---
title: "\"Romans Discover Ukrainian Cuisine for the First Time\": How a Ukrainian Restaurateur Conquered Italy with TikTok and Borscht"
description: "Ukrainian restaurateur Mykola Oleksiv, who has lived in Italy for over 20 years, opened a second \"Anastasia\" restaurant in Rome. In half a year, 40% of the guests are Italians, and humorous kitchen videos have garnered millions of TikTok views."
date: 2026-10-20T07:52:23.830Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainian-restaurateur-opens-second-anastasia-rome
tags: [ukrainian-cuisine, italy, restaurateur, rome, naples, tiktok, ukrainian-diaspora]
author: "Marina Slivenko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "Romans Discover Ukrainian Cuisine for the First Time": How a Ukrainian Restaurateur Conquered Italy with TikTok and Borscht

![Ukrainian restaurateur Mykola Oleksiv wearing a white chef's coat with traditional patterns](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/20/ukrainets-otkryl-vtoroy-restoran-anastasia-v-rome/ukrainets-otkryl-vtoroy-restoran-anastasia-v-rome-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Mykola Oleksiv has lived in Italy for over 20 years; "Anastasia" in Naples has been operating for over 10 years, and a new one opened in Rome near the Colosseum
- During the first 6 months of the Roman "Anastasia", about 40% of visitors were Italians
- Humorous kitchen videos on TikTok reached millions of views and increased guest traffic
- Oleksiv also organizes concerts for Ukrainian artists in Italy
- The restaurateur filters bloggers for collaboration based on audience and reach, not just subscriber count

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."

## Fact-Check & Sources

- ["Ожидания сбылись". Николай Олексив о своих ресторанах в Италии, заработках поваров и украинской диаспоре](https://wave.rbc.ua/ukr/insider/ochikuvannya-spravdilisya-mikola-oleksiv-1792481483.html) - Primary source: interview text provided as the basis for the article. All quotes and facts (20+ years in Italy, 10+ years for the Naples restaurant, 40% Italian guests in 6 months in Rome, millions of TikTok views, concert organization) are taken directly from this text.

## FAQ

### How long has Mykola Oleksiv lived in Italy, and when did the first "Anastasia" restaurant open?

Oleksiv has lived in Italy for over 20 years. The first "Anastasia" restaurant has been operating in Naples for over 10 years.

### Where in Rome is the new "Anastasia" restaurant located?

The establishment opened in Rome near the Colosseum.

### What proportion of guests at the Roman "Anastasia" are Italians?

According to Oleksiv, about 40% of visitors are Italians during the first six months of operation.

### How did TikTok influence the restaurant's business?

Humorous videos from the kitchen about food preparation (eggs, dough) gained millions of views and attracted new guests who come not just for food, but to meet the video author.