Belie Luga

The food was so plentiful that we left half of it uneaten, and everything tasted good. The servings were generous, and when we said we could have eaten more, they told us to ask anytime. I saw an earlier complaint about portions being small and tasteless, but I suspect that review was paid for by someone upset about their appetite or their life. This felt like being a child at my grandmother's in the village. We wanted to get away from civilization for the first time and see Belarus, and this is a real village, with all that comes with it. The toilet and wood-burning stove are inside the house, and the stove keeps the place warm for a long time. In autumn, everyone in the family needs rubber boots, or you'll have to go to the nearest city to buy them. You can fish there, and pike take spoons. They're small, but it was a lot of fun. The lack of internet is good for the kids too, since time together is precious these days. Families should come enjoy the quiet of nature. Just be aware the rural road has potholes and puddles, and shops are 7-10 km away. I brought meat for a barbecue but didn't get a chance to cook it, since there was already plenty of regular food.

If you feel unsettled, this is a good place to come. The quiet really got to me, the kind you never get in the city, along with the starry sky without avenue lights glaring at you. I loved the smell of burning wood, the warm stove, and the chubby cats. It brought back being a kid at my grandmother's. This is a place to slow down, not to have wild fun.

The food was the big disappointment on this visit. There's mayonnaise at every meal, which is something I only want in winter, especially around New Year's. There's no jam, just sour cream or honey. The portions were enough for me, though I doubt they'd satisfy a man. The service felt mediocre too, with no real warmth. I first came to Belye Lugi five years ago and liked it a lot. The food was delicious then, and everyone ate in a regular hut because there wasn't a separate restaurant. It felt cozy and homelike, and the hostess serving meals was so welcoming.

After traveling 600 km, we were told that their "Korchma," then the complex's dining hall, only served set meals. They offered us dinner for 90 Belarusian rubles (2,700 Russian rubles), and it consisted of leftovers. What really shocked me was being told, "If something isn't right, you're not allowed here." The service was extremely incompetent, to put it mildly. I left dissatisfied.