Restaurant Fair Play

Come to Cluj! I'll be your culinary guide.

My first recommendation is a restaurant with traditional Transylvanian food. It's the only place where the food is exactly like homemade (and that's not a figure of speech, it's exactly like my mother's cooking). The soups are impeccable: the tripe soup is the best in Cluj, the bean soup with smoked ham hock is equally good. Following closely are the beef soup, lucicos, and tarragon pork soup. And during fasting periods, they make a mashed beans with sautéed onions and paprika that's finger-licking good.

Besides the basic menu (the printed one), they cook seasonally: grilled eggplant salad with tomatoes, green bean soup, lettuce soup, Transylvanian spinach with fried eggs. They always have something special not on the permanent menu, so always ask about the daily specials.

If you want to try the famous Cluj cabbage rolls, this is the right place. It's not on the permanent menu, so it's best to order in advance to make sure. It's made to order, minimum 4-6 portions.

I've also tried the beef goulash, the cabbage with pork stew, and grilled or baked pork neck. For dessert, they have papanași and cottage cheese pancakes. Sometimes the presentation is a bit old-fashioned, but I think we can overlook that.

Usually, I can't get past the soup because the portions are very large. Huge, actually. I've seen plates with mountains of chicken livers or mixed grills pass by my table.

Prices are moderate, higher than most Romanian restaurants, but the quantity and quality justify the price. The daily menu (soup + main course + dessert) costs 25 lei. Food can also be ordered for takeaway.

Let me also tell you what not to order here: cappuccino, it's instant. Get a simple coffee if you really need caffeine.

Its only flaw is that the interior completely lacks atmosphere. If you walk in not knowing what to expect, you might panic a bit - it smells of food and cigarette smoke. So you've been warned, go there exclusively for the food. However, when it's warm, they have a lovely terrace where you can happily spend hours. The waiters are friendly. Generally, the people eating there are "regulars," so sometimes the atmosphere is a bit familiar. And who knows, you might even find me there 😊

Price category: ⭐⭐⭐
Find it here: Piața 14 Iulie, nr 22 (not central, it's in Grigorescu neighborhood, but easily walkable from Arena Cluj; only 900 m); Facebook