Russian House Reviews

On Friday evening,Jume 7 my wife Bonnie suggested we dine at the Russian House which would be a first try for us. The overall results were promising. To its credit, and unlike other new restaurants, Russian House did not spend a fortune on decorations but focused on the kitchen. Upon being seated a charming and efficient waitress served us a complementry shot of vodka and a portion of cabbage salad. The latter was excellent. We then ordered an eggplant apetizer and blinis with salmon roe. The eggplant t was excellent but unfortunately the bilinis were a distastor; cold, doughy and with only a smidgen of Roe. For an entree Bonnie had an excellent beef stroganoff and I had a hardy Ukraian soup. The broth was tasty but the noodles were over cooked. The one thing I looked forward to was drinking cold vodka. The vokka was excellent and cold BUT it was served in one ounce shot glasses. Russian House has got to buy some 2 ounce glasses and keep them in the freezer. However a bottle of Russian lager beer was excellent. Our advice to Russian House is to reduce the number of items on the very large menu. . It is best to focus on a few of good quality such as the egg plant apitizer and the cabbage salad. Russian House is worth a try. For now stick to the eggplant, stroganoff and Russian beer and you wouldn't be disapointed.

We didn't eat but will next time. We just stopped in at the urging of hotel concierge across the street. It was weird cool. We all had a few shots of the house-infused vodkas. I really enjoyed the elderflower and orange. On the rocks is a must for me. We had to play dress up and take a bunch of pictures. They have uniforms and hats to put on for fun.

We decided to visit our friend in Austin! During our trip we visited Russian House for dinner, authentic island of true Russian taste. It was perfect choice! Amazing service and so delicious! I was born in Russia and I know what I am talking about)! This is the first Russian restaurant which I like the most in USA. I eat borsch, pelmeni, syrniki and Russian beer in a lot of places but in Russian House I like the most. Special thanks to Segey , our server! He was taking care about us like special guests. And every guest wanna feel like he is special!). thank you Russian House. Special thanks to chief!!! Well done!!!

Visiting the Russian house was a lot of fun. Good service, hit and miss food – beef stroganoff was excellent!

This is a neat atmosphere and different then some of the loud bars on 5th and 6th street. They have good food, and all sorts of vodka flavors behind the bar. Definitely worth a visit

There were 8 of us and we each picked a different vodka we wanted to try from their many jars of different flavored vodkas - you name it - they have it ready to pour. I saw a couple of interesting ones.....birch, cigar....plus some yummy ones too - melon, blueberry, cherry, watermelon, etc. Very cool place and although we didn't have dinner here last night - want to go back.

You won't remember much after the welcome shots of vodka but I believe it was good enough as we were not expert in Russian cuisine.

If you are a Vodka drinker you will love this place. The atmosphere is festive and close to the hotels in the downtown entertainment district.

What an interesting place with excellent food! First you walk into the bar/nightclub and it looks a little "old", a little "Bolshevik" with Russian military jackets hanging in the open closet and old posters on the walls. Then you enter the dining room...just like walking into your Russian grandma's home, with lace and flowered tablecloths and waitresses in peasant dress. We were greeted with a free taste of Vodka, maybe because it was Christmas and then enjoyed an excellent meal. Items tasted were: meat blini, eggplant rolls, veal schnitzel, and beef stroganoff. House french wine and Kiev cake finished off the evening. I would recommend all of those dishes and I am definitely anxious to return.

Had the wild mushroom soup and was Delish. Right amount of shrooms, veggies and herbs. Just enough sour cream to make it soooo special. The shot of mint lime infused vodka was incredible. Go. Enjoy.

I don't know what happened on this visit, but I've never had worse service at a restaurant. Many of the flaws were ones we've encountered elsewhere, but we never encountered them all at a one place and one time. We just had to work too hard for our supper. We came on a Saturday night, but the front room, equipped with communal tables, only had one couple in it. We were given menus and sat and waited. And waited. After over 20 minutes, I went to the front desk and asked if we were going to have a waiter. They said someone would come quickly, and she did. She took our orders. When I asked if they still gave guests a hospitality tray with vodka, radishes, pickled cabbage, etc., she said yes, so I said we'd order more vodka after we got the complimentary drinks. After not too long, she returned with three appetizers and placed them on the table without identifying them. (Our fourth choice, herring and potatoes, was unavailable, so I ordered the eggs with red caviar at that point.) We asked about our drinks, and she said she would bring them. After she left, we realized that one of the three appetizers was one no one had ordered. When she came back with two of the drinks we had ordered we pointed that out, but said we would keep and pay for it since we had already eaten about half of it before realizing it was a mistake. She said she would bring our other drinks. Fairly soon, our entrees appears along with the replacement appetizer. My son's Uzbek Plov was supposed to be accompanied by a glass of tea, but wasn't. We asked about the hospitality tray with vodkas (because we were supposed to be well on our way at that point), and she said she'd bring them. When we had almost completed our meal, she finally brought the tea for my son, the coffee we had ordered at the beginning and the hospitality tray. There was no bread with the tray as we had enjoyed previously, and I don't know if that is a change with Russian House or another waitress mistake. Still, getting the first round of vodka as we were almost done was very disappointing, and the tea didn't so much accompany the plov as wash it down. We told her we wanted dessert, and that was taken care of quickly. We also got our check in reasonable time. But then we waited. And waited. And after another 15 minutes or so I went to the front desk, but there wasn't anyone there, either. And there wasn't any wait staff in the dining area. So, I went back to the table to wait for someone to let us pay so we could go. She did return, we finished paying, and we left. Given how much time I spent hunting for service, you might wonder why I still gave Russian House 3 stars. Well, the food is good. Very good. The eggplant rolls were the outstanding appetizer, and I plant to go back and try all the eggplant dishes since this one was so very good. Everyone loved their entrees, and I can't really single one out. I will say always get the turkey pelmeni in broth. It's just far more delicious that way. The golubtsy (stuffed cabbage) is so large a dish, that half of it went home. The only serious food disappointment was the blini with smoked salmon. We've had blinis at Russian House numerous times, including the smoked salmon, but the blinis this time were very poor. They were thick and way too sweet to be around smoked salmon. In conclusion, I will certainly return to Russian House in the hope that the services was an anomaly that won't recur.

Don't let the front tavern of this restaurant scare you away cause the food is excellent. If your not familiar with Russian food try the beef stroganoff. You will not be disappointed! Service was slow but worth the wait. Complimentary Vodka shots along with the atmosphere were fun.

Good food but could be better. I am Russian and I can't say that everything tastes exactly like it should be. But it's a great place with unforgettable interior.

We took our daughter and boyfriend here for birthday celebration, and we had a nice time. On a Sunday night most tables were full in the main dining room, and ambience was quiet and relaxing. The decor is probably quite authentic, and decorated like a typical? older home might be in Russia. Some Ukrainian friends previewed the menu online and told me some things to consider ordering. Everything was authentic, as far as I could tell. Wife and daughter really enjoyed horseradish-infused vodka shots! The food was enjoyable, but not spectacular - kind of what I expected from Russian cuisine. I would have given 5 stars, but they needed another server to handle all the tables, and I felt like we had to wait a little too long for service.

We enjoy trying restaurants that we don’t have at home, and Russian House was our first choice in downtown Austin. Every city has American, Italian, Chinese, but very few have authentic Russian. And this is authentic! To contrast with the American view of the world, think outside the box, with a perspective from generations ago. A huge Russian bear stands at the door, and the cold war is on tv. Staff greets you with a smile, and a vodka. Then think Babushka (Grandma), and those delightful flavors from her kitchen. The fancy dishes, lace table-cloths, antique furniture and family photos. Dinner selections are from the diverse countries of the Soviet Union; Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan,… Traveling on a gluten-free diet (by necessity, not by choice) makes dining away from home a real challenge, but Russia House makes it easy with a delightful GF menu. I tried the Shashlik combination (grilled fresh meats with a wonderful combination of spices I’ve never tasted before) and it was awesome. We’d love to try their Golubtsy (cabbage rolls) and Chicken Tabaka next time we’re in Austin! If you are not celiac, the Beef Stroganoff and Pirozhki looked great too. The fish delicacy is an excellent GF appetizer, and the Halva (sunflower seed) GF desert was perfect with coffee. If you like vodka, this could be your best stop in Austin. Free starters, nicely infused. For GF options the Polish potato vodkas are superb. Na Zdorovie- Enjoy!

We try new foods often so we thought we would give this a try. For not ever having this style dood before the waitress was not very helpful. Food was okay but not worth going back. We had an appetizer and a main entree. We will not be back. Was not a friendly atmosphere. Kitchen was not very well kept from what I could see through the service doors. Not impressed.

My husband and I wanted to try something a bit different this weekend. We found this quaint little place on 5th street in down town Austin. it is unique and appears to be true to their Russian ties. Everyone spoke Russian accented broken English but the service was great. The atmosphere takes you completely out of Texas and into another country. You must try the complimentary vodka, rye bread and salted cabbage. Be warned its very, very salty but good. We tried several different infused vodkas and they were all great. The coffee infused vodka was perfect with the Kiev cake. Food was very good and average priced. We had appetizers, vodka shots, entrees, desert, and coffees for 85.00 bucks. Spent almost 2 hours in there, they are not in a hurry but it was nice to not be rushed. I recommend you go enjoy the experience, a great meal and get a little culture too.

Dining at Russian House was a wonderful experience. The ambiance was very interesting. It felt like you were in a Russian grandmother's house who was cooking a family meal just for you. It is an intimate space but you can spend hours there taking in all the idiosyncratic decor while enjoying cocktails and a great meal.

Best beef stroganoff you can get anywhere. This place is a must try. If you love to try new things and have never had Russian food...this place is for you. Service was great, food was even better.

We love the Russian House. The parking truly stinks but the food and drink are worth it. We have gone twice just since Christmas. Valentine's Day was so much fun with their price fixe menu. We also went back for a birthday. They could use a few more servers on the floor with big parties, however the food is delicious. Always love starting off with a cold vodka!

Dozens of infused vodkas available as shots, flights, or cocktails. Found it on the way to dinner our last night in Austin.

If you want a sterile chain restaurant that happens to serve Russian cuisine, do not go here. If you want an authentic and fun experience, with good food and awesome vodkas, then this is your place. The food is great, and even if you aren't crazy about it all, it is fun to try the menu. We over-ordered as a small group just to try lots of appetizers and entrees and it was worth doing. As for the vodka - just ask for advice. Last time we were there (this week) was just for the bar. Unsure about the vodka choices, I asked the bartender for advice. Wow, can definitely tell the difference between choices, exactly as the bartender described. If you've read the reviews you know the decor gets mentioned. The setup is darkish. You enter into the bar area, which sometimes has dancing. Russian music videos on the TV screen and modern Russian music. To me, think hard techno with a depressing tone. It is much more fun than I'm making it sound! There's a main dining area, and also small intimate dining rooms spread all around. So yes, it is dark, but think of it as an excursion to a small piece of Russia for a little while. It is all clean, and the staff are very nice and helpful (mostly Ukrainian).

So I’m in Austin for a conference and went to Russian House for dinner. The first thing that I noticed was the Russian outfits a child could wear while there(nice touch). Upon recommendation, I went with the meat platter to get a sample of the different meats they offered. In a word, delectable! To beat it all, my server “Julia G.” made me feel like a regular, she was very personable and well informed on the food and adult beverages. In short, I highly recommend!

When you first walk in, all you see is a bar. We were then escorted through a door and transported to another part of the world! First thing our server asked us if we'd like to have a complimentary shot of vodka. Who would say no to that!? We got two shots served on a wooden board with two slices of bread and some radishes. We then had the russian blini with salmon, which were DELICIOUS! We also had the pirozhkis, one with beef and the other with cabbage. I loved the one with cabbage, while the beef one was good it was a little bit dry. As our main course we had the beef stroganoff with noodles. Everything was so good and the service was top notch, even if it was a little bit of a busy evening.

Better Borscht here than what I ate in St. Petersburg, Russia. I look forward to my next visit. The restaurant had an authentic feel to it.

This won't be the last time I visit the Russian House. I went with a friend and we got different things so we could sample more dishes. The appetizers, salads and entrees were all excellent. And the vodka bar is also worth a visit. Unbelievable how many flavored of infused vodka they have!

One of the best restaurant meals we’ve ever had! After our complimentary vodka shots came the appetizers. My wife had the fish sampler and I had the Ukrainian borscht. This was the first time I’ve had borscht and it will not be the last. I would have ordered a large bowl as my dinner but then I would have missed the entrees. My wife ordered the stuffed cabbage and it was out of this world. After tasting it I slightly regretted not ordering it until I tasted mine. The reviews praising the beef stroganoff do not do it justice. It was one of the tastiest meals I’ve ever had. We debated ordering dessert and I’m glad we did. Once again both choices were exceptional. I don’t recall what my wife ordered (some type of fudge bars) but it was delicious. I had the Kiev Cake and it too was delicious. If you are in Austin you MUST go here for dinner.

My son studies Russian in college, so we were seeking a genuine Russian experience, and we definitely got that! We passed on the appetizer vodka shots, but I regret that decision! The staff was friendly, fun & patient with our questions. I had borsch, my son had lamb dumplings & my daughter had beef shish kabobs. Everything was good & we all enjoyed trying each others dishes. We included our 2-yr old grandson, but that was a MISTAKE! This is NOT a place for children!! (lots of glass, crystal, china, no children's menu, food that children are not used to, etc...). We were stuffed by the end of the meal, therefore did not try any of the desserts. Reservations are a MUST!! I can't wait to go back to the Russian House!!

We ate at Russian House on a Sunday night. The dining area was decorated with a Christmas tree and the usual "home" decor. We loved it! The food was all outstanding. My husband loved the stuffed trout, said it was best he had in a while. I enjoyed the Chicken Kiev special and my Daughter liked her Beef Stroganoff. Started with the vodka shot and appetizer board. We had a fun and tasty meal at Russian House and will be back if we are ever in Austin!

We visited the Russian House twice on our trip to Austin and thoroughly enjoyed our visits. Struggling to find healthy dining options around the States, we stumbled across this little gem as it was very close to our accommodation and - wow! The dining room is like stepping back in time. You feel like you're sitting in your nan's kitchen, it's very intimate with it's mismatched china and cutlery and gorgeous nic-nacs about the place. The wait staff were excellent - particularly Ilona, who was very helpful with her menu recommendations. All our meals were fabulous and they came with free shots of vodka to start. You must try the napoleon cake - has to be tasted to be believed. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend this terrific eatery. Felt like we were eating proper home-cooked meals. The servings were enormous and the hospitality sensational. Don't miss it if you're on a trip to Austin.

Walking in it looks like you have stepped into an apothecary in Eastern Europe, glass jars filled with house-infused vodkas crowd on shelves behind the bar (of which there are over 100 kinds). While there is seating at the bar, there is also a home-y room for restaurant-style dining, it feels like you are sitting in someone's living room! Plus there is a covered patio where you can sit if they are not holding one of their monthly cooking classes. I went for my birthday this time around, and I absolutely love anything mushroom-related on their menu. Instead of the Classical Julienne (my normal), I got the Eggplant Rolls and fell in love! If you are of Russian decent and you miss good beef stroganoff, this is the place to go. I had that for dinner and it always brings me back to when my mom would make it, it is good comfort food. Even if you're not Eastern European! If you are looking for something different, then you should end your dinner (and be sure to leave room) for the Baked Apple. My mouth is watering thinking about it. I cannot more highly recommend going here.

Good quality food with selection of flavored vodkas. Centrally located. Service is prompt. Will be back.

Three couples tried to sample everything and were happy with what we tried. The appetizers were especially delicious. We had our own private room, which was great for visiting.

We had brunch here on a quiet Saturday. I love the interior decor elegant and eclectic. Our waitress was friendly and made some great suggestions. We had Blini (one meat and one salmon) each delicious and very different , the meat was like a fried meat pie, yummy and the salmon was more of a crepe with some very fresh flavors. And potato zrazy these were fried baked potatoes on the outside and the inside again we got meat and salmon. The came with peas, cranberry and fresh tomatoe and cucumber, It was a delicious filling meal. We also had a bloody mash (their version of a Bloody Mary) with cucumber infused vodka. It was very good. If your looking for something different, delicious and filling without spending a fortune this is a great place to check out. Also check out their selection of infused vodkas, if it hadn’t been early in the day I would have loved to sit and taste more of them.

The Russian house is one of our favorites. It is quirky from the minute you walk in the door. You can try on Russian attire in where it at the bar or into the restaurant. The food is absolutely delicious. They also make excellent recommendations on wine or vodka to go with your meal. My husband always has the caviar. We also went here on Valentine's Day and it was a wonderful celebration.

Alright. We had a family reunion in Austin. We are from Russia, and we know how Russian food is supposed to be. We wanted to impress with this good food our son in law, who is an American. He ordered the takeout in his name ( which I supposed played a role in further development). Let's start that the food was not ready at the appointed time, and kids were waiting in the car for an additional 45 minutes. Finally, they brought the food. My husband ordered the fish soup (уха), and we were shocked to see just a can of this soup that you can buy in every Russian store for less price. Can of soup from the store when you ordered a soup from the restaurant? Excuse me? Next, was пельмени, Russian dumplings. Our son in law got 8 of them for $ 18. The dumplings also weren't made from scratch. Usually we buy 100 of them in Russian store with price $10-11 for 2 pounds. The rest of the food also was bad quality and overpriced. And to top it all off was the desert: Kartoshka pastry, which so obviously was taken from the box of 12 of them, and sold 3 little pastries for $ 6 that we often buy in a Russian store in Dallas for so much less price. They are delivered from Russia, and kept frozen in the store. The same was about Bird milk cake ( птичье молоко) ,part of the frozen big cake that we usually buy in Russian store. We were in shock and very embarrassed! It is a shame to the owners of this restaurant!!!

Because of my son being from Ukraine we decided to try this restaurant. We were quite pleased with the food as well as with the great service. I had the beef stroganoff and it was very good. My son had the Hunter plate.It was very good too.We also had the Kiev cake for dessert. Perfect! Bottom line is that if you want a very good meal, go to this restaurant 😊

We decided to do the Anti-Thanksgiving meal and went to Russian House. (They did have traditional Thanksgiving available but that's not why we were there!) We adopted our son from Russia and had spent weeks there during the process. We have a great love of the Russians and their amazing food. We started off with caviar and vodkas and our son got the meat-filled blini. The caviar was amazing. (We stayed with the red, large caviar, not the super expensive black caviar) Then on to the main dishes. I had the beef stroganoff, our son had the beef/pork pelmeni and my husband had the lamb stuffed pastries. Everything was stellar but and it's hard to choose whose dish was the best. The pelmeni were perfect. The stroganoff was much creamier than American versions and it was so rich and tasty. The lamb was also very, very tasty. For dessert, our son got the fruit jam blini- that day's flavor was cherry. It was a dark cherry preserve and there was whipped cream as well! I had the Russian coffee. I would go back tomorrow if I could. If you like Russian foods, you have to come check out this restaurant. It was so good.

This is my first time eating in a Russian restaurant. The restaurant is nice and spacious and clean. Our server, Vlad was very pleasant and helpful with our questions. For appetizer, we had the herring. We were surprised as it was well presented and was very good. Not fishy at all. We ordered a lamb rice dish that was very tasty, lots of lamb pieces and the flavors are excellent! A chicken Tabaka, also very good , crispy on the outside and tender and juicy inside.,and stuffed cabbage, it was just wonderful! Everything we ate was excellent and i will not hesitate to come back and to recommend it to my friends. What a nice experience!

Although I've spent a lot of time in Austin, I had never heard of the Russian House until hunting for a place that was open on Thanksgiving Day. So a friend and I decided to give it a try, and the entire experience was excellent. Dining takes place in the back room, through the bar area. The menu is extensive, with numerous salads, soups, entrees, and desserts. My friend and I had the mors (a fruit drink) to start, along with a sample of the red caviar in the Russian blinis (more expensive caviar is also available). I also opted for the complimentary shot of vodka, which came with a small sampler plate. We then moved onto the soups - a wild mushroom for me and a khash for him. The soups were plentiful and rich. For the entrees, I selected the beef stroganoff, which was rich and hearty, while my friend had the chicken breast. Portions are large, so you might need a to-go box afterwards. For dessert, I had the blinis with fruit jam (other fillings are available), while my friend had the large Kiev Cake. Service throughout was excellent. How good was it overall? We've already booked a table for Christmas Day!

Had planned to celebrate a birthday and made reservation based on the birthday boy's desire to try something new. After being seated, we waited and waited and waited. The restaurant wasn't crowded, in fact only four tables were in play, but we were enjoying our conversation and didn't notice the wait initially. However, after fifteen minutes without a server stopping by the table, we started to wonder what was causing the delay. Another ten minutes and servers are bringing beverages and entrees to other tables while we sit without even a glass of water. Finally, at the half hour mark, the birthday boy called it and we left. On the way out, he stopped to tell the hostess we were leaving. In a calm, modulated voice, he said " we're leaving, we've been sitting for half an hour and no one came." Her response, "okay". Fortunately, there are hundreds of other great restaurants in Austin and many of these are downtown. But thanks Russia House for the lesson - you only have to show me once.

This electric place is a must dine the place settings were charming! From the minute we entered it was a visual for the senses and feast for the eyes and the stomach. The restaurant starts off with complimentary Vodka like they were serving old friends and got better from there. The meals for the four of us were amazing in their own way and the schnitzel was enough for two, tender, flavorful and fun. Hunters platter with various preserved meats was excellent appetizer. They have a lovely wine selection and infused vodkas for every whim! The top off was desserts - we all said we would come back just for the desserts and vodka after a show! I can't tell you how delicious it was but we were all moaning rolling our eyes and swapping plates all night. FABULOUS! Wait staff is attentive and accommodating it was a very special family night.

The (free) starter relish tray comes with a shot of vodka. Nice touch, huh? We split mushroom soup, a salad, beef stroganoff and grilled veggies and there was no room for dessert! Everything was excellent and highly recommended. The veggies were tasty, but more overcooked that "grilled", which is probably more the Russian style. The wait staff all seemed to be Russian and were dressed traditionally. The service was very old world and attentive. If you want a night off from BBQ, definitely give The Russian House a try. You won't be disappointed.

I’m sure there are moments when The Russian House is great and a preferred spot, but we missed it. On a positive note, the variety of infused vodka is awesome! We arrived at approximately 11:50 PM, which some may consider late, others, not so much. The kitchen was closed, not bar food... no caviar, no nuts, no chips, nothing. There were not many people, for a Saturday night, despite there was so many people in the street. Although not crowded, we had to move to the bar in order to be served. The bar counter didn’t appear to have been cleaned and was quite wet and sticky. The staff didn’t do anything to provide a positive memorable experience. For reference, the majority of our group are Russian and we’ve all spent time in Russia. Although probably a great place, I think we just missed it.

Really enjoyed the atmosphere, the food and the staff. Stopped in here to get a late dinner before going to listen to music. I had never been to a Russian restaurant before but had several Russian dishes. It was hard to decide but I settled on the Chicken Kiev. Turned out to be a very good choice, loved it. My wife had the stuffed vegetables. They were very good as well. A little hard to understand some of the staff due to accents but they were very good. We had a delightful and wonderful time at this place.

My daughter has sung the praises of Russian House for over two years, yet I was never too intrigued because I pictured mounds of meat, tomato sauce, and sour cream. Couldn’t be too subtle or flavorful, right? Well, we took her there for her birthday meal and I couldn’t have been more wrong. The food was fabulous! Starting with your complimentary shot of vodka, you would be remiss not to get an appetizer, especially the excellent cold OR hot borscht. The menu beckons with a plethora of cuisines from the old Soviet Union, with a variety of game and tame meats, and fish. I settled on Uzbek Plov, sort of a Uzbek paella, made with fragrant long grain rice, shaved lamb, carrots, and garbanzos, spiced and flavored wonderfully.. My husband ordered the Hunter’s plate, meats and sausages groaning on a cutting board that was accomanied by sweet and spicy fresh tomato sauce. Daughter had the wonderful Vladimir’s Salad, thin leaved lettuce topped with thin cut, sautéed onions that tasted a little pickled, duck liver, chestnuts, pine nuts, and sliced tomatoes, surrounded by a halo of hard boiled egg. She couldn’t finish it was big, so I got to have some! She also had one of the cocktails made with infused vodka (many infused in house). The server was friendly, professional, accurate, and informative. She never acted as if our questions were stupid. Moreover, she picked up on the fact that it was my daughter’s birthday, and as the meal drew to a close, brought the wonderful slice of cookie dough, big enough for the four of us, that I’ve pictured here. A word about the venue- large bar in front, side room with long tables for your office party, dining area is cozy and charming with nesting dolls and a TV playing cheesy mid-century Russian movies, and there are also some smaller rooms in back. Total tab was $135 for a two fisted eatin’ and drinkin’ foursome, very reasonable for the quality and quantity.

I've eaten here several times and have come to love this place. My son loves Russian culture so the first time was just about exploring their food - which is awesome - but what really is interesting is the wait staff. They seem all to come from the Ukraine and they're stories are so interesting, so you not only get great stories but also a glimpse into the culture. BTW, do not be put off by the fact there is a bar in the front. There is a wonderful enclosed dining room in the back that is fantastically decorated at Christmas. My favorite food is the Borshe, Georgian Chicken and the Kiev cake is to die for. I should also mention that every adult is given a complimentary shot of vodka - wow!

We have eaten at the Russian House several times now and always enjoy our meals there. They greet you with bread,salt,pickles and vodka while you study a menu filled with exotic sounding foods. True Russian food is quite tasty and they do not disappoint with their selections. They have so many choices, I never get the same thing twice. Also they have many flavored vodkas to enhance your visit.

I attended an event and it was a bit nostalgic being a Russian Studies major, the atmosphere was very Russian and so was the food. Our designated server was Max from the Ukraine and I was able to put a dab of polish on my unused and rusty Russian. The first thing that I wanted when I arrived was the Moscow Mule, vodka, spicy ginger beer, and lime juice, garnished with a slice or wedge of lime. It is usually served in a copper mug and mine was infused with horseradish. I jumped the gun whilst waiting for my Beef Pirozhki by ordering a dessert Nutella Blini The Beef Pirozhki was great and authentic to enjoy with my Moscow Mule prior to my entrée. My entrée was the Hunter's Plate Platter with salo, pork ribs, kolbasa, and a smoked chicken thigh, served with grilled and fresh vegetables, that paired very well with the House Red Les Beaux Galets. I will definitely return to try some dishes that thee ol' belly didn't have room for. Loved the décor, food, and our server, Max, was absolutely extraordinary who went above and beyond.

If you enjoy vodka and are considered a true "Vodka Connoisseur" then this is the place for you! A variety of infused vodkas to choose from and happy hour items from 4pm to 7pm offered. Definitely try the "Corpse Revivor" as it is not too sweet and enjoyable to have seconds and thirds. It is actually an old cocktail from New Orleans that was well known in the 70s. I suggest trying the peppermint infused vodka shot, the jasmine and honey infused vodka on the rocks and the chocolate infused vodka on rocks or a shot. Their Russian burger is good to enjoy with cocktails. They offer private dining in back room but very limited so call in advance for reservations. I highly recommend coming here for the vodka! Great for friends, certain business meetings and solo enjoyment. ENJOY!!!

I visited here with a colleague of mine and it was so much fun! They have flavored vodkas on the wall and all are great to try - spicy jalapeño, fruity blackberry and even dessert coffee vodka. The food is very Eastern European and is good - not great. I personally would go back just for the vodka and the fact you feel like you are walking into a 1970’s Russian house. Very cool and very fun!

First the service was outstanding and the folks very nice. It was a little slow, but we were in no hurry. The soup (Best 100 American Recipes) is AWESOME! ! ! The potato cakes were also very good.

Just finished reading Midnight in Chernobyl (and watching the mini series) - had to eat Russian (no strontium 90, I hope!). What a trippy place with lots of USSR throwback ambience including tv news clips running continuously, classic posters, and even clothes and hats to don while in the restaurant. Misha the performing bear greets diners at the door. I started with a complimentary vodka, followed by an additional assortment of vodkas. Had the Ukrainian borscht - very good; came with a tasty meat roll as well. Had 50 g of nice caviar - awesome treat! Couldn’t decide on a meat dish so settled for the sampler of four meats - very good. Finished with blini with berry jam. Great service. Delightful evening taste treat.

Great place for HH, appetizers are good and vodka flights are awesome. Also great place for dinner, they have a hidden dinning room you don't realize is there until you do! Great food, best beef Stroganoff EVER.

The restaurant is dirty (linens, silverware, private areas). The food taste was below our expectations. After been in the NYC at the Russian Tea Room, this one is very disappointing.

Please don't be put off by the outside and even the inside appearance of this restaurant. The food is excellent; the vodka better! This is what a Soviet restaurant must have looked like. Extraordinary fun and warm, friendly service

This is one of those cool places you hope to find in every city. Having been to Russia I can attest that the food is very authentic and quite tasty. The atmosphere of the place is very quaint (think your Russian Grandma). Also love the free vodka shots prior to the meal. Lastly don't miss the deserts as they are amazing.

Tempted by stuffed cabbage and pork schnitzel, but settled on beef stroganoff and elk dumplings. Everything was wonderful BUT instant mashed potatoes!!

Food is good - no complaints here. But service... Such a disappointment! I came there to celebrate my birthday with my family, and I was so excited to eat my native food that I've been missing so much. I ordered "Manty" from the menu. The waitress started serving appetizers, and some drinks. 45 minutes later she comes out with the last hot meals for our group except for mine. She said "I'm sorry, but we are run out of Manty, maybe you wanna order something else?" 45 minutes after she took my order, and after she served all meals for my group she tells me they don;t have my meal! Is it normal??? I would not have any problem with that if she told me it right after I ordered, but since it was so late I demanded my meal to be free. They agreed, it was nice, but the experience was already not the pleasant one. And after all of that when we were about to pay our checks the same waitress spilled sauce all over my cousin and did not even notice that! She just turned around and left. After that we demanded to talk to a manager. Enough is enough. He tried to apologize explaining that they were very busy the night before that's why the waitress was tired. Really? They think it is a legit excuse in the service industry??? So after that we demanded also a discount off our checks. They gave us 20% off although it never helped to recover bad service they provided.

I'd never heard of this place, or had any idea what Russian food was until I was taken here on a date. The restaurant has a bar area up front, with the restaurant portion behind it. The décor was very classy and quaint. I felt like I was stepping into another part of the world. The staff was very friendly and very helpful with what to order. The dishes are very traditional, so lots of sauerkraut, meats, potatoes, etc. Very hardy food. We tried a variety of dishes, all of which were quite good. Some we preferred over others, but everything was fresh and well flavored. It was all very filling, and we had a lot of leftovers to take home with us. I'd definitely go back. Their dinner menu was on the midrange to pricey level, depending on what dish you went with.

While we were in town for the Formula 1 races I found this cool, funky Russian restaurant a block from our condo. Such a gem of a find all around. From the moment we stepped in the door it was welcoming, unique decor including the big beast in the bar, dining area towards the back decorated with chandeliers, old photos and memorabilia. The waitress was so very helpful, funny and kind. She brought us a wood tray with shots of vodka, radishes and cabbage as a traditional welcome, answered questions about the menu and made suggestions. The beef stroganoff was out of this world as was the hunters platter and the lamb kabobs. They have 3 pages of different kinds of vodka and a great selection of different types of traditional Russian dishes. The desserts are phenomenal. I highly recommend this unique and wonderful place.

In a area with lots of Bars & bar food, The Russian house has an amazing menu. Also all the different vodka's, you have to check it out!!

Located right next to Antone's, this Russian bar has a variety of unusual and delicious infused vodkas. My favorites were wild mushroom, Christmas tree, and ginger honey. You can get vodka flights for tasting. They also offer food, including beluga caviar! Nice atmosphere and friendly service. Highly recommended!

Easily accessible from the Convention Center hotels, the Russian House brings a little piece of Russia to downtown Austin. I had the Chicken Tabaka--crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. It was served with bread, a plate of vegetables and a shot of vodka. My waiter was very attentive. For those of us who are beer drinkers, they do have an excellent selection of microbrews. This place has an amazing feel--you will think that you are in Russia!

Waitpersons were great. atmosphere was great. My daughter in law said it was like her Russian grandmothers house. you can't beat that. the food was delightful. we will go back.

Among my local Russian girlfriends very good cooks themselves is a very strong opinion that Russian House is overrated, overprized, and having low quality food. But i could not resist my daughter invitation to selebrate Russian Orthodox Christmas with her American boyfriend to show him a Russian cuisine. The night was organized as a party with a buffet service $35.00 for each without alcohol,way overprized & quite poorly maintained with small leftovers on plates in not well presentable way. Pork with buckwheat kasha was either fat & overcooked. Kiev cotlet was poorly cooked, cold, and cut for pieces. If you want to taste real Russian food- go to a Russian friend house. Almost every Russian houslady will present you with MUCH better Russian dinner. Not Russian House😣

Comfort Russian food in a quirky and very fun environment. Katya the Ukrainian server was so lovely and helpful. It was like being at my Baboonya's house, authentic and delicious food in a cozy old school Russian home. The bartender was also great and helped me pick a vodka.

Russian House is Russian house, it hasn't changed over the years nor has the building been replaced by a high-rise (yet). First for the other commenters: Russian food isn't spicy, so if you want a Tex-Mex experience go Tex-Mex, second: the place has a certain decadence to it. If you don't understand that, don't go there. Third: you'll be served like a king if you behave like a king. If you think you deserve to be served like a king without being one or behaving like one, go somewhere else. Pretty much all sophisticated and good restaurants in Austin by now have closed or struggle to pay the ever rising sky-high property tax in Texas. Food quality in town has plummeted in the last ten years. Now food trucks and "hip" is considered "good" food. Steadiness brings Russian House into the upper echelon in Austin. The food tastes exactly like you expect (if you know what to expect). The alcohol is very cheap and abundant, the portions are right sized (not Texas sized, thanks god), you dine in a setting like Grandma';s living room with all the stuff you'd expect from grandma. Great value for money.

This is an authentic Russian experience. The owners are from Russia. The food is amazing and quite filling. Lots of vodka too, of course.

Russian House is as close to true Russian and Ukrainian food as you are likely to find in Texas (unless your grandmother is Ukrainian [or Russian] and you are eating at her house). Interesting restaurant décor-- knowledgeable servers-- sensible pricing-- good quality ingredients for the food. Worth an experiment.

We wandered in for lunch on a Saturday. The bar was hopping, and the restaurant (in the back room, walk on through past old soviet posters, memorabilia and military dress-up clothes) was reasonably busy. The atmosphere blew us away. We emigrated from the USSR in the early 90s and suddenly here it was like walking back into a chintzy, cute, lovingly arranged and unarguably genuine past. There are hokey decorations on the walls, russian movies flickering on TV, and soviet-era music wailing from speakers, and lace tablecloths and mismatched saucers used for serving delicious food. The menu is extensive. I want to come back with a large group of people and try everything! I took 1 star off for a couple of issues that were too authentic: they were out of the dish I wanted (but offered a most excellent substitute), I persistently smelled bleach or something that reminded me of a soviet cafeteria, and it's a little pricy, think $11 appetizers. Still, we had an incredibly pleasant time reminiscing about the olden times in the old country and imagining what it would be like to bring our older relatives here.

I used to go to Russian house all of the time pre-covid. The food is fantastic. I love russian food, and I am glad there is a russian place in Austin. The drinks are great and so is the atmosphere. You can never go wrong eating at russian house even if you've never had russian food before. Try it!

You are greeted with a free vodka shot, sauerkraut and bread board-unusual for a restaurant in America but very traditional Russian! The dishes are large and the menu is huge so if you never had Russian food before, check out the menu online and figure out what you want to try. We had potato Vareniki (amazing), potatoes and mushrooms entree (very good, but very filling) and mushroom soup (great taste, also filling as it comes with noodles and a pirozhok on the side. We made a mistake of filling up on the main dishes and had no room for dessert, which really s the best part of Russian cuisine. If I had to do it all over again, I would share one main course and one appetizer and then have desserts, coffee and try infused vodkas!

Russian (and neighboring countries) food done with great taste and presentation!! My three adopted Russian teens had an amazing trip down memory lane!! Thank you for the amazing flavors and cozy atmosphere. We loved the dinner china, felt like we could be in a babushka’s house💗💗💗 We WILL be back!!!!!💗💗💗

We have been there for Sunday brunch couple of times and really enjoy the variety offered at the buffet. The buffet is not typical buffet with numerous items but the items provided are of good quality. It is definitely a greta experience to have in Austin.

I don't know Russian cuisine, but this restaurant was delightful, fun, the food was "different" but very enjoyable, and the atmosphere was what I imagine it would be in a small Russian city. The dining room is very warm and homey. The amuse-bouche was vodka with bread, salt, and cabbage. Vladimir's salad was cooked meat on a bed of salad. The entrees were great. The waitress gave guidance without condescension. A fun experience centered around very good food.

The restaurant was very dated, with the feel of distressed communist decor. Even though we had made reservations they had no place to seat us so we were shuffled off in a private room to the side of the main dinning room. The walls were floor to ceiling carpets, very odd. The starters of fish, caviar, vinegar slaw and shot of vodka were tasty to my husband and his friend but we're not my cup of tea. Surprisingly the Beef Stroganoff was very good and was in large portion, my girlfriend had the Schnitzel which again was large and prepared nicely. My husband had Schaschlik (Shish kbob) which he liked very well. We tried it, food was good, ethsteics not so great. With so many restaurants in Austin alone, not to mention surrounding area I will not return.

We enjoyed the atmosphere. Everything we saw was clean and sanitary. The waiter was very helpful and brought us complamentery shots, sour krout and bread. All resteraunts should bring you shots to start your meal ;). It took 45 minutes for our food to come out of the kitchen, after we ordered. The waiter let us know that the chicken tabaka was taking a long time. My wife drank a white Russian and we had a great time. We didn't mind how long it took, it passed quickly. The chicken was grilled and juicy, the beef stroganoff over mashed potatoes was excellent. We would come back again.

I’ve gone to Russian House since they first opened. I’ve never had borscht before. The flavor of this dish is amazing. I like the many infusions of vodka they have. My favorite is the ginger. Try the various Russian beers they offer. Their beef stroganoff is superb. They have small private rooms for an intimate Date Night. Make sure to call in advance for one. I’ve read the complaints about service. I been going there for over two years and I’ve never had any problems. It does get busy when there are events in town.

For those of you that posted reviews complaining about the drab atmosphere and sad music. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THAT! It is a Russian restaurant set in a pre-communist apartment atmosphere. And for those that posted how surprisingly good the food is then you need to open your eyes! Russian food is superb! This place is lovely - if you like dull furniture and boring music. But if you really want to sample a bit of culture from another part of the world then you should come here. The blini were fabulous and my lamb main course was very tasty but a little on the dry side. My baked apple was wonderful! My waiter lacked personality but he was fine. I will come here again!

This was a horrifying and terrible experience. We were seated right away by nice front door person, and that was basically the last service we got. Sat for 10 minutes before waiter came. Asked us "what to drink?", then left for another 10 minutes. We tried to ask a couple of questions about some menu items, all we got was ticked off answers from someone who was annoyed he was working. Once we got our order in, we never saw our waiter until AN HOUR later when I grabbed another waiter and said we were going to leave. Ours then showed up out of nowhere, with cold food, it had obviously been sitting for a long time. My chicken was RAW on the inside, so I again had to track a waiter down. He asked me to show him, then he just grabbed it and said "I guess we'll cook it more". He never apologized, was mad I sent back raw chicken, and didn't come back again! I tracked down another waiter, again, and said give me my check so I can leave. Brought me the check, I paid, and then suddenly our waiter showed up to take it back. I will NEVER come here again, terrible service and raw food

I have had most everything n the menu in the 3 years I have been eating at The Russian House. From the Pate appetizer to the Rich Solyanka to the Divine Stroganoff to the huge Lula Kebab - all are wonderful. There is Free Tango every Tuesday starting with a 30 minute lesson (that you don't have to take but is always fun to watch.) with a Milonga (social tango) from about 9:30 - 12. The bartenders are friendly and the infused Vodkas are divine. This is a place to be savored, not rushed through. I go back often.

What Russian House does amazingly well is decor; a very impressive collection of Soviet propaganda and advertisements decorates the bar area and the restroom. It's played up for kitsch but it's really impressive and fun to peruse. The dining area is done up just as you would expect a small Russian kitchen to be...lots of lace, nesting dolls, cozy tables. And the servie is outstanding, the staff are incredibly friendly and take great care of their guests. Alas, the food disappointed somewhat. One does not necessarily think of taste sensations when eating Russian but I still felt let down by the pierozkis, savory blinis, and the Solyanka, a special soup made by the chef. The blini for dessert was okay but nothing really stood out. I probably should have gone for a meat dish or even caviar and frankly I'd like to try this place again...the people were just that nice and I'd like to experience it as a full Russian meal, not focused on the smaller appetizer style items.

We ate here my last night in Austin as it was close to the hotel I was staying at. I had a lavender fusion which had lavender vodka and strawberry vokda in 1 drink. The tastiest cocktail I've had in quite awhile. I ordered the pork schnitzel which was fantastic the potatoes were so tasty and not too salty. My friend had the vinaigrette salad and 2 of their filled pastries for appetizers. I can't wait to come back to Austin to try more items on the menu!

We first stopped in to look at the menu, not impressed by the decor, it was just a bar, and from the looks of it, a very well loved, local bar. Some wooden tables scattered around, nothing special.......menu held everything we could hope for - and more! We ended up heading over around 7:15 - we were led straight ahead to what I called the 'secret door' Adorned in pretty lace curtains, the door opened and a old world dining room appeared. Maybe 12 tables doted the room, tables for 2, tables for 4. While looking over the menu, our waitress put down a small cutting board that held butter, radishes, scallions, bread and - wait for it.....2 shots of vodka, it had to be the best welcome ever!!!! They also boast 115 house made vodka infusions and a very well stocked vodka menu! We toasted, ordered Georgian Chicken Chakhokhbili and the Beef Stroganoff. Outrageously delicious and huge portions. I got mine with homemade noodles and we had the mashed potatoes with the chicken....I wish I could go back right now!!! Noodles were pillowy and the mashed potatoes were really, really good home made stick to your ribs potatoes......I had a shot of cucumber vodka along side dinner, and all was good with the world. Not only Russian foods, so give them a try. They seem to have been there forever, and hopefully will be there forever. So glad we found the Russian House. This should be on every concierge's restaurant list in every hotel in Austin!

This place has food you won't find elsewhere in Austin, wonderful creative food prepared with attention to detail. My Georgian chicken was tender, with a nicely spiced broth, and the presentation was beautiful. We shared an eggplant spread appetizer, and my only slight complaint was that it would have benefited from a more interesting bread (crusty sour dough, or whole grain maybe, instead of very ordinary white sliced bread). Service was attentive, but then, it was a slow night. The ambiance was quaint and intimate, however sound carried and I could imagine that on a busier night, conversation could be difficult. The only parking was street parking or a paid lot. It was a great experience and I will definitely be back.

Went for Christmas dinner and was concerned it would be one of those grim, limited menu holiday experiences. So, very much the opposite! We sampled our way through a full menu starting with a beautiful, silky pate and salmon blinis. The wild boar pelmeni were bite sized pockets of meaty goodness and the broth was rich and flavorful ( ask to go for the broth option!). The plov was a gorgeous complex version of a pilaf with tender lamb slices and the beef stroganoff was the real deal, perfect enough to heal you from the memories of evil cafeteria versions. The Kiev cake and fudge desserts were a perfect ending. There is a wine list but, why go there when you can explore the huge menu of house-infused vodkas ranging from simpler flavors like lavender or beet (both very good) to chef specialties like the smoky barbecue inspired cowboy or the 35 herb version that is much like a Green Chartreuse liqueur without all the sugar. Get them on the rocks to have with the meal. The atmosphere is super fun and casual, with costumes available for customers to wear and a stuffed bear by the host stand. We were in the room with the peasant-style plank tables and benches. The ceiling was painted with floral designs that really set up the atmosphere. Our waitress was super helpful and welcoming. Best, least stuffy Christmas dinner ever!

I would give this a zero, but I can't. When my family came to eat at this restaurant, we were seated immediately. The problems started when they took our orders and we waited an entire hour with no waiters coming to check on us. Once the food finally arrived, my son received the Kiev Kotlet (Chicken Cutlet) and it was raw. One of the most expensive dishes and they served it raw... Seeing that made my husband and I refuse to touch our food. We told the waiter what the issue was and she took the food back to the kitchen. Then she came out with the bill as if nothing was wrong. Do not go here if you want to eat cooked food. Bad service. Bad food. Overall horrible experience.

Great place to sample vodka as well as caviar. Traditional Russian dishes. Eclectic décor. Parking is only street parking and can be difficult.

This restaurant is one of the coolest places I have ever eaten . It has the feel of eating dinner at your Russian grandmothers house. Lace table cloths, stacking dolls, china cabinets ... meals start with vodka shots, rye bread, onion, radishes , salt and saurkraut. I had the cabbage rolls which were great , but a lot of meat and cabbage for me. They do accommodate gluten free and have quite a few options. Definitely worth the visit if you are in Austin. It is a great location , near everything down town. Good food, cool concept.

Right from the minute you walk in, you feel like your in Russia. The evening started off with traditional vodka shots, complimentary. We then grabbed the meat yay and stuffed mushroom for appetizers, both were excellent. For dinner I had the cabbage rolls called Golubtsy, it was awesome! My friend had the Uzbek Plov which was a rice dish he also found excellent. The service was also excellent, hiring only Russian staff it added nicely to the experience. I will be back here again next time in town.

We were staying at Weston across the street and we were planning to go to another restaurant. Trying to do reservation and were told 1.5 hours wait. So we went to Russian House. It had a lot of people inside, but was not crowded. Having Eastern European roots we very familiar with Russian food. The place is serving Russian, Ukrainian and Uzbek food. I have to admit that quality of food was outstanding. Unfortunately we live in Florida and cannot come to eat at this restaurant too often. Décor is trying to look Russian, but sometimes its overdone. Selection of vodkas - come and try yourself - if you can walk out straight after that. Service was friendly and good. Really Nice food and 3 of us really enjoyed eating it.

A novelty to most (including me) that turned out far better than expectations. We celebrated getting together in their private dining room and is was a treat. Starting with the complimentary vodka shot (the Russians know vodka) we moved to the appetizers. I'm not big on Eastern European food but there was plenty of variety that everyone in our party of four found something to enjoy. The attending staff were very helpful in both English and Russian and offered outstanding recommendations. The food was quick, moderately spiced (you can always add more) and a taste of the East. The dozens of varieties of vodka was unheard of by me and most appreciated by those who enjoyed. We finished with good pictures including Cossack garb and headwear for the album. You must try once but you will likely go back.

We loved this place! The vodka selection is like nothing we had ever seen. The beet bortsch and mushroom soups are delicious and authentic. Olivier salad was cold and fresh. Had the schnitzel it was a generous plate. A little salty but great. Wait staff was polite and attentive. Very clean. Would definitely go back again when visiting Austin!

I've been here on multiple occasions, sometimes with fellow musicians after a successful show downtown when we decided to finish the night in style with a fantastic selection of plain and infused vodka's - twice I've eaten here and twice it has been a fantastic evening. I'll review my recent visit since I picked up the bill. Friends visiting from London and one with a Russian sister-in-law she was delighted we picked this restaurant. Met by the large stuffed bear at the door, we were taken to the dining room, decked out in homage to a soviet era eastern European home, complete with an antiquated TV playing 70's and 80's Russian television shows, news and music programs. The complimentary shot of Vodka was (it had to be said a jolt to the system to begin with). We went all out, deciding on mix and match family style...Pirozhki, stuffed mushrooms, eggplant rolls, Ukrainian Salo followed by Manty, whole stuffed trout, potatoes with wild mushrooms and Shashlik. All of it delicious, all served by out lovely Russian waitress who kept the thick accent going all night and all washed down with plenty of beer and vodka. Before we knew it 2.5 hours had slipped by and we left the restaurant with the obligatory photo's with the bear whilst donning some clothing props. I picked up the tab and with tip $180 for 4 people who ate and drank WAY more than we should, this was a fantastic meal. A meal or a vodka onslaught in the bar - this place continues to please locals and tourists alike.

I loved the way this restaurant was decorated. It was funky and weird all while feeling like I am in someone's grandma's house in the Soviet Union. The food was good. The kebab dishes were definitely superior to my order which was pork schnitzel. The app needed to come to room temperature longer as the meat was frozen to the plate. Service was very good and friendly. A cool experience.

Excellent choice of vodka based drinks!;) Outstanding Russian cuisine: Pelmeni, Beef Stroganoff, Lamb Pilaf.

We were looking for dinner near our show at Esther’s Follies, this eatery looked fun. Crowded on a Saturday night but we were able to get reservations. We were a few minutes early so we stopped at the bar to try one of their infused vodkas, tough to choose a flavor!! We were seated at kind of a weird table facing the front window (with our backs to the dining room). We had plenty of table space but it was still a bit unusual.... Dinner starts with, you guessed it, another shot of vodka served with some sort of rye toast and kraut on a plate. Our waitress explained some of the more ethnic dishes and we made our choices. We had some potato and mushroom stuffed pastries for an app which were very good, followed by a beet and pea salad (unique and tasty). For entrees we went with chicken Kiev and chicken Tabak. Both very good, large portions. Prices here are very reasonable. Service was good, albeit a bit slow. Fun and unique dinner!!

We were first greeted with complimentary vodka and appetizer. Very tasty. Just had to have the caviar belongs. They were wonderful. Sweet pancakes topped with salty caviar. The soup of the day was layman, which is too spicy to be Russian, so it must be from somewhere else, but it was delicious. My son had the borscht which was very authentic and tasty. For dinner I chose lamb, he had chicken Kiev both were very good. We were too stuffed to have dessert. Service was very attentive. Menus were in English.

You wouldn't think it (I certainly didn't) but the food is actually very good. Whether having an appetizer with your vodka or a full meal the menu is solid all around. It's a bit of a funky place but don't let that fool you.

It seems that there are two TripAdvisor listings for the same place on E 5th Street, possibly because Russia House has an interior restaurant and an exterior bar area? The restaurant features great atmosphere and food with courteous service. The menu includes familiar items for Americans -- beef stroganoff -- as well as unfamiliar ones -- Georgian chicken chakhokbili and a compote drink. All items worthwhile!

I ended up here on a ghost tour. There are so many infused vodkas and they are delicious. There is also a cool baba yaga doll.

Good beer selection. Just went in for a drinK in the bar and it is tired and dark. Needs a spruce up.

We happened to be walking by. There was no one inside, but it looked really cool and I am part Russian so of course I had to stop in. You immediately see hundreds of jars of vodka being infused by anything/everything you could imagine. You buy a shot and they will mix it with whatever you want. (Soda water is free.)Then I saw a giant stuffed bear (real) and a row of KGB and army costumes. Awesome! Of course I had to try them on and get a photo!

I'd always wanted to visit this place and finally got my chance. First off, If you look at the photos from others, you will see they have all sorts of mashed vodkas. This really surprised me as I wasn't expecting to see so many. I went for lunch and it really wasn't busy so I ended up eating at the bar. I should have gone for the full menu but instead went for the bar snacks. They were ok, but nothing special. So if I were you, I would ask for the full menu and select something from there. Next visit to Austin I plan on revisiting it. Definitely something different

I love the restaurant. It's small and has very attentive staff. I always try to get something new there and haven't been disappointed yet.

Very cool concept. Enter through the typical Russian nightclub, but eat in a separate dining room with white table cloths. Interesting infused Vodka combos, extensive menu, everything very good.

Me: "Hmm, what's different? Sure, this place." Arrived after 9pm so it was the bar menu. Very nice borscht. Shhh, it's better than my wife's Ukrainian aunt makes. The Uzbrk Plov lamb-rice dish was interesting. I thought the rice pilaf carried the dish with flavor. Nice Russian Imperial Stout nitro draft.

We had a simple meal of borscht, salo (pork belly, rye bread, etc) and beef stroganoff with buckwheat and it was perfect. Friendly, fast service, delicious and the prices were very fair. Don’t miss if you have any appreciation for or interest in these cuisines.

Monday features half-price appetizers and half price vodka. We started our meal with standard vodka and sauerkraut. What a perfect pairing. We split for appetizers between the three of us and were very full. To top it off we had dessert inspired by grandma that was delectable!! My favorite vodka was the elderflower and orange infused sweet and savory!! Highly recommend this restaurant whether it’s on half price Monday or any other day of the week simply awesome food!

Authentic in every detail from the photos on the wall, the lace tablecloths, to the best Borsch I've ever had. You are always greeted with a friendly hello by the hostess who walks you through the bar, now doubling as a SXSW music venue, and through the dining room door into Old Moscow. Complementary shot of real Russian vodka, along with radish, home made sauerkraut, bread, and a green onion quickly appears on the table. As the portions are ample, we ordered Borsch and Cilantro salads, along with some caviar as I was celebrating meeting my daughter and her friend. The Russian Borsch here is the best I have had, and that includes New York and East Berlin. The cold beet broth is filled cooked shredded beet and carrots and flavored with fresh Cilantro. And, oh yes, served in a deep bowl. The very fresh caviar was very smooth, with only a hint of salt, and served perfectly in Russian Crystal, befitting its Royal price. All in all, we all really enjoyed our trip to Moscow!

Hundreds of infused vodkas, dress up, and borscht! What a delicious surprise, such a gem! The atmosphere was lively even at 4pm.

Little know bar in downtown Austin!! Huge selection of vodka all made in house!! Great live music and ice cold beer! Fun place with friends!!

This is an interesting place on 5th St - right next door to Antone's and across the street from the Westin. It's about a 5-6 min walk from the downtown metro rail stop. It's slightly confusing when you arrive- there's a coffee/crepe place on the left, a bar in front then the restaurant is in the back- behind both. As you walk in there is a large bear for a photo op and an assortment of old military uniforms jackets to wear. The restaurant is designed to look like an apartment in the old USSR. So there is a TV playing old Russian shows, photos and knick knacks everywhere -even a section with an old vanity that looks like it's still being used. Our server was dressed like a Russian Maid (all the servers wore costumes) and was delightful. A vodka shot along with some bread and typical assorted Russian veggies were brought to the table when we sat down. We sipped the shot- it was delicious- very herbal tasting. They have MANY different vodka infusions to try- including some that were quite out there. The "Cowboy" listed tobacco and BBQ as some of it's flavors! The menu is extensive and has vegetarian options as well as meaty ones. I wanted something light so I got a skillet of grilled veggies and the elk dumplings in broth. They were small and tasty and the broth was delicious. I enjoyed the veggies as well. My daughter ordered the stuffed trout and it was magnificent. Beautiful presentation and delicious. The server did warn us the trout is made to order and can take up to 25 minutes to get to the table. Fortunately we were there very early and it wasn't busy so the food came right out. We enjoyed this place very much.

I've eaten dinner at Russian House a few times and love it. The space is huge and starts with a bar and then leads into a dining room, which is decorated in an old world Russian style. You get a free shot of house vodka with your complimentary bread and they make plenty of infused vodkas in-house as well. I've tried the anise, tarragon and lavender vodkas and loved them all. They give you the option of taking the shot straight or mixed with tonic over ice. As for the food, I've tried the meat plate (appetizer) and the Uzbek Plov and the Pelmeni. All were incredible. Russian House is a one of a kind restaurant and bar in Austin and definitely worth a visit!

I took my Mother, Mother in Law and Husband here before a Christmas show at the ACL. WE always loved the Russian Tea Room in NYC so we had to come and try the fare here. We are SO glad we did! First off they start you with some delicious homemade breads, homemade sauerkraut and their own infused vodka...Heaven! Every item we ordered was cooked to perfection, served correctly and just the right amount of attentiveness without crowding us at the table or interrupting our meal. We all ordered a different appetizer and a different main course and than we shared. Everything, and I do mean every single item we ordered was Delicious! We happened to go during the Christmas holidays so we got to see them decorate the tree, enjoy the festivities in the bar portion but still retain the fine intimate dining in the larger private dining area. If you want to have an even smaller intimate gathering they have private rooms that are perfect and next time I am trying this with my husband! We go here often and I adore everything about the Russian House!

We got shown to our table ... then nothing happened. The waitress left us and didn't come back. Waited over half an hour before we said to heck with this. Gave them one last chance on the way out the door, said we hadn't gotten served. The person behind the podium smiled, said "OK", then looked away and went back to talking to coworker. No attempt to fix the problem or apologize or ... anything. I suppose if you are looking for authentic Soviet era "service" where the staff truly doesn't give a (expletive deleted), then they came close, except they need to work on their glower. The food other people got served looked great. Are they racist (GF is AA), not fond of long haired Austin-y looking folks (me), or just completely unaware of the comcept of customer service? Dunno. Don't care. Never going back.

My wife went with a neighbor for drinks. After about an hour, I called to ask if she wanted to meet for dinner. No answer so I went there to find her passed out on the couch with some man sitting right next to her. I tried to wake her but she was unresponsive. I thre her over my shoulders and used a firemans carry to get her out of there. I walked her down the street this way for about 1 block to my car. She was completely unresponsive for a couple hours. The next day I took her to the doctor because I was suspicious. Sure enough... rufilin. Be afraid of this place ladys!

Awesome restaurant in Austin downtown, it will bring the old Russia vibe to your imagination , from soviet outfit to small black and white TV, to babushka kitchen . About food, fantastic menu, grilled lamb, beef and chicken, famous soup and Olivier Salad and of course Georgian wine .... If you are in Austin you MUST go there .

Stopped for drinks and definitely plan to come back for dinner! The atmosphere was great, the bartender was friendly and informative and the vodka infusions were so interesting and delicious. Can’t wait to try the food! Such an interest and unique little gem!

I was a bit skeptical when I found a Russian restaurant on Fifth Street in Austin, but all my skepticism vanished with the first course. Boiled beef tongue is one of my favorite foods and not at all easy to come by, so I jumped at the chance to have some and it was sooo good--served with a great horseradish sauce. The Salad Olivier did need a bit more salt, but the pehlmeni were the best I've ever had--and I've spent time in both Moscow and St. Petersburg. But the real treat is the infused vodkas. The orange and elderberry one is out of this world--I just wanted to keep drinking it and I think I'm beginning to understand why Russians have a drinking problem. The restaurant was decorated for Russian Christmas and was homey, warm, and enchanting--like a fairy tale!

The service was great - very friendly and able to explain everything on the menu. We liked the variety of options: some small servings and some that were much larger, for a variety of appetites in our group. Very charming dining area: you do think you are at grandma's house!

Went with a co-worker on a business trip in Austin, and I can say this place reminded me of some of the best home-made Russian food from my study abroad days. Yet besides the food, what makes this place stand out is the service: Not only do you get a free plate of pickled vegetables but you also get a shot of vodka. Don't leave without trying one of their hundreds of infused vodkas, pierogi, and salo.

Not a fancy place at all, but there must be 100 different infused vodkas here, all house made. I had two different shots, both were tasty. You could get them in drinks as well. If you like vodka at all, this is a can't miss place!

Love, love this restauarnt. Authentic regional Russian cooking. Staff is extremely helpful if you are not sure what to order. Meal starts off with a "free" vodka flight.

More infused vodkas than you can dream of! Super friendly staff. Authentic Russian food. I will definitely be back!

Good food and fun at this place. We had our own dining room for a group of 5, which made for an even more unique experience. I’d never jd Russian food before, so no frame of reference for that, but the flavors were good and essentially comfort food. Enjoyed it and would go again.

This was our fist time eating at a Russian restaurant and we had a very enjoyable evening. I suggest going for Happy Hour and sampling some of the different vodka shots.

Loved the atmosphere. Great waiter and hostess and the appetizer of sauerkraut and vodka was killer. I asked if they had any better vodka and the brought me a shot of “Siberian” vodka. Holy mother of God. Lol. Very very strong but good. I ordered golubtsy and my husband ordered pelmeni. Both awesome. I loved the tomato sauce on mine. Would love to go back again!

I am originally from Russia and I really enjoyed the food. We ordered a large plate with salo, dill pickles, cabbage with cranberries. My Solyanka soup was full of flavour. My husband ordered Tsar's Uha and pelmeni. Homemade pelmeni were fantastic! For a drink I had Kompot and it was made excatly as at home. Our bellies were full and happy. It is such a pleasure to eat Russian food. Also recommend to try Kvas. Enjoy!

We went for dinner at this place.It was filled with Russian memorabilia all over..from the servers to the channels being played on tv, you sort of felt like u were actually in Russia( havent been but I am assuming this is what it must be like.haha)..the food was good and the staffs are the best! They had some comedy special going on in the bar area but the restaurant is closed off so you are not really bothered by the crowd in the bar area which was pretty huge. Would love to visit this place again when it's just the hubs and me.seems like a fun place for a night out.

This was a really nice meal which afforded us the chance to eat some pretty different things we don't often encounter. Though we have had Czech and Polish food in the more recent past (both similar to Russian food), it's actually been many years since we last had Russian food per se, so this was a welcome change of pace. Set on 5th Street in Austin, we loved the "kitsch" of this place as soon as we walked in. You really feel like you just stepped back in time 50 or 60 years into somebody's manor house in Soviet era Russia. We started with some drinks and appetizers. The Rasputin beer was excellent: a rich, dark brown 9.5% alcohol beer that really had good flavor, a good kick, but was still very smooth. It was new to us and we really liked it. It was just as good as some of the better German, Polish, Czech and even the Belgian beers we have had. We had another drink that was less inspiring but interesting. Forget the exact name (sorry), maybe something like "Medovkah," but it's their mildly alcoholic drink supposedly made with honey and sour cherry. But to be honest, this was just ok and didn't hit the spot for us like the Rasputin beer did, nor did the actual taste profile match up to the ingredient description. We didn't really taste any honey or sour cherry or discern any alcohol content, but oddly, did taste a lot of cinnamon which appears no where in the description of the drink. Anyway, not saying it was bad, just not so interesting to us. But we moved onto soups and they were actually the highlight of the meal. Genuinely excellent, exceeded our expectations for sure. Had their Ukrainian Borsch and their Wild Mushroom soup. Very homey homemade tastes like some Russian grandma was back there making them. Really good. The Borsch was better in our opinion than the Mushroom soup but both were excellent. We would even go back just for the soups, seriously. At 12 and 10 bucks apiece respectively, it's expensive soup, but well worth it to us. The entrees were good but part hit and part miss. The Pelmeni (minced meats wrapped in dough) were good, but I think they actually gave us an order that was mistakenly filled with game meats like elk, deer, or boar instead of the tamer and simpler beef pork combo we asked for, bc I detected a noticeably "gamey" taste to the meat when eating them, even before realizing that game meats were an option. And then I looked back at the menu and saw that these game meats were indeed a choice, and was convinced that was what we had been mistakenly served. Still decent, interesting, but gamey meats are not really our thing. The second entrée was more of a miss, we had the Beef Stroganoff. The beef was obviously overcooked, dried out, too salty, and since it had obviously been overcooked, the cream sauce that accompanies it was separating out, a clear signal of overcooking to people who understand cooking. And we mistakenly ordered mashed potatoes instead of their noodles (should have gone with the noodles), and those were either clearly mashed potatoes from a mix, or just terrible mashed potatoes. So that dish didn't impress at all. But overall, still a great novel experience. Service was really nice, we had a lovely young Server who said she was Ukrainian if I recall. Very charming, very competent and helpful, we liked her a lot. So we will definitely be back

Forego the bland Beef Stroganoff and mushy (but tasty) mashed potatoes, because The Russian House is 'the' pit stop for dessert and coffee - there simply is no restaurant to top the Kiev Cake and Babushka Rosa’s Treat, combined with a cup of coffee that only Russians seem to know how to create.  Their pirozhki is a disappointment - a dry affair, with scant stuffing and a baked, rather than characteristic fried texture.  The management might also want to shed the depressing "apartment" theme and go for a bolder look that highlights their colorful history and culture - and yes, that should extend to the restroom as well.  The service is excellent and the food presentation gets a 'wow'. 

Run down space, bad service, terrible food. Stay away and spend your money elsewhere. Ordered beef and after an hour waiting the food came out uncooked. They even managed to mess up blintzes which we did not eat as they were totally overcooked and hard as a nail. Shame on their cook for I cannot call him a chef.

Russian House reminds me of being in a Russian Restaurant in Moscow. It has authentic Russian Food and Decorations.

As some of the others who have left reviews were doing, we were waiting for antone's to open. We walked in to take a look around comma and the hostess was very friendly and allowed to still walk around and see the place. The atmosphere is unique and makes you feel like you're in Russia meeting with friends in a back room somewhere. They have. Wear if you'd like to wear costumes, and very Russian thing the food. As we already had dinner, my wife had crepes and I had a coffee which were excellent but we look forward to visiting again in the future for dinner with friends. If this was helpful let me know.

Greeted by the KGB black bear as we entered, this was a fun evening with complimentary vodka shots. With lace tablecloths, we enjoyed borscht, cabbage rolls, kebobs - just like Grandma used to make! Delicious food, excellent service, we would love to go for one of their events. What a treat!!

I travel to Austin once a year to attend a conference, and several times I have walked past this place 2 1/2 blocks from the convention center without going in. It had always seemed a little intimidating because I didn't know what it was exactly. This trip I decided to take some friends here to eat dinner, and I'm so glad I did. When you walk in you walk through a large entry way with Russian (think cold war) costumes hanging on a rack for customers to wear for the fun of it. We chose to just eat in our normal clothes. Standing next to the costumes is a large stuffed bear (real) for you to get your picture taken with. To get to the restaurant you continue past the bar and through a large room that is used for dancing. The restaurant is in a room in the back. While looking at the menu our waitress brought out a tray with an ice cold shots of Ukrainian vodka (complementary) for everyone. As an American the food seemed a little unusual, but we all found something that looked good. The food, service, and experience was great! We came back the next night for Tango night and to try a flight of infused vodkas while watching the dancers. I will definitely be back here the next time I'm in Austin.

Very authentic, amazing vodka selection, great food and atmosphere. I had the stuffed cabbage, which is not something I usually go for but I knew it would be great and it was.

We really enjoyed this place. Everything from the food, people And of course the vodka. I cannot wait to go back.

If you want a unique night to spend with feel of Old Russia -this is a place to go to for fun. Variety homemade vodkas and Russian home style cookings. Food and experience great, on the wait staffs they could use some improvings.

Enjoyed our visit to a taste of Russia in Austin. The dining room was a step back into "Aunt Annie's" house with the lace tablecloths and lace curtains. The furniture helped set the time period. The complementary ice cold vodka with the sauerkraut and rye bread was excellent. The house kraut is more like a coleslaw. The 5 of us tried 4 different entries. Everyone was pleased with their choices. The "Chicken Chakhokhbili" had a wonderful sauce. My "Hunter's Plate" was a meat eaters wonderland although I would have enjoyed a larger taste of the pork rib. We shared two appetizers, "Pogrebok" and "Liver Pate" which was a nice taste of what the kitchen can make. The pickled vegetables with the horseradish, herring, etc was more than enough for our group to sample. The variety of infused vodkas were very interesting and tasty. The "Nazdorovye" was a great blend of tastes. I enjoyed enjoyed the sauerkraut vodka while the chocolate infused vodka was a great dessert. Our service was excellent from Olga, a Muscovite.

Yes they have hot borscht. I wish the portion would have been larger. It couldn’t fulfill this man. Lots of infused vodkas which was cool.

Went here for lunch on a Saturday. Almost no one was in the restaurant. Everyone was so friendly and service was great, although it was a bit slow to get our food, presumably because they were cooking it up fresh. Setting is very cool with lots of details and a Russian comedy playing on the TV. Would love to try more of the infused vodkas; I would normally never drink straight vodka, but this was so smooth and easy to drink on the rocks. I got the ‘Cowboy’ vodka infused with cigars, beef jerky, and BBQ- I actually really enjoyed it. I had the potato Zrazy off the brunch menu and it was excellent and only $10!! (Basically stuffed, fried mashed potato balls) I didn’t know what Russian food was but I would say there is probably something for everyone and they will help you figure it out. It is perhaps a bit on the heavy side. The one thing is that some of the sides are lackluster (e.g., canned peas came with my potato dish) but the main food is so good it doesn’t matter. Oh and the sour cream is so good - they must make it fresh, it’s not like what you have at the grocery store. Can’t wait to come back if I’m ever in Austin again.

Fun place to visit. Not very busy during the day. Wanted to see what it was about. Taste of Russian food but it's all really about the different kinds of mashed Vodkas they have on the wall. Go try a few yourselfs

Enjoyed our first visit to this restaurant. The food was mediocre but the atmosphere was very festive and we felt very jolly.

The four of us went on a Saturday night. Enjoyed the wait staff and the look of the place, very interesting. Complimentary shot of vodka before dinner, nice touch to get you in the mood. Interesting selection of food choose, overall the food was decent. Have fun

Absolutely wonderful experience. Countless home infused vodkas, big menu, great service with typical Russian decor. Food was absolutely wonderful - their chef is from my home country and cooked a very particular dish for me from scratch. Their bartender is a wizard with cocktails. Great happy hour. I was there with couple of friends, including Zamir Gotta, Anthony Bourdain's travel buddy. We surely enjoyed our evening there.

First time there - it was our son who lives near Austin - who suggested this place -knowing his Mom and Dad loved experiencing new places. It was my Birthday - big number - and we all 3 will never forget this evening and we can not wait to get back there. Turned out to be my best Birthday dinner ever!!!! Incredible menu selection, incredible atmosphere- incredible exciting large tasty menu items - the best waiter - (named Charles) who easy made us feel like we were at home and so proudly and excited helped us choose various dishes so we could experience the unusual. If I could I would have given this place a 10 star. The value for this evening was also incredible - even had to ask for a box - and very fun and nice with the complimentary Russian vodka shot glasses which we had not expected served while we decided for each course as we ate. Can’t wait to return to Austin again and this restaurant will be our # 1 on our agenda! I have never felt so compelled to write a restaurant review - ever until this time.

This is a very quaint restaurant with antiques and crochet table cloths. The wait staff all spoke with a Russian accent which seemed authentic. From the vodka choices to the soup and stroganoff it was very good. We took our teen agers and they had fun looking at all the memorabilia. The schnitzel was good as well. The Chicken Keiv as a little bland. You will enjoy!

A unique restaurant on the Austin eclectic restaurant scene, came well recommended by friends. Very authentic Russian food, hearty, filling, somewhat simple but you leave there knowing you've eaten and eaten real food devoid of the pretense many Austin restaurants believe is necessary. Maybe it is, to attract the hipsters who were noticeably in short supply at the RH. It could just have easily been on a corner in Budapest, Grodzy, Talinn, or Mokba. Za Sdrovya!

What a bang-up job the owners did on the atmosphere and decor of this space. And the service was over the top. The bar really knows how to make a drink here, for sure!! But. . . really. . . the "food". . . really??! After ordering blinis and a zucchini spread, the "freebie starter" was a shot of harsh vodka, a tablespoon of sauerkraut style slaw, one radish, one slice of bread cut in half that must have been left over from the bolshevik revolution. The blinis were most likely some version of lean pockets gone awry, and the recommended beef stroganoff was a canned soup version reminiscent of that "Where's the Beef?" commercial. Cossack entertainment was a martial arts demonstration. Go for a drink, skip the food & hope for some real live entertainment!

I spent a fair amount of time in Russia and Ukraine, and during that time gained a fondness for the cuisine. Russian restaurants are not quite as common in the States as are other restaurants, so I was surprised and delighted to find one just a couple blocks from the Hilton near the convention center. My wife and I enjoyed one of the greatest authentic Russian meals that evening! The dining room is close to authentic; certainly it has charm, and Sergei, our waiter, was surprised that I could speak some Russian. We began the dinner with a great bread, crudités and a couple shots of vodka. I enjoyed some of the best Ukrainian borscht I’ve ever had, and my wife had some really good pilmeni. We tried separate desserts, which were OK. I wish we lived a little closer to Austin, but we’ll make a point of returning to the Russian House when we return.

We stopped by the Russian House for a quick bite before seeing some live music at Antones. The crepe was average but the service was great!

Interesting take; it's a bar/restaurant, with a small 'house' built inside it. They have fairly decent Russian food, but more importantly, they have Baltika beer! Excellent experience, would definitely come back again.

I went there with my sons, a teen and a tween. We all three were transported to another place and time through the unique decor of the place, setting the ambiance for a fantastic experience. Intimidated at first by an ample menu with dishes we weren't familiar with, we let the kind waitress be our guide. She was super nice and made great suggestions; we loved every single dish, from the borsh (beets soup) and delicious meat blini (a mix between empanadas and eggroll), to the dumplings, beef straganoff and outstanding lamb shashlik. We ate a ton but the dishes were big so we had a lot of left overs to go. Can't wait to reheat them for lunch! Don't throw away your receipt!! It has a coupon for 10%off your next meal. We parked very close, at 600 E 4th St. Safe and relatively cheap parking lot. I highly recommend the Russian House!

The time has finally arrived for a Russian restaurant in Austin and the Russian House does not disappoint. The menu presents a comprehensive list of traditional Russian dishes plus classic dishes of Ukrainian, Uzbek, and Georgian cuisine. The dining experience begins with complementary vodka shots served with black bread. The bar offers at least 40, maybe more, infused vodkas, including the usual pepper, berry, and buffalo grass, but also exotic flavors such as celery, and even cigar. All of this is served up in an ambiance of Soviet and Cold War memorabilia as well as Russian folklore and popular culture. Russian language films play on TV screens. Portions are ample and well-prepared. Go for a fun night of good food and live music with dancing. Russian House is a great place to spend an evening! Повеселитесь и наслаждайтесь!

Yummy Yummy Yummy. We had a great time there and the food was wonderful and the staff was awesome on answering any questions we had about the food.

Spouse recommended this spot for Saturday night dinner. When you walk in, it looks like a gimmick bar. When seated for dinner, you walk past the bar and through a wooden door into what can possibly be described as a grandmother's formal dining room. The staff are very pleasant. You may start the dinner with complimentary vodka shots and sauerkraut. You can order additional flavored vodka shots too. I had the Manty dumplings, steamed, and the chipped lamb and sour cream were delicious. I had the baked apple for dessert and it was a wonderfully natural and fresh dish. I highly recommend this restaurant.

I stop here when I have time to kill between events downtown. I usually ordered the cabbage rolls because the bartender told me they were almost as good as the ones his mom makes back in Russia. Fun to try the different infused vodkas. Staff at the bar is interactive and always nice.

Reservations are highly recommended. When you arrive you can either sit in the bar area with a dance floor or sit in a front room and people watch while having your appetizers or possibly dinner. The staff is wonderful. If you choose, you can dress in Russian costume. Reservations take you into a dining room where there is no noise from the bar. The dinner is served with a complimentary vodka and side. The menu is Russian and soooo delicious!! They also have small dining rooms available if you want to have a private dinner.

My friend and I stayed at the hotel across the street, saw this place, wanted something different for dinner and in we went for dinner. We ate right before Christmas 2021. There was no paper menu. You have to use your cell phone to check the menu. When you want to know about a dish, you zoom in and then when you want to go back to the main menu you lose it and have to scan again. There were around 3-4 table at the time we arrived. It took our waiter (with strong Russian accent) 5-10 minutes to show up. I got a Manhattan and my friend got a Basil Lime gimlet. The Manhattan was strong. I was still high after I got back to the hotel. I ordered the Tsar Ukha (Russian fish soup) and Georgian salad. I asked the waiter if I can pay for some meat on the side of my salad. He gave me a puzzled look and told me "you can only order what's on the menu". I gave up. The fish soup was mediocre, but the Georgian salad was better. My friend had the Elk sausage with sauerkraut and potatoes. It was not bad but not something to brag about either. To me it tastes a bit like American BBQ. Overall, our experience was not so good, mostly due to the service. We also had a reasonable amount of expectation on the food but this place did not deliver.

Our party of eight made reservations three weeks in advance for 7:30 on a Saturday night. We confirmed the reservations mid-week and inquired about parking. (There isn't any, so we paid $10 to park in a parking garage two blocks away.) Imagine our surprise when we all arrived to find that they had seated an earlier party at our reserved table. Russian House just expected them to be finished by the time we arrived, but they claimed the party was lingering. (After experiencing the slow service and haphazard approach to food arrival, it may not have been the fault of the diners.) I just fail to understand the point of accepting reservations if diners must wait 45 minutes for reserved tables to be vacated. While we waited, we each ordered a different shot of the many infused vodkas and passed them around. The entire group liked only one of them and concluded that most of the infusions tasted similar to cough syrup. One in our party ordered a dirty martini, and the bar staff seemed puzzled by that order. It was served in a heavy, cut crystal goblet with a straw. If it's a finely made craft cocktail you're seeking, go elsewhere. Stick with straight vodka; there's LOTS from which to choose. We were finally seated in a very cramped private dining room that looked like your grandmother's dining room from 1940. (It's supposed to be charming.) We were served complimentary shots of vodka once we were seated, but it was unclear if that was due to the seating delay or would have happened anyway. The vodka shots are accompanied by a few dollops of sauerkraut, some radishes, and a few paltry slices of bread that might have been baked when Gorbachev was in power. Our server was also the hostess for the evening and was a Kyrgyzstan native who had moved to Austin one week ago. She was sweet, naive, and ill-prepared for the task of serving a large table and serving as hostess. We had LONG stretches between "courses" (that term is generous because there was no rhyme or reason to the order that plates were presented at our table) during which no one visited our table. The food was not very good, but in all honesty, I'm not a big fan of Eastern European cuisine in general. There are three foods at the top of my "I Don't Eat That" list, and they're beets, caviar, and organ meat. This menu is abundant will all three of those items. The wild mushroom soup will be nothing like the rich, cream based soup you'll envision from the menu description: it's a thin, watery broth with very large boiled vegetables, mushrooms, and an overwhelming amount of fresh dill and curly parsley. The herbs dominated every bite. The overfull bowl of cold borsch (menu spelling) would have served our entire table--that is, if all of us ate beets. It became the never-ending bowl of soup. Evidently it was good...for borscht. Two of us ordered the "award-winning" beef stroganoff, and the meat was too heavily salted and overcooked to the point of being tough and chewy. One diner ordered it with mashed potatoes, but they served it with egg noodles instead. No effort was make to correct the problem. Two ordered the "Manty," meat-filled dumplings, and according to other reviewers the manty can be served in a tasty broth with makes them much more palatable. We didn't know to ask for the broth at the time and it wasn't offered, so the dumplings get cold and rubbery very quickly. I ordered a round of Cheburek for the table, but it was never delivered. One diner ordered the Schnitzel, which was an enormous, dry shingle of pork with no breading or pan sauce, accompanied by bland under-seasoned vegetables. Two in our group ordered the Golubtsy (stuffed cabbage leaves), and they liked their meal. It was well-seasoned, nad the portions were large. Our group also liked the meat-filled blini (when you ask, and you'll have to, they tell you the meat is beef), but when we ordered another plate as an entree the server brought the salmon blini. After we tried to send that back, the manager came to inquire about the problem. She failed to listen to our repeated attempts to describe the miscommunication and declared that what we must've wanted was Pirozhki. When that eventually arrived at our table, of course, we recognized that, no, that wasn't what we ordered. After another considerable wait, the manager returned and proceeded to argue with the entire table that the pirozhki was indeed what we'd wanted. We were so fed up by that time (and the other seven diners in our group had already finished eating their entrees) that we just gave up and asked for the bill with one in our group never getting an entree. About 30 minutes later, the bill arrived. In the meantime, our beleaguered waitress returned to apologize for the mix-up; it was clear she had been crying. She shared that the manager had screamed at her for the error, when, from where I was sitting, it appeared the management had made most of the many errors we'd encountered. At the beginning of our meal, our server agreed to split the tab four ways--one bill for each couple. But the task was so difficult for her (mostly due to inexperience and the haphazard manner in which she was keeping track of our orders), we finally sped up the process by asking her to split the bill into four equal portions. After paying the more than $300 bill, we were finally on our way home after 11:00 PM. I remember learning that decades ago, life in the Soviet Union was characterized by epic inefficiency. If Russian House is trying to recapture that aspect of the Soviet existence, then they have succeeded with flying colors (especially in shades of red). Even the women's restroom was representative: the foul smell of sewer gas overwhelmed the space, the hardware locks on the stall doors don't meet to keep the doors closed, and more than half of the mirror lights were burned out. I'm sure we'll all eventually laugh at the dining experience we shared at the Russian House years from now. Right now, it's not so funny. I will most certainly never return.

At the Hilton for a conference, we were looking for a nearby place that could offer something different. Only two blocks away, the Russian House offered just that. We three ordered the manty (meat-filled dumplings), the chicken Tabaka, and the lamb and rice dish. We enjoyed tasting different kinds of meat from a small appetizer platter...delicious! The side of sauerkraut was different than German style...less tangy, but we ate every shred. For dessert we divided up the napoleon, medovik, and the Nutella blini. Exquisite. Our waiter was Brett, a recent Russian language graduate and a competent, friendly server. The atmosphere is interesting, unique, and just plain fun. We hope to return again soon.

This restaurant is a really interesting place. It is also somewhat of a museum! The first room you enter is the bar with a large dance area. There is also a private room. There had to be over 100 vodka infusions that were obviously homemade with labels handwritten - everything from pinenut to cherry to basil. My friend is married to a Russian, so she knew what to order. Everything was homemade and delicious. I even ordered a caviar appetizer that was really different. I ordered it just because I've never had caviar before. LOL We had several appetizers that we shared and beef stroganoff. The beef stroganoff was really excellent - probably some of the best I've ever had. We were each given a free shot of vodka with bread, cabbage, radish, and salt. The waitresses were dressed in traditional Russian garb. I would highly recommend visiting this restaurant if you've never had Russian food and are curious. There is always lots of vodka, pasta, sour cream, potatoes, and meat!