Moldova is the only restaurant in New York City serving Moldovian cuisine. On seeing this photo which was on the restaurant's website, I felt an immediate pang of love for this place. The passion, the can-do-spirit won me over, and I wasted no time by jumping on the Q Line out to Avenue M in Midwood (Brooklyn) to follow my heart. And my "swooning" turned out to be the "real thing" as Moldova impressed me with the quality of food, including some new taste sensations, the colorful decor, and most of all the high-spirited charming service of the restaurant staff. The photo above of Moldovan National Flag is held by the restaurant's manager Andrei Girla and his wife, Marina.

The three year old Moldova is an attractive and atmospheric restaurant with a wide array of colorful objects that bespeak Moldova. Such as a handsome flat wooden sculpture of a Moldovan couple in traditional dress (you can see in photo on the right) to a wide range of pottery, lace, and painting. A small tapestry of Stephan the Great hangs handsomely. And, to top it off a TV with an ongoing video (sound off) of the country of Moldova featuring the country's cultural and scenic highlights. To dine at this restaurant you feel the essence of Moldova, it is impressive. Moldova is a large restaurant with two rooms, and yet feels cozy. The front room seating about 80, and the more private backroom covered in faux vines seats about 40, it is perfect for a private party.

This is probably the most traditional of all Moldovan dishes, it is called Ursuleti, and usually eaten as an appetizer.  On the menu it says"House Special." Ursuleti is made with the beloved Mamaliga which is a traditional cornmeal (and used frequently in their cuisine), which in this dish is shaped in small balls and fried and comes with feta cheese, sour cream and fried pork belly. Andrei showed me how to enjoy it to the max as he squished the mamaliga flat with a spoon and then apply a special garlic sauce that accompanies the Ursuleti. I found it a truly new and unique taste and enjoyed very much.

Meat is often eaten as an appetizer dish, this is called Mititei. Small grilled sausages made of beef, pork, and lamb and flavored with garlic, pepper some paprika. Busting with flavor! Onions, red pepper and peas accompany the dish.

One of the major reasons I found this restaurant so special is the wait staff. They presented such a glowing spirit and genuine enthusiasm to share with you any questions you had on the cuisine or Moldova itself.  There was also wonderful  Moldovan music being played while I dined. The music had an infectious happy beat making me feel like getting up and dancing.  One of the waiters letting me know that the singer I enjoyed most was a woman named Natalia Gordienco.

For my entree I had "Perjoale ca la Tiraspel" (Stuffed Chicken Breast with cheese and fried sour pickle) it reminded me of Chicken Kiev, but with a little more "bite." I thought the dish was very good.  It was accompanied by mashed potatoes. Please note that as of now there is no liquor license, but this should come, and when it does the restaurant will pour some Moldovian wines, which is terrific news as some of the wines from Moldova are very good. Until then in BYOB.

After two filling appetizers and a hearty entree dish I was totally sated. Full, no more food, no desert, not possible! However, Andrei was persistent in that "you MUST try" the famous Moldovian dessert "Clatite cu Visine" (Moldovian style crepes with sour cherries and cream). Before I could get away, there he was with the famous dessert in front of me "on the house" Please just try one bite. Well . . . nine bites later, the dessert was finished. Fantastic! Moldova is the type of restaurant that I root for, it is a restaurant that does everything it can to push it's cuisine and culture and bring you a most memorable experience. On this the 25th anniversary of their independence from the USSR I toast to their success. "Lofta Buna!"

Moldova (Romanian) language -  "Hello" (Boonaziwa) "Thank you" (Multumesc)  "Delicious" (De le chosay) 

Interesting fact about Moldova - Moldova is the 12th largest wine exporter in the world, and the largest independent wine cellar in the world, the Milestii Mici's Wine Collection contains 1.5 million bottles.

Address - 1827 Coney Island Avenue Midwood (Brooklyn)  (718) 998 - 2892