Gotovim s lyubovyu Cafe

“Cooking with Love” in Phuket is the kind of place people come to for straightforward, home-style Russian food — no fancy plating, just the familiar flavors you miss when you’re far from home. Their rich borscht arrives the traditional way: with salted pork fat, green onion, black bread, and mustard — and if you feel like it, you can add a shot on the side. Soups are a strong point here, including a “lifesaver” broth, plus ukha (fish soup) and tom yum.

For hearty mains, you’ll find mashed potatoes with cutlets or meatballs, pelmeni with sour cream, vareniki, goulash, stuffed peppers, chicken breast baked with mushrooms and cheese, and wings. The larger meat dishes are worth special mention: the pork steak is notably generous, and the tomahawk consistently holds its own. Some menu items may occasionally be unavailable.

Salads range from Russian classics to local twists — Olivier, crab salad, and a simple “vitamin” salad. The shrimp are cooked to be bold and flavorful rather than just plain boiled. For snacks, there are garlic croutons with cheese, smoked cheese braid, and mackerel. Desserts include medovik (honey cake), sweets to go with tea, and seasonal Easter kulich. Draft and unfiltered beer are also available.

The setup is convenient: fast service, an air-conditioned dining room, outdoor seating, and a small kids’ corner. Takeaway and delivery via a bot are available as well. Now and then, guests mention timing mix-ups with courses, a language barrier, and inconsistent quality on certain dishes (okroshka, for example). Some items can be on the oily side, so it helps to be prepared for that.