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Russia House
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
18 reviews for Russia House
We went here for dinner. Made reservations for 4. The decor was really nice and fancy. We order everything a la carte, but I think we should of ordered banquet style which starts at $75.00 per person.
A bottle of Grey Goose Vodka 750ml ($110.00) very pricey for that size, which wasn't chilled so, we had to wait a bit for us to chill it ourselves at the table. A bottle of Russian Standard Vodka 750ml was $65.00.
We ordered Seafood Platter, Pickled veggies, Steamed Garlic
Potatoes, Beef Piroshky, Pickled Beef Tongue, Rack of Lamb, Chicken Kiev, and Chicken Tabak. The taste of the food was just okay to my standards I've had better Russian food.
The entertainment was wonderful. Huge dance floor plenty of room to dance.
The waiter was friendly. There was also a photography that came by each table to take photos of the ladies and a group photo of your party. If, you decide to purchase the 8 x 10 photo it was $10.00 each and cash only.
The restaurant had a view of the freeway that wasn't so romantic.
Would I come back here? Probably not.
I did hear that the place will be closed permanately next year.
Super-weird place. Not my kind of food -AND low-quality. Came here for a wedding reception and will never come back.
AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL...
Seriously, AWFUL! The food.... awful! The service, horendous! Nothing about this place is good. I don't recommend it at all, these people over charge for crappy food and booze.
I went to Russia House recently with my boyfriend to celebrate his uncles wedding and I thought it was amazing. This was my second time at Russia House, the first time was a couple years ago for my friend's birthday. Her birthday was great; excellent food that stayed in my mind for a while and magnificent music! The environment of Russia House is pretty fancy and people usually have parties there for special occasions. My dad had his 45th birthday at the restaurant and he and all his friends had a great time. My favorite aspect of this restaurant is the music and dancing that goes on, you definitely don't find this in every restaurant.
Definetly the best Russian restaurant in town, tons of great food, lots of high quality alcohol, good people, great music and a night of dancing filled with great fun. Be sure to make reservations as this place is only open for special events and also there is a dress code so dont expect to get in here with your airforces on.
2.5 stars
I have never eaten here but my family was invited for a family banquet dinner Saturday night and I came by afterwards to say hello. My mother said the food was awful and she is the Russian food connoisseur and chef.
The evening was fun though, shots all night and dancing to funny Russian bands have always been entertaining. My BF and company I brought along that had never been to a true Russian event were culture shocked, but in a good way. My BF's sister in law, a flight attendant that has been to Moscow said walking into the Russia House was like opening the doors to Moscow.
When the BF's brother and sister in law arrived before me they were waiting in the upstairs bar before my parents came out of the private room to usher them in. The bartender asked them if they were sure they were in the right place. Which describes this place to a tee. It's like secret Russian society, which is why the reviews I read on Russia House describes it as shady. I wouldn't call it shady but more not open to public without a banquet reservation. And the majority of people going to this place are Russki's.
I hit this place up last night for an office party (most of the people I work with are Russian and my bosses have been itching to give us all a real taste of the culture). I'd give it higher reviews, but it would be less for the Russia House and more for the party.
The venue is probably as old as me, and according to some of my more contemporary co-workers, it's the Russian version of an ancient Filipino karaoke hall. I got that vibe.
Don't order special mixed drinks at the bar; the frazzled bartender couldn't make head or tail of a mojito or Long Island iced tea (my boss: "Russians drink in shots!" - and we had a ton of those). It became necessary to explain ingredients and how-to's, but the drinks were nice and strong once made, so that was a plus.
Fantastic food, the stuff of dreams: laid out across the table with only enough space for our own plates. Every hour or so another course arrived. I tasted everything - endless seafood dishes, pickled tomatoes and melons, crepes with caviar and creme, piroshkis, Russian ravioli with toppings, creme puffs and sweet pineapple for dessert. The vodka and cognac flowed like water into empty glasses. I felt like I was in that "Hook" scene where all the Lost Boys imagine their fantasy meal and suddenly a king-sized feast appears.
Between courses we danced, which was fun. People sang and sang well (different from the standard Filipino karaoke hall in that respect). The man and I are children of hip-hop so we needed to be re-educated in terms of how to move. And re-educated we were.
To sum up, I had a great time and the food was crazy-good. Be wary of the bar. Oh hell, this is a travesty. I'm going to give it one more star.
This is strictly an informational post for anyone morbidly curious enough to go here.
First, this place is only open to the public on Saturdays and only seats banquets. That means that you have to have an accurate number of people when you make a reservation, because they will set the table and make the food for the number of people you gave them. If one person in your group bails last minute, you're screwed because you're paying for them.
You also need to know that the alcohol is NOT included in your price. We were misled into thinking that the cheap vodka and cheaper wine were part of the deal, but $1000 dollars or so later, we found out we were wrong.
This tip is very important: find out the real cost of the meal, sans alcohol, because it is unclear. Don't ask me though,because I still don't know what I should have paid. The total for 8 people (but it was really 7 because one person bailed) was over $1000, including service, many many bottles of alcohol, and some other weird charges, probably for not being Russian. We were expecting to pay $560 total, but we hit more than twice that somehow.
Another important tip is to bring cash. I know, I know, you don't typically bring hundreds and hundreds of dollars in your purse, but this place doesn't want it any other way. They actually asked for the $1000 in cash! I told them we would be charging it over several different credit cards instead, which they didn't like, and said they would have to charge me even more for this service. Hmmm, I already paid for alcohol that was marked up at least 300%, plus some obscure amount for pretty disgusting food that made me do the Jo-To Run midway through the meal, yet they wanted me to pay EVEN MORE to use a credit card. Too bad they process all their transactions through a Russian bank! I know this because once we fought with them to accept our cards, my card got denied; my company blocked the charge because it was through Russia. Later on, I discovered that they even attempted to charge my card an extra $100. Thank god for my anal credit card company's anti-foreign transaction policy.
Ok, now for the review. I don't actually regret going. Sure, I spent three times what I planned, but I danced to some crazy fun Russian music, ate some disgustingly salty food and very tough meat, and drank crazy amounts of vodka straight. With a nice view of 101, I was as happy as a clam. Every time I pass this place on the way south, I no longer have to stare at it, wondering what it would be like to party among neon lights, Russian-style, atop a highway.
You know you've seen the Russia House - it's caught your eye as you drive in either direction of 101 right after Cow Palace and Monster Park. It's hard to miss the neon lights.
Inside, the red neon lights go head to head with ornate chandeliers in a banquet hall overlooking, well, Highway 101. Add to that the dark, thick drapes and you almost feel like you are on the set of Blue Velvet.
But then the Russian cover band starts to sing "Hava Nagila" and you're not sure where you are anymore.
This place is intriguing but I can only give it 2 stars because I also thought it was a little shady. Appetizers were already waiting for us on the table when we got there and the fixed price of all you can eat and drink was apparently based on the amount the owner thought you should drink.
Regardless, it was a memorable place to celebrate the night and if you're curious about those neon lights as you pass by along the highway, you might just want to pay a visit (note: make sure it's a Saturday - it's the only night it is open to the public).
I personally LOVE this place and I have been a fan for many years. I come here for my birthday parties, special occasions or just to have a drink and dance. The owner, has been in business for many years and he definetly knows how to cook well and how to service his guests.
Like everybody else, we saw the neon signs on 101 and had a hankering for Russian food, so we stopped at Russia House to see what it was like.
We were pretty surprised when the door was opened by a giant bouncer dude who asked what he could do for us. Not quite understanding, I asked for a menu, at which point he sort of chuckled and told us that "we don't allow jeans."
Oh. Ok, so I guess it's a dressy place. The people who entered just before us were not particularly dressed up (and we weren't wearing rags, either), so maybe they have a problem just with jeans? I'm not sure, but we were rather offended so we left and haven't returned.
What a trip! All my life I have driven by this place never really knowing what it was (lived in the area). FINALLY, I got invited to celebrate an anniversary...I say again, WHAT A TRIP? For $65 it's all you can eat (and eat and eat) and all you can drink (pass the Stoli) as well as a live band! This is truly an event and a whole evening!! Starting at 8pm with a ton of apps...the entrees didn't even get served til 11pm but that was ok, cause you already got full from all the endless apps!!
HEY!
To the anti semitic reviewer J.D. - if the place is visited by immigrants - who are trully the only people who grew up with "russian" food and can fully appreciate the quality at any russian restaurant, it doesn't make it a "russian jew house". As far as the food and drink - overpriced - yes, low quality - yes, however, for those who want to party the whole night with close friends/family and be able to eat, drink, and dance till 1 or 2 am all in one place for about $100/person - then this is a place. It is cheaper than others and as far as quality Bay Area restaurants are all about the same. I am really picky about food and we don't go to Russia house to eat. If you want some Russian food you should ask someone from former USSR to cook you some home food or go to New World Market and get some stuff there - I use them for catring when I throw family/friends gatherings.
The Russia House has a really interesting location on Highway 101 which should give it alot of potential. When my family and I decided to stop in and try it we opened the door and were not even greeted. All waiters walked by and ignored us. After about 5 minutes we got pissed and left next door to the Bayside Coffee Shop, which is much better. Thanks a bunch Russia House!
1. the food was edible, but very average. at least i didnt get food poisining like some other russian restaurants. nothing special, just simple russia food, which was cooked with the cheapest ingrediants.
2. the singer sings horribly, but I still love dancing, so it was all good
3. the restaurants decor is nice, except from the outside it looks like a haunted mansion, and the door looks like your coming from a back alley
Overall, it was really fun, great place to dance, might be heavy on the wallet
Prices are high, quality is low. What a disappointed...not a decent Russian restaurant in the city.
Mommy dearest, considering how many times this place has changed its management, it really should be making money or something. It is great for a sit-down big table parties - just like in Russia (thus the name). But its open for public only on Saturdays, and is for private parties all other days. The food is really nice.
I've been coming to this place since I was a little girl. First of all for all of you to understand this restaurant operates mostly on banquets. The food is awesome better than any restaurant in the city. The staff is pretty friendly as well. If you want a totally Russian experience this is the place.
