There is only one way to describe it: Classic Russia in the heart of New York. The history of Russian Samovar starts well before the restaurant itself. Originally Jilly's Canteen, and owned by a friend of Frank Sinatra, Jilly Rizzo, Samovar was the go-to hot spot for Sinatra and The Rat Pack. In 1986, Roman Kaplan, founder of Russian Samovar acquired the property and was joined in 1987 by friends and business partners: Legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and Nobel Award Winning poet Joseph Brodsky. Baryshnikov's baby grand piano is still used daily by our performers and guests can still request the Brodsky table, where the legends used to sit and drink away the hours. Guests of private events also enjoy our private dining room, where Baryshnikov filmed Sex in the City.Samovar has remained a celebrity hangout over the years. We've been lucky enough to feature impromptu shows by Liza Minelli and rumor has it that Mel Brooks adapted The Producers to film while sitting at our bar.
Cheeseboat is a family-owned Georgian bistro offering an eclectic variety of authentic cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. Our goal is to bring you the best dishes from the mighty country of Georgia in a way that will tease your palate and introduce you to a whole new cuisine.
Oda House Offers authentic Georgian cuisine and natural wines. A liberal use of spices, kebabs, khinkali (oversized meat-and-cheese dumplings), mtsvadi, khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread) and adjaruli (Cheese boat) typify the kitchen’s preparations. But, more classic dishes may reveal satsivi, or boiled chicken, served cool in a warmly spiced and seasoned walnut sauce, accompanied by gomi. Oda House uses mostly fresh and organic ingredients sourced from local farms. Menu has plenty of vegan and Gluten-free choices.Maia Acquaviva, managing partner and executive Chef of Oda House, brings Georgian cuisine and a dose of Georgian culture and pride to NY. The passion she had from an early age to cook blossomed. Maia said, “Words cannot fully express how grateful I am for the opportunities that have been presented to me.” Her life motto is: If you want something with all your heart, the entire universe mobilizes around you to make your wishes come true!
Russian Vodka Room invites guests to spend time with friends while savoring quality vodka and Russian delicacies. Decorated with wooden furniture, artwork and chandeliers, the restaurant creates an ambience of a traditional Russian home.Its menu features caviar, borscht, duck liver pate, meat dumplings and other appetizers, as well as herring under a fur coat, a typical layered salad. Russian Vodka Room’s patrons can dine on main entrées such as beef stroganoff with kasha, a type of porridge, roast duck with apples, prunes and apricots or breaded and pan-seared sea bass. Farmer’s cheese pancakes with chocolate and other desserts are on the menu, as well. As its name implies, Russian Vodka Room serves a wide selection of vodkas and infusions that range from raspberry and cranberry to ginger and garlic pepper and dill vodka. Visitors can also enjoy live piano and jazz concerts.
