Ukrainian restaurateur Mykola Oleksiv, who has lived in Italy for over 20 years, has expanded his network of establishments: following more than a decade of success for his "Anastasia" restaurant in Naples, the same brand has opened in Rome, in the immediate vicinity of the Colosseum. In an interview with Wave RBC.UA, Oleksiv said that in the first six months of the Roman "Anastasia's" operation, about 40% of visitors have been Italians — both those already familiar with Ukrainian cuisine and those trying it for the first time. According to the restaurateur, this interest from local residents was the most unexpected and pleasant discovery: he had counted primarily on the support of the Ukrainian diaspora, but did not expect such a scale of attention from Italian guests and tourists from other countries around the world.
Ukrainian Cuisine as a Cultural Bridge
Oleksiv emphasizes that his restaurants are not only gastronomic establishments but also platforms for promoting Ukrainian culture in Italy. In addition to the restaurant business, he organizes concerts for Ukrainian artists touring the country. "It is a pleasure for me when Ukrainian artists who come here for concerts can visit our establishment, taste Ukrainian dishes, and feel at home," notes the restaurateur. According to him, over the years of working with Ukrainian culture in Italy, the restaurants have become a place where compatriots traveling through Europe can find "something native" and feel the atmosphere of home.
Millions of TikTok Views and Their Impact on Business
Humorous videos from the restaurant kitchen, in which Oleksiv shows the process of preparing dishes with a focus on eggs and dough, have made a significant contribution to the establishment's recognition. These clips have garnered millions of views on TikTok and, according to the restaurateur himself, have "very positively influenced" the flow of guests. People come to the restaurant wanting not only to taste Ukrainian cuisine but also to meet the author of the videos in person, take pictures, and chat. "I like that humor allows me to show restaurant life without unnecessary formality, to be closer to people, and to get them interested in Ukrainian cuisine," explains Oleksiv, adding that TikTok has become a professional promotional tool for him when approached correctly.
Policy on Working with Bloggers and Advertising Proposals
The restaurateur confirmed that bloggers — both Ukrainian and those working with Italian audiences — regularly approach him with proposals to be fed for free in exchange for advertising. Oleksiv explains that his team approaches each such proposal individually: they evaluate the author's audience, reach, subscriber activity, and the relevance of the content to the establishment's target demographic. "The mere fact that a person has many subscribers does not mean that a collaboration will bring results," he emphasizes, refusing to automatically accept or decline such proposals.
Standards That Do Not Forgive
Speaking about the professional criteria by which he evaluates other establishments, Oleksiv names two main ones: cleanliness and the attitude of the staff toward guests. "Cleanliness in a restaurant is a basic requirement that cannot be debated. If I walk in and see that it's untidy, for me that is already...", he begins, not finishing the sentence in the provided interview transcript. However, the restaurateur himself, by his own admission, is pleased with the results of the Roman project: "My expectations were met, and in some aspects, the result even exceeded what I had imagined."
