Restaurant Casa Vanatorului - Iaşi

The food was excellent the best food that I've had since my first trip too Romania. The menu however is not an English which is a downside to ordering as some of the wait staff do not know any English. That is an improvement in itself required as they are not only Romanians that are patrons at the restaurant. The customer service level is a lot to be desired there are many waitstaff standing around chatting with their arms folded and not paying much attention. Very annoying if you need to get their attention. Although the quality of the food is impressive but takes a very long time for the food to come out to talk me and my friend 45 minutes for a plate of pasta to come out for example. The diversity of the menu is superb and has plenty all offer for all types of diets and food tastes. The atmosphere was very peaceful they have a live stage with Romanian music playing in the evening it was a wonderful sight to see. I will happy happy to come back to the restaurant despite the fact that significant improvements are needed.

Slow service due to staff shortages, music is supposed to be traditional but at times it'll take you back to some other times (to be read Ottoman Empire) and overall a less than average experience. I gave it a 2 star because the location was nice ...

This was one of the worst experience ever to a restaurant in the last two years. We could not order food after 40 minutes even if we asked every waiter that passed by. We even escalated to the bartender chief and the only thing we got was a beer and a promise the we would get served - which did not happen. I would consider that we did something wrong or it was our fault somehow, but we looked around and 3 other tables with exactly the same issue. Avoid this at all costs and under no circumstance go here hungry.

Nice location, near the Copou Park, with traditional decor. The service is very slow and of poor quality: we received the soup before the sour cream and hot pepper; the second meal before they brought us the salads and the mustard, so we had to tell them not to bring them any more, as the food was getting cold while they weren't yet bringing the side dishes. As for the food, we had both good and bad experiences: the tripe soup was delicious, but the grilled minced meat rolls ('mititei' or 'mici' - a romanian traditional thing) were the worst we've ever eaten, clearly frozen ones from supermarket, the potatoes were also from frozen bags, the stew was so and so.. As a general impression, we were disappointed and we wouldn't come back here to eat again.

After you finish your walk in the amazing Garden of Copou just go straight to this traditional terrace and take a seat. Don't bother to order some fancy dinner, just order 5 mici with Tecuci Mustard & 2 pints and watch real people dancing and having fun just like in the good old days.