Mari Vanna is a Russian restaurant in the Gramercy-Flatiron area offering house made classic Russian foods. I happen to stop there recently with a friend familiarizing me with her company, Russian Standard vodka.

We started with shots of the infused vodkas all made with Russian Standard vodka — hot horseradish and somewhat sweet pepper (as it was from bell, not black peppers), at $10 a shot. We did so while nibbling the sliced bread, served with regular and parsley-chive butter.

We then compared Russian Standard original, gold, platinum and their Imperia brand, learning that each one has a completely unique flavor profile. The word vodka comes from the Russian word voda, water. Each Russian Standard tastes different from the other, with the Gold having a hint of the refreshing ginseng used in its creation.

We shared Borscht — the “masterpiece of Russian cuisine” — the traditional and flavorful beet and other veggie soup with tender beef ($12). Not to be missed.

Also classic is the Oliver salad, a potato salad with pickled veggies bound with a touch of sage mayo topped with a quail egg ($12), and — of course — another traditional dish – house made blinis (thin buckwheat pancakes)  topped with red caviar ($22) with the quintessential accompaniments of chopped egg, sour cream and diced red onion.

The whole boneless sesame-crusted baked trout was tender and flaky, and accompanied by thick rosemary potato wedges ($28).

This is the place to go for Russian cuisine.

– bonnie

Follow Me on Pinterest

Mari Vanna Restaurant
Мари Vanna
41 E 20th St
New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-1955
www.marivanna.ru/ny/‎
Mari Vanna on Urbanspoon