An excellent selection of drinks and a quaint bar to chill in for a pre-dinner cocktail or even a…read morenight-cap makes the interior that much more enjoyable. Thanks Artyom for making the drinks for us! -cheers

Right next to Madame Claude, this Russian bar reminds me of those sleazy brunch places that they…read morehave in Union Square and the tenderloin in San Francisco. It's all about the cheesy wallpaper. You can smoke in the entire place, so if you are a non-smoker, beware. You have entered into Russian territory! Fair drink prices and decent music. I liked the feel of this place. Despite showing up on a weekend, the place wasn't packed and it was easy to find a place to sit. I would say that this place is best enjoyed before heading out to some clubs or for a chat with about 2-6 people (unless drinking alone is your thing). I would be curious to come here during the afternoon and have some coffee. Seems like it would be a good atmosphere for that as well. The restrooms were clean, especially for a dive bar, and I always love it when they also have hand moisturizer too, right next to the soap. Call me weird. It was a good experience and I would come here again.

So we were just walking by and peeked in to see this beautiful bar and heard really good music…read more The woman who owns the bar invited us in and found us a table. She recommended drinks based on what we like to drink normally. My hubby and I had two drinks each and both were really good. The vibe is really cool in here. We sat for 2 hours. The bathroom was nice too. Met a couple nice people. If I lived there, I would go here all the time.

I had a craving for Russian and Matreshka did not disappoint. This cozy restaurant offers up an…read moreEastern European menu in quaint quarters. The staff, friendly and English speaking, will quickly get you a table (and, at times, offer some vodka). I settled down to beef stroganoff, a cup of hot Ukrainian borscht, and a glass of kvass (a crisp, tart/sweet drink made from fermented rye bread). The borscht had a deep flavour, complimented by a small drizzle of sour cream and shreds of simmered meat, while the stroganoff was rich and satisfying, the tender beef paired well with mushrooms and onions in a silky smooth dill-and-cream sauce. Main dishes come with your choice of potato; even simple boiled potatoes make for a fine side.

Good overall. Borscht, of course. Blini were good. Service was fine. Ambiance is cafe style home…read morecooking place.

As an Eastern European, I felt that this place hit the spot. We ordered the "Worker and Farmer"…read morebrunch for two on a late Sunday morning, after quickly being seated (not bad for a Sunday), as well as a variety of drinks (I was too excited with all the options they had, including birch juice!). I really liked the fresh fruity (raspberry-based?) mors, and the kvass was not too bad. The brunch itself was very tasty. I especially enjoyed the eggplant spread ("eggplant caviar"?), the cold cut and the sirniki with homemade strawberry jam. Really felt like being home at babushka's place :) The only downside was the coffee, it tasted a little bit burnt. But leaving something to be desired has never been a bad thing!

The dining room is beautiful! Food is super yummy. Service was fast and organized. Card only.read more

Would totally recommend this place, dinner was a little pricy compared to my usual dinners but the…read morepargit was super tasty. Loved the chicken skewers and potatoes, especially in the pomegranate sauce. Not entirely filling but a beer or two helps with that.

Stopped by this restaurant looking to enjoy a bowl of soljanka well before the closing hours posted…read morehere and it was closed. Cannot tell if the business just doesn't follow their hours or is closed permanently.

Meh. Not horrible but doesn't hold a candle to the dozen+ other restaurants we've tried in Berlin,…read moreand not close to Samovar in terms of Russian food. The borscht was mediocre, The wareniki weren't any better (taste or consistency) than something from a cheap diner. The salad was gritty making me wonder if it was washed properly. And the prices weren't even that great.

Very cute tajik tea spot. The interior was lovely with some floor seating, shoes off inside,…read morepaintings, and carved wood pillars. They have a bunch of tea, beer, and food options and the staff also speaks some English along with having English on the menu. It's best to get there at openings or have a reservation as it gets quite busy after an hour on a weekday.

My son really wanted to try this place after learning about its history. We chose to sit on the…read morefloor, which was comfortable. We tried the wareniki, which was great, and the pelmeni, which were also good. They are both simple dumpling dishes. As it is a tea house, we had iced tree, specifically karibik auf eis. Not what you would expect, but very good.

Firstly, this is most likely a place you'd go to for drinks and/or is into the kind of music…read more(house/trance) the play uncomfortably loudly at the inside portion of this place. When we drop by, we have a hard time catching the attention of the staff. They pass us by and even when we greet them, all we get is a hasty glance and a "hi" in return. So we ad lib and grab a table. The waitresses keep passing us by without so much as a glance. The tables outdoors are semi full and the ones inside are all empty except for one other party with three persons getting drinks. We grab menus from the rack since the staff seem uninterested in giving us any help. After having decided, some more time passes as we're trying to get their attention. Eventually I stop one of them and we get to order. My company goes for a chicken with pasta and tomato sauce and I for some Russian pasties, and we top it of with one beer each and a bottle of water. They bring us the beer and, sometime later, the food. The water is nowhere to been seen and we have to remind them. The food itself is, mediocre to say the least. The pasties are overcooked and lacks taste, both our side salads are drenched in vinegar. The chicken is dry and the tomato sauce watery. When we settle the check the waitress asks for a tip and actually reaches out with her hand, palm facing upward waiting for the money. Presumably it's supposed to be charming or funny, but given the previous performance it comes off as arrogant. There are plenty more restaurants on Georgenstr, give them a try instead.

Don't go here, unless you're curious in how many ways food and service can fail. The summary:…read more Super slow service, 20min for the first drink (water) to arrive, while the place is half empty. Loud and annoying american rap music on a crappy soundsystem. Hour wait before cook tells us our dish cannot be made. When we eventually get it, its cold, small portion. 2nd plate arrived when first was already finished. Water from the salad got all mixed with the Pelmeni. Knife and fork wrapped in a napkin on top of the food (!). Tasteless food, but we had a good laugh!

Best borscht I've had in years. Blinis with spinach and ricotta are to die for. What a gem!!!read more

From the owner: Câfe 4YOU, Russische & internationale Spezialitätenread more