Russian Firebird Restaurant
365 W 46th St # 2
New York, NY 10036 (212) 586-0244
- Nearest Transit:
8th Ave-42nd St (A, C, E, 1, 2, 3, S, 7, N, Q, R, W)
- Price Range: $$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
15 Reviews for Russian Firebird Restaurant
Caviar and honey flavored vodka? Yes please! The decor is really sumptuous and the food well, I don't really remember the food other than the caviar and vodka. What else do you need??
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Well decorated, nice looking place. Went for Restaurant week, don't think I'd be able to afford it otherwise. Food was good, especially for restaurant week. I'm not familiar with traditional Russian so I can't make any comments on that regard. Probably won't be back though, mostly due to the cost.
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This place is a disgrace to Russian food! Overpriced, overhyped, and not very good. I give it two stars for the decor, which reminds me of my grandparent's apartment, and the service, which I think is excellent. The food just does not hold up. Go to Brooklyn, or Russian Vodka Room, or any number of other places.
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I'm shocked to see that so many have had poor experiences here!
I loved this place! Even went twice in a 4 day visit because I liked it so much. My food was fantastic! The service was great, and my Cosmos, ohhhh delicious!
It's quite the experience eating here, it's not one of those places where you rave just about the food or just about the drinks, it's just fantastic for people watching as well!
There is a SUPER strict dress code as Barbara C. said, boys, let's be sure to put on your sports coat and tie...the require it! Ladies...jeans and a sexy top are not adequate dress for the Firebird, and no flip flops please, as the woman who tried getting in before my party arrived learned the hard way, they will send you away; and kudos to them for that!
One other thing, expect a big bill. This is not a cheap place. It shouldn't be because it's fantastic!
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I am surprised there are so mnay low marks for service here! While the service was a bit lacking (we never got more water) it wasn't horrible or neglectful at all.
The honeyed vodka is fantastic, try it in a martini with lime and cinnamon! If you don't want to drop a bunch of money to try caviar at a Russian place, there is a caviar appetizer on the prix-fix menu (I just don't understand the appeal... but I'm happy I got to try some!)
The decorations are awesome-- try to sit in the library: there are some really old and rare-looking books on display there. The upstairs wasn't open last night (Saturday...) but they let us go up to look and it was also beautiful.
Food was great as well, the tea-smoked duck was amazing. They made a big show of cooking my boyfriend's stroganoff tableside, but all they did was melt some sour cream in a pan with meat and pour it on the noodles... ok, whatever :)
I had a great experience here and will be back (when I can afford it-- not for the broke!)
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My night at Firebird was a most egregious misuse of a Restaurant Week reservation and an experience I wish I could forget.
I had always enjoyed Lower Manhattan's few but strong cafeteria-style Russian dining options, and my logic in booking Firebird was to take a national food tradition I appreciated, and class it up several notches. The Imperial-era decor was certainly a step up (very impressive, in fact), and the bill was certainly larger by a factor of about 1,000%, but the food quality and the service were actually worse in my opinion than that of my beloved Odessa.
The servers eyeballed my partner and I the whole time as if they would rather see us being dragged down Broadway behind a moving pickup truck than occupying one of their precious tables. I have had this experience with servers at other Restaurant Week meals, and certainly appreciate the frustrations of servers who have to deal with diners who simply don't know how to carry themselves in fine restaurants, but (1) we hardly fit that description and (2) the place was dead empty except for us. That's right - even during Restaurant week we were the only diners on the upper floor. Should have been a hint, no?
I don't recall what we ate, except that all of it was dry and overcooked, even making allowances for a cuisine that I admittedly know very little about. Hell, even the caviar we ordered (near the bottom of the price range, but still) disappointed. Again, some kitchens don't put their best feet forward during Restaurant Week, but this was downright pathetic.
I am not sure that other diners should judge based on this experience, but I have no desire to repeat any aspect of it, sumptuous decor and good reviews from those more knowledgable of finer Russian cuisine aside.
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I wanted to treat my Wife to something special and she happened to be in the city that day, so I had her meet me here for dinner. While I waited the barman chatted me up and I embarked on a mild vodka tasting excursion, and subsequently decided that the Buffalo Grass Vodka was a good idea in theory *and* practice. She walked in and away we went to the Tasting Menu.
The Tasting Menu is this marvelous invention that makes you look clever while parting you from a few c-notes. You get eight courses, all paired with the appropriate alcoholic complement. If you manage to make it all the way through, they take your picture and hang it behind the bar.... no, wait, that's Chee Burger Chee Burger. Oh yeah, you get to leave with an impressed date. The food was superlative when I went, so admittedly I will not argue with anyone who had a bad experience. They happen, and I will say ours was terrific.
-C
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Obviously from reading other reviews, The Firebird is a YMMV type of place; the night I was there was a good night. The caviar was excellent, as was our vodka. The salmon was wonderful, as was the atmosphere. I'm not sure about a tip being added to the bill, as I didn't pick up the check, but it was an overall great experience.
Firebird is one of those restaurants that everyone should eat at while living in New York. Not even eat at...*attend*. It's completely unlike anything else in the city. I honestly think they have its address next to the word "sumptuous" in the dictionary.
I went to Firebird last summer, when they were still participating in Restaurant Week (or else I don't think I could afford it). This is definitely one of those places that enforces dress code--so don't come in shorts or tattered street clothes. It almost seems like doing that would be an affront to the luxurious interiors.
The vodka list is impressive and looong. I can't recall which one we ordered, but it was one of the best vodka martinis I've had in a long while. The chicken entree was very good, though not remarkable (but it is very hard to make a chicken entree noteworthy). The appetizer was a wonderful seafood salad, and the dessert was a rich and creamy creme brulee. The food really did take a backseat to the gorgeous interiors and superior service. The wait staff is extremely attentive and never pressured or hurried us. Any restaurant that allows me to have a 3-hour long dinner without so much as hinting at a bill makes me still believe in good service.
So, go for the amazingly gorgeous interiors (like walking into someone's home in an Edith Wharton novel) and great service--stay for the well-done food and brilliant vodkas.
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went during restaurant week- come on ppl I know its not an authentic russian restaurant but thought why not, let me just try it.. big mistake. it definitely looks more impressive on the outside than it is on the inside- the place was way too dimly lit- couldnt see firsthand how blah the food was. nothing really russian about the way the food was prepared- they had some russian vodka on the menu and that was all I could see that was decent about the place. Boo-hiss!
Are you people below me insane??? All the people who gave this place a good review have either never eaten out in their lives before or are affiliated with this business. This place was god aweful, maybe the worst restaurant I've ever been in my life. The food was so bad it makes me queezy just thinking about it. This was an insult to my heritage and really angered me more and more throughout the meal. From beginning to end it was an atrocity. Rolls: out of a grocery store pack. Peroghis: tasted like frozen toaster pastry puffs without the buttery flavor and COLD, not even room temp (my friend also said some of his pork inside was raw). The beef stroganoff: just disgusting, I liken it to dogfood. Chicken kiev: this was the only thing that didn't totally suck, it was below average but atleast it was hot and home-made. Mousse: like the consistancy of old pudding that has hardened a bit, yuck, god I don't know how this place is in business.
Now, the restaurant was also out of the entire wine list except 3 kinds. It was so hot I couldn't breath, inexperienced waiters, my barstool was caving in and wobeling. I just have one thing to say:
TOURIST TRAPPPPPPPP!!!
Don't get sucked in like I did, this place is an insult to Russia and it's cuisine
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Food: average
Service: slow, inattentive, not knowledgable, waiters were assholes (see story below)
Atmosphere: not authentic, completely empty (more staff than guests)
- Automatically charged 20% tip - we had less than 6 people and the service was not worth it!
- Over charged credit card by $100
- Refused to give void receipt - claimed they "already threw food over it and could not print a new receipt"
I would NEVER return. The worst restaurant experience I have ever had.
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Pure elegance for a grown-up, fancy dinner. If you mourn the Russian Tea Room, this is more than an adequate replacement, (in fact, this was my preference). Everything is beautifully presented, the exteriors and interiors are opulent. The food is wonderful. If you want to just sit in a plush lounge and indulge your inner czarina, take yourself to the lounge upstairs and enjoy a cocktail, Vladimir tea or dessert. Harpist or pianist may be playing on the right night.
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I just love, love, love, Russian food.
I just love, love, love, this restaurant!
Bravo!
Take a trip back in time to the opulence of czarist Russia. One of the most beautiful restaurants I've been to. The wait staff was helpful without being condescending, as if to say "Of course a lady such as yourself knows how to fold a blini, but why don't I do it for you just this once?" I wasn't even expecting the amazing display of costumes from the Ballets Russes.
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