Monday, 26 November 2012

Pasta da Pucci

Pasta da Pucci is a pasta temple. It's italian's in Tirana favorite too.
There's nothing to suggest more. Just try everything there is on the menu.
Best for: Pasta & french wine on the glass









Friday, 26 October 2012

Carlsberg a.k.a. Xheko Imperial a.k.a. Hotel President

Carlsberg is one of the oldest posh restaurants in Tirana. My first memories here start around 1998 if im not mistaken, with a first-timer fillet cooked on volcano stone (they still do it. it's a speciality)

Nowadays, they have evolved into a 5 stars hotel (Hotel President) and one of the most gorgeous verandas in Tirana. You should try the Rice & Pasta scrumbled in a Parmigiano wheel or the best meat delicacies 
Best for: Aperitif, dinner with a view, for a glass of wine & live music.





  

Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Padam

  • Padam is an old villa just behind the Pyramid of Tirana.
  • Its french style makes the visit a ceremony.
  • During night the garden becomes a night club.
  • Best for: Dinner, ceremonies, french experience, aperitif or glass of wine.







Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Amor

Amor is a to-die-for restaurant.
Dont get fooled by the location or the small space of the restaurant.
There is no menu. the Chef has some specialities that he decides to make them or not,depending on your request.Or you can leave his creation explode on your dish.
Great desserts. Don’t miss the chocolate mousse & the chestnut cake.
The trio of pasta is my favorite here and the Fillet Mignon on a roasted red pepper sauce is the best in town.
Also don't miss the grilled pleuratis mushrooms. 
Best for: Dinner, ceremonies






Saturday, 26 May 2012

Artisti

Artisti Bar-lounge-gourmet restaurant.
It's a typical non-albanian place. It's a loved place by the owners, you can tell. It seems like a little parisian caffe'.
They serve healthy snacks,fresh fruit juices and smoothies, coffee, sweet and hearty crepes, quiches, pasta, salads and baguettes and very delicious pastries.
A thing I like about this place: they serve fresh water in a jar with lime slices and basil leaves.
It's a great place for delicious wines & appetizers for the evening. 
They have little stools for your handbag, a collection of updated magazines for those who wait alone and no smoking allowed!!!
And it's the great meeting place for a breakfast or a brunch!!
Best for: Desserts, light lunch, a glass of wine, aperitif. 
A posh lovely place! 
Mousse au chocolait 


Cheesecake



Sunday, 15 April 2012

Stephen Centre

Stephen Centre

It's an american restaurant runned by a couple of religious missioners.It's a great place for american & mexican food.No smoking allowed.Great for breakfast & brunches.Slightly more expensive that other places of the same range in Tirana.Closed on Sundays!


Best for: Saturday Brunches!


Friday, 16 March 2012

Vinum

Vinum is a french-alike gourmet restaurant.
I love this rplace! Is based on a villa, in a typical old Tirana's zone.
It is expensive but is a unique experience if you go for a business dinner, a special intimate event or just to pamper your gourmet senses.
Inside is divided by rooms as an old house and outside got a great garden for spring & summer.
Is never full and the cook always comes to talk to the guests.
The food is marvellous! Creative. A mix of sweet, fruity & meaty.
Updates!

Thursday, 1 March 2012

My favorite Restaurants in Tirana

So i've got my own preferences, which imply absolutely good unique food to start with. Below i'm listing some of my favorite restaurants. Don't mind the ranking.There is no such, but there is a category for each:

1. "Pizza Vesuvio"  
Updated!
It was a recent discovery. 
Albanians are pretty good technique stealers and we stole a lot from the italian techniques on espresso, macchiato, pizza & pasta...But this modest restaurant, a typical italian "trattoria", i can tell it's the BEST place to have a decent italian pizza: made with mozzarella (instead of guda cheese as usually in Tirana). 
And also is the only place that makes the Calzone fritto. which is a (fat) fried folded pizza. DELICIOUS!!!!
It's located at the Block area. if you enter the address in google map, you can easily find it. -at Rruga Ismail Qemali, in Block Area, Tirana, Albania
Pizza Vesuvio.

2.Pastarella 
It is a mediterranean restaurant just at the residential street of Prime Minister house & next to the Embassy or Iran. 
Greek dishesh - as fried potato skins, prawns in ouzo sauce, thessalonikian oysters in feta & moustard sauce..., Spanish paella, Greek feta "ravasaki" with sesame and honey, Kleftiko (lamb with feta and vegetables) and some other delicatessens.
Try the honeyd cold Raki (traditional alcoholic drink)- at Rr Mustafa Matohiti, Tirana, Albania.


3. King House
It's a restaurant of good food at very reasonable prices.
Try the peppers with cheese and walnuts, spinach soup, summer fergese, stuffed cannelloni with calf brain, ricotta & spinach...also pizza & pasta specialities.
It's quite near the Block area.
 — at Rruga Dëshmorët e 4 Shkurtit,nr 12, Tirana, Albania.

4.Ceni's restaurant 
Is a great place for delicious fresh homemade pasta. Try the tagliatelle al tartufo, or homemade ravioli ricotta & spinach, or the delicious veal fillet medium-rare cooked.
Also don't miss the house appetizers.
at Rruga Sami Frasheri, mbi shkollen PetroNiniLuarasi, pallati i fundit para liqenit.

5. Amor.
This is a to-die-for restaurant.Don't get fooled by the location or the small space of the restaurant.
There is no menu. the Chef has some specialties that he decides to make them or not,depending on your request.Or you can leave his creation explode on your dish.
Great desserts. Don’t miss the chocolate mousse & the chestnut cake.
The trio of pasta is my favorite here and the Fillet Mignon 
on a roasted red pepper sauce is the best in town.
Also don't miss the grilled pleuratis mushrooms.
 -at Rr.Muhamed Gjollesha, Tirana, Albania (tek kryqezimi i Komunes se Parisit).

6.Vinum
I love this restaurant!
Updated!
It is expensive but is a unique experience if you go for a business dinner, a special intimate event or just to pamper your gourmet senses. Their specialties are mostly creative non-conventional dishes based in pasta & different types of meat (quail, rabbit, lamb etc).
Also their olive bread is delicious.
- at Rr.Qemal Stafa, Nr.60, Tirana, Albania.

7.Stephen Center.
It's an american restaurant runned by a couple of religious missioners.
It's a great place for american & mexican food.
No smoking allowed.
Great for breakfast & brunches.
Slightly more expensive that other places of the same range in Tirana.
Chek the album "Stephen Center" for further details on the restaurant
 — at Tirane rr.Hoxha Tahsim.

8.Vila 31
If you are looking for a typical albanian restaurant, with a chimney in the middle, with a great garden as the old albanian houses used to have, this please deserves a chance. 
During winter is great to stay inside, close to the chimney and during summer has a great garden in the middle of orange trees.
It's a little bit tricky to find (behind the Greek embassy walls or close to rr.Kavajes).
Things for which is worthy to visit:
-Great bruschetta cremes 
-
Tava vila 31- an earthenware pot where vegetables, rough egg & cheese are melted together.
-Salad Vila 31 -lettuce, tomatoes & mustard creme.
grilled meat also is advicable.
  — at Rr. Gjon Muzaka 31, Tirana, Albania.



Wednesday, 29 February 2012

I know this nice place in Albania....

I know this place in Tirana...
As a food-porner, i fetish the good food, picturing it and share the experience. I will start with my experiences in my home city, Tirana, but i'm pretty sure i will extend it to Albania and further. So, food lovers, let's eat & tell.