Please pardon the cliche, but stepping through the entrance to the Russian House is a bit like entering a time warp and I mean this as a compliment. They've managed to take a slice of (relatively) recent history and give it a kitschy, nostalgic feel. Having grown up during the end of the Cold War, the giant red map of the USSR painted on the ceiling above the bar immediately brought to mind flashes of my childhood; images like Gorbachev and Reagan, the villains in every 80s action movie and Katarina Witt winning a Olympic gold medal over US favorite Debbie Thomas. The walls are covered with Soviet propaganda and there are samovars and matriochkas scattered everywhere, making it look a bit , as one of my comrades put it, "like a Russian Applebee's."Just inside the door, next to a giant stuffed bear, are a selection of Coats and hats that visitors can try on; everything from floor length fur cloaks (pictured below on our anonymous model) to a Peter the Great-esque embroidered coat. Although USSR nostalgia abounds at the Russian House, it's willingness to poke a little fun at those bygone days, combined with its stellar food and drink offerings make it a must visit on your next trip to Austin.
OK, on to the drinks! The Russian House's beer selection is well focused and includes a full range of offerings by Baltika, along with Staropramen and German classics such as Spaten on tap. They also offer some harder to find wines from Georgia and the Ukraine. The cocktail menu features a nice handful of original recipes, but the true star is the bar's collection of over 70 house-infused vodkas.Chef Gribkov's special infused vodkas are different than the lighter, fruity infused vodkas that are found in many American bars. These range from having one or two key ingredients like berries or herbs to a special blend of 35 secret herbs and spices. Perfect for sipping, they possess a complexity of flavor that comes, in part, from a longer aging process that can take up to six months.
Several of our group spent a while trying to guess some of the 35 spices in the special blend. Dill was a general consensus, other guesses included savory, rosemary, thyme and chili peppers. We also tried the fig, elderflower/orange and pear/cinnamon. We also sampled the happy hour selection of appetizers, which includes Eastern European favorites such as blini, vareniki, pelmini, a fish plate and a pickled vegetable platter. Yum!
So, if you're blessed enough to reside in Austin, or just heading down for SXSW, make a point to check out The Russian House!
