I had read about this place a while ago and was happy that a friend suggested it for dinner. Charming atmosphere. The staff were lovely. Great cocktails. Learned that Beluga vodka is made in Montenegro (who knew?). Pet peeve- bread service as a menu item. The bread was good, but really? Just charge 50 cents more for everything. The food was excellent. We shared the eggplant salad, the blini with smoked salmon and the artichoke salad to start. I had beef stroganoff for the first time. It was excellent. Really rich, couldn't finish it. My wife had the Kamchatka, same thing. I had a bite of a friend's chicken Kiev (is it transgressive to eat this in a Russian restaurant?) and it was delicious. We were too full for dessert. Unique atmosphere. Excellent, but very rich food. Worth checking out. read more

Mari Vanna - Beef Stroganoff - Russian Near Me - New York, New York

I've been here plenty of times. The food is really good. It's one of the only restaurants in the city that have authentic Russian food. They also have Ukranian, Georgian dishes. The decor is fun: the Imperial style wallpaper covered with writing all over - peoples names, dates, etc, white table cloths, chandeliers. Charming for queens and everyday ladies alike. If you're into tea service, their desserts are so so delicious. The service is a hit or miss.. mostly pretty good though. They check your coat in the winter. read more

See all

Went in for a lunch date. Never been this restaurant before so all was new to me. We had 2 soups and the Salmon caviar! Both soups were tasty and very welcoming on a cold day. As we were both not too hungry we had both had a burger and even though there was nothing Eastern European about it, it was very tasty as well. The decor of the place reminded me of the film Fanny and Alexander. Very warm and inviting. Food 4/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 read more

See all

Beautiful decor, great food, central location. Very Russian ambiance. Most authentic Russian in NYC

I tried Chicken Kyiv for the first time in my life. Oh my goodness, it was absolutely delicious. The moment I cut it in half, the butter inside started running onto the plate, just like it's supposed to. The mashed potatoes and salted cucumber on the side were also incredibly flavorful and tasty. And the cranberry vodka was the perfect finishing touch! It really elevated the whole experience. I really wanted to try their medovik (honey cake), but I was already too full and didn't have the courage to ask for it to go. But I'll definitely, definitely come back to try more of their food, drinks, and maybe finally that dessert. The atmosphere is amazing: decorated in old-style Russian fashion, full of character and nostalgia. If you're celebrating a birthday, they even play Russian music from the cartoon, which adds such an authentic and cozy touch. Honestly, this might be the best place I've been to so far... maybe because my Russian soul felt right at home. read more

See all

A delectable foray into Russian cuisine. The two appetizers we got--Herring Under a Fur Coat and Homemade Blinis with Beef--were definitely the highlight of our dinner. The Herring was a unique dish with a fishiness that was balanced out by umami, surprisingly nice. The Blinis were beefiness within a soft crepe shell and a nice sour cream dip. The Babushka's Duck Pie and Golubtsy entrees were both good but nothing outstanding. Similar sentiment to the Medovik dessert. I liked the babushka's house aesthetic of the restaurant read more

I have been to Mari Vanna in Moscow many times, to Washington location while it was still open. NYC location did not disappoint! I stopped by for an early dinner: had olivie salad, pirozhki with cabbage and chicken Kiev. All was great. Loved pirozhki the most. Took several to go too. read more

See all

Recommended to me by my Russian friend, Mari Vanna had great takeout and lots of great, authentic options. I'll go through my order and each item: Po schuch emu veleniu: Pike caviar, served with Smoked Sour Cream, Tangy Pickled Onions and Roasted Bread Slices. Great serving size! I wish the bread would have been a bit more toasted or had butter served with it, but one of my favorites we ordered. Fishy flavor paired nicely with the sour cream. Veal Pelmeni: Traditional handmade dumplings in light herb better. We got them boiled and they were warm and tasty. A lot came in a serving. Soleniya: Assortment of pickled vegetables. Pickled apples I think were included which were unique. I loved the pickled tomatoes but wished it came with more. The pickles themselves in this were super delicious, and normally I'm not a big pickle girl. Meat Pirozhok & Potato Pirozhok: Small pies stuffed with meat and potato respectively. Super delicious with great, even dough crust on the outside. Potato Vareniki: Traditional handmade potato dumpling with caramelized onions. A lot in one serving, tasty but more on the plain side. All in all a great takeout meal for sharing and a wonderful introduction to Russian cuisine for those who are interested in trying! read more

Mari Vanna - Potato Vareniki, Veal Pelmeni, Soleniya, Pike caviar "Po schuchemu veleniu" - Russian Near Me - New York, New York

Fun Russian resturant. Was only here for the shots of vodka at the bar which was quite unique and good read more

Mari Vanna - Russian Near Me - New York, New York

One of our favorite New York spots! Authentic Russian food with a unique atmosphere. We even brought the kids this last time and they loved it. Cake is out of this world! read more

Mari Vanna - Russian Near Me - New York, New York

What a wonderful experience and immersion into traditional Russian culture and food. The dining area felt like a living room, lively but comforting. This was my first experience with Russian cuisine and it left me wanting more. I have already planned on visiting again during my next trip into Manhattan. The service was great, and our waitress explained the dishes that we had questions about. Every so often there would be a birthday celebration with a traditional song. So fun, a must try if you are in the area and are looking for something unique and authentic! read more

See all

Very surprised on Kamchatka, which is a creamy pasta, it taste super good on creamy sauce. Another MUST ORDER is the Chicken Kiev, Pelmeni and Ajarski Pie Chicken Kiev has stuffed butter, whenever you cut the fried chicken meat, the butter come out and melted into mashed potato. Pelmeni is a lamb dumpling, I like it contained in a little jar. Ajarski Pie also taste good with the dough and melt cheese. The highlight here is the decoration and vibe. Awesome Russian decoration for friends hang out. I'll super recommend you to come if you hangout with friends and looking for fancy places. read more

See all

Fabulous Russian restaurant. Beautiful inside and waitstaff was excellent ! Food was delicious. Could have just had the two appetizers and not ordered entries, as portions were good. Had the fig infused vodka shots and it was delicious. They have many flavors available. The herring under a fur coat was amazing and with trying, even if you don't like herring, like me! Some of the pricing is a little off putting. Didn't know that bread was extra. And one person orders a scotch with ginger ale and they charged $2.00 extra for the ginger ale. Not terrible, but that has never happened to us before. Having spent a lot of money, they could absorb the cost of the 2 squirts of ginger ale from the fountain! Despite those small things, it was a lovely evening with great and different food and nice environment. read more

See all

WOW the space is so cool. The longer you look, the more wonderful details you see. Very cosy and fun. Came with a group of friends from work and sampled a lot of the menu. Food was very tasty and we were stuffed! read more

See all

Love the decor. It's like visiting a Russian grandmothers place. All the details every table every corner even the bathroom is very well decorated. I love the sing birthday song in Russian. I think the food is amazing. The choice of vodka infusion are a must try. I definitely want to come back n try different things. read more

See all

The cheese pie is probably my favorite thing here but a little too heavy and greasy for me. The crab/lobster pasta was a little too al dente and something about the flavor was a little off to me. Seemed very busy maybe a lot of date nights but it took awhile for the waiters to get to us but the dessert at the end was really good- not pictured but we got the Neapolitan Dark good for date nights not really good for groups over 4-5 read more

Mari Vanna - "Kamchatka pasta - Russian Near Me - New York, New York

See all

We came here to celebrate friends visiting and one of them is Armenian. She had been here before and said it lived up to the hype. The atmosphere is very cozy and decor inside is stunning and beautifully decorated. The food boasts a lot of Eastern European cuisine with a lot of diverse dishes. As a table we shared the sunflower salad, the cheese pie, soleniya, and as an entree we had the salmon filet, and the chicken kotletki. I was happy to have someone who could order for us and authentically. While certainly on the pricey side we enjoyed all the food and it was delicious. This is most certainly a place you come to celebrate something. read more

See all

I came here with a friend who said it's one of the best Russian restaurants in the city and it really disappoint. I loved everything that we ate. The restaurant is adorable, quaint and service was great. Highly recommend and make sure you make a reservations. read more

See all

this place brings back such great memories of my mothers and grandmothers cooking! made the same way as my old family recipe's! and the decor is like my grandmas home! so pleasant the food is phenomenal and the service is great! especially Karyna! thanks for always being great ! read more

Everything we had was absolutely incredible, the servers were attentive, and the atmosphere was reminiscent of your Babushka's house. read more

See all

We were excited to try some Russian food here and overall, the place lived up to its hype. To start with, the restaurant looks gorgeous inside out. Really nice interior with thoughtful touches. Getting a table wasn't an issue and we got seated quickly. The menu has many classic dishes and a lot to choose from. We ordered pelmeni, borsch, Olivier salad, and kvas. All of it was done pretty fast and hands down, every meal tasted great. It's definitely on the pricier side given portion sizes, but you don't pay just for food - it's the whole experience. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is because it was hard to catch our server. She rarely came to our table and we had to explicitly prompt her a few times to get something. Other than that, we enjoyed the restaurant! read more

See all

Quite disappointed but overall nothing too bad. Would recommend to Russian passing folks but not sure if I would return. Came for a special occasion, called beforehand to emphasize the special occasion (happy to pay extra for preparations too), for context. Food- 7/10 Came here on a Sunday because I read that there is "5 o clock tea" for brunch. Asked when their afternoon tea started, and our waitress told us she didn't know what that was. Very disappointed that there was no such thing despite afternoon tea platter pictures being everywhere on Mari Vanna social media. We ended up ordering the medovik cake, cherry dumplings, the specialty black tea in a teapot, and the sour pear mock tail. The food was adorable and the teapot and cups were super nostalgic for me as I grew up near Russia. Service- 5/10 The hostess was very sweet and thoughtful to offer a small chair for my belongings. However the other staff and our waiter in particular seemed much colder. I can understand that it could be differences in culture, as I know Eastern Europeans act differently, doesn't mean they're trying to be unfriendly. However our waiter was very short and curt despite it being low traffic hours, stepped over (and accidentally kicked but that's ok) my bouquet despite there being more space to walk around the other side, and in general had a cold attitude. We felt unwelcome for just not being Russian. Another review wrote my sentiments perfectly- very uppity, unwelcoming, except to their regulars. Ambiance- 8/10 Very lovely atmosphere and reminded me of my grandma's house with beautiful Russian touches. However our table doily had multiple large stains on it, and some chairs had fabric falling apart with multiple stains. I understand some stains not being able to be cleaned out, but at a certain point I think forgoing the stained doilies would be better. However I think on this front I simply had too high expectations. For what Mari Vanna is, the space is fine. I don't recommend for special occasions, but it's perfect for casual cozy meals. Conclusion- I did not have a good experience, but I did my best to judge from an unbiased and objective perspective. "Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just looking for a cozy, unforgettable night out, our friendly staff will make you feel right at home. Join us for a taste of tradition.." We felt the taste of tradition, but certainly not the warmth. Will add photos later if possible, still exhausted. read more

This used to be a staple for me for comfort home cooking and a good time with friends. But the prices have gotten out of control for the portion size. An Olivier salad the size of an ice cream scoop. 3 blintzes for $34! Absurd! read more

Food 8/10 I've never had Russian food before so this was a very delightful new experience for me. We ordered the salad, beet soup, dumplings, beef stroganoff, and this amazing layer cake that I have no idea what the name is. Nevertheless, I especially liked the dumplings, beef, and cake. All the flavors felt very homey and cozy. The dumplings were hefty, full of soup, and had a lovely chewy skin. The beef stroganoff came with buckwheat, a pairing that I've never had before but enjoyed as well. The cake itself really blew me away, it was with honey, yet not too overly sweet. Their cocktails are also pretty amazing, I got the Czar, a twist on the moscow mule, and the ginger tasted sooo fresh, Definitely recommend!! Atmosphere 9/10 Super cute interior decor, I am obsessed. It was quite loud inside, as mostly all tables were booked and everyone was having a good time. It was a bit warm though for my sweater, so I know now to be more prepared next time. Service 7/10 Decent service. read more

See all

Excellent. Food did not miss. Lamb shank is a MUST. Slid off the bone and seasoned to perfection. Pelmeni and Medovik were also delicious. Loved the fresh honey comb next to the cake - a nice touch. Portions were worth the cost. Really cozy yet elevated Eastern European atmosphere. Great buzz. Didn't feel like I was in NYC. Service was well-paced and professional. Also loved the music. A must for date night. Would highly recommend. read more

Mari Vanna - Lamb Shank - Russian Near Me - New York, New York

See all

We went here for my daughter's birthday yesterday. The service was amazing and the food was delicious - the fact that my son ate 22 pierogi makes it even more delicious! Best part? None. All the parts were excellent. The waitress was very friendly and provided an excellent service with recommendations. It was a special event and the crew made it even more special with Russian music for dessert. Last thing, there were plushies and all 3 of my kids were saying it's a Russian Labubu. read more

Mari Vanna maintains the elements that make their food special. The workers are friendly and move quickly. Our group would order the same items again. The prices won't hurt you, the menu is easy to navigate, and food quality pleases. They've created something worthwhile and I'm happy I found it.The restaurant provided the experience I wanted. The seasoning is great. Prices make sense and staff treats you well. The workers deliver quality service during all my visits. We're glad this restaurant chose our neighborhood. I was amazed by the quality, returning again. read more

Ordered: -pirozhki -red caviar with smoked salmon -pelmeni -beef stroganoff -chicken kiev All delicious and comforting, especially in winter. Our server Sasha was very kind and helpful!! Interior is also wonderful. read more

See all

OK, updating my review after trying many Russian restaurants in the city and coming back here many many times. Food is phenomenal, atmosphere is amazing, and service greatly improved since Covid. I love bringing friends here! read more

Always very friendly staff and the food/drinks are great. My go-to is the Chicken Kiev and the espresso martinis are some of the best in the city. Highly recommend! read more

The flavors work perfectly. The team's friendly attitude made the experience better. This restaurant might set your expectations higher. My relatives all choose this place when given options. I promise the food quality is high and the ambiance is just right. read more

A unique cuisine in NYC market and an eclectic dining room decor that reminds me of what a fancy upscale restaurant would have looked like in the Soviet days. Excellent food and attentive service made it a great dining experience. The appetizers were all excellent although in hindsight I would not have gotten the smoked fish platter or the meat platter. Not that it wasn't good but it wasn't unique to what you could get elsewhere. I would, however, recommend the tongue, herring, and pork fat which were the best and unique. The shaved pork lard, especially, was excellent (similar to lardo in Italian cuisine). Served on bread with raw garlic, excellent horseradish, and salt and pepper, it was one of my favorites. Oh, word of warning, their horseradish and mustard and at full strength so watch how much you use. It will certainly clear up any sinus issues you may have. Beef stroganoff was great, as expected. The kebabs and lamb chops were also great and was served with vegetables and flat bread that complimented the fish very well. It's interesting to see the influence of middle eastern cuisine in Russian cooking (along with other European and Asiancountries). Vodka shots, of course, are not to be missed. They have house infused vodka shots that hit the spot. Finally, the desserts were a true highlight here. The cakes, blintzes, etc. we're all unique and quite delicious. For something different (non sushi, steak, Italian, Chinese, Korean than what's readily available in NYC I'd recommend you try this place. read more

See all

Previous diners have described it accurately. The entire operation functions well. Great place for dinner. The workers here prioritize customer satisfaction. The entire visit was worth remembering. read more

Politics aside, I came back to check out whether Mari Vanna still delivered since I've been last before pandemic closures hit. Good news, they still do! We got veal pelmeny to start. They were not too mushy which can easily happen. We also had blini (crepe) with salmon caviar. Delicious and very nicely thin crepes with just a touch of sweetness. Got the stroganoff with mashed potatoes. Solid although lacked a bit of seasoning. Also tried the Georgian cheese bread (pie) hachapuri with egg. Was very nice airy and very stringy gooey cheesy!! Lastly tried a glass of homemade mors cranberry drink which was delightfully tarty. All in $135. Bit pricy for brunch but you kind of pay for dinner entrees here. read more

See all

The dishes impress while the clean setting enhances enjoyment. Tasty food. Notably good service team. This spot has mastered the dining experience. Each bite was wonderful! This restaurant is worth another trip when I'm close. read more

I come here every single time I'm in NYC. I'm obsessed with this place! This desert is AMAZING. The vibe is so so cute as well. read more

See all

Fresh and flavorful food, attentive service, and a flawless experience defined our visit. The setting is upscale yet comfortable. This restaurant serves remarkably good food. Every worker performs at a high level. Make a trip to this restaurant now. read more

The meal made me question all my past food experiences. The staff member's cheerfulness really enhanced my experience. Their dishes contain just-prepared components. My social circle knows I love this place. This place is a welcome addition to our area. read more

Every plate shows care and skill in preparation. The vibe here improves the experience. The team creates a positive dining atmosphere. Their meals stand above average. This place provides appropriate value. read more

The drinks were phenomenal. The food is different. I enjoyed it. A new place to experience. read more

See all