Pushkin Lounge & Bar Reviews

Saying "Pushkin" out loud and my memory goes straight to a cold war spy/villain James Bond is fighting from a helicopter. If "Pushkin" was a person, I'd think dark and brooding. That's exactly, the opposite of this lovely restaurant! Where the walls are bright white and adorned with books and the background music(in the Russian language, I think) was unobtrusive. The space itself is expansive, the ceiling must be 20 feet high and bathed in light. Also, there are many types of tables to accommodate small and large parties. My colleague and I never had Russian food and didn't know what to expect. Our server was tremendously helpful. I regret I don't remember her name but she had black wavy hair and was quite remarkable. All of her suggestions were perfect. For appetizers, we ordered the sample platter; which featured a variety of pickled vegetables; which, as told by our awesome server, is a staple of the Russian diet. I don't mean this in a bad way but it reminded me of Kim-chi without the spiciness. Also, non of the vegetables were overly "sour" or especially vinegary. Everything was delicious, I was especially fond of the pickled tomatoes, which were bright both in their appearance and flavor. For entrees, my colleague had the lamb chops, which was a plentiful portion size and said it was "amazing, full of flavor". He did not that care for the flat bread and described it as bland. I took a piece and agreed that it needs butter or sauce or something. I had the stuffed cabbage; I was excited to try something totally new to me and wasn't disappointed. The meat was flavorful and the cabbage wasn't tough or chewy like I expected. Appetizer and entree were very satisfying and normally would be be enough but Pushkin had a few desert options that were unique and begged to be sampled. As I write this I can't remember what my college had for desert. As for me I had what I'd describe as a puff pastry layer tort, it had a wonderful texture and the right amount of sweetness. Truly a fantastic finished to a meal. My colleague and I loved every thing about Pushkin, the service, the food. Why not 5 stars, through no fault of their own, they couldn't serve alcohol because their license is pending. It was really not that big a deal for us but that's the only reason, unfair probably but something to look forward to in the future. If I'm anywhere near San Diego, I'll make sure I find my way to Pushkin!

My dining partner and I chose Pushkin's Russian/Armenian Restaurant on a Monday evening, so the place was relatively quiet and relaxed. In fact, our waiter was the owner, Ike Gazaryan. In response to my question: Yes, he had read Pushkin in Russian ("No translation does it justice."), and yes, he's from Armenia, which is now an independent country, but with strong political and culinary ties to Mother Russia. Although we had visited St. Petersburg a few years ago, our knowledge of Russian cuisine was definitely limited, so the evening was an experience, and one I'd recommend. First off: They now have their liquor license, so don't bring your own bottle of wine. If you want help choosing what to drink (or eat, for that matter), just ask. Ike, or probably other waiters on a busy night, would be only too happy to describe the options. We actually had a long talk with Ike about wine, and he recommended an Armenian one that's not yet on the menu, since he's trying out several to decide which one will be his "house wine." Compared to the Georgian alternative, it was excellent. He gave us samples of each to try. For appetizers, we had Potato Mushroom Blini (a pancake wrapped around the filling) for $9, and a cup of Borsch ($7), which was more like a vegetable soup than pureed beets. In fact, if you didn't know it was beet soup, you'd have never guessed. Excellent choice. For mains, we had Summer Golubtsi (ground beef wrapped in cabbage leaves) for $18 and Lamb Lulya Shashlik (a Russian version of shish kebab). Both were excellent, though, having eaten the former and tasted the latter, I'd recommend the Shashlik. With little room left for dessert, we were going to opt out of any, but a birthday party cake went by that looked amazing. It also was not on the menu, but we opted to split a piece ($10). It had six or eight thin layers of cake, each separated by a layer of honey. It was rich and heavy but delicious. We chatted with Ike about tourism in Armenia. He said it was not much of a destination for Americans yet, but Germans and other Europeans had begun to "discover it." He said it was a small country, very mountainous, friendly, and safe. After our brief encounter with its cuisine and one of its former citizens, it's definitely one of my new travel options. For now, though, Pushkin's, in San Diego's Gaslight District, is definitely a good substitute.

The food was excellent, the service was lacking. The manager/bartender was very helpful but our server was rushed(almost on the rude side), didn’t get our orders correct, and took forever to follow through on our requests. The bottom line though is Go- the atmosphere is delightful and the food was flavorful and delicious.

I was looking forward to eat here with my friends Unfortunately all of us were sooo disjointed by atmosphere/ rude owner/ the food wasn]t great

My husband and I dined here several weeks ago while on a short vacation. This place was nothing short of excellent. Great variety on the menu, and we made sure to try some traditional dishes as well as some I wasn't familiar with. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and because we were there on a slow weeknight, he was able to spend some time explaining some of the dishes to us. I would definitely have another meal here when we visit San Diego again.

We were walking down 6th Ave heading to another restaurant when we came across Pushkin. The hostess outside was very good at getting us to look at the menu and, having gone to Russia and enjoyed the food, we decided to give it a try. I have to say that Russian cuisine is under appreciated. They know how to cook and this place is no different. Borsch was delicious! Had the beef stroganoff and although very authentic, I would have appreciated beef slightly less cooked (or different cut of beef). Wine list was interesting and well priced. Restaurant decor is beautiful and feels chic. I would love to try other plates on the menu and have some more borsch!

We were a little hesitant to try Russian food, but we were very glad we ate at Pushkin. The ambiance it totally Russian and so is the food. Come hungry. Rather large portions.

My husband and I tried Pushkin in the Gaslamp area in San Diego and found it cozy with good Food. The choices include Russian and Armenian dishes. The service was attentive. There was even a woman singing. I would recommend it for something different in dining.

We loved almost everything about this restaurant. From the service, to the building, to the food...we couldn't have been more pleased. So why only four stars? Price. Our Friday Night Date Night dinner was expensive. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Every person we talked to that night was super pleasant. From the girl welcoming us in and taking us to our table to our adorable waitress, the friendly and eager to please demeanor felt genuine. The building is fantastic. It's in an older building, and they didn't try to cover up the natural charm, which I appreciate. It's open and clean, yet comfortable and welcoming. There's an upstairs area that intrigued me, but I didn't get a chance to explore. There are some great arches built into the walls, and the decorations, while minimal, were perfect for the space. The menu wasn't large, but they still had a good variety. We decided to try a cup of the borscht to start. I wanted the lamb kebab, but they were out, so I had to go with the rack of lamb, instead (which was significantly more expensive). My husband ordered the chicken Kiev. Just a side note: when we were there, they didn't have their liquor license (being new and all). Our waitress said that we could go to the liquor store next door to get booze, but neither of us needed alcohol THAT badly. ;) While we waited, they brought bread and butter to the table. That bread, though! It was a dark loaf, but it wasn't dense or overly thick. The butter had herbs mixed in, and was just soft enough to spread on the warm loaf. The borscht was delicious. Granted, I don't have a point of reference, but it was warm with a delightful flavor. It was also chock full of veggies and meat, and hit the spot. The lamb chops, while good, were a tiny bit disappointing. You only get three small chops, and there wasn't a whole lot of meat to be had. It was served with onions, roasted potatoes (yum!), and a dipping sauce that was hard to identify. This was all presented on top of a flat bread that could be torn off and consumed with the meal. But, because this is me, and we all know I have cootie issues, I only ate part of the flat bread. I couldn't bring myself to consume the parts that were under the food containers... My husband enjoyed the Kiev, though it seemed like most of the stuffing was in one end of it, instead of evenly spaced throughout. Still, he commented that the flavor was really good, and that the texture was perfect. That dish was served with a mashed potato dish and a mushroom gravy. We'll likely go back soon, but maybe for lunch. The dinner prices were a bit steep. They were offering a Groupon at that time, but it was for dining Monday through Thursday only. I probably won't order the lamb again, but the dumplings are calling my name...

Are you tired of the obligatory italian/mexican/chinese food? If you are looking for something different try Pushkin. Food is good; service excellent. The restaurant offers a variety of cold and hot appetizers. Eggplant spread was quite good. Dolma (stuffed grape leaves) and pelmeny (stuffed dumplings) were also nice. Portions were modest but enough to share. Bread was rye but typically American. Many russian and ukrainian beers. Surprisingly, no premium (e.g. Russian Standard) vodkas available. Staff was very friendly. Service prompt but not intrusive. If you are expecting a fancy Russian feast like in one of many upscale NYC restaurants (Mari Vanna, etc) you might be disappointed. If, on the other hand, you want to try some reasonably authentic Russian food, give this restaurant a try. You will not be disappointed.

Most delicate, flavorful Beef Stroganoff we have ever had in our lives! And I had never had a Pelmeni (a type of Russian Dumpling) and it, too, was so flavorful, delicate wrapping, and the broth it was in was scrumptious. The Borscht was good, but very different than the other two I've had before, so not sure which was authentic - this one was more brothy and light, I sort of missed the heavier beet taste, but still good. And then there were the desserts!!! Oh my!! There were three of us at dinner, so we tried all three and they were each amazing!! We all agreed thr Russian Honey Cake was our overall fave, but the Sour Cream Cake was a close second. All the multi layers on these desserts was astounding. So be sure to save room for dessert - these aren't ones you will find most anywhere else. Nice server, interesting surroundings and delicious, from scratch food worth the wait! We also saw Vodka Tasting Flights that looked fun and the rest of their menu will bring us back to try more!

Really enjoyed the experience. Fun decor, really good and as far as I can tell, authentic food. Honestly don't know much about Russian cuisine, but a couple of Russian visitors were nearby who really seemed to enjoy it. Here's a rundown on our dinner: Potato Mushroom Blini - savory filled crepes, great flavor Beef Pelmeni (dumplings) smothered in Beef Stroganoff - lots of the tasty little things in a complex tasting stroganoff with really tender beef. Eat this! Chicken Kiev - crispy deliciousness Sour Cream Cake - I risked some knee pain for this (thanks to an intolerance for gluten) which didn't happen but our taste buds thanked us the whole time we ate it. Mildly sweet and spices that remind me of the holidays. Georgian (the country) wines - good, dry, but not too dry, red called Saperavi Schuchmann. A safe and tasty choice. Conclusion: Eat and drink all the things!

Restaurant was authentically Russian, including Russian music. Food was very good, staff helpful and courteous.

One of the beat restaurants we have been to In recent place. Except for one of the bottled beer i liked everything about this place. Food was delicious, drinks were good, the honey based beverage is great, Service was exceptional. Ambience was great. Lamb lulu and dumplings, lamb pilaf were great too

The food was delicious. I had the Chicken Kiev and my fiance had Golubtsy, The food was fresh, hot and with good sizes. We also used a groupon, and that was well spent. I would certainly recommend this place. The ambiance and service were great, not sure why the other reviewers did not like it. I can't imagine it can compete in such a saturated food market, but you should try it.

Ecclectic decor with Russian-Ukrainian themes. I had the Armenian salad which was excellent (unusual taste with a lot of fennel). The Russian Sour (cocktail) was not that good - bland and sweet. Service super slow. Loud music - it's a nice place, and don;t understand why the customers need to suffer the auditory overload.

We've recently visited this restaurant in downtown San Diego. It is conveniently located in the Gaslamp district, surrounded by many other good eateries. However, It is worth to try if you want to experience something authentic and different. The menu has a variety of Russian and Armenian dishes, with distinct Mediterranean features. We tried Kiev Kotlet, and it was great, as well as Armenian eggplant salad. Desert - baklava - yummy mm! We had a great time! On Friday night the place was not crowded, a lady was singing in the background, a group of young people was having fun and another four - five separate couples having dinner. Good service, pleasant waitress!

Was here for dinner, LOVED IT. Food was truly delicious and fresh, service was good. It seems to be a big hit with the Russian crowd (which is a good thing for a Russian restaurant) so decor/entertainment will reflect that but I thought the vibe worked and it was the best meal I had during three day trip to San Diego/Palm Springs. Go, you’ll enjoy it!!

The ambience is wonderful. The service very good, and the food fantastic. Reasonably priced for an expensive area of the city'

We were pleasantly surprised at this new addition to the Downtown SD. Delicious food, excellent service, reasonable prices. My husband and are of Russian background, so we know our Russian food. Everything was excellent. They don't have a liquor license (yet?), but they allow you to bring in your own bottles, and there is no corkage fee. We had delicious tea from their sizable collection instead. We will definitely go back.

I liked this place! Never have I ever eaten in a Russian restaurant! Our waiter was helpful, and very nice. Turns out the food was Awesome! I recommend the chicken Kiev! I had a shot of current infused Russian vodka. Well, never heard of Russians infusing their vodka, but it was good.

We had a lunch in Pushkin and it was great. We ordered: - Borcht soup - it was great. It was with meat as it should be. - Pelmeni - they were good. Not the best that I ate but still very good. - Manty - meat was great but dough didn't keep sauce inside. - Herring under fur coat - It was dished in a very non traditional way but still pretty tasty. - Napaleon cake - the cake was superb. - Sour cream cake - this cake also was great. Desert was so good that we ordered another one take-away,

The atmosphere and decor are great !!! Young, energetic, and friendly staff will happily serve you testers until you've found your match.Highly recommend !

This restaurant is well located in the Gaslamp district. The fare is Russian and/or Ukrainian in origin; and is true to its roots. We thoroughly enjoyed the starter (Russian salad) followed by mains. There was a nice range of choice; and our different selections were both excellent. The staff were attentive without hovering. We would be happy to return!

Wee had a light dinner at Pushkin. We each had a bowl of borscht for $18. It was decent borscht, but I thought it was expensive. They were very generous with their delicious brown bread. The serve was very good. The atmosphere was very nice with pictures I believe from Pushkin's time. There is a discrepancy in the Trip Advisor listing. We were told that the kitchen closes at 9:30 so I assume closing time is 10:00pm, not 10am as listed at the time of this review.

The food was extremely good. We had beef stroganoff and rabbit. Both were very tasty. Service was attentive. Good wine list. Prices are very reasonable.

I had never been to a Russian Restaurant and wanted to give it try. We asked our hotel to call ahead to see if we could get in and we could but I recommend reservations. We were seated promptly in the upstairs area..little loud but nice table, linen and silverware. The we waited and waited. Then I noticed that everyone was just patient and enjoying their time. Eventually, our waited appeared and we ordered drinks and dinner all at once and this proved to be a good strategy. We ordered a cup of borscht and kharcho soups to share. The borscht was good and what I expected but not particularly standout. The kharcho was exceptional and I could have put away a bowl myself! For dinner I ordered the beef stroganoff and it was very good. It is had to imagine beef stroganoff looking beautiful on a plate but Pushkin succeeds. The potatoes were wrapped by squash into a round form and the stroganoff was on top. It looked great and tasted even better. We would go back...with reservations and not in a hurry.

Finally, good Russian food in San Diego! After two unsuccessful attempts (Cafe Sobaka & Village House Kalina, separate reviews), this is my last hope for good Russian fare. Located in the heart of the Gaslamp district, the restaurant is quite new, about a year old. We give it a try for lunch and leave two hours later absolutely delighted. The food is scrumptious every bit of the way: from Olivier, the famous Russian salad invented by Peter The Great's Chef, through blini with caviar & smoked salmon, pickled herring with potatoes, pickled vegetables Russian style and so much more! Vodka-drinkers would be happy to know that they do offer real vodka, in addition to a variety of polluted versions (“infusions”). Service is excellent and prices sensible. Cozy digs featuring books and several portraits of the Russian poet after which the place is named. Highly recommended.

Good selection of Russian and Armenian food, good location, good service, booked a Groupon just before entering.

This is a delightful little place in the Gaslamp Quarter serving Russian cuisine in an atmospherically decorated room. The menu is quite extensive, offering Russian favorites and other regional fare. Service is good, as is the food. Try the Kharcho - it's a Georgian soup featuring lamb. It's rather good - a bit thin and a little greasy, so maybe just a cup instead of a bowl. The beef stroganoff is very good; you can have it served over noodles (more like spaghetti rather than the broad flat noodles common in American preparations), buckwheat, mashed potatoes, or fried potatoes.

From the moment we walked in, we loved the atmosphere. We noticed right away that the waiter was all on his own. He totally rocked it and when two other guys came in to help during the rush, we were all impressed. Awesome team work! I had the Siberian Stag, very good! I also tried the rabbit, wow, delicious! The dill vodka was my favorite. Kudos to the entire staff! I will be back, next time I am in San Diego!

Yo, shoutout to the funniest owner—thanks for the killer tonight Wink Wink! Now, for all the whiners on here: how are you seriously complaining about not getting more than an hour of hookah? Do you even know how a hookah works? Newsflash: smoking burnt ashes isn’t just bad for you—it’s trashing the hookah too. Educate yourselves, folks.

I always like Middle and Eastern European food. This restaurant located close to our hotel lured us with authentic atmosphere and traditional foods on the menu. Nice interesting decor and good enthusiastic service. We liked some of their fermented veggies, marinated herring and mushrooms. We enjoyed compote which is hard to find on any menu. Main course - pork and lamb. Blini with Hot Berries and Ice Cream can be recommended for dessert. At times they have good music we heard.

Whether you are a tourist or a local : this place is a *MUST* !!!!!!!!! GREAT food, service, ambiance, etc. etc etc. Don't miss it ... P.S. Ask for AYIK - a *real* cool dude... :)

Pushkin checks all the boxes: excellent food (the most important box), great service, and pleasant ambiance (think wide open dining room with high ceiling and chandelier). My mom and I are Russian and cook Russian food at home nearly every night, and Pushkin restaurant had us impressed. The appetizer sampler is a must as are the soups and deserts (Napoleon cake!). They have an impressive tea selection and the tea comes to you in a french press. We had peach melba (Russian dry fruit compote - hint of sweetness, pleasant). We actually skipped Pushkin our first night in town due to a Yelp recommendation to visit Pomegranate, another Russian restaurant, instead. Pomegranate simply didn't compare to Pushkin and we were very glad we made the decision to dine here the next night. If you want great Russian food, this is the place in San Diego. It is pricy, but you get what you pay for, and the location is premium (downtown, within walking distance to many attractions and the convention center).

We had to leave a restaurant we were originally in when there was a power-outage. A quick scan for places in the Gaslamp district (online) took us to this charming place. Our group of 8 was quickly accommodated and our equally charming server (maybe owner?) suggested we go with the Russian Feast which included generous pour of flavored vodka to start the feast! From start to finish, every traditional item served was delicious. The duck was the unanimous favorite by our group. The cabbage rolls, stroganoff, and pierogis were all tasty. Every scoop of the borscht was filling. The only so-so item was the dessert but all is forgiven with 99% of everything was simply excellent. Service was impeccable. The place was clean and had fanciful decor. Truly an amazing find!

Our first visit here and we usually go to Pomegranate (more Georgian food than Russian) but we wanted an early dinner and this place was open. Overpriced for their mediocre food; almost everything we ordered was either not very good or just edible. Two of us ordered the borscht; it is served hot with sour cream but the beef chunks did not taste fresh and a bit tough but the flavor was good. If you are looking for good tasting Russian/Georgian food, try Pomegranate. The other dishes we tried here - all blah. Service here not nearly as personable as we've had at the above mentioned.

I still regret not going here more than once during our trip!! SOOOO good and we only got the black caviar, drinks and the honey cake. Great service, there was only one person working when we were there and even though she was super busy she was great! The caviar, best I've ever had and it comes with smoked salmon too! The honey cake was delicious! Oh and the bread and spread they give you while you're waiting, so good! I can't wait to go back and try actual entrees!!

My group of seven skeptical business colleagues (plus me) rolled into Pushkin after a power outage cast us out of Searsucker around the corner. It was getting late; everyone was hungry. The host convinced us to go with the Russian Feast, a multiple-course smorgasbord that seems too good to be true at $60 per head. It exceeded all expectations: infused vodka to start, the only delicious borscht I've ever had, pierogis, salads, Cornish game hen, lamb, desserts, not to mention excellent European beers on draft. My friends were blown away and were convinced that I'd planned our night to go this way all along. I credit our host at Pushkin, who created a lively atmosphere for us to let loose a bit and just enjoy ourselves. I cannot more strongly recommend this experience for a party of 5, 6, 7 or more.

I found this restaurant by watching an HGTV episode surprisingly. I had to select a restaurant for a business dinner. The food took me back to Ukraine when I was a teenager. Our server was awesome. He had to tend to some demanding guests and did so with a great smile. Once the drinks caught up with the meals, all of the guests ended up leaving full and happy! This place is a hidden gem and I would highly recommend visiting! It was a nice break from a typical business dinner which normally involves either Italian or American type of food. I will definitely visit again when I am back in San Diego!

Loved the music, atmosphere, service and food! Amazingly wonderful restaurant. We loved the 5 vodka tasting and the beef stroganoff! The General Manager Dimitri was extremely helpful with all of our selections. Julie our waitress was friendly and helpful as well. We highly recommend this place.

The food and service here were both excellent. We had the salad sampler to start, which had four Russian salads (including two chicken and one beet). For entrees we had the lamb stew and a special with halibut (I believe it was based on the Armenian shashlik dish). I tried a Georgian red wine, which was actually not bad. The menu features quite a wide variety of dishes from not just Russia but surrounding regions as well. The only funny thing was the waitress (who was Russian) steered me away from a Russian dish I asked about, and also talked up the California wines over the Georgian one.

First time visiting Pushkin's. Eclectic decor (fake grass on entrance arch and piano- never know how clean such stuff is really). 1 waiter for the lower main floor which was not enough for the about 15 tables. Service was slow, waiter pleasant. Food was good. Table tried chicken Kiev, beef stroganoff, and pirogies. According to table menu was authentic Russian

My wife and I stopped in for a late lunch and had the place almost to ourselves. We each had a soup, had to have the borscht soup, an appetizer and split the stuffed cabbage. Everything was very good and the bill was $41.

So, we went because where we live there's no Russian food and we like Russian food, quite a bit. Our soup was tepid-- quite strange. Great taste, but nothing like hot. The dumplings were all very good. Service was adequate, neither better nor worse than average. The place was a bit on the noisy side, not intolerable, but the music was stupid, inappropriate, and louder than it had to be, so people had to talk louder to be heard over the music which made everything louder. They were out of kvass, which was kind of ridiculous, a lack of planning.

The ambiance was good. Something unique about the place that I couldn't put my finger on. There were books displayed, nice artwork on the wall. Thoughtfully done. The servers were happy to describe the food. Well presented food. Turns out Russian food is a little too bland for my taste. But I wanted to try new stuff just in case I was missing something :) There was a movie playing on the TV at the bar that I was drawn to since it looked Russian. Turns out it was a Turkish TV show.

We have actually eaten here twice and both experiences were fabulous. The authenticity is in the decor, the staff, the food and the live entertainment on weekends. The owner is usually there to spend time educating you, make you a specialty cocktail or just share stories of her homeland. We love everything about this place.

Stopped here for dinner and drinks on a Friday night before a comedy show. The location is great- right in the heart of the Gaslamp district. Food, drinks, and staff were all fantastic- I highly recommend the Armenian Fashioned cocktail. Lamb and stroganoff both delicious. Would come again!

This was my first and only experience with Russian food. It is not to my taste, but could be authentic. There were Russians here, so that speaks well of it. The fish soup was watery and bland. It tasted mostly of dill. I sent the other potato dish back because, hungry as I was, I didn't want to keep choking things down for the sake of putting something in my stomach. The service was good. The place was clean. You might enjoy it more.

The food was so great that we felt like my mother just cooked it for us! Great service, nice relaxing music and atmosphere! Highly recommend to everyone in San Diego!

my friend Toni recommended this place and I loved it 10 out of 10! taste for hookah very good and I recommend anyone to come here with their friends

Mostly, this is a five star restaurant. The staff was very well trained, helpful and friendly. The entertainment was live and fun, but not intrusive. It consisted of a lady with a beautiful, operatic voice, singing recognizable American tunes in, I believe, Russian. The food was delicious and, since I know nothing about Russian food, interesting and seemingly authentic. The only downside was that there were no vegetables for all intents and purposes, not even as side dishes. We are far from vegetarians, but we do like some vegetable sides to go with our entree. That may be authentically Russian, but we missed them. A little steamed broccoli or some asparagus would have made the meal perfect.

Fathers Day dinner and I was terrific. When we walked in it felt like were overseas. Great ambiance. Fantastic service. Had the Siberian Stag we also had Bellini and Borscht. Wine was excellent. Sat for 2 joe TD nI t pressure to leave. Just a relaxing enjoyable dinner. Can’t wait to go back.

Wonderful food and service. Portions are huge - may want to share. Appetizers are delicious. Leave room for desert.

My wife and I had few dishes, all of them were very good, i recommend to try mix appetizer platter and Lamb sausages.

We love it! Our visit to Pushkin for dinner was great. Parking was painful until we found out that they offered validation to Horton Plaza parking ($8 for whole night). Otherwise, it would have cost us $20. We ended up splurged on food and drinks with the extra money. I highly recommend Kvass, non-alcoholic fermented Rye drink. It has perfect balance of sweetness and bubbles. We are officially addicted to it. For food, it was great experience. We ordered full meal from appetizer, entrees and dessert, exploring full menu. My daughter ordered Beef Stroganoff and i couldn't resist to keep eating her food. My wife ordered Swan Lake (baked white fish). We expected white fish to be pretty neutral (read: tasteless) but to our surprise, it was seasoned very well. I ordered Winter Rabbit. It has good sauce but the rabbit itself was not for me. The meat was similar to overcooked white chicken meat. I don't have a comparison with other rabbit meal so it is probably how it supposed be. The honey cake was also amazing. It is not as sweet as typical dessert and we love it! If there is to nitpick about, the restaurant does not have kids menu. The meal is also on the smaller portions side. Overall, I highly recommend this place!

This is a funky, homely kind of place. The staff were friendly and accommodating. We were with a large group, so the meal was prearranged and consisted of a large variety of tasty dishes. We would return here, when in the area.

First, Ike (the proprietor) should be sainted in the future. In an industry crowded with excellence, he stands out through pure quality and authenticity in all aspects of the experience. My wife and I came here on night 2 of a 3 night trip to San Diego. And then, although we never forego new adventures like this before, we came back on night 3. And brought friends. Between the 2 meals, we had over half of the menu. And I've never had Russian food this consistently good. The Winter Rabbit was perfectly cooked. The Herring under Fur Coat was a deconstructed adventure. And the Borscht...no words. Please try the Russian/Armenian wines...they are surprisingly dry and well-profiled. And let Ike pour you a few of his favorite Vodkas (rocks, no garnish). They vary from purity to moonshine in profile and compliment the food perfectly. And the ambiance is amazing. The furnishings are typically euro-casual and comfortable, what makes this place truly amazing is the rapport that Ike and his team have with the clientele. Both nights, we had amazing unique experiences that aren't describable (like taking a photo of the Grand Canyon). But if this is typical (and it seems it is) then you'll have a memorable night at Pushkin.

I am going to Russia in a few months and wanted to get some first hand Russian experience. I certainly came to the right place. The restaurant long and deep, sits behind a small store front window, next to a deli. .Walking was like the Russian tea room that I envisioned. The menu is what I could call true Russian, all the basics, the soups, pierogies, Borsch, the king of Russian soups. Great dark breads.. If you looking for cookie cutter foods and service, this is not the place for you. Enjoy.

Wanted to get some Borscht and Chicken Kiev , as a lot of restaurants don't have it, The borscht tasted good but was extremely hot from microwave and didn't taste like the was beets in it. The coating on the kiev was so hard it was difficult to cut and was more of a hard shell around the chicken. The chicken was tasteless and was over cooked, dry and tough. The stuffing didn't taste of butter and had too much dill. Over all not a good dinner and would not go back. They go better reviews from others but I eat at fine restaurants all over the U.S. And would not recommend this one.

Very good Russian food. Tried bortsch, appetizer platter to get a wide variety of foods, lamb shank, Cornish Game Hen, and pelmeni. All very good. Glad we tried it.

I can't begin to say how wonderful the experience was here, ambience, food, service, value. perfect. Delicious Russian and Armenian cuisine. So accommodating to everything we asked for and assisted in planning the meal as we had many starters rather than major entrée. Please do try this lovely, delightful place on 6th and G!

This is based on only one dinner at Pushkin, but we had an excellent experience. I had no idea there was even a Russian restaurant in San Diego, but it turned out Pushkin was quite near where we were staying, so we went for dinner. It was Sunday evening, and the restaurant was essentially empty when we arrived, so we were seated right away. Anton, our waiter, brought water and bread immediately. Just about everything on the menu looked good, so we had a little difficulty choosing. We ended up with beef Stroganoff for my wife, and a cup of ukha (fish soup) and boiled chicken pelmeni for me. We accompanied dinner with a bottle of Georgian red wine (Saperavi Schuchmann). The bread was a little sweet for my taste, but it was good. Everything else was absolutely outstanding. I could easily have made a meal out of a bowl of that soup, but then I would have missed out on the pelmeni (dumplings filled with chicken and served in a broth with mushrooms). Pelmeni are also available with beef, but they were out of those when we were there. No worries, though -- the chicken pelmeni were delicious. My wife's Stroganoff was also excellent -- I got to taste it, and we brought the leftover back with us to enjoy later. Neither of us really had room for dessert, but we managed to squeeze in an order of medovik (honey cake), which is very tasty and nowhere near as sweet as you might think from the name. One other table became occupied while we were there, and that couple got the Red Square salad, which looked really good. They also ordered the chicken pelmeni and the golubtsy, both of which they seemed very pleased with. Service was prompt and pleasant, but remember that the place was pretty deserted. Not sure what it would be like on a really busy day, but we would definitely visit again next time we're in San Diego. Объязательно вернёмся в следующий раз, когда попадём в Сан-Диего.

Simple food, yet exotic at the same time. Authentic Russian dishes. Delicious, something for everyone. If you always wondered about Russian cuisine, this is the place to try. Oh and don't skip dessert.

As with my business trips, we always try to find a Russian restaurant. Pushkin having such great reviews (rare for Russian restaurants) so we booked a reservation with our French colleagues. The decor, atmosphere and music were very pleasant. Our server made us feel very welcome and helped us choose some great food. Their infused vodka shots are a unique combination of different vodkas that create a smooth shot. Being married to a Russian I already knew what to order, pelmeni, borsch, shashlik, Oliver salad, blinis with caviar, beef stroganoff with mashed potatoes, and napoleon cake for dessert. Everything was very delicious! Russian cuisine is usually unknown to most Americans, but if you're feeling adventurous head to Pushkin in downtown!

Let me preface this review with I'm Eastern European and I grew up eating pretty much everything off their menu. Whenever I travel and find Russian restaurants, I get super excited so this time around was no different. Unfortunately the experience wasn't as exciting, it was just alright. Located in the busy Gaslamp Quarter, Pushkin was quite empty on a Wednesday evening. First thing that threw me off was their decor - it just seemed like they were all over the place. There was only one employee working the floor as the hostess/ waitress. Between me and my brother, we ordered the following: glass of kvas and Russian pear soda, Ukha soup, Herring under Fur Coat, Ukrainian Salo, and Beef and Chicken Pelimeni (fried and boiled). Our drinks were barely cold and just didnt taste as those drinks should (everyone who has had Kvas before knows it's delicious when cold). My brother wasn't too happy with their ukha either as it was creamy when in reality ukha is supposed to be a clear fish soup. The herring under fur coat was actually pretty tasty - this dish is definitely an acquired taste but I definitely recommend trying it. I was disappointed with the salo plate as there was barely any salo on it, especially for the $17 price tag. Our entrees (pelimeni) were not bad, but I did prefer the boiled ones. Overall it wasn't a bad experience, but for someone who knows the cuisine very well, it was quite underwhelming and not worth the cost.

In town for business, a little pleasure, and colleague recommended Pushkin. Dinner on V Day was magnificent, from live, perfect volume and classy singing, to the pre fixe V Day dinner for 2. Excellent quality, attentiveness, positivity, & crisp, well maintained ambiance. Trung our zerver was delightful, as was Ike the owner. A "must go" in San Diego

Food was so fresh and delicious. The cabbage rolls were the best I've ever had. I will return and try their dumplings and beef stroganoff. The sour cream cake was amazing.

Bad service. It happens. Smoked salmon and palmenis were absolutely amazing. We just had to wait to be greeted after seating. And then wait for everything else. Server got pulled over to do bartender duty. Every other server ignored us and mostly avoided eye contact at all. Plenty of other tables had that same “are we invisible to them?” look. Could be amazing. When they fix the front of house issues, this would be an awesome restaurant.

In one word, I and my wife loved the food. We ordered Chicken Sashlik and Beef Blini. They delivered the food to our hotel. This was our first Russian food experience. The Sashlik was tender, juicy and very well marinated. It has just the right amount of spice. Its like Indian/afgan kabab but they executed really well. We regret not to stay one more day in San Diego to try few of their other items from the menu. Once I go back to San Francisco, I will definitely try to find more Russian restaurant. Loved it.

Authentic and rustic Russian cuisine: simple and homemade. Ample portions. Very reasonably priced. Great service. We had the Grilled Armenian Salad, Chicken Pelmeni (dumplings), and Beef Stroganoff over Buckwheat (different !). It's not fancy, but it is the kind of food one would experience when travelling to Eastern Europe and Russia, away from main tourist areas.

All I can say is BORING!! The borscht tasted like minestrone soup, no beets to be found. Tasty, but not borscht! The potato-mushroom pierogi were swimming in a somewhat tasty broth, but the pierogi were tasteless. The stuffed cabbage was ok, my diner in NY makes it better. My mother’s are so much better. Sorry we went there!

The service was excellent and the restaurant was clean and inviting. The servers speak excellent English and Russian. The food was great Borsch, harcho soup with stuffed Blini for appetizers-very tasty. For the main we had beef stroganoff and chicken Tanaka both were great.

Let me start by saying that something has to be truly terrible for me to post a review. Had high hopes as I LOVE Russian food and grew up being spoon fed by my Russian/ Polish grandmother. She is rolling over in her grave tonight! The waiter was actually apologetic as he knew it was awful himself. Service was slow. One waiter for the lower level. Apparently something going on upstairs that took the attention away from all of the dinners downstairs. Ordered the pelmeni as an entry. It came smothered in mushrooms and sauce even though the menu stated simply boiled. Had to wait another 30 minutes to have them brought back out. Only to have no silverware now to eat them. And do I need to mention the ear piercing techno music being pumped through the restaurant at levels beyond comfort? Did I mention that the pelmeni are store bought? I asked the waiter and he said that they were purchased frozen. He then apologized (thankfully) for the loud music and the bad experience. This was all before I even said anything. So if you are looking for authentic Russian food, don't come here.

When you think of food in San Diego, you may not think of Russian food first. But you should!! Pushkin is a family-owned business that is as good on the eyes and stomach as it is on the wallet. Try the herring in a fur coat appetizer for some authentic amazingness and let the staff here guide you through the rest. Enjoy a glass of Georgian red wine - awesome / with your meal, but be sure to start with a horseradish infusion. You won’t regret it. Ask for Dmitiri to serve you - his family owns this place!

Delicious food in a warm, sophisticated ambiance sums up our first visit to Pushkin. We used a Groupon since it's such a great way to find new restaurants around town. We went early on a Sunday evening and by the time we left about two hours later, the place was filling up, always a good sign, especially on a Sunday. Our server was an adorable young woman from Ukraine(?) and she gave us excellent suggestions and advice. For starters, hubby had one of the best classic martinis he's ever had. I didn't care for the Pushkin red wine, but I did like the Avalon cab. We shared the mushroom/potato blini and the portion was two large crepes and they were out-of-this world yummy. The little side of pickles was an extra nice treat. For our main, we were advised to share the lamb pilaf (Uzbetskiy plov) and we were glad we did as there was plenty to share and it was delicious and then left room for dessert, a sweet cake that really hit the spot. We really loved Pushkin and may make it a regular stop for dining out. And prices are were reasonable.

My wife and I ate at Pushkin recently and were really thrilled. It felt very authentic. There were a number of Russian speaking patrons having a party in the upstairs part of the restaurant, the decor was nice and the food excellent. I had the Siberian stag and my wife the chicken Kiev, both of which were excellent. Service is a little slow, much like it is in Europe as they prepare each dish as it was ordered, so don't plan on dropping in for a bite to eat and running out in a few minutes. Over all a fantastic meal.

The philbili was gr8 and homemade dumplings We asked for the trip they charged us up charge 3 dollars which was fine My Dad got Pear Soda from Russia very sweet he likes it. We tried the borsht not good Ordered Chicken Kiev good but Chef overcooked outside of breading Mushroom gravy chunky thick not smooth seemed like a broken sauce to me We also got Beef cutlet they said it was like a pounded hamburger no more like little meatballs over cooked Mashed Pots no butter heavy cream whipped with water For Bhilini for dessert Suppose to be warned Strawberries &whip cream Crepes good but Strawberries had to be Jam reduced to ick Would I go back NO

We spent a week in San Diego and were looking for unique restaurants. Pushkin certainly is that: oddly hatted guy acting as host, quirky decor and authentic Russian food. The service was very good, nothing outstanding but very professional and attentive. That's all I expect. While checking out the menu I saw that they offered kvass - the Russian national soft drink made from fermented rye bread. I'd read many references to it in novels about Russia and had to try it. It was delicious and served ice cold in a frosted mug. Sort of a combination of sweet iced tea and non-alcoholic sour beer. Sounds weird but it is very good. We ordered the Chicken Kiev and Golubsti - both came out hot and cooked perfectly. So if you're looking for something that stands out even in a city with a huge variety of restaurants, give Pushkin a try.

I'd been to Pushkin once or twice before, and really enjoyed the experience, so I was excited to return a third time for my 38th birthday. I'm certainly glad I did. - Staff - Courteous and Attentive. - Atmosphere - Wonderful décor and even live music on some evenings. (I dined on a Friday evening and there was a live singer in the front of the dining area). - Cuisine - Simply wonderful. Menu offers a nice mix of Russian and Georgian dishes. Given the above, dining at Pushkin is always a treat. Coupled with the fact that most of dishes are priced in the $$ - $$$ range, I never hesitate to recommend Pushkin to friends, family, and co-workers.

If you look at my many reviews on here, you will see that i tend to be rather generous in my ratings and forgiving of less than ideal experiences. Even with that, i still have to maintain that this hands-down the worst dining experience i have had in the last decade. While I will TRY to mention the positive aspects of our visit, it will be challenging as they didn't do much right...at least the time (which will also be the last time). To start, the guy with the top hat that greeted us at the door seemed pleasant enough and seated us quickly. Fairly soon, our waiter Dmitri greeted us and took our drink order.....and things went downhill quickly from there. We found the cheesy decor somewhat amusing (boar heads wearing top hats, fake ivy all over anything that wasn't an eating surface, and stuff like that) and the place seemed clean enough. We get our drinks...all good and the ones that we ordered...and placed our order. Our appetizers came somewhat quickly (pierogies and the appetizer sampler) and were actually quite good. But it is at this point where this story goes bad....quickly yet avoidably. They bring out our three entrees and two of them are wrong. Hey.....that happens to all of us at some point. Dmitir takes back the two entrees and our third guest tries to wait as this should be an easy fix. Ten minutes later, we suggest that she eat before her rabbit gets cold. To speed up the story, after waiting an hour (no...not exaggerating for effect), no food and certainly no Dmitri. We ask a bus boy what is going in and and he doesn't come back. We finally see Dmitri hanging out with the woman tending bar and get him to come over. He offers no explanation and says he will check. We ask him to instead simply cancel the order and please give us a check. He comes back with the check with armed with a half-hearted and insincere apology as he offers no explanation. He offers no free dessert, no coupon for a future visit or any other token gesture that would suggest he was sincerely disappointed in our bad visit. As we leave, we tell Tophat host guy (after he asked) that it was a terrible experience and offers for us to speak to Ulia (sp?) the manager. While she was pleasant, she too offered no gesture that would suggest that she cared about our business and she made it clear that I was being a huge inconvenience. And no, I was not ranting or whining...just trying to share some feedback that any other professional would have valued. The bottom line? Stuff happens and I get that. But the complete disinterest in making this right somehow, combined with Dmitri's arrogance made this the worst experience I have ever had....which is saying a lot from someone who travels a lot and lives in NY. They don't see to get that, as they are in the Gaslamp district, there are 200 other (and likely far less expensive) options within 100 yards. While our family never coning back will make no difference to them, they simply do not deserve any business treating customers that way ESPECIALLY at their high price-point. The few items we did get were really good....for sure...but on balance not good enough to be treated so poorly, Sorry for such a long review but I am saddened that someone would squander what is a great location and a cool concept by having their people be so indifferent to the satisfaction of their patrons. Even sadder is that Dmitri achieved this single-handedly. And not only did he ruin our dinner, he also ruined a lot of business as we were there in the first place to do a site visit for bit a wedding rehearsal dinner as well as an upcoming corporate even that we are planning. Again, I am not so arrogant to believe that this will matter to them --though I wonder if the owner of the restaurant would feel the same way...especially in a high-rent, ultra-competitive environment such as theirs. Sorry guys...you had every chance to make this right but clearly had no interest in doing so. Do yourself a favor......go somewhere else.

I was looking forward to eating here as Russian/Eastern European food was my soul food when I was a kid. I just love it. Unfortunately, this place let me down. First of all, the service was very attentive. The wait staff knew they had a problem and felt badly about it. The slide started when I ordered one of their signature drinks. The waiter brought Julie's drink and told me that for some reason they could not make mine. Very odd. So I just had a normal martini. We ordered the herring as a starter. It was fabulous; definitely not out of a jar. Herring with onion on black bread with a bit of onion was to die for. The herring just melted in your mouth. The entrees were not very good. Julie had pierogis with stroganoff on the side. The pierogis were bland and gummy; the stroganoff thick and gloppy. Very unappealing. I ordered the stuffed cabbage. When I took a bite of it, it was cold! Imagine serving something that had not been cooked! So, they took it back and brought me some potato salad while they were cooking it. That was not very good, either. Bland. When they brought my entree (finally), it was bland as well. No flavor at all. We passed on dessert. I do not blame the staff, I blame the kitchen. Truly not a good meal but when I drop over $100 on a dinner I expect to have decent food that I can enjoy. This place let me down.

We were here on vacation and I get my groupon's ahead of time after reviewing, searching and looking for a good deal. This restaurant was wonderful with all appetizers=I had the mixed appetizer platter-which included beat salad the oluve salad which was similar to chicken salad and cream cheese in eggplant with garlic-all were super and then had borscht which I love. Hubby had the beef stroganoff which was great and the serving was nice sized. The highlight was our server Trung or T as he liked to be called and constantly checked back with us on our needs and how our food was to our liking. Also liked the Valentine motiff in the restaurant!!

Great location and amazing fun place to visit authentic Russian delicious home made food. Excellent service, the staff is extremely accommodating and friendly. Highly Recommended

A must try for your list! Our waiter was called T, and he gave us great recommendations. Everything was delicious! New favorite thing is Borscht. The kielbasa is home made and best weve ever tried! Live entertainment was great-a lady singing Russian songs

We have never had Russian food until today. Enjoyed a wonderful Russian lunch. We had Eggplant Rolls and Blinis with caviar and smoked salmon for our appetizers. Enjoyed a bowl of Borscht, mushroom and potato pelmeni, beef golubtsi, and beef stroganoff. Everything was rich, and wonderful. We tried the Honey Cake and Napoleon for dessert. Fell in love with their signature Honey Cake. And to make the experience complete, I had a lychee vodka shot. My enjoyable acquaintance with Russian cuisine can be credited to Pushkin. Would totally go back to explore the rest of the menu.

Tried Pushkin Restaurant because my sister-in-law and brother-in-law had both never tried Russian food before. Definitely made the right choice as the food was outstanding! I hate to say I don't remember everything we ate, but it was some of the best food I've had in quite awhile. Our server, Olga, was very helpful in explaining what the various dishes were and she was very attentive and friendly. We will definitely come back to Pushkin the next time we're in San Diego!

Went here with a groupon to check it out. Very beautiful restaurant, but the food was just average. Bread cold and store bought. Chicken Kiev and mash potatoes dry and bland, Lamb meat overcook, pickled vegs (pickles and pickled cabbage-coleslaw) nothing to write home about. The food was just average, and not very flavorful. Glad we had a coupon,

Eclectic menu with good cabbage rolls, kielbasa and stroganoff, former menu items missed include; pierogies and potato pancakes.

We tried Puskin because we found a groupon for it. What a delightful surprise it was! Hubby ate the Muscovy duck and declared it the best duck ever eaten! The drinks were good, and all the food was as tasty as could be.

I haven't even been to Pushkin yet, but if I ever come to San Diego I am definitely visiting this place. I will make sure to change the charcoals in my hookah in a timely manner, because You Can't Smoke Ashes, you dumb dumbs! I also absolutely love Pierogi and Borscht - it is the sole reason why Russia is winning the war. Also the owner is a very funny guy and he absolutely killed on Kill Tony. Красавчик!

I went to dinner with my sister’s family at the Pushkin Russian Restaurant. The location was easy to find with parking on the street in front of the restaurant. Upon entering, I found the ambiance comfortable and welcoming. It is a very interesting location with a large chandelier and books lining the upper wall. Some tables have seating on a couch making it feel homie and warm at the same time. Our server came over quickly, handed out menus and took our drink orders. The menu contained many interesting choices. We decided to start with a mixed plate of blinis and the pickled mushrooms but learned the beef blinis were not available. Luckily, the potato and the chicken blinis were available and tasted GREAT. I didn’t care for the pickled mushrooms but I’m not a mushroom fan generally so don’t rely on my judgment. My sister loved them. When I tried to order my main courses, I learned that my first choice (cabbage rolls) was also not available. This surprised me a bit but went with my second choice, also recommended by our server: the beef stroganoff over noodles. My niece ordered the Cranberry Duck. Our server needed to go check to be sure it was available but it was. My sister and brother-in-law both ordered the Chicken Pelmeni (think chicken dumplings). The Beef Stroganoff was FABULOUS as were the Chicken Pelmeni. I mean, drop-dead, go-back-again-tomorrow GREAT! The duck, on the other hand, had a good flavor but was so tough that it was nearly inedible. My niece shared one bite and, after chewing for more than 5 minutes, I was ready to spit it out. We got one desert to split (the honey cake) which was great and they brought a piece of the chocolate cake when they learned it was my sister’s birthday (also great). So, I strongly recommend trying Pushkins but I suggest you call ahead if you really want to try one thing on the menu to be sure it’s available and would avoid the duck. On the other hand, the items I got to replace my first choices were great so who really cares? My bet, given how good everything else was, is that the duck on most days is fine. I want to go back now and try the cabbage rolls!!

This is the first time I try Russian food and my husband and I enjoyed the rack of lamb and lamb pilaf. The lamb rack is cooked to perfection. The waiters are friendly and helpful.

Downtown San Diego on a busy 6th Avenue is this very nice Russian restaurant. Dishes are well prepared with obviously multi Russian influence. Wine list offers wines from eastern Europe and they are very good.

We had a delightful meal and our server was very attentive and helpful. Both of us have eaten Russian food before, and so we knew that this food was authentic. It was also beautifully presented. In addition, one of us does not eat meat but had no problems finding plenty of choices on the extensive menu.

Pushkin’s decor is a bit strange, but it is reasonably comfortable. We weren’t disappointed by the food, but the disorganization overwhelmed things. The bottle of wine we ordered was not available; we were told this after a long delay. Our appetizer was forgotten, so we were surprised when our entrees were delivered after another long delay. But a side order was forgotten. Our bill was incorrect. If they can get their service act together Pushkin would be a good restaurant, but not now.

This is what you want from a restaurant when dining with a group of friends or out on a date; to be transported, to forget where in the world you are or what time it is. The interpretive traditional Russian dishes were bite sized and packed with flavor, perfect for sharing. The service and ambiance was great. Lots of pescatarian options. We would love to revisit Pushkin again!