Shavi Lomi

Shavi Lomi, the name meaning "Black Lion", is a modern Georgian restaurant at 28 Zurab Kvlividze Street in the Chughureti district of central Tbilisi, Georgia. It has operated since 2011 in a brick-vaulted cellar and is known for taking traditional Georgian recipes and presenting them with lighter, more contemporary plating. The cuisine sits between home cooking and restaurant refinement: vegetable pkhali pastes, cheeses, cornbread and slow-cooked meat dishes appear alongside the staples every visitor to Georgia expects. The signature order is the sharing platter of pkhali, cheese and cornbread, a quick introduction to the Georgian table, followed by green grits (ghomi) with cheese and the regional khachapuri breads. The dining room is a cellar of exposed brick and low lighting. It is atmospheric and generally lively rather than hushed, with conversation, music and clinking glasses building as the evening goes on. Dress is casual, and the mix of diners usually includes local groups, couples and travellers. Wine is central to the experience, and the list leans on Georgian producers, including amber qvevri wines made in clay vessels buried in the ground, a style the country is famous for. Servers can usually suggest a bottle by the glass or carafe to match the dishes. Prices are moderate by international standards: a full meal with wine typically falls in the range of 80-130 GEL per person (roughly USD 31-50). Opening hours run from 1PM until 2AM daily, which makes the restaurant useful for both late lunches and late dinners. Reservations are advised for dinner and at weekends, and can be made by phone on +995 32 296 09 56. Booking a day or two ahead is usually enough outside the busiest holiday periods, though larger groups should call earlier. The restaurant is a sensible choice for first-time visitors who want a polished introduction to Georgian flavours without the formality of fine dining.