their specials, which was pork steak - it was absolutely delicious! I wished I hadn't eaten quite so much bread, as I wasn't able to finish it. Sadly I had no room to sample dessert.

Delicious food made by folks who grew up eating & cooking the cuisine. Loved it! Healthy size portions and good service.

A great restaurant, full of life - with extraordinary food to boot! We've been there with large groups and just the two of us - the service is always friendly and professional and the food is glorious. Vegetarians will love the appetizer sampler (oh, the carrot salad - how do they do it?) and the shaslik on the grill is out of this world. Nice Georgian wines, too and don't skip dessert. The honey cake will change your outlook on life. Thank you, Pomegranate for being there!

We celebrated our friends birthday. We were quite the big table, 11 of us I believe. No one had been in this restaurant before. Our waitress Elianna was absolutely fabulous and helping us decide what to order. We wanted to try a bit of everything. We ordered the cheese pie that combines two cheeses with a raw egg. They mix the egg right on the table. It is out of this world!!!! Also ordered the pierogis and the Russian soup. They’re pretty similar, like dumplings sort of. But the pierogis that have potato I like them way better. We also ordered the stuffed cabbage rolls. Omg this is a must!!!! Sooooooo good! For drinks we had the I think it was the babalaika which is like a hard core lemon drop. They also have a lemon from in the menu but this drink is better. And of course we ordered the neft which is the Austrian vodka. Weird but yeah. Anyway they bring it with pickles and this rye bread that is to die for. You take a bite of the pixie, sip the vodka and take a bite of the bread. What an experience! We were hammered by the first round lol. Then Elianna brought a can of fish over. I thought it was sardines but no it was another fish that is marinated and good, so you also enjoy the vodka with the fish. Very yummy. My husband also ordered the lamb chops and I did not like those. It was kind of plastic tasting. Also the cabbage rolls came with rice and a potato, the rice tasted sweet and I did not like that either. Overall we had a wonderful and delicious experience. We definitely want to come again an try more dishes

Sometimes a little neighborhood restaurant can be a substitute for travel. Pomegranate will transport you to an Eastern Europe of great smells and good food. The place itself looks authentically down-at-heel, people are encouraged to write on the walls, there’s some vestiges of soviet-era decor, low lighting, grandmotherly kitsch. Expectations are modest until your order arrives; rich and flavorful and satisfying. Try everything. I especially liked the poor man’s caviar, an eggplant dish that will change how you think of eggplant. I recommend the beet salad, it has herbs and walnuts and is satisfyingly crunchy. Try the Russian tea sweetened with a sweet/tart cherry syrup. The cabbage rolls made me want to go home and read Dostoyevsky and drink vodka and perceive the divine mystery in things.

Pomegranate is an excellent Georgian (the one in the Caucasus) restaurant. Try the chakhokbili and get some kindzmarauli. You'll enjoy your night! Reservations are usually needed.

Everything here is exactly the way it should be. I came in very close to closing time but they served me as if they had all the time in the world. Food was prepared with a lot of love and attention to detail. The atmosphere is cozy and unique. Can't recommend this place enough!

Absolutely charming staff with (apparently) infinite patience for a pair who had never tried Russian (Georgian) cuisine. Diverse menu, punctuated with humor. Fried cheese appetizer is huge! Everything we tried was good but the Cornish game hen was spectacular!

This Russo-Georgian restuarant was really great when it opened some years ago. Now that it moved the atmosphere is nothing like it was. The prices are ridiculous for the quantity you get. $28 for lamb kabobs, with two tiny potatoes and tomatoes on the side. So you have to order soup, also too expensive or appetizers. $6 for turkish coffee? cmon. And the servers can be great or they can be rude, russian style....

The restaurant was close to the Berkshire Motel where we stayed and based on reviews we tried it. We started with the Russian version of pierogis which were fresh and excellent. The bread was good and served with garlic butter. i had the beef stroganoff which was both flavorful, tender and plentiful while my wife had the borscht which also was well prepared, homemade tasting. Prices were reasonable as well.

My husband wanted to do this one, which is right across the street from the Lafayette hotel - and I reluctantly agreed. I was WRONG! It was the best meal I've had in a long time - it is a chic-ified version of Russian/Caucasus food and was DELICIOUS. Best borscht I've ever eaten. Good for vegetarians. Try the salad platter and chachapuri!

As a native Russian i always like to check out the Russian and especially Georgian food scene in the cities that we visit. I was very pleasantly surprised to discover this gem. If you want to try real authentic Georgian food please do yourself a favor and visit this place . Just make sure you call ahead and ask if they have hinkali available that day. This is probably some of the most authentic Georgian dumplings i tried outside of Georgia. The service was great and atmosphere was very cozy. We left extremely satisfied and very happy! I highly recommend this place.

The restaurant offers some of the most unique and tasty food in the immediate neighborhood. We make it a point to dine here each year that we attend jazz camp

It was my first time of trying Russian-Georgian food. It was a party of seven and we went there for dinner on Saturday. They are not open until 5PM for weekend and we made reservation before as we know it was going to be busy. Their service was excellent. The waitress were all over of us changing napkins, taking out dirty plates, change water and check on us every now and then. We tried their appetizer, Georgian salad with cheese, which is hot bread with a hole in the middle filled with cheese egg. The waitress told us that we have to mix the egg and the cheese in the middle as if it is cooking it with the heat comes from the bread. It was good and kind of like tasting cheese omelet. I ordered Chicken Tabaka, a flattened deep fried hen served with pomegranate sauce. It is served in a big plate with flame on the plate circling the chicken. Very interesting :) My boyfriend had Chicken shashlik which was also good as the meat is tender and juicy. The cook brought the skewers to our table and take the meat off from the skewer right there. The others had beef stroganoff which is also good and a cup of beetsoup. As for dessert, we had Toad Sweet Ice Cream. It is vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate syrup which has hot sensation on our throat several seconds after we swallowed it. This is definitely a new exciting experience for me. Definitely recommended and will go there again.

My wife and I like to explore new dining experiences and we were treated to several wonderful things at this restaurant. The borscht is a meal in itself and the cheesy pie with an egg stirred in at the last minute is very filling and delicious. Best of all was the minty lamb shank that I had with the beet salad. There is a nice atmosphere here and the wait staff is eager to be helpful. Highly recommended whenever something out of the ordinary is appropriate.

This restaurant was recommended by Lafayette hotel staff and guests. We were a party of 4 adults...EVERY meal ordered was outstanding! The staff were so kind and helpful. Terrific experience.

The ambiance of this place is incredible: inviting, charming, and open. On top of that the service is so personal and relaxed that you feel like you're having dinner with your Russo-Georgian neighbors down the street. I loved my borscht, probably the best I've ever had. I had a special which was meat dumplings with garlic-dill yogurt sauce. It was pretty good, but focus on the borscht. That's really what blew me away. Highly recommended, such an interesting place.

The food is really wonderful here. This is such a treat compared to all the dull, chain restaurants of Southern California. There were eight of us and we shared many dishes. You can't go wrong so order anything. We'll be back to try all the dishes we didn't get to try.

I again had beef stroganoff and if anything, it was even better than before. The bread bowl with hot melted cheese was delectable. After all I ate, who had room for desert. Not me! In the two visits there, we have not found a menu item that was not great. It is a must do restaurant.

"Otlichno" is Russian for "excellent". It was Saturday night, 7:00pm, and this place was humming! Thankfully we had reservations; otherwise the wait time was 40 minutes. Several dishes had been recommended by a Russian friend who dines here regularly. We enjoyed the Salad Sampler (see other reviews), Chebureki (stuffed, fried turnovers), Russian Borscht, Chicken Tabaka, and Chakhokhbili (chicken simmered with onions, tomatoes, basil & spices). Loved the brown bread & chive butter. Enjoyed Georgian dry red wine with our meal. Next time we'll try Shashlik for our main course. Alas, too full to order dessert. Bonus: We were celebrating a birthday, and were served complimentary shots of vodka wine. Note: Their license only permits beer & wine service, but the "vodka" shot was awesome. The only challenge is finding street parking. Allow an extra 10 minutes for that. www.PomegranateSD.com

What a great little find this restaurant was. Its charming and everyone was so friendly to us. The food was absolutely delicious and service was superb. I had the today's house special, chicken kotleta with mashed potatoes, and sour cabbage, my friend had homemade potato pierogies with saute'd onions and sour cream, We shared borscht that was also very good. For desert we shared a honey cake that was out of this world. I really liked this place I would recommend it to anyone in San Diego.

cousins found this online - it's in what feels like an obscure northern neighbourhood of San Diego but Uber got us there with no issues... the very best borscht, vereneki (russian perogies), a special dumpling which is a georgian xiao loong bao (pick it up and suck the soup out); and our foursome shared gorgeous cabbage rolls and the tabak cornish game hen. the cabbage rolls were huge and flavourful - the cornish hen was yummy with plenty of garlic... sadly, no room for dessert although the toad sweat ice cream sounded intriguing (mexican, not russian). AMAZING food... so good!

Speaking of Russian cuisine in the San Diego area does not amount to much. Very few options available exist. Including ones that have more influence from former Soviet territories. Pomegranate being one of them. Lending more to their Georgian roots, I was very much delighted to my only second tasting of the infamous Russian Borscht soup on a cold somewhat wet January evening. Having only a serving from a friend who made it from an online recipe previously. The simplicity of the soup is what makes it all the more heartening. Having a dollop of sour cream to top it off is recommended for those not lactose intolerant. My first sip of the soup evoked a feeling much how Anton Ego the fictional character from Ratatouille felt tasting the same dish for which the movie bears the same name. Was it really that good? I can not be the one to determine that. Only you can do that. I also had Pelmeni(a type of dumpling from the Siberian regions of Russia) that was delicious. The Russian Tea as well to accompany my dinner was smooth and strong. They have several other items on the menu as well if your tastebuds were not inspired by mine. The unassuming exterior from the street opens up to a nice, cozy, and somewhat rustic feeling in the dining area filled with art and vintage looking items from the homeland(I assume?) Their is an adjoining restaurant(which is under the same ownership?) that makes it feel bigger with an opening in the middle. Overall the experience was one to where it made me feel as if I was dining in Tbilisi or some smaller city or town in the Georgian countryside. Service from the wait staff was exceptional as well. With the Fall season in full swing and the colder temperatures setting in; a nice hot bowl of Russian Borscht from Pomegranate would definitely help to alleviate that issue. To have it linger this long on my mind should indicate to you something about this place. It is very much like that Russian love you do not speak about or the one who is very much at your side. Highly recommended!

We joined with family who have lived in Russia. They consider to be best Russian food around. It was warm, tasty, inviting, comfort food. So that all could try lots, we shared our dishes. we had the beet salad, cheese pie, chakhokhbili, stroganoff, shashlik lamb, medovik torte. We went early and were seated right away. By the time we left every table was full. ~$95

A local recommended this restaurant to us because we love Polish food. The atmosphere is adorable, as are the servers. The service was friendly and efficient. The food was amazing! We split the beef turnovers, pierogies and the golden eagle chicken. Everything was presented beautifully. Each dish had fabulous flavor. We highly recommend it!!

Very friendly waitstaff, quick service, good atmosphere. Love the variety on the menu. Everything we had was delicious--from the sampler appetizer plate to the entrees.

I started with the Georgian Green Salad with Cheese (a green salad with a tangy housemade dressing and a feta-like cheese) and then tried the Chebureki, a meat-filled turnover pastry. Note that this order is large and comes in twos, so would be good for sharing. My fellow diner ordered various other things from the menu, including Russian beers and dessert. The service is good, and the atmosphere is interesting. This was my 3rd visit, and I plan to be back!

This Russian-Georgian restaurant serves dishes that sing on the tongue with herbs and spices and sauces that I never knew could taste so wonderful together.

We love, love, love Pomegranate. The food is as authentic as you can get (after our trips to Georgia I feel confident saying this) as the chef and servers have brought all their knowledge and experience to the US. Thursdays is our favorite days because they offer the most amazing dumplings. I always order the borscht too...and they offer a vegetarian version as well!

mmm...was yummy...I'd go again.

Very colorful restaurant with many things to muse over. Food very good. Stuffed cabbage great. Borscht soup is a meal in itself! Staff very attentive and willing to explain menu items. Soup, main course, drink $40pp I would go again!

Nice restaurant with good service and fairly priced. Try the Georgian cheese pie, "Life without Khachapuri is not worth living" says the menu and it is good. And the tradition Russian borscht, a deep reddish-purple beetroot soup with beef served hot with a dollop of sour cream, a meal in itself if ordered with Khachapuri. Order a cup of Turkish coffee and enjoy.

Upon entering this welcoming Old World looking restaurant, we soon relaxed to study an unusual menu. We ordered the beet salad and a type of potato salad. Both were bountiful and excellent. My beet salad reminded me of such a salad i ate in a Hungarian restaurant in Berlin. Very fine. I had the pork shashlik. Four large square pork fillets that were cooked to a tender delicious offering. Wonderful! But how could they be so juicy? Other items on the plate were very good. My partner ate the Chakokhbili which he enjoyed. Fine desserts ended our truly excellent meal. We will return.

The food was good. I liked the variety of foods and salads that they offer. Ordered a lot of food, and got to try many different dishes. The food was cheap. I liked the atmosphere and decorations at this restaurant also. Would come back to this place when visiting San Diego again.

My Russian wife and I visited the Pomegranate Restaurant during our recent San Diego trip... After high expectations from reading the reviews about their Georgian-style food, we found their offerings to be only so-so. We tried their salad sampler (some items were pretty good), plus the katachapuri and a stewed chicken dish for our entree (hmmm... not quite traditional preparations). Perhaps the style of cooking was intended for diners who were less familiar with Russian cuisine (?). Service was prompt and friendly... There were lots of people at the restaurant -- so maybe our opinions might not reflect those of other folks (?).

Prices are pretty reasonable. I think this is one of the best restaurants in the city right now. Must try the salad sampler! My BF had the broached chicken (on flames) he didn't talk at all and only bones were left. I sampled the lamb stew my cousin ordered, it was tasty but a little too heavy for me. My other cousin ordered the smoked trout. It comes out whole with head and room temp, was a bit smokey for me, but still good. The atmosphere is really nice, comfortable, service was great. Food was definitely made with love and fresh.

Cheese lovers- this is a MUST try. Entrees are fantastic too… but I had to take mine to go after so much cheese. An amazing place to make a chilly night feel so cozy and warm! And, if the weather is nice as it so often is, go anyway. We will be back on our next trip to SD!

This was our 2nd attempt to dine at Pomegranate restaurant. The first time we could find no parking after circling many blocks. Tonight we tried again and I sure am glad we did! We were greeted by the friendliest, most energetic hostess I have ever seen. We were seated immediately and our waiter patiently answered all of our questions. We tried 3 different entrees. We ordered SHASHLIK ( with chicken), CHAKAPULI (lamb) and Beef stroganoff. All 3 were outstanding! Every person working on this incredibly busy night was super friendly. The decor is something you will have to see for yourself! Altogether, a fantastic experience- we'll be back soon!

So don’t expect great table service. Quality was excellent, portions plentiful. We will come back next time we are in San Diego. It doesn’t take reservations under 6 people, but the place will hold a table for you if phone and are on your way. It truly reminded us of our trip to Russian last year.

It is a very informal place with very good typical Russian food. The waiters are super friendly and perhaps you could even get a free light vodka drink if someone is celebrating something. You have to make reservations ! Don't miss the Borscht and the dessert cakes are super !!

The Service is friendly and knowledgeable. I always have an amazing time when dining here. This is definitely the place to indulge your senses. Pretty much everything on the menu is amazing. All the dumpling dishes, borscht and kabobs are really good. Ever since they changed ownership 7 years ago, this place has been on point. My favorite Russian restaurant in town ( the Old owner opened a different restaurant Sabaka in down town so don't go there :)

I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now. The hours make it a little tricky but I was finally able to make it after a day at the zoo. Parking isnt the best but if you drive around a bit you should be able to find something. The restaurant isn't fancy but has a super comfortable, happy feel to it. The service was excellent, all the employees were fast and very helpful with explaining different items to us. My boyfriend and I shared an order of Khachapuri. It was amazing, one of the best things I have ever tasted. I wish that we would have each gotten our own order instead of sharing. For the main course we had the Chicken Tabaka and the Chakapuli. Both were delicious. I especially loved the chicken, the pomegranate sauce was different, interesting and tasty. For dessert we shared a piece of honey cake and that too was yummy. I will be back here again without a doubt!

Was pleasantly surprised with a delicious dinner with some friends this week. It was my first time at a Russian restaurant and not knowing what to expect, we ordered the salad sampler as recommended by other reviewers and all 5 offered were delicious (potato, carrot, beet, bean and eggplant). Enough for 3-4 to share! I tried the cabbage rolls, another had the borscht, while the third had the lamb stew. Every dish was flavorful, and rich and hearty. Perfect for a cold evening! We had enough salad to take home and one of the cabbage rolls as well. And no room for dessert! Would definitely return.

It's not often I'm completely floored by a Restaurant but Pomegranate actually took us all by surprise. We dined with two little guys under 7 and a small pack of adults and everyone was so happy with the amazingly flavorful delicious food and of course the sweet attentive service. Pomegranate has it all-kid friendly without being a circus, family and all ages friendly and romantic for those seeking that. One of the most interesting and memorable meals I've had. I can't recommend Pomegranate enough. Don't miss it.

This place was right across the street from our hotel and got great ratings, plus a plug from a friend who used to live in SD. We were not disappointed! The food was all super tasty, very fresh and seemed very authentic. I wish they had a kids menu, but other than that, all delish.

We struggled to find a parking place for this restaurant, but was it ever worth it! The decor is not noteworthy but the food and service were excellent. My husband ordered the beef stroganoff and said it was the best he'd ever experienced. All portions are large an could be shared.

The service was excellent. I would highly recommend the Beef Stroganoff. Also, for a super non-alcohol beverage, the ginger soda and the pear soda.

My wife and I love Russian food, and since there is no Russian restaurant where we live, we seek them out whenever we travel. We are both huge fans of Russian dumplings - pelmeni and vareniki. Both were excellent, and the vareniki were the best I have ever had. The remainder of the meal did not disappoint, either. Everyone enjoyed their food, even the non-meat-eater amongst us. The staff was very friendly and accommodating, and the service very good on the busy Saturday night. The only unusual thing for a Russian restaurant is that they only have a license to serve beer and wine, so they do not sell vodka. Regardless, we will definitely dine at this restaurant again the next time we are in San Diego.

They have a broad Russian/Georgian menu with lots of choices and help from the staff if you want it. The people we met were all from Ukraine, and the server made the dinner even more enjoyable. Great presentation and excellent food. We ordered a lot of items to try out, and dinner for 4 with tip was $209. Not a surprise for this quality. It is San Diego! I would go again and again.

The Russian food was spectacular! The cornish game hen was incredible, the meat filled dumplings were phenomenal, and the borscht (sp?) was excellent. Plus, the cheese pie with the Georgian red wine was a brilliant food and wine pairing. Add in any of the salads to share and it was a truely memorable meal. Price was very reasonable and the portions were large and the Russian beers were excellent as well. We will be going back again!

Menu is more Georgian than Russian. Really delicious food and if you don't worry about the calories or cholesterol, try the cheese bread appetizer!

We had Adjaruli (Khachapuri with egg) and Chakapuli, both were wonderful! The adjaruli was very flavorful, the bread was tender (freshly made), and they mixed the egg in right at the table. The lamb in the chakapuli was very tender and full of wonderful flavors and I couldn’t get enough of the sauce. Nice staff combined with a comfortable atmosphere made our dinner very pleasant. I would love to go again, next time we’re visiting San Diego. I highly recommend Pomegranate!!!

On a recent trip to San Diego we were looking for a place to eat when we passed an unremarkable looking place on El Cajon Blvd. just east of Park Blvd. The sign said simply "Russian Restaurant" so we looked for a parking spot (not easy to find on a Saturday night) and trundled in. To our surprise, the place was packed. We managed to get a table and checked out a truly great menu. It's not often that you laugh out loud reading a menu, but this one is really funny ... on purpose! It listed a large choice of Russian and Georgian items, and each was clearly (and humourously) described. I ordered Borscht as an appetizer and "Chanakhi" or Georgian lamb stew as my entree. The Borscht was probably the best I've ever had, with generous amounts of beef and vegetables. As it said in the menu, this could be a meal in itself. But the Chanakhi was nothing short of amazing. Imagine big chunks of lamb slow-cooked for hours until the meat literally falls off the bones. And big chunks of eggplant, potato, and onion floating in a beef broth, covered with fresh chopped basil and cilantro. This dish was a star! My wife had a chicken dish that was equally impressive, but the Chanakhi was so good I googled the recipe when we got home and made it myself for a group of friends. It was a huge hit! We returned to the Pomegranate Restaurant once more before having to leave beautiful San Diego, and two more dishes were found to be excellent. All I can say is that I can't recommend this little eatery highly enough.

Make sure you visit Pomegranate when you're really hungry. Eastern European food is heavy, stick- to-your ribs fare. You'll need to plow a field or two to burn off the calories of a meal a Pomegranate. I loved, loved, loved their borscht! The olivier salad and the weekend khachapuri were also favorites at my table.

Subdued, sultry venue with wonderful aromas wafting out the entrance and into the patio. Hostess and waitress were both charming and cordial. German beer on tap and proseco were both excellent choices. The salad combination consisted of 5 samples of generous proportions and a meal into itself. The samples were pototato, beet, carrot, egg plant and bean salads. All individually tasty. The borscht was served hot with beef chunks and sour cream. The perogies were delicious. The cholibtsi (beef wrapped in cabbage leaves with tomato sauce) was sublime. The venue was cozy, the service attentive and friendly and the food superb. I will certainly return, again and again.

Food was good! However small portions. We left hungry. Prices too expensive to order double choices. So if you are real hungry;beware!

Had no idea what to expect when I heard "we're going to a Georgian restaurant next week"... but now that we've gone I find myself thinking about it every so often. It wasn't JUST the food, or JUST the service. Surely each of those would merit 4+ stars on their own, but together this place blows my mind. From the Ikra Badrijannaya ("poor man's caviar") and Khachapuri (Cheese Pie) for appetizers (did I mention there were 4 of us?), to the Chakhokhbili (Georgian Eagle), Sliced Leg of Lamb, Chanakhi (Lamb stew), Shashlik ("Hunter's Joy"-skewer), and finally to the Toad Sweat Ice Cream (with habanero chocolate sauce)... we were incredibly happy with every item brought out, and the server did his best to give us space, but keep his presentations entertaining (especially regarding dessert). I'm fairly certain that if there was one we could have a do-over on, it would have been the skewer, but even that was really tasty. If you like Russian/Georgian or any similar type of food, or if you're just looking to expand your culinary bubble, stop in here. It's incredible.

The menu was quite glowing in its description of food choices, though lacking somewhat in actual descriptions. Salads are huge, easily big enough for two guests. Vegetarian stroganoff was good with many vegetables in a good sauce, though no mushrooms and not a cream sauce, as would be expected from the term. Very attentive service.

Had the flattened cornish hen, the Georgian cheese pie, two different types of dumplings, Russian tea, and honeycake. It was all delicious! The Russian tea seemed to be a green tea with a berry syrup served on the side to add to the tea. The Georgian cheese pie was basically cheesy bread. The Cornish hen was served with a ring of blue fire surrounding it. Service was great. Our waiter took the time explaining everything we had questions about. I would go again and introduce other friends and family to it.

The Pomegranate is an inviting Russian restaurant in North Park, San Diego, CA. The wait staff is very attentive, the food is delicious and beautifully plated, and the décor is eclectic. We truly enjoyed our dinner, the music, the interesting lamps (you must see them for yourself!) We dined on borscht, stroganoff, and had honey cake for dessert. I would return just for the cake, it was amazing!

Our daughter treated us to a night of dining that was filled with delicious food, great service, and an atmosphere that transported us to another time. Though I could look out the windows and see cars racing along El Cajon Blvd, I felt incapsulated in this wonderful room filled with warmth and delightful smells. Our server's accent added to the entire ambience, and was only eclipsed by the delicious food she served. If one plans to dine here, leave plenty of time to relax and take in the atmosphere and food. I look forward to my next experience there.

Having very little experience with Russian/Georgian fare, we started with the Salad Sampler, which included samples of the Salat Vesna (cabbage), Lobio (beans), Kavkaz (beets), Ikra Badrijannaya (eggplant) and Carrot (guess) salads. Each was unusual and VERY tasty. We also had the Vereniki (potato cheese dumplings) and Chebureki (ground meat and onion turnovers). Both were exceptional. For dessert, the Modovik Torte (traditional Russian Honey Cake for extraordinary! The wait staff were extremely attentive and helpful and we wanted for nothing while we were there.

some Russian food as well. Both done really well. We had a variety of things and everything was very good

I just wanted to try Russian food, so we went here. It's humble appearance and friendly servers immediately make you feel welcome. The fresh bread and butter mixed with chives won me over quickly. They had 25 beers -we were satisfied with our servers suggestion of Russian beer. Everything we ordered was delicious and fresh, and it was obvious it was made from scratch with love. The prices were incredibly reasonable. The food was unforgettable. I will be back again and again! Thank you!

This is my favorite restaurant in San Diego. Their food is on the pricier side, so we save it for birthdays & special occasions. This is Georgian/Russian food, & it is phenomenal. On the weekends, there is a cheese pie that is a mixture of egg, cheeses, garlic, & spices in a homemade bread. It is delectable. The salad sampler is also a must. I have never ordered anything here & been disappointed. The only drawbacks would be that the meal is relatively pricey, & the place gets packed so service can sometimes be a bit slow. The positives are, it is a very artsy & unique environment, the food is unparalleled in taste & quality, the staff members are all Russian/Georgian, & the entire restaurant gets a shot of vodka & sings happy birthday to whomever the lucky patron is that is visiting for their birthday. (There are often birthdays here, so you're pretty likely to end up w/ a free shot of vodka during yr visit.) I absolutely love this restaurant, & if you are in San Diego, you should see to it that you end up here.

I was there on a business trip and my friends came up to visit from LA. Fantastic Russian food, excellent service, really enjoyed the ambiance and the conversation. 5 stars.

After reading about Pomegranate, I was very excited to finally try this neighborhood restaurant . The restaurant is very cozy and decorated nicely! Was greeted warmly by the staff and was seated quickly . As it was Friday we HAD to order to the Adjaruli!!! OMG it was DELICIOUS!!!!!!!! I was with 3 other friends and sharing 1 order as an appetizer was perfect!!! Ordered the Borscht which was very tasty! I dont believe it is written on the menu but they have a small and large size when ordering Borscht and the small is quite big. As my main entree I ordered the pelmeni (even though its listed as an appetizer)- which was also delicious!!! We all ordered a different dish with my favorite being the Beef Stroganoff, however everything was so good and very large portions! We also ordered a bottle of the house wine which was a California red which was really good and reasonably priced. This is a great place when you are craving something ethnic and wanting that neighborhood vibe! I highly suggest coming here on the weekend so that you can order the Adjaruli!!!

Great, ambient place. Lot's of cool tchatchki. Food tastes really great. Try starter selection - lots to discover! Staff speaks Russian.

My gal friend Holly & I decided to be adventurous and try Russian-Georgian cuisine last Thursday evening and we were pleasantly surprised. Not only was the service impeccable and gracious, but the food was outstanding. The portion sizes are generous so you will leave quite content and most likely with leftovers. I tried the Pork Loin Steak, it was pan fried with caramelized onions and cranberries. The dish was amazing, the pork was moist and seasoned to perfection and the caramelized onions and cranberries were delicious alongside the pork. Holly had the Chicken Sashlik..lets just say I had two bites and realized its some of the best chicken I've ever had. I can't wait to go back and try more. Great place for girls night or date night, even family dinners, just a wonderful restaurant in general. You won't leave disappointed!

We had the Eggplant salad or app. The Borch the best I've ever had! Cheese pie, puff pastry wonderful Lamb chops with Pomegranate glaze And the layered Honey cake w/ ice cream. I am a retired executive chef I know food, lived in new York and Paris. We took alot home , wanted to try everything. Service slightly off rhythm, just ok. You come for the food and it was fabulous!

Two of us dined here last night. Our waiters were friendly, with appealing Russian accents, which added to the authentic feel of the place. The food was quite good, if not exceptional. Perhaps that is the nature of the regional cuisine. Appetizer portionas are on the small side, and about $10-11 each. The bowl of borscht, at $10.25 was smallish compared to what you can find at Asian restaurants. The $10 "vienna" torte was disappointingly bland. Most entrees run $17and up into the $20s. Our modest meal of two appetizers, two bowls of soup, one Russian beer and one dessert came to $65 before tip. Had we ordered a main dish, the meal could have ended at near $100 with tip. That's a bit steep for what I see as just a local neighborhood restaurant. I'd recommend this restaurant more strongly if the prices were more reasonable.

Yes! There is vodka! and it's yummy! and served with pickles ;) This is one of our family's favorite restaurants! The food is so incredible! and the waiters and waitresses are always lovely to talk to and fun to practice our Russian with! :) favorites? salad sampler! get it! chicken tobaka! oh my goodness - so tasty - and fabulous presentation! and save room for the Honey cake and tea - you will NOT be sorry. it melts in your mouth!!!

My wife took me here for my birthday dinner. We have thought about it in the past and wish we would have come sooner. Great service. Place was very busy on a Sunday evening. They only take reservations for party of 6 or more. Great ambiance and comfortable table. Had the special dumplings and pierogies start and I went with the Chicken Tanaka. Very good will return for sure.

We've always wanted to try Russian food. I've messed around with making some recipes at home, and they have been tasty, but we've had nothing to compare them to... now we do! The cheese pie was decadent. The Borscht kicked rear. The dumplings were excellent. Everything we tried was delicious, the service was great, and the restaurant gave us a dining experience my family will never forget!

Such a charming place.. Delicious food and fair size portions. Servers were very friendly. Loved the decor !

Food is quite good and hearty. I went for the classic beef stroganoff, which is among the better versions I've had. Bustling place. Prompt, attentive service.

This place has a great menu and it is really delicious. The best part is that it is right across the street from my favorite hotel The Lafayette. You don't have to travel far to get a great meal in this neighborhood. 2 people can share the Borscht, its a huge serving!

We have been going there for years, and LOVE IT!! We use it as our special occasion place, but find ourselves going once the cravings for Schi and Shashlik become too strong!! The Pelmeni, vrenicki, and Borscht are sublime...Vodka by the inch is the other redeeming feature along with their great selection of imported beers, the Baltika Porter is perfect for the food from a pairing standpoint....

Went on a lively Saturday night. The place was busy. Food was tasty with no complaints. The staff was very friendly and helpful explaining every aspect of the menu. Being a beer and wine only place I would have thought the wine selection could have been better. It had only a couple of wines to choose from. asked for a bottle of the Chardonnay. They only had "big" bottles?

I saw a YouTube review and decided to go and try, it was definitely the best decision I have ever made. The ambiance is cozy, the staff is super friendly. But above all the food is amazing, I will definitely come back and trying more food from the menu, I definitely recommend the borscht, and the beef stroganoff, but don't leave without having the Babushka surprise.

We went really late and night, so I called them ahead of time telling them we were coming. It's a little hard to find, because it just says "restaurant" on the front and nothing else. The interior is awesome! There are whosits and whatsits all over the place, and people wrote inspiring quotes all over the walls. They are fun to read while waiting for your food. We sat down, and the server was definitely upset we came so late, but then he realized we were the ones who called and was fine. We got the dumplings as an appetizer, which was my favorite part of the meal. They weren't your regular type, but very good none the less. I asked the server to give us his favorite entrees and he picked some chicken dish and a traditional Russian stew. The chicken was really good, and there were so many different spices. Not only that but it was cooked really well. This is a dish I would say everyone should get, but unfortunately I don't remember the name. I did not appreciate the stew, but that's only because I don't like tomato-based dishes. It smelled really good though. It was a really fun experience, and I would love to try some of the other dishes I saw.

What a find! We had never had Russian cuisine and likely would not have dined here had we not read the reviews on Yelp. Wow! Our dinner was a delightful experience from start to finish. We were greeted by one of the owners who took the time to learn which of the many dishes on their menu we would most enjoy. We started with the Ikra Badrijannaya. It is like Italian Eggplant Componata with a kick. Very good spread on the fresh bread that comes with every meal. Next was the Vereniki--potato dumplings topped with crispy carmelized onions. Delicious! Our main course was their very tasty chicken Shashlik. These three dishes complemented each other wonderfully and set us up for the Babushka's Surprise and Russian Black Tea for dessert. The tea, served with a shot glass of syrup made of honey and sour cherry juice, was the perfect finish for a wonderful meal. We were there on a Sunday night and, contrary to what some reviewers experienced, all of our food was served promptly--no waiting between courses. I should also note that they now accept credit cards. Thank you Cafe Petrushka! We will visit you every time we are in San Diego.

Authentic! Georgian (state in Caucasus mountains, not US state) cuisine, at its best! Everything taste so good! Khinkali are incredible! Lobio is very good. Lamb shashlyk (kebob) could use a real charcoal mangal but still very good. Oh, and you have to try authentic Georgian wine! Will definitely come back!

The atmosphere was different, with writing all over the walls - eclectic. The food was awesome, real, so many nice blends of flavor. We were visiting San Diego and friends took us here. We loved it so much we came back the next night for more. We all had shashtik (sp?), 3 of us had chicken, 1 of us combined chicken and lamb. The veggies and rice with it were awesome too, what a tasty blend. The other family had beef stroganoff and chicken tabaka. The tabaka was cool to see, presented on a plate with a moat of vodka on fire. We also tried the sampler salad with the other family, wine, black currant tea, and strawberry blini (crepes). Oh so good! The next night we came back without the other family, and the waitresses remembered us. We tried the borscht, then more shashtik, tabaka, and some chicken patties that I forget the name of. Another superb meal. If I lived here, this would be my once-a-week goto place.

Second star only for service, otherwise I would give that place only one star and even that would be too much. We were a group of 4 people - Russian, Belorussian, Lebanese and American. None of us liked the food we got. Its was quite tasteless but a lot of it, we left most of that dinner on the plates. Its like they are trying replace quality with the quantity of the food. Not sure why they call it Georgian and Russian cuisine, its a joke, sorry. We were so looking forward to have some khachapuri which they had on the menu, instead they brought us some kind of puffed pastry with a unmelted piece of cheese and a slice of tomato inside??!!! Nothing "Khachapuri" about that! Also, the salad sample plate - very mediocre version of traditional Russian salads. If someone is trying so to called Russian and Georgian food at this restaurant for the first time, they would most likely feel bad for both. Disappointing.