Market 8

Description:

• Styled with a fun-loving designer's eye for contemporary flair, this lovely deli occupies a sidewalk corner in the Lipscani District. It opened mid-2005 to instant popularity, welcomed for its imaginative integration of lounge-bar with cafe-style delicatessen, brought to life with fanciful furniture (assorted, clever armchairs), a small gallery of carefully chosen books, paintings, and other objects d'arts, and purple walls painted with what can only be described as alien plant life. You can pop in to buy take-home eats, but you'd be missing out: Grab a seat in the eclectic-smart restaurant and, casual as service is, be prepared to be charmed by your waiter. There's an ever-changing menu of wholesome meals, such as pastas, pork schnitzel, or fragrant chicken prepared with cashews, but you can just as easily make do with a simple sandwich (try olive-encrusted ciabatta with eggplant, feta, crème fraîche, bacon, and mozzarella). Washed down with a cold Romanian beer, of course.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010