South Tampa, Florida
I was stuck in traffic in South Tampa after a physical therapy appointment — imagine that — and figured I’d stop somewhere to eat while the roads cleared. A quick search turned up a place about a block away: Nene Restaurant. Ukrainian and Georgian influences, and by Georgian I don’t mean the US state — I mean the former Soviet republic in Eastern Europe. The menu actually labels dishes by origin, this one Georgian, that one Ukrainian, so I made a decision on the spot: I’d order one of each. You only live once, and apparently that applies to lunch too.
The First Visit
It was around 4:30pm, quiet, so I took a seat at the bar. A polite server with a thick Eastern European accent walked me through a few menu questions with real knowledge of the dishes.
I started with the Ukrainian salad, which turned out not to be a salad in any conventional sense. Everything in it was cubed — potatoes, carrots, beets, green peas, pickled cucumber, and pickled cabbage, tossed in a vinaigrette and topped with a grape tomato. It tasted freshly cut, like something assembled to order in the back rather than pulled from a prepped bin. A good, unusual way to start.
Next came the Georgian dish: khinkali, their dumplings. The wrapper was thick, cooked to something like al dente, and the filling was ground lamb, beef, onion, and herbs. Cut into one and a substantial amount of chicken broth ran out — good broth, the kind that adds a real burst of flavor and keeps the interior properly moist. This was the standout of the meal. Everything about it was balanced: the dumpling texture, the filling, and that broth doing exactly what it should.
For the Ukrainian side, I ordered the Golubtsi — their version of stuffed cabbage, filled with ground beef, ground lamb, white rice, onion, garlic, and parsley, served with a carrot sauce and a generous dollop of sour cream. On its own, this would have been an outstanding dish. Up against the khinkali, it earned a very respectable second place.
By the time I finished both, I was full — but I looked at the dessert menu anyway. The Ukrainian Napoleon caught my eye. Napoleon is a common enough bakery item — butter, eggs, flour, baking soda, milk, sugar, vanilla — the kind of base that shows up in a dozen different desserts. But this one looked made to order: the pastry layers weren’t lined up with the mechanical precision of something pre-sliced from a sheet pan, and the cream was fresh enough to stop me mid-bite. This was a genuinely fantastic dessert — and the real test of a good one is that you finish it even when you’re already full. I finished it.
I asked for hot tea alongside it, and they delivered on “hot” without hesitation — served in what looked like a cast iron teapot, one they had to handle with a heavy towel to avoid burning themselves. That tea stayed hot for a long time and was excellent on its own, whether that’s a specifically Ukrainian style or just a good house choice. Paired with the Napoleon, it closed out the meal perfectly.
The Second Visit
I made it back a few weeks later, this time pacing myself. I ordered the beef stroganoff, a classic Ukrainian dish I’ve always liked but don’t see often anymore — and when it does show up on a menu, the meat is frequently overcooked. Not here. The beef stayed tender, the mushroom gravy was rich and warm and tied the whole plate together, and the egg noodles rounded it out. One of the better stroganoffs I’ve had in some time.
For dessert this round, I tried the Ukrainian Blinchiki — layered pancakes, though visually it read more like a cake to me. Between the layers was tvorog cheese, along with raisins and sugar, served with fresh fruit on the side. Visually striking, genuinely good — but it doesn’t beat the Napoleon. When I go back, the Napoleon is getting ordered again without a second thought.
The Verdict
Prices were reasonable, food quality was excellent both visits, and service was adequate — though I hit both trips during off hours, with essentially one person covering the entire restaurant. No real complaints there. Nene is a genuinely great stop for Eastern European comfort food in South Tampa, and the kind of place a traffic jam turns into a happy accident.
The Menu
Nene Restaurant — South Tampa, FL Cuisine: Eastern European (Ukrainian / Georgian) Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
