Russian Vodka Room
- Nearest Transit:
50th St-8th Ave (C, E)
50th St-Broadway (1)
7th Ave-53rd St (B, D, E)
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner, Late Night
- Music: Live
- Best Nights: Tue, Thu, Fri
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Outdoor Area/Patio Only
- Coat Check: No
31 reviews
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Little Italy
"I love this bar also. I sit in the front window corner, have beers and shots with everyone, or I sit at the bench during the day and bs…" read more »
61 Reviews for Russian Vodka Room
One of my favorite places to take friends visiting the city. Stop in before or after seeing a show and get a giant shot of their flavor infused vodka. Usually an interesting crowd. I like ordering the rack of 6 shots so everyone can try different flavors. Strawberry and Peach/Apricot are my favorites. Definitely try the Garlic/Pepper/Dill and the Apple Cinnamon.
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Wow! My niece and nephew live directly across this joint and I have always wanted to check it out!
Today, was a trying day, I waited over four hours in line to try to get a ticket for the NBA Draft- no such luck...
Anyway, after taking a walk to the NBA Store to the 24 Hour Apple Store to the Nike Store and back, I was in dire need of a beer.
Russian Vodka Room has a very nice happy hour(4-7)- you can have any beer for $4 and flavored vodka shots for $3.50. I opted for an unspecified tap pilsner beer and a shot of blueberry flavored vodka. Man, it was good!
The place was packed @ 5:30pm and there were many women @ the bar. It's a great place and I'll probably be back tomorrow...
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While pricy (but not by Manhattan standards), I had the best dirty Martini I've ever had here. Definitely recommend you try the Zyr brand vodka if you're having a mixed drink (or having it straight). There is really no bite or unpleasantness, at least to my tongue, from this brand.
I also tried their own infused strawberry and cranberry vodkas, which were both very good (strawberry was the better of the two). My friend tried the horseradish infused flavor, and said it tasted like taking a shot of horseradish (which he found to be not too pleasant). Their infused shots are tall and cold.
Can't comment on the food, we didn't get a table and had stopped in only for a few drinks.
Horseradish/garlic/pepper vodka.
FGHAHGAHGAHGAHGAHGAHGAHAAHHAHAHAAAAAAAHHAAAA#!@#!@ #!@#!@#'
Best drink I have ever consumed in my entire life.
Order it with the duck liver pate.
Pay no attention to the mobsters smoking in the corner.
If I still lived in NY I'd be an alcoholic, all due to this place.
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Fun and funny. Worth visiting at least once.
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Why four stars? It's not the food. It's not the people. It's not the atmosphere. Not the music. Definitely not the bathroom. Not even the appealing/appalling sketchiness, which some people actually seek out here. You can find any of these qualities in far greater abundance in half of the joints in Little Odessa.
So what is it about Russian Vodka Bar? It's the garlic-infused vodka. I first had it here (and this is also one of the few places I've been able to find the stuff), and it will always and forever be my favorite. It's not as spicy as some garlic vodka, and not as clean a taste as some, but it has just the right amount of garlic-y smokiness and sweetness for my palate. Vodka shots, of any flavor, generally turn me a little green, but I can take this straight up, shoot it, sip it, savor it...and they make all of their own infused vodkas. And I don't mind a place where the waiter doesn't bat an eye when you order your tea and your vodka shots together.
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I was still nursing Saturday night's hangover when a friend suggested we meet up here for a drink one rainy Sunday eve. My liver overheard the conversation and begged for mercy, but I'd always wanted to try RVR, and it sounded cozy and warm. So I told my liver to shove it, grabbed an umbrella and hopped on the A train.
I love Old New York places that haven't turned into complete tourist destinations, and RVR fits the bill perfectly. Lots of dark wood, low, comfy chairs, and a great old bar that wraps around in a U-shape. My friend was running late, so I went in and sat at the bar, and from my perch at the far end I could see just about everything going on. What I loved the most was the diverse crowd--young people, older people, and some bona fide Russians!
At first I was going to wait for my friend to start drinking, but then he went from "running late" to "Officially Late", and I figured I'd better start being a customer, not just a seat-warmer. I decided to ease myself (and liver) in with a shot of the peach-infused vodka, which was tasty, but nothing too exciting, although to be fair I think I'm also kind of over the fruity vodka thing, so others may like it better. They've got all kinds of crazy flavors--horseradish, garlic, etc which I will definitely try next time.
My friend finally arrived and we got martinis made with Zyr, which I'd had before, but was what the bartender recommended. VERY smooth and tasty.
So remember how earlier I said that what I loved most was the diverse crowd? I was lying. What I loved most were the potato pancakes. Absolutely delicious--crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and served with apple sauce and sour cream--perfect comfort food for a rainy night. We also had the smoked fish plate, which went really well with the pancakes and was super fresh and flavorful.
My only regret is that I didn't try the borsht. Everyone around me was eating it, and it looked and smelled incredible. I'm quite sure I'll return, though, and that will be the first thing I get.
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A friend first led me here after we got off work early one day. Although it was only half a block from our work, I never noticed it even existed. I walked out of the blinding sunlight into the dark cave that is the Russian Vodka Room and never looked back. Surprisingly, we took it easy that afternoon and only drank a few shots of vodka while confiding our life stories and making plans for later margaritas at Rosa Mexicano (yes, we were aware what a mistake that might be but we were willing to take the chance).
I later frequented the Russian Vodka Room with an entirely different set of work friends, some of them former Soviet citizens. It was they who introduced me to the proper etiquette of drinking here. We ordered several large carafes of cranberry vodka. I'm sure we had some cheese and potatoes, although I can't for the life of me recall actually eating anything any of the times I was there. We would always stay for hours. After they kicked us out, we were out with other activities until 9 am. And we used to do this more often than we should.
I don't remember much about the Russian Vodka Room itself other than it was dark, the bartenders and servers were super cool, they had nice piano music, and there always seemed to be the same types of questionable characters I ran into on the streets of St. Petersburg lurking in the back. But that's the point.
No, it is not Russia. It's New York. And it symbolizes everything I love and miss about New York. *gets misty*
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went here last night with my friend after wanting to try something new and different in midtown. Came across RVR and decided that it was the place to go! After reading all the reviews, I kinda expected it to be real sexy and mysterious inside like that episode of Sex and The city when carrie goes to meet the russian for a late night dinner at some russian place with all red lights inside. Instead, it was a pretty average looking lounge with bad hotel room art on the wall. It was pretty packed, and everyone was definitely russian with a few after work people thrown in. BTW, it was friday night around 10pm. We got seated right away and were annoyed right away by a big group of rowdy wall street types downing vodka.
anyways, we tuned them out and ordered the apple/pomegranate infused vodka, pretty tasty! $22.00 for about 6 shots. We were also starving, so we ordered three apps, duck liver pate, the PIROZKI's pies and potato pancakes. All three were yummy! really authentic and tasty, and HUGE portions!!!!!
So despite the loud annoying people in the corner, it seemed like a pretty unpretentious place to grab a stiff drink and stow away in the corner with your honey, or come with a medium sized group and have a good time.....
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What can I say about the RVR that hasn't already been said. At least I know I'm not spoiling a gem by bringing in new hordes of fans, since so many others have touted it's excellence before me.
I was searching for a place where I could catch up with a buddy and get some interesting food and drink so I hit yelp. What can I say the reviews were right, and this place is excellent
The place was dimly lit and music was provided by a jazz quartet which kept the ambiance without being overbearing. despite there being several other tables seated, the back was qiet enough to have a pleasant conversation.
Given the selection we decided to start with a bucket of 6 different vodka infusions
Horseradish- 5 stars perfect strength and ideal for pairing crisp flavour with enough bite to open sinuses without overpowering(pairing details to follow)
Ginger- 3 stars, tasty but a little too sweet, a small squeeze of lemon from one of the food plates helped a lot
Garlic Pepper Dill- super strong and tasty, but would have been good diluted down to 10% strength it was so strong that I couldn't finish it.
Peach-Apricot- 3 stars, tasty and fresh with some sweetness but the flavor was a little too light
Strawberry- 3 stars, tasty, but too sweet. Tasted like it was strawberry syrup, not an infusion
Apple Pomegranate- 4 stars, crisp light flavor, not too sweet, and a nice match of slightly tannic fruit with enough acidity that matched the vodka well
Food: given that the place was all about vodka we decided to pick some pairings that would work well with our drink selection. All of the food was 4 stars
Beef carpaccio (paired with horseradish vodka) - super tender tasty raw beef, not really a carpaccio, but with the hardboiled egg, and the garlicy aioli it matched the horseradish vodka exceptionally
Rouqefort and walnut terrine with poached pears ( paired with the strawberry and peach apricot vodka)- creamy mild rouqefort peppered with walnuts served with lightly poached pears was excellent on the dark crusty bread with the fruit vodkas
salmon caviar with blini - paired with the ginger vodka and the apple pomegranate - great salty flavor, searved with capers, onions and hard boiled eggs. I would have prefered to see this with creme fraiche, or sour cream, but the melted butter it came with was an interesting choice. The blini were good and overall this was a winner
Smoked trout with potato salad- paired with the garlic vodka- the only thing that could stand up to the garlic vodka, and it was excellent. super tender tasty smoked trout, with a tasty apple and potato salad and a sharp mustard sauce. This was probably second only to the carpaccio. However, even with the trout we couldn't finish the garlic vodka
This place was unusually good and has been added to my list of NYC favorites
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It's good to know some places never change. When I worked in Midtown about 6 years ago, this was the place to hit when we wanted to blow off A LOT of steam. Back then it was dark, brooding and felt a little dangerous.
It still is.
My warning: don't trust the vodka. It's comes sweet and innocent served in heart-shaped carafes in some lovely (cranberry) and some not so lovely (garlic) flavors. Whatever you choose, know that it's ruthless.
My only complaint is the lighting. As mentioned, it's mostly dark, but if you end up at a table under a light, it's a little harsh.
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Alright people. I'm gonna tell you how it is. Hear it from a Russian.
It always helps if you bring a Russian with you here (feel free to invite me to hear me order for you in my native tongue). Make sure you call before, though. This place can get crowded very quickly, especially with company gatherings.
The food here is not too bad. If you have never tasted Russian food in Brooklyn, you will like this place. If you don't know what to order, get the potatoes with mushrooms, the herring, and a plate of pickled veggies. This comprises an authentic "zakuska" appetizer to have with your vodka.
A vodka-straight-up kind of guy, I was a little skeptical about the infused vodkas here, but I urge you to try one. The cranberry is a favorite and brought to you in a heart-shaped carafe. This is not a vodka cranberry - cranberry juice mixed with vodka - and it isn't a Stoli Cranberry. This is RVR's genuine infusion of vodka with cranberry. It will take two shots to fully experience this. One shot to adjust your taste buds, and the second to complete the experience.
The vodka menu is long and is guaranteed to please whatever your preference is. My recommendations are Zyr, Pravda, and Stoli 100 (100 proof - hits the spot!).
Enjoy Life. Dreenk Vodka. US and A!
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I fell in love with this place the first visit. Now we gather here with friends, eat and drink vodka. (we are from Ukraine or Russia) So the usual))) I love the atmosphere of this place. Immediately appears nostalgia ...
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A friend and I stopped in here with just an hour to grab dinner and it was absolutely perfect. From the outside it looks like a total pit but don't let that fool you--this is a classy joint.
If you like vodka, obviously this is the place to go. If you don't like vodka, then you need to go because you've obviously never had infused vodka; you probably think smirnoff green apple is what we're talking about here. infused vodka is delicate and delicious and divine. I had the apricot-peach and it was scrumptious.
The food was delicious too. I'm a bit of a Slavophile and I was there with a Polish friend, so the flaky assorted pirozhiki and gravlax with potato pancakes were just what we were looking for.
I wouldn't say this place was formal--particularly because everyone seemed to be on their way to drunkyland and shouting in Russian and tossing around shots of vodka like it was juice. They seated us right away, to our delight (on Saturday no less) and everyone was having a great time.
And to top it all off, the prices are totally reasonable. It's like my dream restaurant!
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Dark. Mysterious. Sexy. Perfection. I can't get enough of this place and it is the go to spot right before going to the theatre on a weekday. Yes, it gets crowded and bustling, but this is a local Russian crowd and the martinis are perfection.
It's dimly lit with a large grand piano in the corner--it seems every guy is a hitman! It's that legit--and i love every minute of it.
From the outside, it doesn't look like anything special, but when you step in you are transported to 20th century Moscow. Completely Kremlin chic, if there is such a thing!
Perfect for an afterwork drink or a romantic rendezvous later in the evening...or even a nightcap, if you dare go to this place in the wee hours. That might be risky!
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I survived!! Tasted great Vodka, left with one hot Russian guy's number and both legs are still in tact!! YEAAAY!!
Hahaha actually came here for a business since the person I had to meet up with was going to be in Times Square and I wanted to avoid that place like the plague this location was a close compromise. Excellent Russian Vodka can't remember the type I was drinking but it only had three letters and was SUUPER smooth.
Loved the energetic pianist and the seriousness of the place. Packed with talkative people this place reminds me of an "oldskool" lounge / piano bar. The food would probably not be the pull here but the dumplings I had (a little on the dry side) were pretty tasty.
Definitely a spot to stop by if you're in the hood, and if you like flavored vodka they're definitely the peeps in town with an interesting spin.
Date Rating: 7
Pick up Scale: 6 (8 if you like Russians)
Strong Suggestion: Get here a little early if you don't want to stand around the bar tends to fill up around 7:30.
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What a unique experience!
Sick of the same-old, same-old, two friends and I debarked to this famous Vodka room.
The lounge is classy~ it was filled with people dressed swanky. A jazzy piano player filled the room with tunes, bringing us back to times of speakeasies. Clear vats of vodka soaking berries and fruits sat atop the high shelves.
We were seated at a tiny table, very cozy. They have several appetizers to choose from, plus an extensive list with vodka infusions.
Basically, you order shots or a small carafe of whatever flavor vodka you like. We sipped the vodka slowly. It gave us a warm sensation and long-lasting buzz. The flavors were apparent, but not overbearing or at all sugary.
I recommend the blueberry and apple flavors.
Fantastic place to go if you want a change of pace from the normal bar scene. Wonderful if you want some place to intimately talk for hours, or to be in a more upscale location without the price (we spent $40 to cover all 3 of us!).
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Mmm flavored vodkas... Went here for a few martinis and all I can say is, DAMN. We had martinis made with the house-made wild blueberry and apple and pomegranate infused vodkas. The bartender warned us that it would be too "hush" (Russianspeak for "harsh"), but they were great. Next time, I would go for the chilled rack of shots- that was how all of the Russians were drinking there. You know, you want to fit in. Plus, you can try more flavors. I had a shot of the ginger vodka also- maybe it was just trying to take the giant test tube-sized shot all at once, but I didn't taste too much ginger. That one's more subtle.
They had tons of vodka brands from all over the world, but I would stick with the infused vodkas made there.
My boyfriend and I went there before a Wu-Tang concert (what can I say? We gangstas love vodka and Hammerstein is in a wasteland of Irish cop bars), so we were dressed pretty casually. I felt a tad under-dressed in jeans and a skanky top, but not uncomfortable. The vibe is very old-school-lounge-y and laid-back and for a slightly older crowd, but I'd still bring my hipster friends here just for the drinks, especially if we were in the neighborhood. Can't vouch for the food since we were just boozin', but it looked very... Russian. Something to try after some liquid courage.
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If receiving barstool stares from the 50 year old housewife of an ex-KGB officer is your cup of tea, your cupeth shall overflow.
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Always choose this place over Samovar even though it is less spacious and on Friday nights gets madly infiltrated with working folks, some smart tourists and even club goers from the same block.
I like that the pianist recognizes my mug if I swing by him and knows that in a few I'll be requesting some compositions by Ennio Morricone. Never had a problem with waitresses, on one occasion they waited over their closing time until my buddy regained consciousness, I'm guessing from the mouth numbing vodka.
The food has gotten better this year in comparison to some of my past experiences. Both portion wise and taste, but I don't find myself going for entrees here too often. Drinks are drinks, if the company's right they seem even better. Not too crazy about strawberry infused vodka, like many other sweet alcoholic drinks it gives me a mild headache.
Just make sure you don't ask for a Smirnoff Ice, the bouncer is always on the watch, the big dark refrigerator man that he is.
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Came here for a Moldovan friend's birthday. we got a spot at the back of the room for about 20 people. it was cosy and dimly lit, felt very different from the other places in the city I usually go to. couldn't quite figure out what it was that made it different, maybe its the layout, the piano playing by the man in tux, the many bottles of vodka in the room, or just that its russian...whatever it was, i liked it.
we ordered bottles and bottles of vodka - some look very pretty, being colorful and all. even though i don't enjoy taking shots after shots of vodkas, the fruit-flavored ones are somewhat more pleasant - like the peach, strawberry and cranberry ones.
the appetizers are quite good. i've never had Russian food but i really enjoyed the Antipasto Platter Russian Style, which has three types of dip - pepper, eggplant and another creative veggie thing. the Baked Potatoes with Wild Mushroom tasted good but was greasy and didn't strike me as anything special.
i really appreciated the piano playing - it did give an old world feel. but you can't hear him unless you sit near the bar.
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F U R T I V E.
That's the one word that comes to mind when I think of this watering hole. The sign outside advertising $3 infused flavored vodka shots and martinis piqued my curiosity, and since it was before the 7pm cutoff for the happy hour special, I ventured in.
Dark, sensuous, FURTIVE, and so absolutely Russian. Small 2-person tables in every corner, and a bar tended by very Russian women. There seemed to be a back seating area, but that was dark and FURTIVE as well, and I've always kept to one of the small corner tables in the front bar area.
Perfectly infused flavored vodka shots for sipping, ranging from average type peach flavors to more adventurous flavors such as horseradish. There's also a food menu, a bit pricey at quick glance, but I've only imbibed in the fantastic alcoholic beverages here. I've been here when the place was somewhat empty, when it's been packed with a pre-theater crowd, and also when tables were reserved for FURTIVE Russians meetings. All in all, whether this place is empty or packed, there is always a hushed, secretive aura about the place.
Put it this way: I've even been known to do a little (gag) hand-holding across one of these FURTIVE tables, and only because I felt assured it occurred under this very secretive feeling circumstance. shhhhhh.
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There was a time in my life where I was horrifically infatuated with a big ol' Russian and his big ol' ....Ducatti LOL. Anyway, needless to say I found myself in the confines of this tiny but fine establishment sipping wine and sampling nouveau traditional Russian fare that RVR had to offer. Tuning out the ruski business talk by glancing over the dark decor and huge tank like containers of aged wine that lined the upper walls ..potatoes and herring never tasted so good.
I wouldn't go without a native, but RVR is still a great joint in my book.
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I went to the Russian Vodka Room with a colleague while on a business trip. The restaurant is dark and there was a jazz band, so it was a fun place to hang out but it wouldn't have worked if we were trying to have a real conversation or deal with any paperwork. Lots of people were speaking Russian, so I assume it was relatively authentic.
The food was good, the service was quick, and the drinks were fun. I'd have no problems going back, but there's so many other places that I love in New York... damn, I'll just have to go there more next year.
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the bommmb fkkng diggity!!
i have gotten kicked out of here and i still love it
yes, they kicked a russian out from the russian vodka room. and i still love it. the piano man.. like buttah!
risk: dont do anything naughty in here, or else you'll get kicked out
reward: home made vodka, russian ww2 era piano and singing
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How to make Chicken Tabaka:
1) Take young chicken, cut lengthwise, unfold
2) Beat until carcass flat
3) Rub in garlic, salt, pepper
4) Flatten with heavy weight (such as pot of water)
5) Grill until crispy
Result: flavorful, flattened, toasty chicken dish. (pictured)
How to make unsuspecting American Diner Tabaka:
1) Arrive at RVR and sit in one of the many corner booths in the multiangled room - this will bring out your "cool" flavor.
2) Order the 26 oz carafe of cranberry vodka (that's the classic flavor, but any other will do: strawberry, peach or even horseradish)
3) Take a shot (goes down easy)
4) Mushroom chaser
5) Repeat (goes down real real real easy)
6) Repeat
7) Repeat
8) Go to step 3
Result: tomorrow, you'll be flattened and toasty. But it's sooo worth it.
Bottom line: great flavored vodkas, not touristy at all, really cute waitresses, great Russian appetizers. Live piano music will drown out your drunken rowdiness. Recommend paying with cash, they often "screw up" credit card payments.
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The vodkas here are great, especially the cranberry infused one. The happy hour specials are great too. Cheap!
But the place sure is musty and it smells like old people.
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This is the second time I've been to the RVR; I have no regrets.
The Russian Vodka Room, in the Theater District, seems to have started out Sunday night in Moscow and woken up Monday morning in Manhattan. This dimly lit bar and restaurant has a distinctly European feel to it and not just because the entire clientele other than you isn't speaking English. Unlike your typical experience in similar European establishments, however, the service is friendly and (mostly) prompt.
The decor has a Soviet era charm to it; we can now all look back upon it with a certain longing for the good old days when the world was a simpler place. Mikhail Bulgakov would be proud. At the Russian Vodka Room, Papa Joe exists in the present tense and a large man named Boris plays the piano in the corner while you sample the wide variety of flavored vodka infusions. Between the decor, the ambiance, and the exceptional vodka martinis, you'd be forgiven if you mistook your sojourn for a tour of a James Bond set.
The food is top notch, at least that's as much as I can say about the roast duck and herring appetizers that I had. Pickled cabbage seems unavoidable in these matters and as a matter of personal preference, I wouldn't mind something else. Don't get me wrong, it's fine as those things go, but I don't care if it's the Germans, the Polish, or the Russians doing it, pickled cabbage isn't exactly the peak of culinary achievement. But that's really a side issue.
I highly recommend this as a destination for good food, good conversation, or possibly for overconsumption of vodka. During my recent visit, Svetlana the bartender talked me into the carafe of vodka ("you can handle it") rather than the shot. I'm expensing everything so thanks Sventlana, you were right. And thanks for the free good luck shot afterward.
Oh, and I'm not sure if that guy's name is actually Boris. But he looked like a Boris.
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this place is awesome. the vibe is very loungey w/ a gentleman playing the piano in the background. the crowd is laid back, from the late 20's and up. being in the heart of the theatre district, it doesn't seem too touristy. it's a dim-lighted place. made convo w/ some folks from australia, and apparently they thought i was 'african american'. nothin' wrong with that... but wtf?
the lady serving us didn't win my first impression, but actually ended up being a pretty nice lady. drinks here are strong. my friend had 3 cranberry/vodkas, and she got pretty drunk. i had 4 vodka/tonics and was feeling good. i recommend this place after checking out a show.
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Went there after work with a friend from out of town and her friend and I have to say it was an absurd start to my evening. I had a couple of shot there with them - some were just too strong for me! and then actually had to go to a meeting at school, so have to say that I was not very productive at the meeting!
However, I have to hand it to them you want a Russian Vibe, KILLER vodka and a very druken evening - go there. You will have a blast!
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Working around Times SQ? Need a drink? Or seeing a show in Roseland Ballroom, and not willing to pay $8 for a shitty beer in the venue? Then go to Russian Vodka room.
Before 7 PM, is the happy hour, which means 4$ vodka shots. The cranberry and strawberry infused vodkas are so good. The strawberry one makes you feel like you're getting drunk from strawberry jam.
Also not loud, good for hanging out, comfortable, not pretentious, not too many young folks, not too many old folks, may be a tourist here or there.
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The first time I was at RVR was a few months ago for a business dinner.
When I first walked, I was waiting for my colleague and manager, I looked at the menu and didn't know what to order. It was like walking into foreign territory. I am not usually a vodka drinker. This place does make some of the best drinks with vodka and it goes down very easily (very dangerous too). I don't exactly recall what I ordered as I left it up to the server for my table. I was impressed with the drinks and the dinner. I had the Beef Stroganoff with kasha for dinner. They even had live music that evening. The service was excellent. The staff was very friendly (from the bar to the dining room area).
RVR does have happy hour when I went. This is definitely one place that I would go to again.
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I had the brilliant idea to visit NYC in March when its hella-cold. After taking my fiance to see Wicked, we decided to stop by here and warm up before we headed to our hotel a few blocks away. The bar was dark and most of the patrons were speaking Russian which for me is a good sign that this place had some kick ass vodka. We had an 8oz cranberry infused in a really nice carafe with 2 Russian beers. It was cool to see all these huge jugs of infused vodkas like some lab experiments. Overall we had a good time, got our temperature up thanks to the vodka and went on our little merry way back to our hotel in the snow.
Russian Samovar across the street is just better. But you can hit both in one night, maybe following a meal at the re-opened Russian Tea Room on 57th.
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Dangerous.
Dangerous and delicious. The vodka goes down way (too) easily. Flavors are out of this world. We stuck to the fruity ones (strawberry, raspberry, peach/apricot, apple/pomegranate--the clear winner, IMO), but I'd love to try the more adventurous flavors as well.
Delicious blinis with salmon caviar (I got the lion's share of these, my compatriot was not a fan of the fish eggs) and beef carpaccio. Nice setup-- we felt in the atmosphere, but also blissfully private (or maybe that was the vodka...).
RVR would get five stars, were it not for the pianist playing bouncy standards, when what the atmosphere demanded was Russian folk songs. C'mon guys...
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I cannot say that I feel like I am back home in USSR when I go to RVR; and this is a good thing. I like this place a lot. I agree with Irene F., place is Americanized. For those who wants authentic authentic Russian style I would suggest Russia, not even Brighton Beach.
RVR has nice selection of booze and "zakuski" (Russian for "Nosh", which is Yiddish for "finger food").
You can also find there live piano music, hot semi-professional "gold diggers", a lot of tourists, Russian migrs and occasionally, guys who look like "organized businessmen".
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This is a bar where I have spent many a sad night. The romantic idea of hardy Ruskies slamming down Vodka in the face of Tundra conditions and communist oppression always cheers me up. How can you be blue when the warm bar is full of drunk high alcohol tolerance people. How can you possibly be sad when you're sharing a CARAFE of homemade flavored vodka. It is not possible comrade!
I've been there for happy hour too. Oh god. Prepare to begin speaking in fake Russian accents, the vodka is so cheap and the bar food is perfect. Eggplant caviar cheers me up. This place will provide great stories for your poor schmuck friends who have not been here and tried all the vodka flavors. I was wasted out of my mind, but I think I liked the pomegranate vodka, but I could be wrong. Beware, if you choose the wrong vodka flavor, I do agree with the other reviewer, it DOES taste like cough syrup. But, if you go during happy hour, who cares? Try all the flavors and see which one you like best.
Anyway, the Vodka tasted fantastic in lovely little shot glasses. This is a terrific wintertime hangout with their bread baskets and masculine dark decor. Highly recommended.
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I'm trying to remember what exactly I had at this place, the memory of my experience at this place is just so fuzzy .... Oh yeah, I remember (I think) ... Vodka!
If you like Vodka, this is the place to go, the selection they have is just incredible, from your run off the mill brands to more unusual brands to Vodka infused with various kinds of fruit.
The first thing you notice when you enter this fairly small and dark establishment is the abundance of Vodka bottles behind the bar and big jars of fruit infused Vodka. Take you pick they a