(Старо село/Old Village)
Address: 97 Vassil Droumev Str, Varna
Tel: 052/ 78 30 77
Open: 11.30am to midnight

Staro Selo is one of my favourite restaurants in Varna for three reasons: I have never had a bad meal there, it's easy to find and I always get a parking space right outside. It may be easy to dismiss it as an over-priced eatery due to the efforts that have gone into the traditional decor, but you'd be missing out on a reasonably priced and fantastic dining experience if you passed it by.

The restaurant provides an authentic atmosphere, with its wooden beams, open fires, white walls and wooden floorboards. Colourful samples of Bulgarian pottery and handcrafted rugs adorn the walls together with many original echoes of Bulgaria's agricultural past. The restaurant is air-conditioned with the option of eating alfresco, weather permitting. Open fires lend an inviting ambience in winter.

The restaurant is not particularly child-friendly. The children's menu is limited to pizza and chips and there is no entertainment specifically geared towards them. Your little angels are expected to sit and wait quietly for their meal but they are still made welcome. However, the restaurant caters well to the disabled; all stairs have a wide ramp and the tables allow enough space for wheelchairs.

Walking through the front doors of the restaurant, you are greeted by a secure cloakroom and a warm smile. The bilingual staff is extremely attentive, the wide-ranging menu arrives with English translations and there is a good choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. All dishes are cooked fresh to order. The chicken and pork are cooked on the spit. You can also watch the chef skillfully arrange the dough and put your pizza together. The waiters are happy to recommend a dish and their choice has never disappointed me. I particularly enjoy Old Village's grilled ribs and steaks, although the lamb dishes are also very tasty. Traditional Bulgarian dishes include pig's tongue as well as a good choice of salads and bread, my favourite being the homemade garlic bread. The menu contains some fantastic meat - on my most recent visit I chose the home-style sausage with potatoes in garlic and dill. My husband chose the barbecued chicken.

Drinks are served quickly and once your order is taken, you can enjoy the traditional music played by the house band, which consists of a talented vocalist, two violinists and a drummer. Many diners add to the atmosphere by performing traditional dances around the tables. On a busy night, it generally takes about 25 minutes for food to arrive and then it comes in the usual Bulgarian ad hoc style. The portions are generous but not overwhelming and I always leave room for a sweet. The apple pie is irresistible but heavy after a filling meal, so I usually opt for the creme caramel. The waiter is quick to recommend a dessert if you're undecided. Meals are invariably satisfying and at about 25 to 30 leva for two people, including drinks, excellent value. Staro Selo (Old Village in Bulgarian) is clean and hygienic, and a pleasant meal with entertainment. When we have visitors or we're asked for a recommendation, we always mention Old Village.