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TLDR: Chama Mama is the perfect spot for soul-warming food any time of day. Their secretly giant heated back patio is prime for brunch and you can pretty much always walk in. But this Georgian food is more than just cheeseboats, so go with a group and try a bit of everything.
Image credit: getbento.com
Ah Chama Mama, how can you ever go wrong here? A neighborhood staple, Chama Mama has most things I love about a restaurant. Starting with the food: it’s excellent. And while the khachapuri (aka “cheeseboat”) absolutely is worth ordering there is so much more to this place than just this insta-worthy mass of bread and cheese.
What I love here is everything has a nice balance of sweet and sour – the chicken soup is a little lemony, the waffles are not too sugary, the salad is fresh with bursts of pickle-y flavor (thanks to the jonjoli, which I’ve never had anywhere else but are delicious). It all hits so well. The one thing to be mindful of is the dumplings, which I think are the most mediocre thing on the menu. If you go for the dips, the bread that comes with them is not nearly as good as any of the cheesy breads, so I would either skip those or order them with an imeruli khachapuri, which is the pillowy dough and fresh cheese marriage of my dreams.
But what makes Chama Mama truly special in my opinion, is how homey it feels. The interior, while not the most glamorous, is warmed by their Toné - a traditional Georgian clay oven – and furnished with sufficient plants to remind you that you should really try harder to keep that rubber tree alive. It truly feels like a neighborhood spot (admittedly frequented by non-residents) where you can pretty much always find a table. I have never made a reservation at this restaurant, and frankly I probably never will. Because that’s the kind of place this is – you just go as soon as you’re feeling that Georgian comfort food. Incredibly, they also have a large heated outdoor patio as well (score!) that’s perfect for a group brunch at a picnic table. Order a chicken soup to cure your hangover and try something on the sweeter side to mix it up.
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