I’m neither a vodka drinker nor a fan of Russian food, but this little spot received so much good press that I had to try it. I had an early evening reservation for one and tried the “Mother Russia” flight of three vodkas upon the recommendation of my waiter. The trio showed me just how different vodkas can be, and while the three vodkas featured in the flight do not have the smoothness of potato vodkas, they were very interesting. The flight featured: Green Mark, Hammer and Sickle and Impetus. Green Mark had a little spice and still a smooth finish; Imperial was sweet and drinkable, and hammer and sickle was too spicy and harsh for my liking.
I also ordered the Siberian pelmeni dumpling filled with beef, pork, veal and onion–they were like tasty little ravioli covered in house made sour cream with a little vinegar and tarragon. Delicious and delicate!
The house ouse cured salmon roe with blini was not the most flavorful, but well-presented, and the blini were fresh and obviously homemade.
The pickled Norwegian mackerel was presented beautifully like precious sushi. It was certainly gorgeously presented: served as wedges of shiny dark and light silver with a single strand of julienned raw onion alongside sour cream and potatoes with dill. I don’t generally like fish skin, but this oily fish with it skin was delicious.
For dessert I had plombiers ice cream sandwiches which were divine. The black currant herbal tea caramel sauce and wafers filled with vanilla ice cream and roasted hazelnuts was delightful in the contrast in texture as well as being rich and yet not too sweet.
Overall, the vodka flight, the Siberian pelmeni dumpling and the plombiers ice cream sandwiches are not to be missed!
4 stars out of 5 stars