Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant What a lovely introduction to Ukrainian food. We began with their appetizers and it was uphill all the way. Not only is their food prepared to delight but each dish was visually appealing that elevated our whole experience. I would recommend arriving for an early dinner and making reservations. There is metered parking on the road or paid parking structures not too far away. The restaurant is cozy with a welcoming atmosphere. Well appointed tables and an important part...comfortable chairs. Splashes of color and decor reminded us of their proud Ukrainian heritage. Service from the staff was well coordinated, friendly and never intrusive. I felt I was being fed a family's long standing recipes of traditional specialties. The condiments, creamed sauces or microgreenery complimented each individual dish. Even a simple dinner roll was elavated by its absorption of garlic oils and a house made spread. We tried the Varenyky dumplings with sauerkraut filling and one with short ribs. The Deruny (potato pancakes) were delicious layered with sour cream and a portion of a tasty mushroom mixture. Some items are marked gluten free or vegetarian. Our main entrees were Banosh with pieces of bacon, goat cheese with a polenta cake, the other Banosh Vegetarian also came with a Ukrainian polenta cake, a Mushroom Mixture and goat cheese. My daughter tried the Chicken Kyiv with mashed potatoes which was also very delicious. This memorable meals was complete with their award winning honey cake, moist layers of cake and creamed filling that is now one of my favorite desserts. Not overly sweet and large enough to share with the 3 of us. My only regret is that they are located in Bethesda, if a store opened in Columbia, I would gladly become a regular. I'll just need to make a special trip here again to try more of their selections. Highly recommended for all age. read more

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This was my first time having Ukrainian food and I overall thought it was okay. I wasn't overly impressed with the food and do not believe it would be worth coming back again to try something new. Despite the subpar food, the service was quite shocking. After using the toast app to pay for my meal, the hostess chased me out of the restaurant accusing me of not paying for my food. I showed her my receipt and the charge from the restaurant that was on my bank account. She refused to listen. After multiple times of showing her confirmation, she admitted that there was a delay in their system. However, even after that, she told me, "next time don't leave so quickly after your meal". I was shocked that I was treated in such a way when there was an obvious delay on their end. Once again, I would not return to this establishment because of the mediocre food and rude service. read more

I was super excited to try Ruta because it was my first exposure to traditional Ukrainian dishes. Their brunch menus are mutually exclusive to their lunch ones, but I found a variety of things to try. I started with their version of chicken dumplings. They give you sour cream to dip/add on but I didn't think they needed it. I then ordered their chicken, mushroom, and onion crepe dish. The salad that it came with was really salty which was unexpected, but I enjoyed the flavor. It didn't seem to have a dressing at all, which I liked as it didn't feel heavy. The crepes were delish. I usually don't eat mushrooms, but they finely chop them and integrate them into the dish so it didn't feel overwhelmingly chewy or mushroomy for me. Each bite had a nice balance of sweet crepe and savory filling. I had seen this restaurant was famous for its honey cake, so i ordered that too. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't say I needed it. The staff and ambiance was 5/5. I really enjoyed my time here and look forward to expanding my palette even more! read more

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I've been excited to try Rita since living in Bethesda! I ordered take out, but my first time inside the restaurant is beautifully decorated and has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating!! I knew there was a location in Capitol Hill, but this location is way more comment for me. I wanted to try a variety of food options, so I went with the short rib varenyky (almost like a pirogie) which were a crowd favorite in my home of picky eaters! I also tried the deruny, which is a potato pancake served with sour cream and a mushroom mixture - I absolutely loved these. The pancakes were thick and filling but not overly friend or greasy. For my main entree, I went with the beef stroganoff, which was a unique take on the dish but overall really tasty. The buckwheat base wasn't particularly to my liking, but the meat and mushrooms were cooked to perfection and helped me forget I don't love buckwheat! Overall the meal was hearty and satisfying, I'd love to go back and sit down and try more!! read more

Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant - Beef Stroganoff - Ukrainian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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Wow we had a great dinner here! We randomly picked this restaurant but were pleasantly surprised that it felt like a real cultural experience. The restaurant is beautiful and features Ukrainian art, some of which is for sale. The drinks menu features some unique and delicious cocktails and multiple options for Ukrainian beers, wines, and ciders. We got dumplings for the appetizers and these are the real deal! Thick delicious pasta with amazing fillings. We each got a different main dish and they were all incredible! The chicken Kiev was buttery and rich. The meat holubtsi had a delicious tomato based meat sauce. The pork ribs were cooked perfectly and fell off the bone. They came with incredible potatoes. The bigos was hearty and filling. Dessert was excellent! We got the honey cake and the Kyiv cake. They were both beautiful and delicious. The servers were very kind, knew the menu well, and were super attentive. Overall we had an excellent dinner and felt like it was a great value as well. read more

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R is for Ruta Ukrainian. Part 2 of 3 of R restaurants. Coincidentally, part 3 will be a restaurant I went to the next day. On Saturday, February 22, my friend had a birthday party as he has Ukrainian blood. My girlfriend & I were looking forward to trying Ukrainian food for the 1st time. I studied the menu ahead of time more than usual figuring out the best options, reviewed Yelp reviews, pics, etc. We each got a Borscht. I got the bowl of Beef Borscht and she got the Green Borscht. Green was a vegetarian with various ingredients including Sorrel, spinach, chicken eggs, potato, & vegetables. We tried each others, and I liked mine better, but hers was good too. My beef I really liked. We split the Lokshyna, which was a pasta with creamy wild mushrooms. This was my favorite of the two dishes, which was great. We also split a Ukrainian beer, which was very good too. When we arrived, we had a wait a little past the reservation time but not too unreasonable considering it's a small place. We were seated in 3 separate small groups of tables with the limitations of the restaurant. Server was ok, but not terribly friendly, and it was bit on the slow side. Water refills took some time too. Some got desserts, but a lot didn't. The desserts were very expensive for just desserts $14 for Ukrainian Honey Cake and none of the desserts seemed overly swaying. The birthday friend offered a part of Ukrainian Honey Cake, and I quickly volunteered. He gave me a small piece, which I split with my g/f. We both liked, but we also felt like we didn't miss that much by not getting it. I'm glad he shared with us as now we knew we made the right decision to shell out another $14. One of several entrees I was considering was Chicken Kviv since that is a well known dish. I saw the pic, it looked pretty good but it was small even for one person. I was thinking the pasta was the best bang for the buck, and we could try the Borscht and hopefully by full, which I was comfortably full. My friends another couple (who was getting married 5 weeks later) who sat across from us split the Chicken Kviv. I felt bad for them as they were saying it wasn't much and were still hungry. They were trying to budget with the wedding & Honeymoon coming up, but they ended up ordering the pasta we got. Overall, this was a solid dining experience with overall very good food but did have some minor issues as well. Still a viable option to try Ukrainian food. read more

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Being a fan of Ukrainian food for years, regularly dining at New York's various long-time East Village restaurants, was eager to try out Bethesda's new RUTA with my family. Apparently, it's Maryland's first Ukrainian restaurant. We opted for the indoor seating, although the covered outdoor seating looked attractive. While being big on all borscht types. (i.e., red, green and white,) decided to go first for RUTA's beef Ukrainian Borscht with Pampushka, their red variety vs. a green alternative. We ordered extra spoons, so everyone could try. My sizable bowl of this tomato-influenced recipe arrived with traditional small dish of sour cream (which I love to add) and the delicate, savory garlic topped, yeast-raised bun. While traditionally I'm bigger on beet heavy varieties of red Ukrainian borscht, it was flavorful and satisfying! All three of us selected as an entrée Holubtsi, Ukrainian stuffed cabbage: my aunt and myself the Mushroom option, my sister-in-law the Meat variety. Both versions came topped with (froufrou, non-traditional) sprouts and what may have been a thinly sliced decorative daikon, but did significantly vary - the Mushroom filled with more of a darker rice and mushroom sauce and the Meat a lighter rice in a tomato sauce. The hardy, robust mushroom assortment in my Hobultsi was outstanding and reminded me of various traditional dishes in Europe that I've enjoyed which also well employed delicious, local varieties. Taking a taste of my sister-in-law's Holubtsi, it was also well made. My aunt, however, accustomed to her mother's homemade sweet, tomato sauce cabbage roll recipe with white rice, did not appreciate her Mushroom forward dish, so she requested something else. Already experiencing excellent service, this is where RUTA's staff's response was stellar. They followed up with a request why she didn't like the dish, where we had to explain that the dish was fantastic but she expected something similar to what her mom made. Note - We then had hers packed in a doggy bag. We then ordered her some Chicken (with mushroom) Varenyky, a.k.a. Ukrainian pierogis. Also yummy, they ended up not to my aunt's liking, so we took them home too. Finally, we hoped to win my aunt over with dessert, although there was nothing overall chocolate, something she typically prefers. After reviewing with her every option without any objection from her, we chose RUTA's Ukrainian Honey Cake, a.k.a. Medovyk, a honey-soaked, cake layered with sweet cream cheese that was last year's Best of Washington's People's Choice Award Winner. It arrived beautifully presented with a sliced strawberry, flower petals, and chocolate sauce drizzle on the side. Despite not voicing anything beforehand, my aunt announced she hates honey! While my sister-in-law and I enjoyed the subtle flavored cake, next time we'd try a different option. While it ended up not being the perfect place to bring my aunt, my sister-in-law and I would definitely return to RUTA, a great, reasonably priced spot in Bethesda to enjoy a delicious meal! Slava Ukraini! read more

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Love that this restaurant has a unique feel, with Ukrainian decor and cuisine. Their menu includes many healthy meat and vegetarian options as well as craft cocktails and Ukrainian beers. We got the potato pancake appetizer which was very good. For entrees we got the cabbage stuffed with beef and the cabbage stuffed with mushrooms. Those dishes I didn't care for as much- I think a little more flavor and a grain would have helped. But there were other vegetarian options on the menu Id love to try! read more

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So happy we stumbled upon Ruta while out walking. This restaurant truly deserves all five stars. I Googled the meaning of the name and loved it. The staff was very attentive and replaced utensils after each course and kept water glasses full. I highly recommend trying the varenyky (dumplings) We tried them with sauerkraut and potato and loved both. I tried the Deruny (potato pancakes) and my spouse had the Bigos (cabbage and sausage) . Both were hits. Lots of flavors in both. My spouse said the virgin mojito was the best she has ever had. I tried the non alcoholic Kvas (non alcoholic fermented rye beverage). The dark had a molasses flavor tasting a little like a root beer and the blonde tasted like an ale. The Kyiv cake was delicious and light to finish off the meal. There are plenty of savory and flavorful options for vegetarians and those who don't drink alcohol. I will return again soon to try some of the other dishes that caught my eye. So far, my favorite find in Bethesda! read more

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The food here is very, very good and tastes like they were all made as a labor of love. Savory, healthy, just the right amount of saltiness, and tastes very different than your usual America/ Asian/ Latin American fare. Some may complain about the portion size, but for the price point and for the exotic taste, it's perfect. Atmosphere is also authentically Ukrainian, with decors and music from that area representative of Ukraine's rich culture. Service is also lovely. In addition, I got a yummy drink on the house. So nice! Definitely give this place a try and see for yourself. Nom nom nom! read more

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Underrated restaurant in downtown Bethesda. They have a comprehensive Ukrainian menu, with a lot of really unusual dishes. There's Ukrainian beer and vodka to wash it down with. Service is friendly and efficient. One of our favorites in town. read more

I was equally parts hesitant and curious when I approached this establishment. I was unfamiliar with the food choices offered but my stomach was growling. The Ruta caught my attention as it was very inviting and those inside looked happy; I mean an establishment that is named after a beautiful flower with a colorful meaning. A flower that changes colors too; very cool concepts. Every once and a while the stars align perfectly. All staff members were friendly as well as extremely helpful. As a newbie they were very paitent with me as my questions and inquires continued. Nonetheless they helped me choose the perfect appatizer and dish that left me completely satisfied and outright blown away! The food portions were good sized and flavorful. This was my first experience with Urnranian food and I would highly recommended it to my friends and family. Ambiance: relaxed and welcoming while maintaining tasteful decorations. Packed with little details enhancing the overall experience. The seats are very comfortable, a perfect way to take a load off and enjoy the delicacies. Highly recommended. I am looking forward to my leftovers and the next dish I will try the next time i break away for a treat; also note they offer Vegetarian options available that gained raving reviews as well. Great experience - highly recommend establishment. What a true joy. read more

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Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant is an excellent restaurant. The food is very flavorful and well put together. They have a variety of plates for most people's palate. Quality of food is very good. Portion is medium size; which goes with the country ethic plating. The food taste was nice. Service was attentive without being overbearing. They explained the menu well. Good atmosphere. Spacious table spacing so not overly close to next table; good elbow space. There's inside and patio seating. Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant is a solid 4.5 comfortably rounded to 5. Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant is a high recommend, and I'll be a repeat customer and will bring friends, family and colleagues. Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant is an excellent restaurant. The food is very flavorful and well put together. They have a variety of plates for most people's palate. Quality of food is very good. Portion is medium size; which goes with the country ethic plating. The food taste was nice. Service was attentive without being overbearing. They explained the menu well. Good atmosphere. Spacious table spacing so not overly close to next table; good elbow space. There's inside and patio seating. Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant is a solid 4.5 comfortably rounded to 5. Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant is a high recommend, and I'll be a repeat customer and will bring friends, family and colleagues. read more

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This restaurant is unique and it always tastes genuine, sincere, and homemade. Cabbage rolls and varenyky are usuals for me. The chicken schnitzel is also tasty, coated in an egg wash. Warm comforting potatoes read more

Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant - Vidbyvna, chicken schnitzel lunch plate - Ukrainian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Fantastic food with great service! Personally, I love the decor and the interior and really enjoyed eating inside, but there are plenty of people sitting outside, which also looked like a great experience. First time for me to try Ukrainian food, so I won't comment on authenticity, but I can say that they are very delicious. Would highly recommend the borscht and steak tartare! read more

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It's the beginning of June and I had the meal of the year here at RUTA. Started with a drink from the well stocked bar, offering no alcohol mixed drinks as well. On to a generous cup of Ukrainian Borscht served with the best sour cream and a garlic and oil fresh dinner roll. Main course was the Meat Holubtsi. Two large stuffed cabbage rolls that were as good as any Baba would lovingly make. A wonderful dessert menu, which I took dessert home. Great people working there made for an even better dining experience. I will be going back. read more

Great food and service and wonderfully decorated. We went on a quiet Sunday night and were not disappointed. My husband loved the borscht, said it was as good as if a grandma had made it. He also loved the stuffed cabbage. Finally, the cherry dumplings for dessert were divine according to him. My husband has Slavic roots and this restaurant serves his version of comfort food. It's not my favorite kind of food and I feel like they did a masterful job of providing options that appeal to a wide variety of tastes. The menu was clearly labeled with gluten free and vegetarian options. I enjoyed the Ruta salad, very fresh and delicious. I also had the potato pancakes, so delicious! For dessert there was a fantastic layer cake that I tried. Portions were generous. Despite this not being my go to cuisine, there are a lot more things on the menu that I want to try and I look forward to going back again soon. If Ukrainian food is out of your comfort zone, you should give this place a try as I think it will pleasantly surprise you! read more

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The decor is very cute & very Eastern European, the chairs are incredibly comfy & the music is a good ambiance but not too loud. The menu of drinks is also very impressive & my husband had a dark stout that he greatly enjoyed. I did the pear cider, which was very well done and not overly sweet. We came here for brunch, which was delicious. The eggs were so well done, fluffy and perfectly cooked. The potato pancakes were also delicious and the cherry compote was delicious. We then ended with honey cake, which was delicious but again not overly sweet. We look forward to coming back for dinner!! read more

Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant - Honey cake - Ukrainian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Their sister restaurant in D.C. is well established. Now Maryland gets its first Ukranian restaurant and is fortunate to have it Our first appetizer was borscht with sour cream and cubes of beef. It had a hearty stock that was a perfect start to the meal. We also had the burrata salad with tomato , beets, and greens. Fresh ingredients with a subtle marinade. My entree was beef bourginone. A hearty dish for a big appetite. My wife tried the pasta with mushrooms in a cream sauce. Savory, rich, and satisfying. We finished off desert with honey cake. New to Bethesda, this restaurant is one of Bethesda's best, and a visit is a must for those looking for a change from the more common ethnic restaurants in the area. read more

The food was ok, this food you could eat at home but for a restaurant I expected better. There are more dishes in Ukrainian cuisine than can be served as a high quality place. Vareniki looked like store bought and not home made. Our waitress had no expressions. read more

Great service. Waitress was attentive and helpful. Ambiance was fine, low lighting . Walls covered with Ukraine VIP portraits. Ukrainian food was pleasantly flavorful ( better than Russian food I've eaten. ). Menu with photos are available on their website. Went on Thursday evening and not too crowded but you can make reservations. But drop-ins are welcomed. Clothing attire was everyday shopping clothes . Dish I ate had cabbage and ground meat and delicious. (If allowed, I would have licked the plate) clean. )Dessert offered was 4 or 5 delicious appearing cakes - not overly sweet. (Sorry, don't remember which ones we ate but they were sold out of Ruta cake, which is a good indicator ) Prices were little pricey but reasonable for an evening out. One more thing: they are closed in the afternoon so check their hours before going. read more

The Ukrainian breakfast was very good and the meat holubtsi was a 10/10. The Ukrainian honey cake was delicious as well. The service was great, and everything felt very chill, which I really enjoyed. Will definitely go back! read more

-------------- I went back for another lunch session and I ordered a plate that had Kielbasa ( order sausage similar to which you would find in Poland); Deruny ( potato pancake); Varenyky ( in this case it was a chicken filled dumpling) and I also ordered a cup of Borscht I really enjoyed the Borscht The Varenyky was so well prepared it was to die for ( superb excellent) The kielbasa and the potato pancake or mediocre read more

Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant - Ukrainian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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Absolutely loved this restaurant. We invited our Ukrainian friends from out of town to visit and they said it became one of their favorite Ukrainian restaurants. The cocktails were awesome; if you like honey liquor, you have to try theirs. We ended up ordering half the menu and enjoyed everything including the beef tongue appetizer, Odesa forshmak (herring on rye bread), green and red borscht, verenyky (particularly potato and sauerkraut), meat holubtsi (meat stuffed cabbage), and the Ukrainian honey cake. SO good. Service was friendly and quick. Ambiance was fantastic with all the decor connecting the restaurant to the Ruta flower found in Ukz read more

Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant - Ukrainian Borscht - green and red - Ukrainian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

A few months after my initial review, my daughter and husband came down with Covid as I was getting over the flu. The one thing my husband wanted was Ruta's borscht. I picked up soup to go and made his (otherwise miserable) evening a little better. We have also been back for lunches with family a couple of times and each time have enjoyed our meals. Those little dumpling things are tasty for sure. But -- get the borscht. You won't regret it. read more

Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant is phenomenal. It is rare that we go out for meals nowadays, and I am so glad that we chose this place on a whine. The food and service were great. The alcohol menu is good too, and they offer many Ukrainian specialities. As for food, I recommend the chicken Kyiv for an entree, or one of the specials of the day. Portion sizes are decent here. I would like to come back. read more

Ate a fantastic meal at Ruta! The Ukrainian borscht and green borscht were delicious. I also suggest ordering the assortment of Varenyky, the vinaigrette salad and the Banosh! Everything tasted extremely fresh. We were served by Micheal who was very kind and made excellent recommendations. (The cherry cocktail is also a must!) read more

Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant - Ukrainian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

(4.25) ~ Very good Overall food & Service. Note: Parking Lot next door & outdoor seating is available. DRINKS: ** Espresso = (4.5) ~ Very Fresh! ** Water (tap) = (4) very good...must be filtered;) FOOD: ** Salo = (4.5) Very Good & Shareable! The Pork fat tastes like bacon & is rolled up (see photo). ** Borscht (beef) cup = (4.25) Very good & best when you add the sour cream to it;) ** Honey Cake = (4.25) Very good & Shareable ** Tsvikli = (4) very good & shareable ** Bigos = (4) very hearty ** Homestyle Potatoes = (4) very good, added to my Bigos;) read more

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First time to a Ukrainian restaurant! My brother and I came to try this restaurant for an early dinner. The restaurant is warm and cozy with a relaxed atmosphere. The staff was helpful explaining the menu, and we ordered several things. Started with Ukrainian borscht with pampushka and the deruny ( potato pancakes with sour cream and mushrooms). Both were so good! for dinner we tried the beef stroganoff and the lokshyna- Wonderful flavors, and filling! Saved room for dessert- Ukrainian honey cake- perfect ending to a fine meal. Now I want to come back to try other dishes! The menu has several I want to experience: Varenyky, Banash, Chicken Kiev and the Black Sea bass. And green borsht! Perhaps we'll have to come twice more... Highly recommend you try it when in Bethesda! read more

Came here with friends and tried Ukrainian food for the first time. The food was unique and service was good! We tried a variety of soups, appetizers, main dishes and desserts. We liked everything except for the Ruta cake (poppy seed cake). It was a little pricy, but definitely worth it for the experience! read more

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Best dinner I've had all year. Great service, Rose with deep honey notes, and amazing mushroom flavored dishes. Highly recommend. read more

Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant - Vegetarian Banosh - Ukrainian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Came today for brunch which is noted on their website but not in yelp. Staff welcoming and happy to make recommendations. We enjoyed the green borscht and the red borscht (with meat). Delicious! We then enjoyed the Ukranian breakfast and the farmer cheese pancakes. Both very good and recommend. We like strong coffee and their coffee is both strong and served as it should be, hot. In reviewing the dinner menu, we'll be back to try that next. read more

Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant - Interior ambiance - Ukrainian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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Ambiance is not intimate. Fast paced and quite full on a Saturday night. Service was quick, friendly and not overly present (good thing I think) The food was very good. Everything I expected from Slavic dishes (borscht is unique, korshmak was the best course, holubtsi just as I expected it to be) read more

Food was great and staff was very attentive. I had the stuffed cabbage and it was delicious.

Loved our brunch especially the pancakes and fried cheese balls. The shakshuka was good as well although some members of our party were dissapointed that it had mushrooms which wasn't mentioned in the description. Excited to come back and try more dishes. read more

Outstanding food & service! My first visit to a Ukrainian restaurant definitely did not disappoint! We were a party of six. Waitstaff was knowledgeable, friendly, patient with our inexperience and attentive (5 star worthy) We shared some appetizers: Varenyky (Ukrainian Pierogis) - delicious pillows filled with either potato, sauerkraut, short ribs or chicken - order the assortment so you can try them all! Borscht was enjoyed by all Ruta salad is definitely big enough to share Potato pancakes with sour cream & mushrooms ( good but not one of our favorites) For main courses - stuffed cabbage was a big hit either with mushroom or meat Pasta with wild mushrooms was very tasty Dessert special was a special Tiramisu- exceptional Definitely recommend and we will be back! read more

I got the healthy bowl of "truffled" chicken, buckwheat, and a salad, all served in a bowl heavy on the buckwheat and light on the somewhat dry chicken breast. My friend had the combination plate featuring Ukrainian specialties, including dumplings, potato pancakes,sausage, and what appeared to be a type of Cole slaw. We'd never had Ukrainian food before so our lunch was an opportunity to be educated. Service was good under an extensive covered patio. I'd like to return for dinner but I'm gluten sensitive ( server didn't seem to know what that was) and don't eat pork. I was limited in what I could order, so I'll need to check out the menu thoroughly. I do want this restaurant to succeed. read more

Really wanted to like this place but even a week after, there is still an after taste. Service is LONG. And rude. They take a long time to deliver appetizers (!) and they will yank, yes, YANK your plates even as you are still eating. Where did your waiters learn about customer service? Borscht was bland. Vareniki - seriously, 1 hour wait for 6 vareniki? And they were not mixed vareniki, they were all with chicken. Deserts - medovyk was very heavy, the so-called poppy seed cake was just inedible. This is not "traditional Ukrainian food done well". You want good Ukrainian food, go to Chicago or NYC. This was sloppy cooking and poor service. And we were all Eastern Europeans around the table, we know a thing or two about cooking. read more

Never have I had "high end" Ukrainian food as I grew up with it. So I compared each bite to ones I recognized growing up. I have to say, I was skeptical. But I'm impressed. I'm a cold green borscht kind of guy as my mom specializes in that version. But their hot green borscht was excellent. Vareniki also impressive (got the assortment). Salo and farshmak were the winners for me though. Salo is a great filling dish. I grew up w farshmak. It may scare you, but trust me. Kvas on tap was also excellent. Never had a version I enjoyed. Dark was better than blonde imo. Also, never had a honey cake like this one. Subtle on the sweetness, honey flavor comes through just right. read more

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A group of friends and I went to Ruta Bethesda on a Saturday morning for brunch. In the past, I had ordered the deruny (potato pancakes) which were excellent but I wanted some variety. So...... I ordered the village omelet and was very happy with it. I expected it to be simple, but the eggs were cooked with bacon and tomatoes and tasted great. Alongside it were some lightly brined vegetables (sweet red and green pepper, radish, and cucumber) with some greens that I never identified. It's a hidden star on the menu. read more