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Clubs, Bars & Restaurants
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The Russian Vodka Room
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).
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Russian Vodka Room
265 West 52nd Street
(Btwn Bway and 8th Ave)
NY, NY
(212) 307-5835
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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 |
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