Russian Vodka Room
265 West 52nd Street
(Btwn Bway and 8th Ave)
NY, NY
(212) 307-5835

By Kevin Shay

The name of this establishment really says it all:

Russian: Authentically so, judging from the accents of the management, the clientele, and the waitstaff (who occasionally seem to have been indulging in their own wares — an observation which is, of course, unrelated to their nationality).

Vodka: Every brand you’ve ever heard of and plenty you haven’t, including all the more obscure flavored variations of Stoli, Absolut, et al.

Room: I don’t know whether or not an intimate piano-lounge vibe is considered Russian, but it’s an eminently welcoming atmosphere in which to unwind after work, a fact understood by the business-suited crowd that gathers for the half-price Happy Hour.

Try the infused vodka, available in economical carafes and prepared in-house with ingredients from fruity (cranberry, raspberry) to spicy (garlic, dill), albeit with low-quality vodka. Then sample one of the premium brands (but expect to pay a premium price). Wash it down (Russians wash vodka down with food, not vice versa) with something from the extensive menu of tasty, salty Russian specialties. Then sit back and listen to the piano, and just be grateful it’s not a balalaika. M

November 1999