Eat in Râșcani, Chișinău

Gök-Oguz ★ 4.4

Gök-Oguz on Calea Orheului in Chișinău is the family-run Gagauz and Turkic room, serving shurpa, gözleme and lamb specialties in a Comrat-styled compound.

Signature: Shurpa lamb soup, Gözleme cheese pie, Lamb with vegetables

Order: Shurpa lamb soup with freshly baked gözleme on the side.

Tip: Sit in the courtyard in summer; the menu's Gagauz lamb cooks slow, order it 30 minutes ahead if you don't want to wait at the table.

Lake House Brewery ★ 4.4

Lake House Brewery on Ștefan cel Mare in Chișinău is the family microbrewery (2017) pouring its full range on-site, with brew-tours Friday through Sunday.

Gök-Oguz ★ 4.4

Why locals love it: Family Gagauz room on Calea Orheului with a back-garden vinery and a hand-painted Gagauz village courtyard, missed by anyone not heading to Comrat.

Tip: Order the shurpa lamb soup 30 minutes ahead of arrival; the courtyard is the seat to ask for, not the indoor halls.

Lake House Brewery ★ 4.3

Lake House Brewery on Ștefan cel Mare in Chișinău pours its own beers until 02:00 Tuesday through Saturday, with the brewer's full range and pub-style snacks.

Try: House lagers, IPAs and pub-style snacks