Marani

Delicious food and good service. A very pleasant experience of first try of Georgian food. We especially like the Borsch soup with the special bread Shotis Puri which goes well with olive oil provided. The dumpling is too much of lamb taste. The Napoleon pastry is light for a perfect finale.

One of my favorite restaurants out there. The downstairs dairy Kachupuri is like nothing else. Dough and cheese goodness baked per order!
Upstairs the ambiance, food, service and price are just perfect. Love all the a authentic Georgian dishes which are full of spice and flavor. The salads and fresh bread are the way to start. Then I usually get some potatoes and mushrooms along with some delicious kebabs.
On a cold day like today I would definitely take one of their hearty soups!
Also don’t forget their amazing version of a Napoleon for dessert!

Excellent salads and grilled meat dishes. Unlike many of its kind, dishes are not overly greasy. Fresh clean flavors.

Superb food. Family style. A little pricer than what I am used to but you are paying for quality and quantity. I came here with my parents to celebrate my mom’s birthday today on a whim and good reviews from Unilocal.We were all very pleased.
Between the three of us, we started off with the sampler to share. We ordered eggplant, spinach and chicken salad as part of the sampler. Bread is ordered separately. Bread is big, doughy and delicious. The spreads were excellently seasoned and insatiable.
For our maim course, my mother and I shared one kebab, and a chicken dish in tomato and walnut sauce and my dad ordered the beans stew. Everything was delicious and filling.
Staff was friendly and atmosphere was pleasant and loungy.
When you check in on Unilocal,you get a free glass of wine with an entrée, I ordered the red semi-​sweet which they honored effortlessly.
I hope to come back and try the pies or dumplings which also came highly recommended.

Came here for new years eve with a party of ten. Food was good service was great.

Great kosher food. I loved the bread (forgot the name, but recommend) I got the Cornish hen, which I highly recommend. Also– the meat pie was delicious. I was really interested in those dumplings but I didn’t try them– they look awesome !!! Also the décor was very modern with good ambient music playing!

Oh… my… gawd…
Adjaruli xachapuri, a glorious mixture of bread, cheese, egg and butter and who knows what else shaped into a little boat holding the ingredients. Mixed at the table which semi cooks the eggs and mixes with the cheese… it’s a spectacular treat like few things I’ve ever dined on. Pictures can’t do this 14−16″ «boat» of goodness. Accompanied by a heaping salad of cucumbers, red onion, tomato and parsley in a crisp dressing and you have the recipe for a happy stomach.
Just one of the reasons Queens is the finest food destination in the country for my money. Oh, and you go to the basement for this one. Accompanied by several bottles of Georgian «lemonade» that contains Tarragon. Brilliant.
Must… return.

Oh my Marani… how you’ve made me wish I was born a Georgian Jewish Princess so I could have been eating like this since in the womb…
What a great restaurant. Like seriously great. The hubs decided to join me tonight for my eating outing adventures! His usual MO is «why go out when you make it better at home for me?» Such a charmer…
Menu was not at all intimidating to navigate and our server was as equally as handsome and oh so helpful in helping us choose from each course. I LOVE that they were playing old timey jazzy love songs in the background instead of some loud obnoxious techno beats that I’d have to scream over to have a convo. Ambiance is modern with clean lines and simple groupings of low light basket like chandeliers and small intimate groupings of framed pictures scattered on the walls made it quite intimate.
We began with the baby beet salad with walnuts: Creamy and earthy both in flavor and texture. The sweetness of the beets mellowed the usual sharp walnut tannins, a simple yet sophisticated flavor combo.
Blinchiki: blintzes rolled up with seasoned ground beef and fried almost like an eggroll, just better. The seasonings used in the beef reminded me of just how pure and uncomplicated the flavor profiles are in Russian and Eastern European cooking. The beef was simply seasoned with salt, black pepper and sautéed with a bit of onions. But just that touch of seasoning drew out such intense beef flavor in every bite. Flash fried to just till the blintz was golden brown and puffed just so. Heaven…
Soko Ketsze: Baked mushrooms in clay pot: unassuming little button ‘shrooms to the simple human eye but not so. Each baked little morsel of funghi was packed with a sweet aromatic burst of garlic flavor and what I think were chiffonade of terragon ontop. The natural juices that collected at the bottom of the pot made for some amazing dipping sauce for their shotsi puri bread.
Entrees:
Khinkhali: Nipple dumplings! Hubs wouldn’t pick it up by the nip but thoroughly enjoyed them regardless. The dumpling part was a bit doughy for my taste but the wonderfully cumin laced meat patties inside were phenomenal. Moist and firm enough that there was a nice springy bite where it kept its shape and wasn’t a mushy mess when you bit into it.
Chakapuli: Bone in lamb stewed with terragon and spices. As our server said, we’d never have anything like it and you have to love terragon to enjoy it. I loved that even with the pungent tarragon flavor that the mellow gamey flavor of the lamb still shined through. The broth was light and the lamb fork tender.
Ostrii: Braised beef in a stewed tomato, veggies and sweet paprika laced sauce. The color was vibrant, the flavors popped and the beef… that beef was not lean and had a good marbling throughout that the oh so good beefy flavor just coated every taste bud. Utterly scrumptious.
Ok seriously don’t know what they do to their rice during prep but it was highly addictive. I know, Rice! I asked our handsome server what the chef does and he said he just toasts the rice a bit in the pan. No. Freaking. Way that’s it. But that’s all he would divulge.
A clear winner in the Queens boro glatt kosher restaurant scene. Every single staff from the moment we walked in till the moment we are walking out were really warm, friendly and so eager to assist in menu choices. No time for dessert this time, but that just means I get to come back for more!

I’ve been trying to eat here for the past few weeks and finally made it in yesterday. The restaurant was not crowded at all but was also went at around 2:30. My parents and I decided to eat some food upstairs before going downstairs to try their bread. The three of us ordered the potato and mushroom appetizer alone with a chicken thigh, lamb and salmon kebob. This was enough food for the three of us.
The potato and mushroom appetizer had thinly sliced potatoes which were fried mixed with sauteed mushrooms and onions. The flavors were great and i loved the crunchiness of the potatoes BUT the dish was extremely oily. The reason for subtracting a star. We kept the plate slanted to separate the oil from the rest of the food and there was literally a small puddle at the end of the dish.
The kebobs were all delicious. I LOVED the salmon and the chicken thigh. They were both seasoned perfectly. I thought the salmon was cooked well but my mother thought it was a little overcooked. The lamb kebob was okay. I’m not a huge fan of lamb but i still thought it tasted good. My mom really liked it although there were a few pieces that were chewy and not edible.
The main star was definitely going downstairs and trying the khachapuri!!! She makes it right when you order it so it’s hot and delicious. We got one to share and it was the best thing ive eaten. Step aside cheesy bread youve met your match. The egg gets mixed with cheese and butter. The bread dipped it in all is just goodness. I imagine myself coming here for this when im having a bad day or when it’s super cold out and i need to cuddle with yummy food and a movie. I will be back for you!

Being of Georgian decent myself, I have to admit that it takes a lot for me to be impressed by anyone else’s cooking by my own Dediko & Bebo’s (moms & grandmas). Georgian food is all about the soul and love. you don’t only cook for the heck of it, it’s one of the main ways you show your love for the people you’re cooking for. Walking into Marani is an experience in itself. A spacious and welcoming atmosphere. you find yourself thinking you are down in a wine cellar (which is what the word Marani actually stands for) surrounded by black and white pictures from the mother land. Make shift wine barrels stacked on top of each other to provide an authentic feel of eating down in a wine cellar to enhance the experience.
Our server (s) were prompt, attentive, and happy to provide any information requested about the contents of any dish. We constantly had someone taking away empty plates the second we were finished (not sure if they are told to keep an eye out to do that no matter if they are our main server because in Georgian culture it is customary not to keep an empty or dirty plate in front of your guest for long as it is seen as disrespectful and impolite).
We had ordered a large Georgian Salad, a bowl of mushroom & barley soup (delicious) a pot of Lobio (baked beans in a clay pot with spices) which you pair with Mchadi (fried polenta) which is used for dipping into the Lobio and when that runs out and you have more beans left over. that’s when you dip the Tonis Puri (authentic Georgian bread) into the sauce for a finger licking experience.
They also have a well equipped bar and if you’re looking for the traditional Georgian cheese bread (Khachapuri) or anything related to cheese & dairy you will find yourself heading downstairs where they have the dairy kitchen. This is done because the restaurant is kept Kosher, meaning they separate the consumption of meat products with the dairy products (utensils, plates etc).
The restaurant is spacious however it does get popular especially on the weekend nights so I would recommend calling ahead of time and making reservations.

Ordered take out, they told me it’s closing in 25 min. i agreed to place the order. Waited for an hour for 4 imeruli khachapuri. Service is very unacceptable! I guess for Rego Park it’s ok!
Never again!

Been dying to come here for a while, but it has strange hours because of Shabbat. So, keep that in mind! Also, as a heads up, if you want the breads with eggs, or anything dairy, you MUST request to eat downstairs — it’s a different menu, and not as cute. We did not realize this until we already sat and ordered wine upstairs, and couldn’t get the egg bread. :(However, the experience was still awesome. This place is really cute with a good family vibe. The staff is very nice and we got an awesome bottle of Israeli wine for like $ 27. Win!
We split the sampler of appetizers, which all came out like food processor-​ed together and in cubes/​triangles, so you could spread them. You wouldn’t know that from the descriptions so I was surprised. But, they were SO good. We had spinach, beets, and eggplant (which was not blended up, and my least favorite). We got georgian bread to go along with it. We also had the avocado-​watermelon salad which was good but I probably would get something different next time.
We split shish-​kabobs (amazing), a dish with some kind of meat with lots of tarragon (amazing), dumplings (amazing), and one of the breads with beans. Everything was outstanding and I was TOTALLY stuffed afterwards.
What a great spot for Rego Park!

Ordered: Watermelon avocado salad, Khinkali, and Potatoes with mushrooms
Pros– The watermelon salad was light and refreshing. The Khinkali had a great combo of lamb, beef, and herbs. It was extremely filling. The potatoes and mushrooms was my favorite dish. The potatoes were thinly sliced and fried to perfection, and the mushrooms had a great seasoning (side note: I am not a mushroom person).

Marani is an awesome family style restaurant serving up Georgian food which has strong Russian and Uzbek influences. The portions are huge, so be ready to share!
For appetizers, we split the watermelon avocado salad and the fried potatoes with mushrooms. I highly recommend both! The salad was extremely refreshing which made it perfect for the hot summer day which we dined in; I particular enjoyed how the watermelon absorbed some of dressing. The potatoes and mushrooms are just like grandma makes them… thinly sliced and crispy. We also had the Georgian bread which is baked in house and is a must order.
We barely had any room left for entrees, so we only ordered the Georgian dumplings. They were easily some of the best ones I’ve ever had! The meat was deliciously blended with herbs; the inside was super juicy while the outside was soft and doughy. I highly suggest these as well.
We had no room for dessert, so we order a slice of Napoleon to go. It was outstanding — just like everything else was!
For pictures and more details check out:

I would give this place a million stars if I could! Marani is seriously THE BEST kosher restaurant I ever tried. I feel lucky to live relatively nearby so I could come back again! The food is just beautifully presented, fresh, and flavorful. Every bite I ate was bursting with deliciousness. We ordered the bread, harcho soup, borscht soup, meat pie, and sautéed chicken with fries. I cannot even articulate how much we loved all the food. The service took its time to reach us, but it worked out in the end when we ate the deliciousness. I will have dreams about the food revelations on a plate!
As an aside — I don’t have photos because I was too excited to chow down to even take pictures. I will definitely be back!

I have gotten take-​out from Marani a few times but, the other day, I was finally able to have a seat and enjoy a meal inside this wonderful restaurant. First things first, the space itself is beautiful. Though I’ve been in here a few times before, I never got the chance to appreciate how nicely decorated it is and what a comforting ambiance it creates. The background music was good too! Heard some Sinatra in there.
For food, we had a small Georgian salad, lamb kebabs, beef kebabs, and french fries. Perfect meal — everything was delicious and it totally hit the spot. The lamb was mouthwatering! To drink, we ordered a pitcher of sangria because we wanted to try their recipe (made with cognac instead of the usual brandy). The taste was different, interesting, and refreshing. In the end, we were stuffed — no room for dessert!
The service was great. We came in towards the end of the night and did not feel rushed at all. Our waitress was a real sweetheart — she saw that we didn’t know much about Georgian food and was quick to make recommendations. One day, when we are feeling more adventurous, we will be back to try more of their authentic Georgian meals. Also, I noticed that they had some Russian food on the menu for me and my fellow russkis — highly appreciated!
Can’t wait to come back!

Their khinkalis are just awesome. We also tried Lila kebabs and mushroom soup, and both are very solid. However, this place is a little bit noisy, and they charge you for regular breads.

All of my Jewish Friends have been raving about this place and when I walked in I understood why. Here goes…
We were invited here on a Sunday night for my Nephew’s 6^th birthday. As you walk in you instantly feel the warm friendly environment. The staff is all smiles and very welcoming.
As the food began coming out I tasted almost everything. The special bread they had was amazing as I’m sure was everything else for people who have acquired a taste for Georgian cuisine. Unfortunately, I’m not one of those people. But I still have a four star because the freshness and the presentation were wonderful.
I would probably come back just to see if I could understand the taste of their cuisine the next time.

Had an amazing dinner tonight
Food was really unique and interesting and very tasty
Very very well priced
The place is very cozy and has a nice vibe with nice music
They have a bar so I enjoyed a mojito
Staff were very friendly and helpful and went the extra mile to make the customer happy
I highly recommend this resturant

Love this place! The food is great and amazing service. My absolute favorite has to be the downstairs dairy section, freshly baked khachapuri as you order. Very cute cozy downstairs seething area. As for upstairs meat section, I really enjoyed the fresh salad, Marani sampler and the satzivi.
Great appetizers to start with and must not forget the worm Georgian bread (shotis puri). Also they have very interesting entrees, full of amazing spices and flavor. One of the best is the lamb chakapuli made with tarragon! Mmm… just melts in your mouth. Sooo good. Last but not least the parve” Napoleon that is made as ordered, so good might order a second one. I was so surprised when I took my first bite into it. So flakey, fresh and the cream! Out of this world good!