"Palermo": Mediterranean fine dining in Almaty

The restaurant “Palermo” at Panfilov St 98 in the Kazakh metropolis of Almaty serves Italian specialties. You notice as soon as you enter that the restaurant is part of the upscale gastronomy sector.

The large and well-maintained freshwater aquariums, which are located near the entrance on the right-hand side, are certainly a real eye-catcher. They are large and house various types of ornamental fish, such as cichlids. Incidentally, these animals do not end up on the plate, even if you ask. What is positive is that the tanks appear to be very well-maintained and the fish have been carefully chosen. None of the aquariums are dirty or overpopulated in any way.

Wines from France and Italy dominate the menu

The extremely friendly staff quickly shows you a table and then makes the first recommendations for drinks. There are hardly any local wines from Kazakhstan on the menu, but there is an extremely extensive selection from Italy and France. It is not surprising that they stock wines from precisely these countries, as they focus on Mediterranean specialties. Incidentally, numerous wines are also displayed on wine racks, which give the restaurant a special visual touch. Not all of them, of course, because not every wine is suitable for such a display.

Certain mussels are served completely fresh and guests can even choose them individually, as they are kept in a saltwater aquarium. This means you know in advance what or who will soon be served on your plate. This "storage facility" is also in absolutely perfect condition in terms of cleanliness.

Although the "Palermo" is located in the upscale gastronomy sector, the staff hardly speak any English. This is a bit unusual for the gastronomy in Almaty, as it is mostly very international in orientation. Language does not usually play a role in gastronomy, as guests and waiters always find a way to achieve the goal, i.e. to make sure you are full.

Omnipresent service staff

As is usual in fine dining, the waiters at the "Palermo" take care of everything. This also means that the food is first brought on a serving trolley and then arranged on the plate in front of the customer according to their wishes. Of course, refills are also quickly added, sometimes so proactively that before you know it, you have a full plate in front of you again. It's similar with drinks. If you politely point out to the staff that you've had enough, they will discreetly withdraw and politely ask you at the next opportunity if you have any requests.

A wide selection of Italian antipasti with salads and cheeses was served as a starter. The restaurant also served various Mediterranean spreads and sauces. Everything seemed freshly prepared and was accordingly tasty. The waiters kept refilling the food, so that people who were only slightly hungry could possibly be full after the starter.

The main course was a variation of horse and beef with matching vegetables. It was just right in every respect, tenderly cooked meat that melted in the mouth in a positive sense and vegetables that simply tasted good. However, that also comes at a price, but more on that later in this article.

Homemade pastries and luxurious washrooms

According to the restaurant's own information, all desserts offered to guests are prepared or baked in-house. The "Palermo" prides itself on not buying anything in this area. Various pastries and cakes, all of which were of course Mediterranean style, tasted very good and actually seemed so fresh that it is not impossible that they could actually have been baked on the same day or even just a few hours ago. In any case, visitors should not miss out on this treat.

In Kazakhstan, it is common to offer homemade lemonades. The restaurant offered orange-kiwi and lemon-lime. Both tasted perfectly - not too sweet, but not too sour either. The expectations of this challenge were thus met. The tea, which was made with fresh ingredients as far as possible, went perfectly with the lemonade and dessert.

However, there is a highlight in a place where you probably wouldn't look for it. The washrooms in the "Palermo" are visually very attractive and look like those in a 5-star luxury hotel, which places great importance on ensuring that guests can see the splendor and luxury even in the "little house". Of course, it is positive for the guests of the "Palermo" to find such attractive rooms, but it is a bit over the top, as you don't usually spend very long in the toilet.

Upscale gastronomy has its price

In summary, the “Palermo” restaurant in Almaty meets all expectations that one can have of fine dining. Given the high quality, the large portions and the all-round service-oriented and friendly staff, one could even say that expectations were exceeded.

But all of this comes at a price, because the "Palermo" is not a cheap pizzeria around the corner, but one of the most upscale restaurants serving Mediterranean cuisine in the city of Almaty, which has a population of one million and is the cultural and economic center of Kazakhstan. So if you're expecting "cheap" food, you've come to the wrong place. If you want to treat yourself, your business partners, friends or family to a special evening in a beautiful setting and with good service, as you would expect in a Michelin-starred restaurant, then this is the place for you. The Palermo is also expensive for the local price level, but that's not a negative, because all over the world, upscale top-class gastronomy has its price. The all-important question: Is the "Palermo" in Almaty worth the money? Definitely a clear recommendation for special evenings or occasions.