Reviews & Ratings for Russian Tea Room

02/01/12

Rude Managment and Low Class Customers

by birdie100

I went for a late New Year's Eve After Party this year and found that the only place to stand in the entire room was taken over by obnoxious drunk dancers. Two dancers were flailing their arms around by the bar like they were at a greatful dead concert. So, I told the managment that I wanted a place to be safe and enjoy the evening. The management allowed this problem of dancers taking over the only standing area. There were seats for the people who had bought the full night ticket with dinner incuded, but no place to go for those who had bought only the after hours party ticket. I asked for a nice place to go to enjoy the evening and a rude manager just tired to get me to stand right by these inebreated dancers or sit in a pitch black corner in the back of the hall. I spoke to another manager and asked for a refund for my ticket. I was told that I could get a full refund in the form of a gift certificate but they are really rude to wait over a month to give it to me.

I left to enjoy my night. What a waist to go there and have planned to spend New Year's Eve in this place! It was so low class to let waisted tourists dance around that place like it was such a cheep hotel bar. It was not the fine club atmosphere that was advertised. I could have been safer and had a better time in any bar in New York City! I'm making sure that the management gives me the full refund. I know I deserve it. I would never want to go there again!

01/09/11

beautifull!!

by richardb11

i felt as if i was home in russia again

food was great and i had a great time

11/11/10

Its not Russian in any way

by shelley1974

Food was good, service was partially very good. The wine Master appeared little rude. But the rest of the team made up for him. Ambiance was perfect , choice of food wasn't as one would expect of a Russian restaurant. Overall experience was good. Worth trying once for those who are curious. Not worth half the money that you pay for the food.

06/01/10

Russian Tea Room on Behind the Burner

by lovingfood15

I was just reading about the Russian Tea Room on Behind the Burner's site. Interesting stuff!

02/27/10

Nice decor, is the food really Russian?

by TardyKat

The decor is definitely over-the-top! You feel as if you've stepped inside a genie bottle. The Winter Restaurant Week menu options were quite good.

I started with the Tea Room Red Borscht (too sweet), which came with tiny fish/meat empanadas (?!). The waiter didn't ask how we liked our meat for the Boeuf a la Stroganoff. Mine came out to be medium well and my friend's portion was medium rare. The sauce was quite good. The best, I have to say, was the Chocolate pyramid.

Prices, along with the decor, is too rich for everyday dining. A Bud was $10!!

• Pros: Decor, boeuf a la Stroganoff, Chocolate pyramid
• Cons: Pricey, tourist trap

02/05/10

The most horrible and unauthentic Russian food I've ever had

by Mishokk

My wife and I went to this restaurant last night. We were extremely disappointed in the place. The food may have Russian names, but I can tell for sure, it has nothing to do with Russian cuisine! We had borscht and beef stroganoff. Both dishes were disgusting. Borscht was very sweet, although it's supposed to be sour. And as for beef stroganoff, well, they broght us a small piece of steak with pasta. Anyone who had ever had real beef stroganoff knows that it's supposed to be comprised of small strips of beef sauteed in sauce. But I guess to this restaurant, calling a broiled steak beef stroganoff is an ok thing to do. Finally, they even cheated us on the check, charging us for two bottles of water, instead of one that we had. (I guess in this, these guys are providing a "true" Russian experience - you are charged too much for disgusting food and at the end, you're cheated on the check.) In short, do not go there: food is extremely overpriced and it has nothing to do with Russian cuisine.

• Pros: Decor
• Cons: Food

08/11/09

Excellent special occasion spot

by tolyshilman

Went to Russian Tea Room for my first wedding anniversary. Amazing food. The brunch menu is amazing. I highly recommend the salmon "blinchiki" and the Kobe Burger. The waiter was always at our service and got us whatever we wanted. The tea service is obviously the star of the show. The waiter explained all of the different teas and helped us make a selection. We were full so we didn't order a dessert. The tea comes with cookies which were very good. The waiter then brought over some special cookies as something from him for our anniversary. Afterwards the manager even took the time to show us the amazing second floor dining room. Which is like a scene out of old world Russia. Great service will definitely return for the caviar.

• Pros: Unique menu with amazing choices

04/19/09

Expensive but good

by felicite

The Russian Tea Room is nice to the eye and comfortable for sitting. They make you feel like royalty. Tea menu and dinner menu are both impressive.

05/25/08

For Special Evenings

by LadyXoc

The Russian Tea Room with its lavish period decor, warm and attentive service and lovingly prepared food would make any evening special. The bar is a wonderful place to wait after arriving early for a concert; the drinks are imaginative and potent, and despite all the extra attention, not pricier than anywhere else in the neighborhood. In fact, dinner at the Russian Tea Room, although definitely not cheap, is not that much more expensive than the other neighborhood restaurants. I may never eat anywhere else.

• Cons: None

03/11/08

The old-world cuisine at this New York institution may been updated, but the funky, charming decor remains the same.

by Justin Hartung

Reopened after a four-year closure, this New York landmark hasn't changed much. Its surreal mix of bohemian quirkiness and slightly garish extravagance remains intact, from Christmas-ornament decorations to samovars to the upstairs dining room's 15-foot revolving glass bear-shaped aquarium filled with fish. The menu provides updated takes on old-world classics, including apple wood-smoked duck, borscht with short ribs and cocoa dusted venison loin. To round meals out, the restaurant still offers a massive selection of caviars, vodkas and teas.

Photo: Albert Betici