Opened on July 13, 2023, Touch of Ukraine is an excellent restaurant just two miles away from the Truax Campus on Winnebago St. The restaurant offers authentic Ukrainian cuisine, the owners originally being from the Ukrainian city, Zaporizhzhia.
With the current invasion of Ukraine, being able to support a local Ukrainian business was something I wanted to be able to do. Having an opportunity to do so, and getting to taste Ukrainian cuisine was a must.
Entering the restaurant, my friend and I were quickly met with friendly staff.After receiving the menu, we weighed our options before deciding on three meals. Touch of Ukraine offers full course meals, we ended up getting Pelmeni ($10) for our appetizer, Holubtsi ($18) for me, and the Chicken Kyiv ($18) for my friend.
I was interested in what the pelmeni would be like, having previously been to Paul’s Pelmenis on State Street. Upon being given the pelmeni, I noticed the dumplings were much larger than Paul’s. They were over butter, good for any butter lovers, with the usual side of sour cream. Needless to say, they were excellent, warm and perfectly made. Now I have two places to get good pelmeni.
Soon, we were treated to house salads as part of our meals, topped with shredded carrots, a good precursor to the main meal.
After we finished our salads, our main meals came out. I did not know what to expect when ordering holubtsi, which is cabbage leaves stuffed with beef. I was met with a warm layer of cabbage that complemented the beef inside. I was pleasantly surprised with the meal, served with a side of potatoes, which I enjoyed.
My friend got the Chicken Kyiv, breaded chicken, which came with peppers. They were happy with their meal, saying that they would come again for the Chicken Kyiv. Many others online say the same thing, the Chicken Kyiv being one of the restaurant’s most popular meals.
While talking, I also noticed the atmosphere of the restaurant. There were a variety of Ukrainian flags, and the flag of arms. I also noticed that one of the TV’s, which were silent, played videos of Ukrainian nature.
While eating, I felt that I was supporting Ukraine, and this wasn’t just a feeling. Touch of Ukraine also donates to seven different charities, directly helping those facing the war in Ukraine. These charities along with Touch of Ukraine’s menu can be found at Touch of Ukraine’s website.
I am certain I will return to this restaurant soon. To those interested in trying delicious Ukranian cuisine, while also supporting the local and international Ukraine community, I encourage you to try Touch of Ukraine.