Russian restaurants
A friend who loves Russian food is visting this week. Any suggestions for good, authentic Russian fare? Thanks!
ameria
Jul 12, 2007 06:21AM
26 Replies so Far
« Back to the Boston Area Board
I recently at ate Vernissage in Brookline with a large group of Russians. Everyone was very happy with the food, and there was live music and dancing upstairs. The place was filled with Russians, so I'm assuming the food is pretty authentic- although not being Russian myself, I cannot say this with 100% certainty!
1627 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445, USA
Permalink | Reply
thank you for the recommendation..... we did have fun- danced the night away with the russian partypeople. the food was...eh.... apps were okay: we had blini and perogies and some chicken in puff pastry. i thought the meat perogies were good, one of my dcs thought the potato ones were the best. my entree was disappointing.. very salty chicken and mushroom stroganoff. they had no kasha nor beef stroganoff or even mashed potatoes (though all those things were listed on the menu). one of my dcs had the eel and seemed very pleased, another had potato pancakes and ate every last bite. though i didn't love the food, i would definitely go back for drinks to enjoy the festive and friendly atmosphere!
Permalink | Reply
is vernissage T accessible?
Permalink | Reply
Yes. It's at the corner of Washington and Beacon Streets in Brookline, which is the Washington Square stop on the Green Line "C" branch.
Permalink | Reply
If you don't want to go out every meal, Bazaar Intl is a great Russian store in Coolidge Corner..1432 Beacon. I always come away with something interesting.
They have a larger store in Allston that I haven't been to yet; but my Russian friends go there.
Permalink | Reply
The only two I've tried, I didn't like:
1. Cafe St. Petersburg (originally in Brookline Village, now in Newton) actually had pretty good food, but the service was simply nasty, perhaps the worst I've ever had in Boston.
2. Cafe Samovar, which has since taken over that space, served up some unappetizing mystery meat dishes, was horribly dirty, and had pretty indifferent service.
Still haven't tried Stoli, which is located across the street from Cafe Samovar, or Vernissage.
Permalink | Reply
Hmm, my experience at the Newton Cafe St. Pete was nice service, boring food.
Permalink | Reply
It was about four years ago or so that I went to the Newton St. Pete. If memory serves, got a cabbage soup and a sturgeon dish. Both were quite good.
However, I arrived without a reservation right when they opened. Despite the fact that the place was dead empty, the waitress gave me a big ration of attitude about not having a reservation. She then said I could eat there, but that I would have to be out by a certain time -- letting me know in no uncertain terms what a huge favor she was doing me. I assured her I would be out by then, as I had another appointment to go to. I'm not a poky slow eater, but despite this, the waitress continued to pester me during the meal about being out of the restaurant at the appointed time -- and after about the third such admonition, I told her none too nicely to back off, that I was perfectly aware of the circumstance and the time and would comply. She finally did at that point. It should be noted that while a few people did come in during the time I was there, the place never got more than one-third full. I thought this was simply uncalled for and nasty on her part, and I couldn't believe the level of rudeness.
Permalink | Reply
Wow, that certainly was a bad experience.
Permalink | Reply
Must have been more recent than that. They moved to Newton less than two years ago (late in 2005 or early in 2006).
Permalink | Reply
I went there when they were still in Brookline.
Permalink | Reply
That's CLASSIC! I've never heard of a resto in Boston doing this, but I can assure you it's 100% Russian. Surly attitude on the House, LOL!
"Customer service" apparently isn't a concept that Slavs grasp easily, if my past two summers on the Black Sea (surrounded by Russians) are any indication.
Permalink | Reply
I can't remember the name of the place but I'm almost positive that there is a very authentic Russian restaurant in Lynn (or nearby). I know this doesn't help since I don't have specifics but maybe it will job someone else's memory on the board.
My parents were taken there by my Dad's Russian employee and had a wonderful time eating authentic Russian food and drinking lots and lots of vodka (which lead to lots and lots of embaressing dancing!). It sounded like a really fun place that many Russians in the community spend time at.
Permalink | Reply
I think you may be thinking about Mirage Incorporated on the Lynnway in Revere. I haven't been myself, but I think I'll have to check it out!
I live in Lynn- my boyfriend is Russian and there is a very large Russian community there. There's a pretty large selection of Russian stores in the area- Kalinka on Exchange Street, Foods of Europe on State Street, across from Shaw's, and a European Deli on Broad Street. I frequent them for great Russian beer, half-sour pickles, sunflower oil, marinated mushrooms, cheap produce.... I could go on and on :)
Permalink | Reply
Perhaps this is the spot.
I'll try to find out from my parents because they had a great time when they went.
Permalink | Reply
We enjoyed eating at Cafe St. Petersburg in Newton Center http://www.cafestpetersburg.com/ last night. Several tables of Russians speaking loudly, a pianist in the center of the room, a modern bar stocked with many many varieties of vodka off to the side in this basement cafe. We started with the Vegetable Zakuska For Two ($14.95) I really liked the marinated mushrooms flavored with dill and the two cold eggplant dishes. The picked (red and white) beets were ordinary. The vegetable stuffed cabbage ($10.50) was excellent: interesting flavors and dried fruit, mmm....Stuffed Cabbage ($12.50) was OK but not extraordinary, stuffed mainly with beef and rice. The Beef Stroganoff ($14.95) was a good example of this dish I order often at many restaurants and really enjoy when it's done right. The meat was tender and the sauce very tasty and well suited to the accompanying kasha. (Various potato options were also available.) Very enjoyable evening. Our waiter was extremely professional and attentive. Very good service. For the three of us, with a good bottle of Georgian wine we spent only about $100. Good way to begin our weekend in the Boston area after a drive from NJ.
Permalink | Reply
I had the opposite reaction to the beef Stroganoff at Cafe St. Pete - yes the meat was tender, but that's because it was clearly slow-cooked like a stew. True Stroganoff is made with very high-quality sirloin or tenderloin, quick-seared, not slow-cooked. The whole preparation process should take only minutes. This was a most disappointing version.
Permalink | Reply
I stand corrected. This was definitely a stew. I've never cooked Stroganoff and I guess I haven't tasted it either, as all the recipes I found on line say the meat should still be pink. Thanks Bob. I'll be in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn later this week. Maybe I'll look for the real thing there.
Permalink | Reply
The Russians i know like Victor's Cafe on Beacon Street in Brookline. I had a meal after a funeral there, and the same family had a birthday party there not too long ago, and they were happy with the food.
There's lots of talk about Mirage -- is that place still around???? We used to go there with the same extended Russian family who now likes Victor's, but it felt very scary, dirty and expensive.
Permalink | Reply
Hmm, a scary Russian restaurant sounds sort of interesting... right out of "Eastern Promises."
Permalink | Reply
I love Victor's in Brookline. Excellent blini with red caviar at a good price. And wonderful cold borscht, just perfect on a hot day. Pastries are beautiful, but oddly tasteless, so avoid those.
Permalink | Reply
Was Mirage the place over near St. Elizabeth's where the patrons ended up dancing on the tables most nights? It was plenty entertaining the couple of times I went by. Crazy amounts of vodka being demolished.
I think the food at Cafe St. Petersburg had lost a step from its early days to the times I went in the year before it moved to Newton Center, and has not returned to its former glories in the new space, either.
Permalink | Reply
Oh, no - that was called "Yelena". It closed years ago...and I agree, Mirage is a scary place! The only nice thing about it is a door. Once you are inside, it is dirty and noisy... I think Victor is pretty good, fish dishes are his specialty
Permalink | Reply
Mirage - no it was on the "main drag" as you go into lynn. i think its rt 1, just before building 19 and wal-mart, but on the ocean side. (no view)
I remember electronic - keyboard bands, all-u-can drink vodka, and lots of women in brides-maid style beaded evening gowns, fake designer purses. and heavy purfume. I always felt under-dressed because they all "dressed to impress". Men with slicked back hair, and lots of fake armani "designer-style" t shirts. Very few people spoke english, making it even harder for me to enjoy myself -- so all i could do is watch people!
as a vegetarian, i didn't care much for the food. lots of stinky fish!
Permalink | Reply
Unfortunately there are no good authentic russian restaurants in Boston, real stuff is all in NY. Most of the food you are going to get at Vernisage, Victors, (also on Beacon) Samovar is the same (or worth) quality as premade food available for carryout you are going to get at Bazar or Russian Village stores for one fifth of the price. Being russian myself I know ;-)
Bazar on Cambridge ave in allston is owned by the same people as Bazar on Beacon but is a little cheaper and has more variet y of certain things, they do not slice cold cuts or cold smoked fish there and have no fresh baked goods or alcohol. Check out poppyseed rolls in Bazar on Beacon.
Permalink | Reply
I have from a Russian co-worker that Banya Russian Bath House at 20 Linden Street in the middle of an Allston residential neighborhood serves very authentic Russion food. Never tried it though I am intrigued, has anyone?
Permalink | Reply