Kyïv Social

Supporting displaced Ukrainian communities in Sydney and abroad, Kyiv Social is a new social enterprise eatery by Plate It Forward—the team behind Colombo Social, Kabul Social, Coyoacan Social and Anything But Humble.

Serving traditional Ukrainian dishes with updated elements thanks to experienced consulting chefs, Kyiv Social employs newly arrived Ukrainians (including the former Chief Economist for the Bank of Ukraine) who share their culture and home through the dishes. Standouts include the golden chicken Kyiv lathered in fragrant butter, handmade dumplings, holubtsi (cabbage rolls), and Kyiv cake combining layered cream, butter cake, meringue and Davidson Plum in a nod to Australia’s own native ingredients thanks to a collaboration with Aboriginal-owned social enterprise Bush to Bowl.

As with other Plate It Forward venues, one meal is donated to refugees in need here and one to those in Ukraine for each set menu enjoyed in the Chippendale eatery, and there's a big focus on the joy of sharing culture while acknowledging the needs of the community.

In the bar, local businesses have crafted products like the Beloved Ukraine lager (which undergoes an extended lagering period to create a deep malt flavour) by Young Henrys, and The Little Marionette’s small-batch Australian Blue Krane vodka, which the bar team crafts into drinks like a sorrel martini and beetroot sling. 

Wine drinkers should try a red wine made from native Ukrainian saperavi grapes by Eastern European winemaker Jeff Aston in Bowral, which is exclusive to Kyiv Social. 

Found in the heritage-listed English Scottish Reserve Bank building, the restaurant’s design pays homage to traditional Ukrainian style, with parquetry flooring, splashes of blue and yellow, grand chandeliers and a 10-foot wall mural featuring Plate it Forward’s restaurant consultant, Nadia Mohylna’s (who arrived in Australia in early 2023 from Horishnye Plavny), mother.

Open for dinner Wednesday–Sunday and lunch on Saturdays, Kyiv Social is well worth a visit to give back while exploring the realm of Ukrainian flavours.

Image credit: Kyiv Social (Kitti Gould)