Pasanauri

Pasanauri is a khinkali house at 1 Vakhtang Gorgasali Square in the Meidan area of Old Tbilisi, Georgia. Khinkali are the twisted, pleated dumplings of the Georgian highlands, filled with spiced meat broth and eaten by hand, and the restaurant specialises in them with a long late-night opening window, typically 10AM to 2AM daily. Signature dishes include khinkali with meat or cheese filling, kharcho beef stew and mtsvadi, the skewered grilled pork or lamb that is common at Georgian tables. Traditional etiquette is part of the experience: diners hold a khinkali by its knot, bite a small hole, drink the broth and leave the knot on the plate, which is counted by the server at the end of the meal. Orders are usually made by the piece and arrive in batches. The dining room is casual and busy, with simple tables, noise that rises with large groups and a clientele of locals, students and visitors passing through Meidan. There is no dress code. The drinks list offers Georgian beer, wine and lemonade, and a carafe of house wine is a common companion to the dumplings. Prices are low, roughly 25-55 GEL per person (about USD 9.5-21), making it among the cheaper sit-down meals in the Old Town. The restaurant operates mainly on a walk-in basis; the phone number +995 595 54 77 55 is listed, and another branch is reported on Griboedov Street 37, so visitors should confirm which location they are heading to. Its late hours make it useful after an evening in the sulphur bath district or along the Kura river. The central location near the Metekhi Church and the Abanotubani baths means it is easy to combine with a walking tour of Old Tbilisi.