An Ex-pat opinion

 Whereas, in Western Europe, most restaurants will expect to have 2 or 3 sittings in an evening, in Bulgaria it is very different, with an evening meal-out lasting for 4-6 hours, sometimes with live music and traditional folk dancing, all for between 5-15 Euros per head.

With regard to the more traditional restaurants, the culture has its differences from Western countries, so here are a few tips to make your eating experiences a happier and more fulfilling one.

It is advisable to order one course at a time, otherwise, you could get your dessert before your starter!!!

When ordering the main course, you must explain that you want your vegetables served at the same time with your meal, otherwise, you could get your French fries half-an-hour before or after!!!

One of the most popular desserts is pancakes. Be warned, they are cold and soggy, not like our lovely hot, crisp pancakes in the U.K.I recommend crème caramel, fresh fruit salad or the excellent ice-creams, which, mostly compare favourably with Italian ice-cream.

Bulgarian wines are as good as anywhere in the world but avoid the cheapest ones.Expect to pay about 7 Euros in a restaurant for a good Merlot, Cabernet or Mavrud for red, or , Chardonnay, Muscat or the highly recommended   Traminer for white.

Bulgarian vodka and gin is excellent and inexpensive, but, if you like whiski or brandy, I suggest you stick to your normal  brand.

The Bulgarian Equivalent is called rakia, which can be excellent, but very strong and not to be mixed with other alcoholic beverages.

If you like your coffee black, strong & sweet, you won’t be disappointed, and milky coffee is also available, but, if you like strong traditional English tea, bring your own tea-bags.

By and large the food here is very good and mostly organic, well prepared and healthy.

Happy eating !