Cafe Chenar

Reviews

• Anne F.

  star star star star star 11 June 2026

  I came here with my partner and a friend who speaks Russian.  The food from where she's from and Russian food are similar in many ways.  She was able to communicate with the waitress.  The waitress was so happy to have someone to speak Russian with.  
  It was my partner's and I's first time having this type of food.  We were open to trying anything and everything.  I have literally never eaten so much in my entire life.  I'm pretty sure we ate enough to feed a small village.  We ordered pretty much everything on the menu except the soups.  We got the lepyoshka, which is like the bread they use in this cuisine, like Naan is to Indian food.  It is a thick bread in the shape of a disc.  We got the manti (which is meat dumplings), samsa (which is meat and onions fried in dough like samosa), Uzbek Plov (traditional rice and meat dish), belyash (fried meat pie), and 2 kebabs (I don't remember which 2).  
  Everything was so good.  I loved everything.  We split the food 3 ways.  And we ate almost all of it.  I was so glad we had our friend who was able to explain the foods and communicate with the waitress.  And despite having eaten so much, we had dessert (which was a huge mistake).  I literally felt like I was going to go into a food coma halfway through but we trooped through it.  I would love to go back there and try some of the other things.

• Paula Nicole D.

  star star star star star 6 June 2026

  My boyfriend and I wanted to try something new so we turned to Yelp and tried looking for something that we have never had before. We then stumbled upon Cafe Chenar, and I am glad we were able to find this gem! First, we went on a Saturday, but it was closed (we should have checked first, but they are closed on Friday's and Saturday's which is sooo weird for a restaurant!) So we came back the following week on a Thursday night. When we came in, the lady said people usually reserve before coming in because they are usually full. Although she let us take a seat in one of the tables! The service is A+++++, and the ladies who tended to us were all smiles and they were super friendly.
  
  Now on to the food, OMG. So I have never heard of Uzbekistan before, but I am glad I was able to try their cuisine! We got Hanum and Uzbek Plov. The Uzbek Plov was amaaaaazing! It's basically rice with a bunch of meat, carrots, peas, etc. I don't know what they put in there, but it was very flavorful. The Hanum was pretty good too!
  
  Next time, I would definitely try the kebabs as well as their dessert!

• Dov L.

  star star star star star 5 June 2026

  Went with my wife in honor of my birthday, had a great evening! Service on point, food delicious, ambiance modern update to the authentic culture.
  I am a big fan of Bukharian food since it was a huge part of holiday celebrations at our synagogue.
  This restaurant food was authentic home tasting with beautiful presentation and a perfect dose of flavors. One of the keys to this cuisine is letting the ingredients shine without changing the flavors through over spicing and I truly appreciate the authentic vibe!

• soso a.

  star star star star star 21 May 2026

  My friend found this restaurant by accident and wanted to try it! I'm so glad we did! The decor reminded me of a Beautiful European cafe! Silverware and plates were pretty! Service was excellent and the waitress offered us some great options on what to eat! We had the Chuchvara appetizer with Bojon salad! Both were amazing! Then for our dinner we had Uzbek plav and 2 skewers of one beef and one lamb kabab! I personally liked the lamb more! Definitely will go again soon!

• Fabby C.

  star star star star_border star_border 19 May 2026

  Bukharian food, which I still don't quite understand, despite reading many descriptions, is something that my girlfriend and I have never experienced before. One article simplified it as being "Russian Jewish" food with some Central Asian influences thrown in.
  
  This is a fine example of going a bit outside of our comfort zone when exploring new places. The menu itself is a bit intimidating, as the majority of the items on the menu are things that I'm completely unfamiliar with.
  
  I strongly suggest making a reservation. We dined here on a Sunday night and had to wait a bit, while other (larger) parties left once they realized they'd be waiting for an hour just to sit down.
  
  For food, my girlfriend ordered the plov, which consists of rice, carrots, chicken peas, and what the menu describes as "meat chunks." Personally, I didn't think it was too bad, but my girlfriend said the taste of the rice reminded her of the spices and flavoring that is often added to Indian food that she strongly dislikes. Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course, it's just a matter of personal taste.
  
  My main order was a kabab with skirt steak, served with some brutally potent raw onions. The meat was a bit too tough for my taste, but I guess you can't expect much for eight dollars, now can you? The mashed potatoes I ordered as a side were basic and forgettable.
  
  Strangely enough, the items we both enjoyed the most were the appetizers. A belyash and a piroshki. Two words that I feel would be fun to scream aloud while wearing an ushanka and repeatedly banging my fists against the table. Both were excellent, thanks to the flavorful bread used in both.
  
  Honestly, it's really tough to rate this place, because I don't think the food is necessarily bad in preparation or presentation, it just simply wasn't really our style. But judging by the large families dining here on a Sunday night, clearly there's a clientele for what they're doing here.
  
  Please note that their hours are not what you'd expect, being closed on Saturdays and shutting up shop early on Fridays. Double check times and plan accordingly.
  
  Although this food might not be for everyone, I'd still strongly suggest giving them a try. You might just be surprised.