Odessa

Despite the renovations, Odessa never reopened - and it's now for sale.  This article explains what's been transpiring:
gothamist.com/food/east-…

I've been ordering from this place at least once a week during the pandemic (french toast and brunch combo omelette) and now that it's closing...I realize how much I never really appreciated this place and all it's charm. I took for granted all the late night coffees and corned beef hash, all the french toast for dinner and random pierogie/blintz/potato pancake cravings (it's been my go-to ever since Kiev closed). I wish the owners the best in their retirement but I really hope someone takes over this place. I've been coming here before it was a diner when it was still a bar next door.  I'm sad for all the businesses that are closing in the neighborhood but this one...is particularly devastating, it feels like losing a piece of home; truly an east village institution. And please don't say Veselka is an alternative, it's a fine restaurant, don't get me wrong, but it's just not the same.

Had many a great late night meal here...the Odessa dinner plate (stuffed cabbage, potato pancake, kielbasa, sauerkraut, pierogi), club sandwiches, blintzes, hot borscht, tuna melts, huge breakfasts, and a great thanksgiving dinner in 2019...place was great in the early AM, weirdos, characters, grifters, just such a great part of the best of New York City...R.I.P. Odessa Diner!!

I wasn't really impressed.   Somewhat dirty, dingy place with some interesting people eating there late night on a Sunday when we visited.   Four of us stopped by and ordered pierogies (some with kielbasa and potato pancakes) after having been out drinking nearby.  Keep in mind I was with 3 guys who all enjoyed it, call me the picky girl but i just wasn't impressed.   Service was a little standoffish, too.  I don't see myself returning anytime soon.

Craving pirogies.  

We had 30 minutes to kill before an art exhibit opened. As we walked around the corner we saw this spot that offered pirogies. Yeah. We ordered a single potato pancake, huge, thick and crispy outer crust.  We also ordered a mixed platter of deep fried pirogies- it included two of each sauerkraut and mushroom, potato, cheese, and meat filled. Both plates were served with small cup of applesauce and sour cream.  Pirogies were $10.

Clean small diner like spot. Truly an older locals spot.

I love a old school diner.   Most of the clientele were locals coming in for daily fixes -- eggs, coffee, etc.

The bonus at this diner is Polish food!
Latkes - potato. Large. Shareable. Serviced with sour cream and apple sauce. Crispy. A little greasy in a good way
Pirogi FRIED - combo plate (aka the mystery plate) you get 2 of each but you don't know what you're getting till you cut into it.
Meat - think stuffed cabbage meat not rice in a dumpling
Cheese - pot cheese (between cottage and cream cheese)
Sauerkraut & Mushroom - self explanatory
They are deep fried. I prefer pan fried with onions but I still ate them all!

This is not my usual spot for Polish food but it was where I was.  I'd try then again if I was in the neighborhood.

Got dinner to go here last night.

Had the Odessa Combination Dinner ($12.00):  
Four pierogis, one stuffed cabbage, one Kielbasa with sauerkraut and one potato pancake.

It was a heavy plate of food. Heavy, tasty and filling.

Be sure to ask or some sour cream for your pierogis, and some apple sauce for your potato pancakes and some mustard for your kielbasa.

It will put you in a Slavic food coma.

Odessa is my boyfriend and I's go to spot for a solid brunch/lunch when we're hungry. I always love ordering the omlette breakfast and my boyfriend loves his pancakes/waffles with a side of bacon and eggs. Odessa is a restaurant that has a lot of history in the East Village and I would even say it's one of the last remaining old school restaurants hidden in the gentrification of the East Village, so you know damn well it's special. The menu is a cross between Ukrainian and a 24 hour diner. A restaurant that has history, makes banging breakfast foods and still keeps the old school NYC vibes are our thing. My next visit is to try their Kielbasa Combination and Stuffed Cabbage with Meat Entrée.

I have dined at this restaurant twice during my New York City visits.  I find this business to rate as fantastic, regards to overall customer experiences.

I describe this restaurant as looking like most other diners.  Although they consider themselves to be a Ukrainian restaurant, I have not seen anything in the building that reflects on Ukrainian culture.  This is not a bad thing because the interior looks fantastic.  The layout is simple, like many diners in town.  The colors, the photos, and the walls look stellar.  Furthermore, it has a strong welcoming vibe to it that would keep me coming back.

The employees appear to have a good eye on cleanliness and order.  They seem to maintain a strongly organized and well-kept environment.  They are quick with cleaning up the previous customers' messes left behind from their visit.  This applies to the dining area, the working area, and the bathrooms.  During my two visits, I have not encountered any major messes or clutter that would scare me away from this restaurant.  Overall, I have always felt comfortable walking in here to enjoy a good dinner.

The customer service is stellar!  Of all of the restaurants where I have dined in New York City, this restaurant ranks as the top 10% in customer service.  They are friendly, resourceful, and accommodating.  They seem to care about their customers and want them to come back.  They also are knowledgeable about what they serve on the menu.  They are great at answering any questions I may have about the plates.  One example of outstanding customer service that I observed is when I was here during World Pride Weekend.  There was a group of customers who entered and were drunk.  They were making a lot of noise, and their speech was slurred to where it was difficult to understand what they were saying (neither of which reached the extent of being asked to leave).  The employees were patient with them and handled their drunkenness with poise.  They seemed understanding of the big event that was happening in New York City that weekend.  

On the menu, I was surprised with how few plates reflected on Ukrainian culture.  Instead, I found the menu to be mostly the same as most other local diners (again, not a bad thing).  On both of my visits, I tried the plates on the breakfast and the appetizer sections.  I cannot remember what I ordered on my first visit, but on my second visit, I ordered wontons and the breakfast platter (I cannot remember the name of it).  I have never had to wait any longer than ten minutes for my plate to be served to my table, which I believe is reasonable.  The food always came to me hot and fresh, and it tasted delicious!

When I am in the New York City area and in the mood for some quality food, I will continue keeping this place in mind.  I feel like I can count on them for overall quality food and customer service.

Visited my old hood when I was growing up. Well things have changed. Tomkins Sq Park doesn't look like needle park & the Bandshell along 7th St is gone.

Moving on to Odessa, we were in the area looking for dinner & it was late. We found Odessa on Ave A. my old stomping ground. Open 24/7.
There were patrons scattered across the dinning areas.

After perusing the massive menu we decided on the following: Fried Pierogi's, Boiled Pierogi's, Odessa Combination & Potato Pancake

Everything arrived very quickly, we dug in. I liked my potato pancakes with sour cream. I tasted the the stuffed cabbage, sauerkraut & kielbasa from the combo platter.
The stuffed cabbage as well as the sauerkraut were too sweet for my liking. I grew up on this stuff & it shouldn't be sweet. The kielbasa was not Baczynsky's that is for sure. The two orders of pierogis were also combos of meat, potatoes, cheese, sauerkraut. Again, the sauerkraut was sweet.

The staff was very accommodating can't complain about that.

Based on what we had I'm giving the place three stars. It's OK - good bang for your buck.