This place has a pretty exterior and a convenient location - next to the exit from Ploshcha Lva Tolstoho metro station, ensuring that Samoe Dobre Cafe (The Kindest Café) won’t be left unnoticed.
The open front door, decorated with flowers, provides a look inside the café’s large hall. But it is the advertising message on the outside chalk board that attracts the most attention: “Tastier than sex.”
In the afternoon, we waited some 15 minutes for lunch to be served, giving us time to note all the design details.
Inside, the place is all wooden, white and vintage. White graphite walls (free to draw on) are decorated with stickers, jars, wooden boxes, old window frames, stepladders and books. Everything is painted white except for colorful stickers, wooden decorations and tiny balloons attached to a ladder. Color is also added by cozy brown sofas with beige pillows and red blankets.
According to the waiter, the stuff was purchased at a flea market. Drawers were used as flowers supports, attached under the ceiling. Be aware of the waiter, by the way. You will get a lot of him. It is weird to grumble about warm welcomes and caring recommendations, but I would rather have fewer jokes on my food preferences.
Unfortunately, the food failed to stand up to the bragging promise from the chalk board.
I fully understand that the notion of “tasty sex” is rather subjective, but bitter cucumbers and cabbage cobs instead of cabbage in my salmon salad were far from what was imagined. And I’d say Hr 62 for a dish of such disappointing quality was just too much.
And though no complaints were to be made about the Quiche Lorraine with the bacon (Hr 35) and mushroom cream soup (Hr 42) that my friend had, we both agreed the place was not the best pick for lunch.
What did look promising is the show window of a pastry bar. Cakes, cupcakes, sweets and cookies of all possible colors and shapes were offered for affordable prices. A chocolate cheesecake with a chocolate ice cream here goes for Hr 55 and a mysterious cake from the chef (The Kindest Cake) is offered for Hr 52. Coffee and tea are offered at average prices here. Classic Espresso and Americano cost Hr 18, latte and Italian cocoa with marshmallows are Hr 27 and Hr 35, respectively.
The look of the desserts made us want to come back in spite of our disappointment with the main course. The desserts and a relaxing interior seem to make the cafe a nice place for an evening coffee. Just stay away from the cabbage cobs.
Kyiv Post staff writer Daryna Shevchenko can be reached at [email protected].
