- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Russian Family Restaurant & Catering
Categories: Restaurants Russian Event Planning & Services Caterers Russian, Caterers [Edit]
719 Camino PlzSan Bruno, CA 94066
(650) 588-2950
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Wed-Sat 5 pm - 9 pm
Sun 5 pm - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Amanda L. said: "I went to a party catered by El Burrito Express and was amazed at how fresh and delicious the food was! I've been to both locations and have always been impressed by EBX's healthy, fresh, and affordable choices...and the catering…" read more »
135 reviews for Russian Family Restaurant & Catering
Review Highlights
"The entrees were Lamb Kebabs and Chicken Kiev."
(in 18 reviews)
"I had the beef stroganoff and it was absolutely delicious."
(in 18 reviews)
"...Patties"--These are potato patties stuffed with beef and..."
(in 8 reviews)
Loading...
135 reviews in English
-
Review from Sara P.
San Francisco, CA
9/20/2011
Vicky L. has totally beaten me to this review!
We met up for our usual Wednesday Russian lunch, but 7 Pleasures in the Financial District was closed! We ended up going elsewhere for lunch but she still wanted stroganoff. After a bit of research and a mini road trip, we had dinner at Russian Family Restaurant.
At first when we walked in, there did not appear to be anyone working. A cheerful older gentleman appeared from the back to seat us.
We were brought rye & white bread and a salad (with awesome pepper vinaigrette dressing) to start. We also split a bowl of borscht, which is the best I've ever had. For me borscht can either be great or disgusting. I loved my pelmeni (beef dumplings). Unfortunately, they did not make good leftovers.
I love the family feel, it really felt like we were in someone's home.
Russian Family Restaurant, we'll be seeing each other again.Listed in: The Bay Area
-
Review from Nobu K.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/18/2012
I got a Thank you message from the owner of the restaurant.
Dear Nobu,
Thank you very much for time you spent to write such a great review. We always try our best to deliver great customer satisfaction and tasty food. We hope to see you back soon. Please take a minute and like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.co....
Best regards,
Tatyana and Vladimir Sommer.
-------------------------------------
Thank You Mr. and Mrs Sommer.
I love to come back there soon.
I always write honest reviews.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/12/2012
My son and I came here for lunch.
When we drove by there,
It looks closed from out side on Camino… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jennifer L.
San Bruno, CA
12/30/2011
Yay! I love little family places like this. Very cute mom and pop place, where pop is in front taking orders and making people feel welcome and mom is supervising the kitchen making yummy borsch (I'm glad we both ordered a bowl instead of attempting to split it, so good!). Russian food is a heavy helping of potato and meat with a little cabbage. The russian soda was pretty good, I had the pear (when I couldn't decide what flavor, pop told me his grandkids liked the pear best).
I took off a star because they were short staffed that night so we couldn't order the meat dish that would have taken too long to get to our table. Some other people got turned away. It's a small place so it's understandable, and I'm guessing it doesn't usually happen. -
Review from Rick H.
San Leandro, CA
12/24/2011
We had a nice time eating at this place, the only issue was the wait. Each person was served at a different time which made for a lengthy dinner. I felt that the food was homemade and we were happy with the service of the owners since they both were very engaging.
We would go back since the food was excellent. -
Review from Earl G.
12/7/2011 4 photos
Old world flavors with old world charm. The charming old Russian man whose roles include the waiter/busboy/host/water refiller and I'm sure is also the owner does his best to make you feel right at home. The interior is colorful and homely. I like the Matryoshka dolls scattered around.
Came for a weekday lunch with some coworkers and it seemed like every other table was a big group drinking with their meal. Don't you people have to go back to work?!
The portions are on the smaller side but the food is hearty. Here's what we ordered.
*VARENIKI w/cheese ($9) - A Ukranian specialty. Cheese dumplings served w/ homemade sour cream and black currant jam. The filling was like ricotta.
*BEEF STROGANOFF ($9) - Traditional Russian, not like the hamburger helper I ate growing up. The beef strips were tender albeit small. It came with buckwheat (kasha) like cous cous instead of egg noodles.
*KOTLETY ($8) - Basically, Russian meatloaf. It had a smooth consistency and came with this insanely spicy mustard. My Russian coworker mentioned this dish is typically fried, this one seemed baked. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
If there's a dish to order, it would be their Georgian specialty, the Chakhokhbily Chicken. Maybe next time. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Subtle flavors, real humble food, great prices. I can't judge the authenticity but the service and kitschiness is one of the main attractions. Great spot if you're a big group and are looking to eat, drink and kick back some cold ones. Worth a try if you're into German food. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)Listed in: Bargain bites, Favorite ethnic eats
-
Review from Wanugee N.
Pleasant Hill, CA
This is a great family run spot serving Russian favorites in a little strip mall in San Bruno.
My Favorite Relative and I met up with some of my favorite Yelpers for a little UYE (Unofficial Yelp Event) organized by Peter L and a regular here, Jennifer CP.
It turns out I have been walking past this place for years, since I used to live in San Bruno, and some relatives do too, who used to go to Akagi and now Spiral Japanese restaurants, which are just a couple of doors down the street.
The place is run by an older couple from the Ukraine, husband and wife, just the two of them. The wife Tatianna cooks up her specialties, and the husband Vladamir works the front with his charming humor. Therefore, food comes out very deliberately, so please don't come here if you are starving or in a hurry! It won't work for you in that state of mind!
However, the food is good and pretty reasonable. Our group of 8 shared in a variety of dishes, from Chicken Kiev, Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Livers, and several other dishes, both mains and appetizers. The food was delish and the vibe was relaxed and friendly. (See pics for some sample dishes).
There is a reason why it is called Russian Family Restaurant, because the owners treat you like family. (Which is for most, a good thing. But occasionally that weird uncle shows up at family gatherings!)
If you've never had Russian Food (you probably have, but don't know it!) or want some, come here and have good food and a good time. Just don't be in a hurry.Listed in: Wanugee! SF Peninsula
-
Review from kim s.
San Jose, CA
2/2/2012
We were invited to 40th birthday party for a good friend at this suprisingly wonderful little restaurant. We drove from San Jose and it was worth the one hour drive to San Bruno.
What i had experienced of Russian food before did not make me excited about going to this place. Wow............was I wrong. Our hosts had arranged for such a plentiful variety, all served by the owner Mr. Sommer. His wife does all the cooking.....she must be some kind of kitchen magician. A simple tomato and cucumber salad came to life on the plate dressed with a light creamy dressing of some kind. The beet salad.....how can I describe it's deliciousness? The fresh and delicate slices of salmon placed on a home made pancake and drizzled with a slightly sour cream sauce.......oh, I couldn't get enough! Such a delightful evening. I am telling everyone about this place. It is tucked away in a small strip center in kind of an alley-way and was a bit tricky to find, even with GPS and Google directions. This gem of a restaurant doesn't get much foot traffic so spread the word! You will not be disappointed!! -
Review from Boris M.
San Leandro, CA
1/10/2012
Great Local Russian Restaurant close by good food...... Specialy whne you dont want to drive to city this is the best choice. I like them a lot and I been going there for a long time. Keep up good job !!!
-
Review from Y G.
Burlingame, CA
10/31/2011
A couple of year ago I used to love this restaurant. The food was fresh and tasty. Last week my friend and I decided to go there for a lunch. What a disappointment! My friend ordered golubtci, and I ordered crepes with meat. I don't mind when food is partially prepared in advance, but would never expect it to be warmed up in microwave:(
Try at dinner time, maybe you'll get lucky, and they will make at least fresh crepes for you... -
Review from Alla Z.
Redwood City, CA
1/11/2012
Very tasty Russian food! I brought a group of coworkers there for lunch. Everybody loved the food. Everyone ordered something different and we shared.
It was difficult to decide which dish tastes the best. Stuffed Cabbage Rolls - delicious, Beefstroganoff with buckwheat - delicious, Kotlety with mashed potatoes - the best you can find, truly home made, Pelmeni (dumpling with ground meat), Vareniki (dumplings with mashed potatoes or with fresh farmed cheese) - delicious (also vegetarian); Green Borsch - yummy, Greek salad, Beet salad - everything tastes great, fresh, just from the oven! For dessert we ordered Cheese Blintzes with sour cream and cherry preserves. It was a real treat! Very nice place! Since then whenever we have the time to go out for lunch, we go to Russian Family Bistro. Thank you Vladimir and Tatiana! We love your bistro!!!
A.Z. -
Review from Vicky L.
Sara P. and I discovered something unsettling yesterday: 7 Pleasures, the restaurant that serves Russian food so yummy that we made it a standing lunch date every Wednesday, was closed. Apparently they're revamping themselves.
So of course, what do we do? We Yelped Russian restaurants in the area and decided to take a field trip after work to San Bruno after I read glowing reviews from JCP (thanks!). At first we sort of got lost, because it's a completely nondescript restaurant in the middle of a random strip.. mall? For lack of a better term. Suffice to say it's a very random location.
When we got inside, there was a couple already seated, and no one else, not even anyone to greet us. After waiting for a few minutes and ringing a bell, the husband/owner came out and seated us, gave us menus, and brought us water and bread. Okay, I don't know what kind of bread they use, but the white bread was incredibly soft and fluffy. It was weird, but it was delicious. I don't think I've ever had white bread THAT soft, as odd as that may sound.
We decided to split the Ukrainian Borscht ($10), which was the-freaking-bomb. It was a deep red in color, but it was still a clear broth, and there was a dollop of sour cream on top (which I could've done without, but it didn't make it bad). On a cold foggy night, I could've had a whole pot of this - it was savory, flavorful and absolutely wonderful. It also came with a Russian-style garlic bread, which definitely has a kick to it when you taste the garlic on top.
Sara P. ordered the meat dumplings, and I had the stroganoff ($14), and both were served hot and fresh from the kitchen. Her dumplings were tightly packed with meat in a floury skin, and served with sour cream (maybe it would've been better with some sort of gravy?), and my stroganoff was just strips of tender beef in a gravy and sour cream, served with french fries. So, so yummy.
I loved the homey, cozy feel of the restaurant, and I loved the easy parking and that they take credit cards. Plus, in addition to actually describing each dish, as Russian food is still relatively foreign (hah!) to me, they had pictures to accompany the menu items. Definitely makes me want to come back here again and again, for everything looked so tasty.
Yum, thank you Russian family, for giving me such an excellent meal!Listed in: Top Picks
-
Review from J L.
San Francisco, CA
11/18/2011
I was so excited to try this place given the good yelp reviews but we hit it on a weekend evening when it was quite full. The owner/waiter tried to talk us out of most things that we had wanted to order by saying it would take a long time and they would be closing soon.
What we did order tasted warmed up and not very fresh (maybe that's why it was "faster"?) Our dinner still took an hour and a half and was quite expensive relative to the portions. I'm all about supporting family run restaurants, but the quality of the food at this place just doesn't justify it. -
Review from Celeste F.
San Francisco, CA
11/8/2011
This is a true find! A very authentic Russian restaurant. The food was absolutely divine and portions generous. It reminded my husband of his grandmother's cooking. It's a hole in the wall, no nonsense eatery. It's clean and very homey. Good beer too. And the Vodka!!! They know vodka! Owners are very personable and it made a nice date night while our daughter was in acting class. Try the blinis and caviar - worth the money.
-
Review from Sandra S.
San Bruno, CA
11/10/2011
Based on what I've read here on Yelp, I decided to try this place out and I'm SO glad I did!
We started with the complimentary bread and salad (which was excellent and fresh). Then we had the mushroom julienne for an appetizer--SO AWESOME! I highly recommend it. For entrees, I had the chicken kiev--the portion was huge, the chicken was moist and the side vegetables were excellent. My father ordered the siberian pelmeni he said he enjoyed it and ate every last bit.
We both had the black currant vodka, and we appreciated the warning that it was better sipped than downed as a shot :) We finished with the cheese blintzs which were warm and pretty good as well. All the dishes were presented nicely on the plates as well.
Though parking was a bit tricky, the restaurant was welcoming and quiet, only two other diners were there at the time. Our server was funny and patient as we decided what to try. In all, I'm happily recommending this restaurant to my co-workers and my family, I can't wait to return to try some of the other items. -
Review from Ro M.
San Francisco, CA
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Never had Russian food at a restaurant before but after seeing their Yelp reviews we knew it was another spot we had to try.I usually get Piroshkis and Russian goodies on Geary.Cute little restaurant inside decorated ever so homely. You wouldn't dare suspect from the outside.
Vladimir and Tatiana made our Russian cuisine experience to die for. Everything we ordered was delicious and very filling. We even had leftovers. Got the Grandma Patties(kinda like a meat piroshki with mushroom gravy and cabbage) and Georgian Style chicken (like a Russian curry). Don't ask me to say the Russian names cuz I can't. We also ordered Russian beer which was yummy.
We were soooo full we decided we just couldn't do dessert.Great prices and friendly service by Vlad himself. We even got a yelp discount! Holla! We will add this to the rotation for sure.
They have a great website.Check it out! -
Review from Greg S.
6/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm somewhat conflicted with Russian Family Restaurant, sitting right on the fence and not quite ready to take a side.
It's a cute and quaint little spot, with a homey atmosphere and wonderful hosts. The owners are incredibly kind and warm. They take on every duty; greeter, waiter, cook, you name it. The pace is on the slower side, but I didn't mind taking my time. Sometimes you just need to stop and smell the vodka!
I've had bits of Russian food here and there over the years, but never had a wholly Russian meal. I found the Herring appetizer quite good and different from any fish I've had before. The Pirozhki were yum, and we were told it was the last order they had that evening. In fact, a lot of their menu items were not available that night, including the Chicken Kiev and Veal Stew. A little disappointing, but we mustered on and ordered the Beef Stroganoff, Pelmeni with mushrooms, Cheese dumplings, and Potato dumplings. The Pelmeni were a favorite, and I preferred the Potato dumplings over the cheese ones. The Beef Stroganoff had good flavor, but the meat was kinda tough.
The food, albeit quite good, was a little pricey for what it was, especially the portions.
So here I am, sitting on the fence. I love the mom and pop operation, but not so sure about the price-point. All in all, it was a unique experience! -
Review from Red R.
San Francisco, CA
11/21/2011
Lovely little restaurant - cute couple passionate about taking care of their guests, and making traditional food. A must visit!
-
Review from Matthew D.
Tempe, AZ
4/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Um, yes. Absolutely!
There's tons of Asian, Mexican, and Italian places around this part of the Peninsula, but scarce few Russian. I didn't even know that there was a Russian restaurant around this neck of the woods until a friend of mine pointed it out to me as the result of a Yelp search.
This place is all about changing perceptions and definitions. You may have had beef stroganoff, but the stroganoff they serve looks and tastes different than any other stroganoff that I've ever seen. I have made beef stroganoff at home and had it in other restaurants--never had it this good before. The same goes for their sour cream. We've all had the sour cream in the plastic container at the store, or on our burritos. The sour cream that they serve at Russian Family is from scratch, and is much more on the "cream" side than the "sour". The cheese dumplings were another surprise. No familiar "cheese" taste here--they have a quite sweet taste to them, and the sour cream adds another dimension to the flavor.
Do it. Go here. Russian Family Restaurant & Catering is the quintessential "mom and pop" restaurant--literally run by mom and pop. This this place makes you feel like you have walked into their dining room and they treat you like an honored guest. You'll get a top-quality meal and a personal friendliness from the owners that you almost never see at any business. It's quite small and is liable to fill up fast, so call for a reservation on busy nights.
This place has apparently been here since at least 1999, right under my nose every time I pass by Tanforan. I could have been having awesome Russian food all this time. . . Oh well, now I know. And so do you.Listed in: Top Restaurants
-
Review from Svetlana Y.
Brisbane, CA
10/2/2011
The place is absolutely amazing! The home made food is so delicious and the owners are very friendly. I always come back here with my family, friends and co-workers! Tatiana and Vladimir, thank you both for having such a wonderful little Russian gem in the big Bay Area! Love it! Would recommend it to everyone!
-
Review from Gino B.
San Francisco, CA
4/17/2011
Food is horrible and over priced. Don't waste your time and money.
If you want a good Russian meal, buy a Russian cookbook and take the time to make wonderful Russian food at home. -
Review from Dima D.
San Mateo, CA
11/26/2011
We came here a few times with my wife and it was good food and drinks; however, the service was never impressive. The weekend when my 2 sisters were visiting, I decided to take them to a Russian restaurant to try some food that we used to eat int he good old times when growing up.
We walked in, waited for 5 min by the door and finally decided to take a seat at one of the tables, as the atmosphere appeared to be really informal. Few minutes later the owner came out, looked at his watch (with just over an hour before close) and kicked us out saying that he is super busy and we don' have a reservation.
First of all he recognized us from few times before knowing that we are usually nice and tell very well, he still kicked us out saying that it is super busy even though it was not even half full.
Second, even if you have some odd reason kicking us out with us sharing, at least apologize. The guy kicked us out with no apologize and was really an ass about it.
I guess one star of for the food tasted good when he actually did not kick us out; otherwise the service is a disappointment and these day service in a restaurant where i spend 30-50$ a person (depending on the drinks) is everything. -
Review from Mandy C.
San Francisco, CA
4/10/2011
Came here on a Friday night with 11 other friends for dinner. First impression of the restaurant...wow, they weren't lying...the decor and everything is super Russian and family friendly, nice! Anyhow, it was a Friday night and there were 3 other couples dinning there at the same time.
I was a virgin to Russian food, and had no idea what to expect. We decided to do family style, so I had a taste of each plates we ordered.
Deli Plate--THe plate consisted four types of meat taht were similiar to proschuitto, salami, pepperone and dry smoked ham. All of them were quite dry and super salty. Good thing there was bread.
Zrazy "Babushka" "Grandma's Patties"--These are potato patties stuffed with beef and mushroom. It was a little bland to me, but interesting.
Ukrainian Borsch--Quite tomato soup liked, and didn't have as many cabbage as expected (like those HK style cafe ones), but nevertheless, I could taste it and it was very hearty and favorful, I like it.
Beef Stroganoff --The beef was very tender but it was a little to bland for me. It wasn't very colorful either.
VARENIKI S KARTOSHKOI "Potato dumplings" --OMG, this is is so good! Hot and steamy! It comes with sour cream dipping sauce, but it tastes great with or without it.
KOTLETY PO-KIEVSKI "Chicken Kiev"--The moistest fried chicken breast rolled with vegetable I ever had! I don't know how the chef/wife can make it so so SO tender!!! OMG, so good!
Chakhokhbily S Kuritsey--A spicy chicken stew. Very flavorful, and not too spicy. I love it, and again, the chicken is very tender again!
Everything was new to me yet they all tasted so good and familiar at the same time. Also, since the restaurant is family own, the owner and his wife gave great hospitaliaty while we were there. He was very funny and very nice. He took care of our request every time and did not kick us out even though we were just sitting there and talking in the end.
Oh yeah, he was nice enough to divide the total for us by the # of people we have so we don't have to do the math ourselves, and he did not add gratuatity charges like most restaurants do for party over 6. -
Review from Kimberly H.
San Jose, CA
9/5/2011
Lusciously tasty food, I had no idea Russian food could taste this good. It feels like you're eating in someone's living room where the food is cooked with love. The food here tastes so good that it makes my friends' conversation more interesting, and they're fairly interesting already.
-
Review from Vlad E.
Menlo Park, CA
8/30/2011
We ordered catering for my son's birthday party. Excellent food. Very well prepared and right before party everything fresh and delicious. Highly recommend this place for Russian food catering.
-
Review from Jennifer C P.
San Francisco, CA
After tonight, my first time eating Russian food here at this homey place with lovely owners - I think I want to be Russian too! ::laughing::
I love the husband and wife team of Vladimir and Tatiana Sommer - he takes the orders and serves while she works furiously in the kitchen. Vladimir explained to us how they take great pride in serving traditional Russian dishes piping hot from the kitchen - which makes to-go orders impossible because the food will not translate the same once it is cold.
I liked that. Reminds me of something my mom would say . . . "Sit at the table and eat. Don't worry about the phone, just eat." This restaurant reminds me of a simpler time when you sat down and waited for comfort food to be lovingly prepared and put in front of you piping hot.
I enjoyed the complimentary salad while we waited for our food.
The house made Russian Fruit Soda was yummy - I drank the whole carafe! The bubbles were "softer" than traditional soda. I think on my next trip I will try Russian cola. . . and I am not even a soda drinker!
For dinner I ordered three entrees. Like I said, I never had Russian food before and this place is literally like sitting in your Russian Parents' house (I am telling you - I think I am Russian now!) that I wanted to try things that sounded good so that I could get a solid foundation of what Russian Cuisine is about.
I enjoyed:
Solianka Sbornaya Myasnaya: This steaming hot soup has bits of sausage and tender beef and is topped with sour cream - it was delicious!
Blinchiki w/beef - this is freshly made and seared crepes stuffed w/ground beef with green onion and sour cream - amazing! The best description? Meat was like Piroshki but the crepe was thin, buttery, and crisp! This was rolled up like Filipino Lumpia. This dish is sure to break any persons' diet! I really loved this one a lot!
Kurinaya Pechonka (Chicken Livers Nest) - this was a generous dish with so many beautifully cooked chicken livers that my eyes were wide as saucers! It comes strategically placed on top of a wonderfully light potato pancake. If you love chicken livers, this entree will justify that love in one bite.
Beef Stroganoff - It came served with french fries. Everyone knows I do not like french fries but I was not going to disrespect these nice people after I decided I would try their culture's food. The beef slices were so beautifully tender in a rich gravy that made the french fries decadent!
You absolutely MUST come here if you are:
- Open to trying new food
- Ready to try and pronounce your selections in Russian
- Willing to wait for great comfort food
- Are able to turn your cell phone off to enjoy eating
- Know how to have a good time - Vladimir will have you laughing and smiling in minutes!
and the most important one of all?
DO visit here if you make sure to bring your friends like me - ME TOO ME TOO!
Ah! I almost forgot! If you are planning to visit on Fri, Sat, or Sun - RESERVATIONS HIGHLY REQUESTED or you will be S.O.L. What? Did you think you were the only person in the Bay Area who loves this kind of comfort food? Loyal regulars, large groups, and families love to fill this place up on the weekends.
I love this family business. It warmed my heart, filled my belly, and soothed my soul. I will be back! -
Review from Annie C.
Foster City, CA
8/22/2011
Excellent food!
-
Review from Gina S.
12/6/2010 1 photo
First time eating Russian cuisine. This little family restaurant left a great first impression with my taste buds. You can taste the homemade goodness.
We started out sharing Vareniki s Kartoshkoi, ("Potato Dumplings") an entree item served with sour cream. They were amazing, but I don't know as an entree if I would be able to eat just that. It would be a pretty heavy meal.
I'm not big on meat other than chicken and fish, so my entree items were more limited. They seem to have a lot of lamb and beef options. I went with the Chakhokhbily Chicken. It was stewed chicken with basil, cilantro, onions and spices. Amazing meld of flavors.Listed in: Foreign Affairs
-
Review from Zoe S.
Pacifica, CA
9/1/2011
Not only is this place super cute, but it's delicious!!! I had the chicken kiev, it was moist and flavorful. My bf had the beef stroganoff, very tasty! Another awesome thing about this place is the beer selection, and the cheap vodka! Hahaha! We had a great time here, I'll def be back! ;-)
-
Review from Niniane W.
Mountain View, CA
10/10/2010
I really like the decor of this restaurant. One wall is covered with a floor-to-ceiling photo of the woods during fall, with orange and red foliage. Another wall has many quirky pieces of art.
A bunch of Russians came in to eat during our meal, so it seems authentic.
I had the "crepes with beef", which was fried. They brought out some complimentary heavy Russian bread (which was interesting) and a Russian salad with a strong oil-based dressing (which I liked a lot). -
Review from Ed U.
"...and I can see Russia from my house!"
Or actually from Tanforan. At least that's how Jamie W. and I ended up here for the world's longest dinner on Friday evening-to-night. I actually wanted to go get the Duck Confit at Q, but we had to pick up pants at J.C. Penney. Our geographic dislodgement made us throw caution to the wind and see what the Yelp Ouija board...I mean, the Yelp iPhone app would lead us. And that's how we ended up at the Russian Family Bistro since it has an average of 4 1/2 stars.
The moment you walk into this compact, homey restaurant, you feel like you've intruded on a family dinner since everybody lifts their heads from their bowls of borscht and stares at you uncomfortably (see photo). It was quite a pause before the owner came out and let us know it takes about 20 minutes before we could have anything served hot to us. Oh, OK. We studied the menu for quite a while since the dishes were indeed Russian to their core. The young, sad-eyed waitress came with our bread and salads like clockwork.
Good thing we had something to nibble on while we waited for our food. We were beginning to realize the owner's wife was making all the dishes one at a time according to their traditions. I believe I could have seen the unedited version of "Doctor Zhivago" including the overture, intermission and entr'acte. He kept apologizing profusely for the delay, even offering us shots of vodka, but it only made us feel bad for not looking more engaged with the wallpaper or something.
Luckily, the food was worth the wait. We both started with an $8.50 bowl of the Solianka Sbornaya Myasnaya (Spicy Mixed Meat Soup), which was a paprika-sparked broth filled to the rim with little bits of ham and sausages, mixed with capers, Kalamata olives, pickles, and a lemon slice (see photo). Tasty and tangy with a kick. I wanted to try the veal stew since it came with dumplings, but they were out of it.
Instead, I went for the $14 Baranina S Ovoschami V Gorschochke (Lamb Stew in a Claypot), which was a hearty portion of tender lamb cooked in almost ratatouille fashion with eggplant and peppers (see photo). It was delicious comfort food that came with a wedge of flatbread (I wish it was toasted). Jamie waited the longest for the provocative $14 Kurinaya Pechonka (Chicken Liver Nest), which was indeed a pile of chicken livers fried with onions sitting atop a fluffy potato pillow (see photo).
Surprisingly, we both loved the savory succulence of the peasant dish and could have had more. Sure, we waited, but glasnost means never having to say you're sorry. at least that's what Gorbachev said, I think. Perestroika hasn't reached this little bistro but not to worry. I get the feeling this mom n' pop operation will outlive Yelp and perform a Russian sabre dance on my grave. Za Vas!
FOOD - 4 stars...homestyle dishes like you would find in someone's family home St. Petersburg, I'm guessing
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...small, narrow space with Russian tschotskes everywhere but alas, no nesting dolls
SERVICE - 3 stars...well, it was quite slow but he tried very hard to fill the gaps
TOTAL - 4 stars...go for a uniquely Russian culinary experience pre-revolutionListed in: Pushing on to the Peninsula
-
Review from Mairead R.
Seattle, WA
7/26/2010
An education in traditional russian food, this lovely family restaurant will introduce you to Vladamir, host and wisecracker, and possibly his wife and chef Tatiana. Close to SFO airport, this is perfect for a post-flight meal. We got in shortly before they closed and, when we called, Vladamir told us he would stay open just for our party.
We ordered the delectable Ukrainian borscht, which was nothing like its beety, sour cream laden cousins. All fresh vegetables, dill, and parsley. The cabbage rolls were a hearty blend of beef filling and crisp cooked cabbage leaves.
The food was basic, but served in a great atmosphere with a phenomenal host. -
Review from Marwan F.
South San Francisco, CA
6/16/2011
Second time eating here. Had the beet salad, the potato patties stuffed with ground beef, and Siberian chicken dumpling and enjoyed every bite. Nothing left on our plates. The couple who own the place are very hospitable and as sweet as can be. Can't wait to go back.
-
Review from Richard A.
San Bruno, CA
12/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
Definitely one of the better borscht soups I have tried. This establishment gives you a nice intro into Russian cuisine and the owners are the greatest people around.
After eating you can swing on to the deli section and pick up some of the delicious Ukrainian sausages or perhaps take a peroshki or two home for consumption later or in the car... They have both beef and potato but don't wait too long as they sell out pretty quick during the day.
There are several Russian lager beers that go well with the sausage and dark Russian rye as well. -
Review from Melisa C.
Belmont, CA
8/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place gets 3 stars for food and 5 stars for service. My co-worker is Russian, and she was raving about this place, so a group of 12 of us went to check it out. They had a table reserved for us, so we were seated immediately. I did notice that we were the only customers the whole time we were there (11:45am-12:30pm).
This place is truly a family bistro, run by a husband and wife duo. The husband took our order and he made us sound out what we were ordering. It was pretty funny. I had the Rassolnik soup to start. It has chicken, rice, dill pickle,onion, dill, and potato. It was a little bland, but the ingredients were definitely fresh. My main course was the Zrazy "Babushka" (imagine trying to pronounce that). It is potato patties stuffed with ground beef and served with a mushroom sauce. Again, it was just okay.
The wife came out to serve the food and chatted with us a bit. We asked her about Russian vodka, and she said they flavor some on-site. She even gave out some samples. Overall, it was a good lunch. -
Review from Winson T.
Mountain View, CA
3/1/2011
At first glance, this places looks... well. Actually, you don't notice it because it's very easy to miss. However, it's definitely a little hidden gem in San Bruno for dining.
This place is a true mom and pop restaurant. Every meal has a genuine homemade feel to it, and that's a good thing. =)
During certain times of the day, the place is practically deserted and it really makes you second guess coming to this place. But wait, just talk to one of the wonderful and friendly owners, and you won't regret staying.
You get full attention to your order, you get made to order food quickly, and you don't have to raise your voice to talk. It's a very relaxing atmosphere.
I took my girlfriend here for lunch and dinner several times, and the owner was incredibly friendly and made plenty of jokes. He was also helpful and quickly pointed out many vegetarian options for those morally offended by meat, ie my girlfriend.
We tried the Mushroom Barley Soup, Mushroom and Potato Pelmeni and the Vegetarian Borscht. Also some Russian soda... All of it was fantastic! Oh, and bread is free! I'm pretty sure the bread is homemade considering they used to have a bakery right next door. It's unfortunate that they had shut that down.
It's a great place to try something new if you haven't tried Russian cuisine yet! It costs the about same or less than a decent pizza, and it's just as filling!
Actually, writing this review is making me hungry. I think I'll make another stop by this place sometime this week and give that stroganoff a try.
Yeah! meat Ftw! -
Review from Charmaine L.
Burlingame, CA
5/11/2010 6 photos
Where do I begin to tell the story
Of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love Russian Family brings to me
Where do I start
With their first hello
They gave a meaning to this empty world of mine
There'd never be another love another time
They came into my life and made the living fine
Food fills my heart
Food fills my heart
with very special things
With angel songs, with wild imaginings
They fill my soul with so much love
That any where I go
I'm never lonely
With them along who could be lonely
I reach for their piroshki. It's always there
How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need them until the stars all burn away
And they'll be there
Yes...this is how deeply I feel about Russian Family Bistro.
Ukranian Borscht: how do they make a vegetable soup taste so robust as if it was a beef consumme?
Piroshkis: whether they are fried or baked, stuffed with mushrooms, beef, cabbage, eggs, or potatoes...they remind me of my childhood.
Beef Stroganoff: served with a side of the best french fries in the world. I'm not exaggerating. They are the best I've ever had. The stroganoff is tasty, tender, and perfectly saucy to dip the fries into.
Beef Blinchiki: crepes stuffed with beef served with green onions and sour cream. the crepes are tender and thin with a savory and crumbly beef filling.
Smoked Salmon and Caviar Blini: the ultimate in Russian luxury. Large pearls of salmon caviar burst in your mouth coated by a smooth and creamy blanket of smoked salmon, covered by a thin and silky crepe, combined with chopped eggs, onions, and velvety sour cream.
This love runs deep. -
Review from Kurt R.
Menlo Park, CA
8/26/2011
Lamb kabobs were excellent, as was the stroganoff. Started with a very tasty cabbage soup. Decor is "hole in the wall" chic. We'll be back.
-
Review from Jon B.
7/3/2010 4 photos
Good food. Good beer. Iffy dessert.
Came here to have dinner with a friend that just moved to the area. It may have been my first experience with Russian food, and it went pretty well.
We went on a Thursday night, and business was slow. The waiter was very friendly and attentive, but there was a little bit of miscommunication. My friend asked about something, and the waiter started saying something about cabbage rolls not being on the menu, but he'd see what he could do. Somehow cabbage rolls ended up coming out with the rest of our order. Luckily they were good. We also ordered the Zrazy Babushka Grandma's Patties (Potato patties stuffed w/ ground beef & served w/home made mushroom gravy), the Svinaya Otbivnaya "Brazen Pork," and a couple of half liter Spaten Darks. A basket of classic rye bread was also served.
The cabbage rolls were a pleasant surprise. They were stuffed with meat, potatoes, spices, and topped with sour cream. Great combination, although sour cream can go with just about anything. The filling was moist and flavorful. If the rolls aren't on the menu, they should be.
The Grandma's Patties were also delicious. The mushroom gravy that gets poured on top was very creamy and really made the dish. Cream+meat+potato+mushroom= Awesome. They were well fried, although not enough to be too hard. Good amount of crispiness.
The pork was very good. Breaded and well fried, juicy inside. It tasted a lot like some kind of schnitzel. The beets went well with it.
We ended up ordering dessert as well, but I can't remember the names. The waiter brought out a tray and we chose from them. The desserts were actually pretty disappointing, small cake pieces that were on the dry side, with an old flavor. They had probably been sitting in the fridge for a while. In fact, my first choice was rejected because the waiter said the chef didn't like how the walnuts on it looked. =/
Even with the kinda bad dessert, the dinner was excellent. The bill came out to around $65, but the portions were good enough to feed three people. I would definitely go back to try out different menu items, but I'll stay away from the desserts. -
Review from Amy B.
This is a tiny little place and I very much agree with Sarah D. It really feels like you're sitting in grandma's kitchen. Gotta love that!
We had the pierozhki, the mushroom dumplings (palmeni) and the Zrazy "Babushka". Everything was FANTASTIC! I could have eaten another plate of the palmeni but someone would have had to roll me right out of there! The zrazy were tender and tasty and I am in love with that mushroom sauce. I'd drink it of they let me.
I truly cannot wait to return and try some of the other things on the menu. -
Review from Ai M.
A pair of Russians sat in during our dinner. Airplanes can be heard from inside. Appetizers were complimentary brown and white bread slices with butter. Crepes with beef come with sliced pickles. I liked my mushroom pilmeni (dumplings).
I made a reservation but there were only two only parties while my group was there. My boyfriend liked his Russian pear drink. Salads were also free. Tea doesn't not come in a samovar and isn't a Russian blend. The back holds a great collection of Russian vodka bottles.
The beef crepes made for good leftovers but are better with the sour cream. The cook speaks English like the maid Dorota in Gossip Girl. The dishes are made to order. They didn't have the cabbage rolls I wanted and the photographs in the menu aren't always for dishes that are listed. You can park in the back.
