On top of my most anticipated restaurant list is The Russian Tea room. In fact, it was the first restaurant I made reservations for! I remember browsing through the menu and thinking the prices weren’t terrible until I realized I was just looking at the appetizers! That was mind blowing.
I used to go to the Art Student League so I remember walking pass Carnegie hall and then Russian Tearoom. It seemed like a dream away- my friend wanted to have her bachelorette there- but our friend was then jobless so we decided to go somewhere else. So many missed opportunities so my expectations gradually became skyhigh for this place! It’s a place you keep hearing about but need the right opportunity to go because there is just no justification for the prices otherwise.
When you enter the restaurant, you’re greeted with chandeliers and gaudy ostentatiousness in all its glory. The host was friendly and asked us if it’s okay to be seated on the second floor; she also asked us if we had any questions. Grasping the opportunity, I asked for a little history lesson about the place. She said the place was built in the 1920s (hence the Klimt baroquial goldness evidence in the interior)originally as a bakery. After WWII, the shop was changed to a restaurant and the second floor was built; it is called the bear lounge. There is the Fabergé tree on the scond floor- I asked her what that is and she said I’d see it.
At first, I wish she had explained it to me but upon seeing the tree- I understood why it’s hard to describe.
Bear aquarium- According to the waiter, there are fish in there and they take it out if you order fish for dinner. The aquarium rotates 360, so you can see the bear at all its angle.
Fabergé tree with Venetian glass eggs- very majestical- I told my friend I felt like this place was unreal and I was in a mystical dream. Love it.
The ceiling is like an artwork in itself with all brightly composed colors through opaque glass. Very expressionistic; it seems to be an extension of Munch’s the Scream with its cool colors and brushstrokes stirring emotions.
Paranoma view!!
Borscht Soup- Sweet and light with a complment of mini flakey many layered mini croissant and cream on the side
Cheese Crepe with light egg souffle- Delicious and egg custard souffle melts in your mouth. Taste is very delicate.
Filet mignon with mashed potato & carrot- The filet is cooked with really good wine sauce on the side; mashed potato is slightly sweet and carrot is sweet and organic.The portion is a bit small but the meat they use is very tender.
NY style cheesecake- light and smooth.
Chocolate pyramid with raspberry- Dark chocolate with powdered sugar; not too sweet and raspberry inside pyramid blends in sublty with the dark chocolate. (Heart drizzled syrup!)
Cappucino- This has to be one of the most expensive cappucino I have ever paid in my life. It was $8. The only time I remember paying that much was going to the Continental in Florence with my cousin so we can get a good view of the city with its red roof tops. Not to disappoint for strong coffee drinker, I felt like there was 3 shots of espresso in this coffee. You can imagine how I was bouncing off the walls all night.
Beautiful ornament I saw in the basement- no idea what it is but my eyes were attracted to it!
Russian tearoom is definitely a memorable experience. It makes me feel like I had teleported to a time and era lost in history where imagination is the interior and reality; it is the polar opposite of the modernistic interior or the natural vintage interior we are so used to in a lot of places. It reminds us that royalty still exists, there are still diplomats everywhere, some artistrocrats hiding and once in a while, our dream might be interrupted by a large group of people celebrating bachelorette party.
Out of all the restaurant week experience I’ve ever had, this was definitely the best. For one, I think they are very smart in knowing how to maintain the quality of food without losing out too much. Instead of huge portion- bang for your buck, they made small portioned dishes but with delicacy and quality. This place is great and quite impressive. Love it. Splurge if you have the money to!!
nanansa 