The people who work at Varenyk House are nice and not chatty. There isn't seating available. I was…read morejust in the other day and it looks like they got a bunch of new freezers and offer hot food to go now, too, not just fresh frozen! I bought a bag of frozen potato and cheese varenyk (pirogies), and they were delicious. Attaching a photo of what they looked like after I cooked them at home (boiled and then sautéed in butter with diced onion and spices).

Came on a Thursday night a few minutes before closing and they had such a large selection of…read moreUkrainian goodies! the staff were still hard away making dumplings in the back. Once stepping into the store, you are met with large freezers and fridges stuffed to the brim with all things Ukrainian. Many of their dumpling items are in large packages (2-3lbs a pack) and range from $8-$15 per lb depending on the filling. $15 a pound for their lamb and short rib Pierogis. Price-wise, it's very fair! And you can taste to quality and heart they put into these Pierogis. Can't go wrong with any flavor. I got the lamb and it was stuffed with tender lamb pieces, no filler. And they make for great quick meals! I also snagged a box of cabbage rolls stuffed with a pork and rice filling. Simple home-y flavor and better than rolls I've gotten from restaurants. Just reheat and it's ready to go! $15 for 5 large cabbage rolls was a great deal as well! Would get again. The only thing I wouldn't get again is their soup dumplings, as it was a bit difficult to cook and was a little too doughy near the top of the dumpling. Flavor wise, it was delicious and had a nice broth (assuming you didn't pop them. Only 1 didn't pop). But it was a difficult item to cook right in boiling water, like the instructions mention. Perhaps, user error. Every item is sold by weight and labeled after selecting your items. But they're happy to check the weight/explain price before purchasing.

I have no idea how many decades it's been since I last ate as Veselka but it is even better than I…read moreremember - and that is rare! Other than some new kitchen fixtures, the interior feels exactly the same as those 3 am meals after a show. Service was spectacular and lets talk about the food... I've had a lot of vegetarian attempts at stuffed cabbage but this was beyond amazing. The perogies were a great start and my son said his borscht was amazing. We barely even tapped the menu but we were just minutes from closing! Glad to support them these past few years of the war on Ukraine and happy to get my fix again! Highly recommended and a (now) touristy place that lives up to and beyond the memories!

Veselka is a very popular brunch option, so beware - there might be a long wait. I walked in with a…read moreparty of 5 around noon on a Saturday and we were seated immediately. I can say that by the time we walked out, there was a line almost around the corner. Whole party does have to be present to be seated. We were given a 4-top with a 5th chair so tight squeeze but we were just happy to be seated after trying a couple other places around with no luck. Because the place is so busy, It did take about 30 minutes to get our food, which we were heavily anticipating because we were so hungry. All their breakfast options look so good and we might have gotten a little over eager with ordering, so be mindful or maybe split a couple plates with your party. I got their two egg breakfast with latkes and added kielbasa. Perfect. That potato pancake is heaven. I did also get the blintzes but I will say I wish I ate them when they were a little warmer. They're not too sweet and are such a yummy treat. I recently heard that breakfast culture in New York is dying and I can't say I disagree, but it seems that the Eastern European options I have tried recently have some of my consistently favorite options. If you haven't been here, please check it out!

We visited in March 2025 on a cold, windy day. The borscht was hot and fresh and made us feel happy…read morefrom head to toe! Warm, cozy ambience. Delicious verenyky!! Slava Ukraini

I stopped by Streecha for lunch last Sunday after wanting to try it for ages. It's a basement, no…read morefrills Ukrainian restaurant with a classic menu and comfortable, casual cafeteria vibes. I had a cup of borscht and an order of dumplings, which were both great. The borscht was something I will crave for a while. The broth just had an incredible, balanced flavor. I thought since my food was pretty warm up and serve, that it would be a quick meal, but the service was pretty slow. I sat and waited a while. It was Mother's Day, so I think they were busier than usual with catering orders and moms and grandmas stopping by for desserts for brunch at home. So the pace of service may have been affected/out of ordinary for that reason. For those visiting for the first time: Take a look at the menu upstairs on the sidewalk before going down to the restaurant, because there was only menu downstairs at the counter where you order, so anyone coming for the first time will have to flip through the menu while holding up the line to order unless they know what they want already. When you go downstairs, the restaurant is behind the first door to your left; it's not well-marked. A lot of reviews say it's cash-only, but that may have been under the prior owners/management, because they definitely took credit cards/Apple Pay when I was there last weekend. If you love Ukrainian food, Streecha is well worth a visit. I love its no frills, classic approach to dining. It's a great option for a casual lunch if you're in the area and are craving some Eastern European fare.

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!

Nice service from the owner/manager, very empty at 2pm on a Friday but a charming vintage…read moreatmosphere. Kotlety, bliny with caviar and meat were all great. Golubtsi was delicious but only 3 smaller sized ones. Greek salad was delicious with the cured meat on top. Lamb shashlyk was great too. Only average thing was the smetana which was a bit liquidy. Overall it was 4.99/5 and I look forward to returning.

Absolutely loved it here…read more I love coming here. I love their lattes, pierogies, omelettes, potato pancakes, kielbasa and everything else I've tried. Everything was so fresh. The employees were very friendly and helpful. I can't wait to come back.

Coming here for a work lunch with my boss, who was the one who recommended we dine here, with some…read moreother colleagues, I wasn't sure what to expect from this place that I've passed multiple times on the BQE while on my commute to work. Apparently there is more than one location in Manhattan. The inside reminded me of a classic diner. Comfy and with a pretty cool vibe. We all slid into a booth and looked over the seasonal offerings along with their standard menu. I was lured by the chicken Kyiv based on the picture of having two rolled up chicken cutlets stuffed with dill and other yumminess, but was a bit disappointment when it arrived with a single small cutlet on my plate with two heaping mounds of potatoes mash and broccoli. I instantly had regret when I should have gotten the borscht soup with pierogies, but wanted to try something I wouldn't usually. I should've stuck to what was safe. My work mom got the stuffed cabbage and that was a clear homerun- really loved the mushroom gravy that it came with. My other colleague got the potato pancake and wasn't too thrilled with it, while my boss got the two Swedish meatballs that he described to be Ikea worthy. Although this was my first time here, I can't say that anyone really loved the food nor would come out of their way to come back. I really was hoping this would have wow-ed me in some way, but I guess I'll stick to what's familiar.

This place can get pretty busy during lunch rush on Saturday! Because it's more family owned, they…read moredon't rush you. Feels very home-y Loved the Borscht, will always get this every time we come back Tried their Ukrainian combo and it was delicious, stuffed cabbage, pierogis (1 meat, 1 potato, 1 mushroom, 1 spinach), sausage and sauerkraut. The east village combo was good too! The potato is really good. The portion size is decent! We were stuffed and didn't finish everything since it's a little on the heavier side. Pierogi ranking top fav to least favorite: Meat Mushroom Cheese Spinach Potato Also, tried the cheese Blintzes, which reminds me of a bit of a crème haha so it's more of a dessert Next time, we want to try the wiener schnitzel and the stuffed cabbage with cream mushroom sauce?

Such a cozy restaurant, it feels like you're in someone's home. Food is the same, no frills and…read morewell-priced. I got the East Village combo that came with 4 different kinds of pierogis, a cheese blintz and a massive potato pancake for $18. The blintz might be the next I'be ever had. Perfectly sweet and crisp. The potato pierogi was my favorite but it's nice to be able to sample the different flavors with the combo. Our server was so sweet and made us feel right at home. It's hard not to feel good when you're in here. Try the horseradish infused vodka, it's surprisingly smooth.

Very nice European cuisine with a lively atmosphere, dancing, and an elegant high-end bar area. The…read morechairs and seating are very comfortable and upscale, which makes it easy to relax and enjoy the evening. The food is consistently fresh and delicious, the staff is friendly and attentive, and the convenient parking nearby makes the whole experience even better. A great spot for a fun night out with friends or family.

Sheep by barashka on Ave. U Fighting, upsetting my guests,…read moredisappointing the birthday girl, and not crediting my deposit towards the check...shame on you barashka! This place ruined by mothers 70th bday party. I made a reservation with the manager Roman for the birthday party about 3 weeks in advance;and left a deposit to secure the date/time. They told us we would have half of the main dining room. One day before the event Roman calls and asks that another party that booked the other side has had an increase in their party size and would it be ok to move my party further away to the bar area... He said it would be more quieter there. I didn't want to cause trouble so I agreed. The day of the event, Roman is MIA. Our table is set up, and there's a concert going on in the main dining room. These people had a MC, dj, karaoke, games ... BLASTING music in the microphone. When we asked what's happening, the man in charge didn't even flinch or seem to care much. We started complaining and said we booked with you guys and you promised a chill quiet atmosphere... we asked for the other party to lower their music... we almost got into a physical FIGHT with the other party. Why is my mother birthday being dismissed in such a rude way. We could not even make a toast, we couldn't even hear our own thoughts over the loud music. It was ridiculous. The waiter apologized a million times, but why did the owner/manager not handle things??? Even worse; let it escalate? We were basically treated like guests at the "primary event". Shame on you guys as a business . After all that, they didn't even credit my full deposit to the bill.

Wonderful place! We will be coming back for all of our family celebrations. The food is delicious…read moreand homemade, the atmosphere is cozy, and the owner and staff are very caring. It's such a pleasure to have a place with traditional music and authentic food. Thank you, Igor, for your professionalism, and best of luck in your work!

A wonderful Ukrainian restaurant - delicious, clean and cozy. We are delighted with your…read morehospitality and service, the gorgeous selection of delicious and beautifully presented dishes, the attentive and unobtrusive service. The musical arrangement was cheerful and chic. Thank you very much, we will come back to you.

Super casual Polish eatery. Huge portions for reasonable price. You'll leave stuffed and all that…read morefood will barely make a dent in your pocket. A huge entree of mashed potatoes and pork jowl will set you back only $24. Appetizer platter is massive for sharing amid several people. All food is satisfying, heavy, and homey. Drinks are strong--the White Russian was balanced and will be enough to make you tipsy. Staff are helpful and food is delivered quickly. You can have a quick meal and be out of here in record time, if you're in a rush.

We came here to celebrate my grandmother's birthday and couldn't have asked for a better…read moreexperience. This is a very authentic Polish restaurant--everything is spotlessly clean and the atmosphere is wonderful. The food was incredibly fresh. We ordered the breaded chicken cutlet, chicken meatballs, and fried chicken roll, all of which were delicious. We were especially grateful that they offer a grilled chicken cutlet; it was perfect for a member of our party with dietary restrictions. Our waitress, Joanna, was the highlight of the night. She is beautiful inside and out, and her attentive, professional service made the celebration seamless. I would also like to say a huge thank you to our bus boy as well. We didn't get his name but he was exceptional to ensure we had everything we needed. Thank you, Joanna, and the whole team for taking such great care of us! We will certainly be back.

Baba's Pierogies is a cozy establishment with a warm and clean first impression. There is only a…read morehandful of tables, but when I visited on a Sunday evening around 7:30pm, I was seated immediately without a wait. The server was friendly and helpful with my questions on the menu. I got the Bryndzové which is their traditional Pierogi. I got it prepared as recommended, which is boiled and with bacon. It was tasty! The bacon definitely adds a salty bite to mellow out the richness of the pierogi. I was worried the sheep cheese would be too pungent, but it wasn't. The filling I chose only comes as a full order of 9. If you are torn between a couple choices, I would do two half orders of 5. On the side I got their Fresh Cut Fries. These were excellent. I love a fry, and these checked every box for me. They were well salted though. If you have any aversion to salt, I would ask for light salt. Hoping to return again before my Brooklyn trip is over - there's several more I want to try!

First stop of a food crawl in Brooklyn…read more Yummy goulash, pierogies were okay. We shared a lunch special. Service was a lil slow.