Restaurant Moldova

[Barry Strugatz]

Tried this place yesterday. Had the house special: Mamaliga Trapeza: polenta, cheese, scrambled eggs and stewed pork. For an appetizer I had Placinte, a bread stuffed with cheese and dill. Everything was excellent. Though a bit on the heavy side. This was my first encounter with Moldavian food. Are there any other restaurants in town? Suggested dishes?

1827 Coney Island Ave. (near Ave. O)
moldaviancuisine.com

[chowhundius]

Tried it today. Didn't blow me away, but I may go back.

[jen kalb]

what did you eat?

[BuildingMyBento]

Did you notice polenta in many dishes? I had a discussion with a Moldovan woman in Boston last year about foods from her country, and she seemed to focus on polenta. I wonder if it is prominent in Romanian cuisine too.

[MOREKASHA]

The nation, Moldova (aka Bessarabia) is sort of a breakaway province of Rumania that has been controlled by either Russia or Rumania over the past 150 years. While I haven't been there, my family hails from there (100 years ago) and I have circled it in my recent travels (Odessa and Rumania). In Rumania polenta aka Mama Liga is a national dish. In Transylvania we had a Saxon mama liga, sort of a lasagna, alternating layers of mama liga and goat cheese. The polenta there is unlike any commercial variety available here. It actually tastes like corn, it is not flavorless. Most of the time it is served as a side dish, a helping of mushy polenta w/a dollop of cheese or sour cream on top. Any Rumanian or Moldovan restaurant will definitely have polenta on the menu. Also, ask them if they have any home made Tuica.

[BuildingMyBento]

Multumesc for your response, Morekasha! I have a couple of questions about the polenta;

1) What is the (English phonetic) pronunciation for mamaliga?
2) How is it usually prepared? If mushy, than just boiled, or is it fried/grilled as well?

I've seen a bunch of Romanian restaurants around NYC, the cuisines are nearly the same? Is goat cheese to Moldova what salty, briny cheese is to Bulgaria?

[jeremyhfisher]

Would it be good for a group? Is it BYOB?

[Barry Strugatz]

I think it would be good for a group. They have wine and I believe a bar.

[Sluggo1407]

Here is the website. Doesn't say about liquor, but the place looks comfortable and food looks great.

http://www.moldaviancuisine.com/