My last time to Brighton beach was well over 20 years ago. I remember it well. All of the…read morestorefronts with. Cyrillic writing, clothes, food with wonderful smells, trays and trays of caviar, just bursting out the door. And, a Starbucks. Today, not too many Eastern European businesses are left. Now, it's banks, cellular, provider, stores urgent care, a 7-11, even a Popeyes freaking fried chicken. Oh, and the Starbucks is still there. After walking out of a very bad experience at imereti Georgian cafe down the street (see separate review) I found this place. Boy, am I glad I did. I was seated in the front. The restaurant was gorgeous. ! I could hear a beautiful voice singing, Eastern European songs in the back of the restaurant and at one point,, he switched to Elvis's "I can't help falling in love with you" in English. That made me a little emotional, because that was my late partner's and my song... Anyway, I decided to go for the crêpes with red caviar (salmon roe), and the Ukrainian borscht. Bread and butter is brought to my table. The white bread was OK, but the brown bread had a deep rich flavor. The crêpes come first, and they were amazing. The crêpes were very warm, soft and delicious. I loved the "red caviar". A little bit salty, more briny than fishy, and a wonderful explosion of flavor when the eggs "pop." in the mouth. I was very happy. Next came the borscht. It had cabbage, beets, potatoes, and either beef or pork. I'm not sure which one. The meat , beets and potatoes was very tender, and the soup was delicious and not too rich. A very satisfying flavor., the beets gave it a little bit of an earthy flavor. The sour cream that came with it, just added a creamy richness to it without overtaking the flavor of the borscht. 1000% a home run. Dinner wasn't cheap. Two dishes, two iced teas (I found out they charge for refills), and tax, and it came out to about $48 before tip, .I didn't care. I don't mind paying extra if the food is that good, and this food was absolutely beyond awesome. I would be glad to come back and try other items on the menu. Thank you!

Stopped by as we wanted to try some authentic Russian food, and this did not disappoint! We ordered…read morethe classic Ukrainian Borsch, along with the green borsch with chicken meatballs, and the blintzes with meat to start. The classic borsch is very dill heavy, but that was my favorite! The blintzes were also delicious and came with a tangy yogurt/cream sauce. For entrees, we shared the chicken stroganoff with buckwheat and Cornish hen with mashed potatoes. The hen was incredibly tender with a dill gravy, and the buckwheat was perfect with the stroganoff. Overall really delicious dishes and a beautiful indoor environment! Also the service was incredible and the owner was very kind in explaining to us the dishes.

Despite the name, there's no 'ocean view." Since our go-to cafes on the boardwalk have become…read morepricey I felt it time to branch out. Yelp reviews propelled us here. And I'm glad; lunch was delightful. Weather was perfect, neither hot nor cold, so we sat outside enjoying the 'ambience' of Brighton Beach Avenue (ie, the rumble of the Q train from the corner el.) Seriously -- I liked it! Our Odessa salad was particularly good because of Oceanview's light and flavorful vinaigrette. At first I was skeptical -- iceberg isn't my favorite lettuce -- but with peppers, tomatoes, scallions and more, I'd order this again. Red caviar with blintzes was surprising. I was expecting my idea of blintzes, but these were blini. We topped each crepe with sour cream, salmon caviar and salad ingredients. A one-shot deal for me. T and I shared an order of chicken kebobs. Had I known they use dark meat, I would have ordered cutlets -- but the chicken was so nicely seasoned and prepared -- moist, yet cooked through -- I was pleased. Accompanying buckwheat (a throwback to my mom's kasha) was a great side. Service was attentive and very nice. If you pay cash, you'll reap a 3% discount. Card and cash prices are listed on the menu. The menu also notes that a "10% gratuity may be added to your check." We of course added more.

Behind a retro blue awning sits a restaurant dear to Brighton beach and to me! Ive been coming here…read morewith my family since I was a child so the food, vibes, and TVs playing endless Russian music are so nostalgic for me. Recently, I took a friend here who is not familiar at all with Eastern European food and she loved all of the dishes. The cutlets were perfectly seasoned, and the buckwheat was buttery and warm. It tasted just like what I eat at home. We also had the sweet cheese vareniki which tasted desert-like and were so decadent with the sour cream. The Compot had a refreshing fruit flavor and paired so well with our meal. The service was quick, and we were able to request extra plates to share our order.

Generally recommended dishes from our banquet: Chalahach, Kutab/Qutab, Lulya Kabob, Sturgeon Kabob…read more Side Note- Review is from a meal from several months ago. Sheep by Barashka (or in other words rather humorously when translated Sheep by Sheep) is an Azerbaijani restaurant (specifically Gorsky) similar to Village Cafe or Baku Palace with the prices on the menu being somewhat in the middle though closer to Baku. Like those spots, you go here and have one of two experiences depending on whether someone speaks Russian/Azeri and whether you're here for a party. It's part of the experience and luckily I was part of the latter. When my part of the group arrived, there were several salads such as an avocado salad with tomato, eggplant salad (basically the same thing as Turkish Soslu patlıcan,) and an Achuchuk salad (tomato and onion based.) There was also herring which was tasty. Soon arriving were some hot appetizers. There were two variations of Kutab/Qutab which is essentially a flatbread either stuffed with meat or with greens with both being outstanding and in my opinion a bit better than the other spots I mentioned. There was also potatoes with mushrooms which was okay (I prefer more of a crisp) as well as Khachapuri or cheese bread which was salty and delicious though perhaps a bit too buttery. The main dishes were the standouts. The sturgeon kabobs were outstanding with very tender flaky fish which paired nicely with the pomegranate molasses/narsharab found commonly in the region as well as another cold sauce which I believe was tomato based. In terms of meat, their specialty is chalahach or in other words baby lamb chops. These were meaty, tender, and some of the best I've ever had. The lulya kabob or ground lamb kebab was also tender and delicious and I would recommend them. The rest of the meat was also good but these were definitely the best. I don't remember having dessert. The food overall here was delicious and I can see why this has become a preference for them. There is apparently live music here but they weren't in that night which I didn't mind as it was easier to talk. Good food (especially the main dishes) and friendly staff. Would go back for another party.

The space is great! Often empty, looks like an event space for the most of the time. Closed Mon and…read moreTuesday. First time I came, I wanted to try potato kebab, which I didnt see anywhere else, they were out. I ordered small pies, they were out. Waiter said they are never out of kebabs. So I ordered kebabs. 10 min later he came again and said they are out of it as well. Like how the waiter can not know what they have?!! Ended up with grilled sturgeon, which came bare on a plate, not even a leaf of green or anything. Wanted to give 3 stars or even 2, but gave it a second chance. Second visit they had everything and it was delicious. Apart from potato kebab, which ended up being just a puree on a stick. Nothing exciting. Food is really good but quite pricey. Especially for the area.

Have grown really fond of this cuisine and this place definitely hit the spot. Menu has a fair…read moreamount of options and I definitely enjoyed each of the dishes we ended up getting. Started with the pilaff. Probably my least favorite meat of the day but it was plentiful, so tender, and the rest of the rice dish were delicious. Huge portion. I'm such a big fan of manti and almost always enjoy them, but these were even better than most. Plump, juice, packed with meat. Enjoyed the sauce it came with, as well. Finally, lamb rib kebab and lyulya kebab were great. I preferred the latter and may next time opt for the ribs without the fat, but they were both still great. Service was lovely, you can tell they care about the experience. Felt like we were in someone's home eating a home-cooked meal. If we lived in the area we definitely would consider coming back.

I love sitting on the sidewalk and taking in the neighborhood vibe. Best Greek salad I have ever…read morehad. Really enjoy the pierogi type dumplings and breads. Daughter got delicious Sherpa soup. A favorite stop after a beach day!

Had a dinner in Tatiana, beautiful summer evening, boardwalk sitting, ocean breeze- perfect…read morelocation! It was Tuesday, 7pm. We came without any reservation. A lot of table available-huge outdoors sitting area-space for many guests. Waiter came to check on us very quickly, we order our drinks. The vine list looks bigger, than the menu. Used to Tatiana was famous for a huge selection of dishes, nowadays- just a small fraction of it. We ordered Octopus salad, Mussels and Potato with Shiitake mushrooms as cold and hot appetizers (party of 2). The vine came fast enough, my Sauvignon Blanc was in right temperature and the amount of vine was very generous! As well all our dishes. Each dish might be shared easily for 2-3 people. Octopus salad was not bad-interesting combination of greens with grilled veggies and octopus in some kind of dressing. Mussels very excellent- souse absolutely delicious and potatoes with mushrooms- OK, but not super tasty. We had to ask to bring us an extra empty plate for mussel's shells and for wet towels to clean our hands after mussels dish. Everything was delivered very quickly. Tip#1. Portions are very generous-good for 2-3 people Tip#2. The check came with 15% gratitudes including , but in the c/c bill they ask for an extra tip- be visual. We didn't pay any extra tip over already included. Overall: nice location, especially on summer, oversized portions and quick service.

Good spot on the boardwalk. Solid service and delicious…read morefood. Generous portions and tastes homemade.

Stolovaya is the most USSR restaurant in the world. Has basically every stereotype of the Soviet…read moreUnion, not to mention the food was fantastic. I really recommend this place for you to go!

Old fashioned and authentic soviet style food. It was our first time trying this cuisine and we…read morewere unfamiliar with what to get but the nice waiter recommended these 3 dishes and they did not disappoint. Highly recommend trying this place out!

I am not Russian, nor do I pretend to know the ways of Eastern European cooking intimately, but I…read moream a frugal food idea and I go to local haunts wherever I am to sample local cuisine. What better place to get comfort food than to head to Brighton Beach? A sure sign that I am in the right place is that I stick out like a sore-thumb -- being the only Asian person in this seat of babushka's is always reassuring. I used to come here regularly after a long day of teaching, and while the amount of containers I always leave with is a bit disparaging as a science teacher trying to save the Earth, I can take each visit as a "cheat day" if it means I get my beet salad, fish with ketchup, and vitrushki's. Really, there are no frills here, and I don't know how "authentic" the food is, but it's cheap, delicious, and filling, and the workers have always been extremely kind, atypical for what I thought of from the stoicism of most of Eastern Europe.

My favorite spot to buy Russian food during my trips from Manhattan. Great salad bar - probably the…read morebest Olivier in the area. Great stuffed peppers, chicken cutlets etc. Wish they would bring back the cold tongue dish! Also, the frozen pelmeni are on the expensive side compared to other stores nearby - would buy these here too otherwise. The staff is always courteous and they accept credit cards. Usually not very crowded.

great service and food is great and you should have some good quality products in the store as you…read moreget older you can always try out some new products

I was charged 25 % tip by waiter by default. He was very disappointed and even became rude when I…read morelowered it to regular 15 %. Food is mediocre (I would say three out of five). Soups around $6, mains $9 in general. Smells like in regular Soviet dining hall. Cash only.

We have New Year party at Gurman restaurant every year. A…read morehuge thank to the staff and the manager! Always perfectly done! Nice atmosphere, delicious food and friendly staff!

Attending a friends birthday with about 60 or so was a very nice event and the food was good as…read morewell. The service in this long and narrow space was really top notch. All of the staff were able to speak both Russian and English which made things easier for those who don't and they were quick to clear a plate or replace a napkin or utensil. There was a DJ who also sings and another singer as well to keep us all entertained. A smaller sized dance floor is available for those of us who wanted to cut a rug, so to speak. Another room in the back was setup for the children and a menu for them was set up as well. Parking is street side so you might have to walk a couple of blocks in a nicer Brooklyn neighborhood. Great night out with good food served in at least seven or eight courses. The lamb chops and the potato and mushrooms dish were particularly delicious. Also you can't go wrong with any of the pickled dishes available. This is a BYOB spot so bring your favorite bottles and servers will supply water and soft drinks for you and your guests.

A Beautiful Mother's Day Celebration Today my daughter…read moreinvited me to celebrate Mother's Day at Vis-a-Vis Restaurant in Brooklyn. We didn't have a reservation and the restaurant was completely full. At first, we were told there were no available tables, but the wonderful ladies at the front desk kindly spoke with the manager and found a table for two that had been reserved by guests delayed in heavy traffic for two hours. We were truly happy and deeply grateful for their kindness and willingness to help. It was my first time visiting this large and beautiful restaurant with several dining halls and a lovely summer terrace. The design is absolutely stunning. The staff is highly professional, polite, and always happy to recommend dishes when guests need help choosing. Every dish we ordered was prepared flawlessly -- incredibly delicious and artistically presented with great taste and attention to detail. The pistachio and meringue dessert was simply breathtaking, decorated with a delicate caramel lace that beautifully showcased the pastry chef's craftsmanship. I would like to thank the entire welcoming and well-coordinated team and express special gratitude to the restaurant owner and the chef for creating this wonderful island of fine dining in Brighton. We truly enjoyed our visit to this unforgettable restaurant and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a truly delicious and elegant dining experience. Irene Rosin Sincerely, Irene Rosin

It is an Amazing place with Great vibes, Great food and an absolutely Amazing Staff! Highly…read morerecommend!