You’re Invited: Celebrating One Year of Otakoï 🥂
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
One Year of Otakoi: A Dream That Became a Community
One year ago, we welcomed our very first guests through the doors of Otakoi.
We hoped to create a restaurant where people could experience authentic Ukrainian food, genuine hospitality and the feeling of gathering around a family table.
What happened over the next twelve months exceeded every expectation.
Today, Otakoi is more than a restaurant.
It's a place where birthdays are celebrated, friendships begin, families reconnect and thousands of people have discovered Ukrainian culture through food.
Every plate we serve tells a story.
The holubtsi remind us of Sunday lunches at our grandmother's table.
The borshch carries recipes passed down through generations.
Every handmade varenyk is folded with the same care our families taught us back in Ukraine.
Sharing these traditions with Melbourne has been the greatest privilege of our lives.
A Year of Incredible Milestones
Your support has helped us achieve things we never imagined possible.
Over the past year, Otakoi has proudly been recognised as:
🏆 Melbourne's Favourite Restaurant 2026 – Time Out Melbourne People's Choice Award
⭐ Awarded a 5-Star Review by Time Out Melbourne
🍽️ Finalist in The Age Good Food Guide Awards
Listed as Critics Picks in The Good Food Guide
🥟 Our handmade Varenyky featured in the Delicious.100 Best Dishes of 2026
🌟 Maintaining an incredible 4.9-star Google rating thanks to hundreds of amazing guest reviews.
We've also had the privilege of hosting charity fundraisers, Ukrainian cultural celebrations, community events and welcoming guests from around Australia and across the world.
Every achievement belongs just as much to our guests as it does to our team.
More Than Just Food
Opening Otakoi wasn't simply about serving Ukrainian cuisine.
It was about preserving traditions.
Sharing stories.
Introducing Australians to a culture that is rich in history, generosity and resilience.
For many Ukrainians, Otakoi has become a taste of home.
For many Australians, it has become their first experience of Ukraine.
Watching those two worlds come together around one table has been incredibly special.
Looking Ahead
As we begin our second year, our promise remains exactly the same.
To continue making everything with love.
To welcome every guest like family.
To celebrate Ukrainian culture with pride.
To create experiences you'll remember long after the last bite.
There is still so much we want to share.
New dishes.
New events.
New stories.
And we can't wait to share them with you.
Celebrate With Us
To mark this special milestone, we're hosting a One-Year Anniversary Celebration, and we'd love for you to be there.
Enjoy a specially curated menu, live entertainment, a welcome drink and an evening celebrating everything we've built together.
Booking is now available and places are limited.
👉 Book your table today and celebrate one unforgettable year of Otakoi with us.
From our family to yours, thank you.
Thank you for every visit.
Thank you for every review.
Thank you for every recommendation.
Thank you for believing in our dream.
Here's to many more years of sharing Ukrainian food, culture and hospitality with Melbourne.
With love,
Hanna, Mick & the entire Otakoi Family 💙💛
Seats are limited and this event is expected to sell out.
Comments