We finally made it to one of Manhattan’s most legendary dining rooms: the Russian Tea Room on 57th Street. Our yearly tradition of hitting a well-known NYC institution brought us here for a late dinner (sadly, no time for the famous High Tea!).
The Vibe: Stepping inside is a truly transportive experience. The interior is everything you hear: ornate, elegant, and dripping with vibrant colors—a dazzling clash of ruby red, emerald green, and 24-karat gold leaf (a look largely cemented by a huge renovation in the late 90s). Seated in a plush booth, facing the grand center, you feel the weight of history—this is a place where legends from Carnegie Hall, Hollywood, and Broadway have gathered for decades. We enjoyed looking at the artwork on the walls.
A Bit of History: The Russian Tea Room was founded in 1927 by members of the Russian Imperial Ballet, who settled in New York after the Russian Revolution. It quickly became a sanctuary and gathering spot for Russian émigrés and the cultural elite. It’s been immortalized in films like Tootsie and Manhattan, cementing its status as a New York City landmark.
The Reality Check: Despite the legendary status, we were surprised by how empty the dining room was for dinner. I was happy they spread us out. The experience confirmed what many suspect: this is a classic case of a restaurant living entirely on prior reputation. The service was polite but unremarkable, and the food… well, it was mediocre for the prices charged.
The Food: We tried to embrace the “Russo-Continental” menu, starting with the excellent sourdough starter bread. The entrees were good plenty of flavor, but not at an amazing level I had thought it would be, they aren’t trying to be close to a Michelin star restaurant. We split a dessert and it was very good, the best part of the evening.
- The Boeuf à la Stroganoff: The red wine-braised beef short ribs served with thick egg noodles and a creamy mushroom and black truffle cream sauce.
- Vegetarian Wellington: A vegetarian version of the classic Beef Wellington-style pastry.
Our Final Verdict: Overrated. The atmosphere is undeniable but nothing about it justified the bill. We’re glad we checked it off the NYC bucket list, but we won’t be back.
The views expressed in this post are my personal ones; your experience may differ. No goods or services were given in exchange for the review.
Date of visit: February 2024