Came here for my friend's 30th birthday with a group of about 15 people, most of us with some sort of Russian background, but for some this was their first time enjoying the Russian Restaurant Experience.
The event was on a Saturday, and when we arrived a little before 8pm, the lights were still on and the music hadn't started yet but there were already starters on the table, including many traditional favourites like pickled herring, potato salad, and red caviar, to name just a few, served family style. The hot cheese blini (crepes) were the best by far and disappeared all too quickly. Although there was a full bar, jugs of soft drinks were included in the banquet price and we brought our own liquor, wine, champagne, and so forth.
It wasn't too long before the live entertainment started, and I'll be the first to admit that when our balding, Russian DJ and three girls (one of them exceptionally scantily clad) came on stage and opened with a round of congratulations to the guests of honour, I was skeptical. After that, and for the rest of the evening, most of us were mesmerised by the DJ's impressive saxophone and keyboard skills and the girls' ridiculously diverse range: Throughout the night, they pulled off every kind of song from Money, Money, Money to Poker Face with a good dose of Russian music in between. The crowd was wild the whole night, with little kids right up to elderly folk dancing to anything our entertainers wanted to play. My favourite for the night was a medley that included the obligatory Boney M's Rasputin song (which includes getoutofmybrain lyrics like "Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Russia's greatest love machine). Oh, and one of the singers was Peta who was a contestant on The Voice, so there's that.
The food just kept coming all night, as did the mixers, so at no point was I sober or hungry. As the night wound down, the birthday cake was brought over with vocal accompaniment, then brought back sliced with coffee and tea. Things started to wind down at around 1am, although I was having so much fun I like to think I might have stayed till the sun came up. There were enough cabs cruising the area that we didn't have to wait very long for one to get us home safely.
If I had to complain about one thing, it would be how warm it gets inside after a few vodka shots and rocking out on a crowded dance floor, but then again it's easy enough to pop out for some fresh air and come back in.
The cost was only $65pp for all the food, mixers, and entertainment, and worth at least that. This turned out to be one of the best nights out I've had in a long time and I can't wait to have an excuse to come back. read more