Del Papa: Italian fine dining in the heart of Almaty

Right in the center of Almaty, on Kabanbay Batyr St 83, an Italian restaurant awaits its guests. As soon as you enter the restaurant, you notice that you are not only in a very attractively designed restaurant, but that you are also being looked after by service-oriented staff, as you are greeted immediately at the entrance.

Almaty was the capital of the then newly independent Kazakhstan until 1997. For various reasons, it was decided that Astana would be the capital of the ninth largest country in the world. Almaty is still a very important city and is considered the cultural center of Kazakhstan. It is therefore not surprising that there is also top international gastronomy here.

Friendly staff in a beautifully designed restaurant

Top-class gastronomy should not always be understood in terms of the number of stars or toques, but rather what the operator serves and offers. Del Papa in Almaty is right at the top, because both the beautifully designed restaurant and the quality of the food and drinks are impressive. The prices are in the upper middle class by local standards.

For Europeans, this means that you get very good value for money. In Almaty, wage levels are significantly higher than in the rest of the huge country, which is why prices in restaurants tend to be considerably higher than, for example, in the countryside, where income levels are not particularly good compared to Europe.

The atmosphere in Del Papa is very cozy and could be described as a somewhat rustic place. However, one could criticize the fact that one or two decorative items were not necessary, because the line between "beautiful" and "seems kitschy" is thin and a completely subjective matter.

The staff are friendly, helpful and service-oriented, but they barely speak any English. A basic knowledge of Russian or Kazakh is helpful, but not necessary. In the restaurant business, you can somehow communicate all over the world, and in an international city like Almaty, the staff are used to the fact that guests can also have significant language skills. They find a way to get to the great food.

Fresh and delicious food

The starters were various salads, antipasti, vegetables, fish in a sauce, cheese and bodja. The amount served alone would have been enough for a main course. The fresh dishes were delicious and of top quality.

The main courses were a burger with homemade fries and a rocket beef pizza. Both dishes were freshly prepared and not only met expectations, but even exceeded them. It should be noted that this restaurant clearly places great value on "eating with the eye", as the presentation of both the starter and the main course was visually appealing. The mango cheesecake, which was chosen to round off the successful dinner, was also top notch.

When it comes to drinks, the selection is Italian-influenced, which is not surprising, as you are in a restaurant that specializes in Italian cuisine. The menu is exactly the middle ground in terms of size and is available in English, Kazakh and Russian. Of course, local drinks such as beer, wine and lemonade are also available.

Good Italian food in Almaty

There is nothing to criticize about the cleanliness of the restaurant and the washrooms. Absolutely exemplary and one or two restaurateurs in Europe should take an example from it. It should just be pointed out that the unisex toilet is a little small and there may be very short waiting times.

As mentioned at the beginning, Del Papa Almaty is in the local upper middle class. In terms of price, it is also in line with locals, and for people with European wages, it offers very good value for money. All of the dishes offered here seemed fresh and appealing. They tasted simply very good. The portion size is sometimes very large, but varies depending on the type of dish that is ordered.

Next time you visit Almaty, if you feel like having lunch or dinner at an Italian restaurant, consider Del Papa. Since it is also very popular with the locals, you should reserve in advance by phone or online to ensure you get a seat in the garden or inside.