Cafe D'Or: Lousy Service, Good Food

Cafe D'Or opened this summer in the lee of the hill of Orhei Vechi.  This means it's in a very small village several miles from the nearest large city.  It's also trying to be a modern, hip restaurant.  Evidently the owner has a similar restaurant in Moscow.  Anyway, the venue is lovely and it's great to see a place like this in rural Moldova.  The downside?  We spent nearly two hours waiting for our meal - on an afternoon when the restaurant wasn't full and there was a full wait staff.  It was disappointing.

We did get our drinks in a somewhat timely manner, and the various teas, lemonades, and mojito were great.  Unfortunately, getting refills was a bit of a problem.

As you can see, the food, when it arrived, was very well presented and tasted wonderful.  It's mainly standard Moldovan fare served in a way that makes it look fresh and new.  There was a murata (pickle) plate, a Greek salad, and a pumpkin placinte for starters.  Then some of us had tocana and mamaligia.  I had mici, ground beef and pork sticks, and Andreas had sausages.

 While we were waiting for food, my boss facebooked us and told us to try the chocolate martini.  I was very doubtful; cold chocolate drinks aren't my thing usually.  It came, it was ice cold, and it was wonderful.  Surprisingly chocolatey flavor and smooth mouth feel.

 Oh, yes.  My zeama came after my regular meal.  We also tried their cherry ravioli, which tasted great.  If this place can work out its waitstaff problems, it's got a great future ahead.  If it doesn't, it's going to be a very expensive flop.  I hope for the former, myself.  Will possibly go back some time in spring to find out.