There are a handful of standout Ukrainian restaurants in New York City—none probably better known than East Village legend Veselka—but there’s a new kid on the block that’s putting a New Yorkified spin on things.
Slava, at the iconic Pegu Club space in Soho, has been dishing out fluffy chicken Kyiv sandwiches, Ukrainian caprese, and borscht cocktails (yes, you read that right!). The restaurant celebrates all things Ukraine: Ruby-hued booths are evocative of borscht, Eastern European bops play in the background, Ukrainian artist Kateryna Lisova’s paintings and murals adorn the walls (and can be purchased), and sunflowers, a symbol of resistance against Russia’s ongoing invasion, dot all the wooden tables.
Given the hardship Ukrainians are facing right now, Slava has also become a place of refuge. “We aim to give a sense of community, belonging, and safety to the Ukrainian people of New York, but also to showcase the amazing culture and food to non-Ukrainian people,” says Josh Spiezle, a partner at Slava.
With the restaurant nearly a year into its opening, there’s no better time to visit. Here are five reasons to dine at Slava right now.
1. Dishes that marry Ukrainian staples with NYC favorites
Buttery chicken Kyiv is a longtime Ukrainian classic, and Slava has upped the dish’s richness by sandwiching a deep-fried cutlet in a fluffy bun with butter, herbs, cheese, and aioli. Another highlight is the caprese salad with sliced tomatoes, grated brynza cheese (a Ukrainian sheep milk cheese), and a refreshing dill sorbet. Plus, the house ceviche has thinly sliced flounder with garlic and chives served alongside a traditional Ukrainian potato pancake topped with crispy onions and salmon roe. “This is a way of making the culture more understandable with an innovative presentation of Ukrainian cuisine,” Spiezle says.
2. Cool cocktails you’ll want again and again
Slava’s signature cocktail, the Clarified Borscht Cocktail (CBC), is like an Eastern European bloody mary. Co-owner Nazar Hrab swapped tomato juice and vodka with a fresh dill-topped beet and vodka creation that’s just as much a visual delight as it is a drink worth savoring slowly. The gin-based Pegu Club cocktail is a nod to both the iconic bar that previously occupied the space and the historic gentleman’s club in Myanmar, where the drink gets its name from. Hot tip: Slava serves $10 happy hour cocktails, wines, and $5 beers on weekdays from 5 pm to 7 pm.
3. A chef with some serious industry cred
Chef Pavlo “Pasha” Servetnyk won Ukraine’s MasterChef: The Professionals in 2019 following gigs at three-MICHELIN-starred El Celler de Can Roca in Spain and two-MICHELIN-starred Gaggan in Bangkok. Like most of his colleagues at the restaurant, Servetnyk left his home country following the Russian invasion and moved to New York last year. Back in Kherson, Ukraine, Servetnyk distributed 500,000 loaves of bread to local residents from his restaurant before he left.
4. Varenyky you’ll want to take home
All of the classic, plump Ukrainian dumplings at Slava are prepared by hand and come with a unique, colorful twist. The varenyky are dyed based on the color of their stuffings—think a cute green hue for the cabbage-stuffed creations. Meat, potato, cabbage, and cherry varenyky are all sold to go at $45 for 25 dumplings.
5. Dining that supports a cause
Twenty percent of proceeds from the sale of the borscht cocktail and the takeaway varenyky are donated to Revived Soldiers Ukraine, a non-profit that provides medical aid to Ukrainian soldiers and their families. “Slava’s concept was in motion before the war in Ukraine started,” Spiezle says. “Now with the Ukrainian diaspora, Slava has an elevated importance to the employees and guests.”
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner is a writer based in Brooklyn, where she lives with her wife and rescue dog. You can follow her on Instagram @melissabethk and Twitter @melissabethk
