I did not go to Petropavl for food. In fact, deep down, I was worried about the dining scene out there. I mean, what could a small northern Kazakhstani town would have to offer me, a picky pescetarian? Well, apparently, they had some decent food to offer, and perhaps, even the best restaurant in all of Kazakhstan. Curious? Well, just continue reading below!
Gastro Bar “House of Culture” – https://go.2gis.com/ky2ek
I always adored places that experiment with food, and this one is one of them. They have a very interesting menu, well, interesting for this part of the globe at least. Anything from crab Rangoon to Tom Yum can be found here, alongside a decent range of cocktails. I loved their Tom Yum soup, though they could be more generous with portions. I can say the same for their dumplings filled with shrimps. They both tasted much better than expected, and yet I practically left the restaurant on an empty stomach. Nevertheless, it is a must-go place in Petropavl if you wish to dine well.
Friends – https://go.2gis.com/bsden
It took me some time to find this restaurant, which seems to be hidden on the fifth floor of an old shopping center. It has some of the jolliest staff in town, and their food screams value. To be fair, that pasta with salmon was not the best one I had so far, but it came with enough salmon to make me full for the next half of the day, which is very rare. They also have cheap beer, some free snacks that go alongside them, and a good menu with something for everyone. Certainly well worth a visit.
Kannam – https://go.2gis.com/rm2dc
This was an unusual pick for me. Kannam specializes in fried chicken, and they were not even rated highly based on that. I went there to have some rice cakes and enoki mushrooms. Frankly, I just wanted some Korean food, and that was the best I could find in Petropavl. It was not that great as both dishes were lacking a bit of flavour, but enoki mushrooms did come to save the day. I guess you can give them a go.
Semenov – https://go.2gis.com/2lxir
This may be the best dining experience of my entire stay in Kazakhstan. Service is excellent, nigh impossible to match up to even. Their menu is extensive, but dishes are almost always cheese-related given that they make their own cheese here. The burrata I had here was all sorts of amazing, and that focaccia with a pesto like paste on top was to die for. They also have their own draft beer, which is not only decent but also inexpensive for a place of this calibre. Now, I say this because they have actual towels in toilets rather than paper ones. You use a real towel and throw it in a bin. That is a huge change as some other local restaurants seem to forget putting any paper towels in their toilets to begin with. Naturally, prices here are not cheap, but they are well worth it. I did choose poorly with potato filled vareniki as my side, but hey, even that tasted superb.
Panda – https://panda-food.kz
It is not fair for me to criticize this place, as I ate their sushi on a train, literally three hours after I received my order. Fried rolls became a soggy mess by that point. Also, I failed to open their soy sauce containers without risking drenching everyone in my compartment in that black gold. This certainly was not how you were supposed to enjoy their food. Nevertheless, I did not dislike Panda’s rolls. They were okay, and they are certainly great value for the money. This is a take-away and delivery only spot so keep that in mind. If you want to have some sushi during your stay in Petropavl, they just might be a good option.
