Russian Samovar & Tolstoy's Lounge

Name: Russian Samovar & Tolstoy's Lounge
Address: 256 W 52nd Street, New York, NY, United States, 10019
Telephone: (212) 757-0168
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7

544 Reviews

$30 and under

Russian

Top Tags:

There is only one way to describe it: Classic Russia in the heart of New York.
The history of Russian Samovar starts well before the restaurant itself. Originally Jilly's Canteen, and owned by a friend of Frank Sinatra, Jilly Rizzo, Samovar was the go-to hot spot for Sinatra and The Rat Pack.
In 1986, Roman Kaplan, founder of Russian Samovar acquired the property and was joined in 1987 by friends and business partners: Legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and Nobel Award Winning poet Joseph Brodsky. Baryshnikov's baby grand piano is still used daily by our performers and guests can still request the Brodsky table, where the legends used to sit and drink away the hours. Guests of private events also enjoy our private dining room, where Baryshnikov filmed Sex in the City.
Samovar has remained a celebrity hangout over the years. We've been lucky enough to feature impromptu shows by Liza Minelli and rumor has it that Mel Brooks adapted The Producers to film while sitting at our bar.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jul 2, 2022

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(212) 757-0168

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Russian, Continental, Eastern European
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–12:00 am Sat, Sun 2:00 pm–12:00 am
Phone number
(212) 757-0168
Website
http://www.russiansamovar.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Patrick Allouache
Catering
We provide catering to your home or office. No order is too small We also provide Kosher catering with certification. russiansamovar.com

Location
256 W 52nd Street New York, NY 10019
Neighborhood
Theater District / Times Square
Cross street
between Broadway and 8th Avenue
Parking details
We have a deal with ARO garage across the street from Russian Samovar. $18 for 6 hours with validation
Public transit
Closest to<br> 50th Street Station ( C or E train )<br> <br> 7 Avenue / 53 Street ( B or D train )<br>
Entertainment
Live Piano Music!
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine

Popular dishes

Olivier$14.00
Chicken, Potato, Carrot, Onion And Peas In A Light Mayonnaise
Vinegret$14.00
Roasted Beet, Potato, And Pickle Salad In Sunflower Oil
Shuba$15.00
House Pickled Herring Diced; Layered with Egg, Beet, Potato, Carrot, and Onions
Eggplant Caviar$15.00
Puree Of Roasted Eggplant, Tomato, & Peppers
Russian Trio$29.00
Olivier – Vinegret – Shuba

Signature Salads

Garden$12.00
Fresh Vegetables Tossed In Vinegar And Oil
Duck$19.00
Arugula, Sliced Duck Breast And Poached Pear
Babushka$12.00
Cucumber, Tomato, And Dill Tossed In Sour Cream
Prawn & Avocado$19.00
Chopped Prawns In An Avocado And Mango Melange
Tomatoes & Bryndza$12.00
Slices Of Feta And Tomato Drizzled In Balsamic
Caesar$13.00
Romaine, Cherry Tomatoes And Parmesan
Crimean$19.00
Romaine Lettuce, Basturma, Olives, Feta, Cherry Tomatoes, And Red Onion
Salmon Rose$19.00
White Wine Poached Salmon On A Bed Of Mixed Greens

Poultry

Chicken Kiev$29.00
Bone-in Chicken Breast Filled With Herbed Butter, Lightly Breaded, And Baked. Served With Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Duck a la Russe$29.00
Crispy Pan-Seared Duck In A Plum Reduction
Tabaka$29.00
Roasted Cornish Hen, Split; Topped With Garlic Butter, And Home Fries
Pozharsky$26.00
Breaded Plump Chicken Cutlet, Served With Mashed Potatoes And A Mushroom Gravy

Fish

Seafood Blinchiki$28.00
Shrimp And Scallop Wrapped In Blini With A Light, Creamy Saffron Sauce
Grilled Atlantic Salmon$29.00
With Seasonal Vegetables
Branzino$32.00
Served Whole Or Filleted With Grilled Vegetables

Appetizers - Cold

Fish Platter$34.00
Assortment Of Smoked Fish And Cured Salmon, Served With Blini
Salmon Blini$28.00
Our House-Cured, Thin Sliced Salmon Served On Blini with Chopped Egg, Red Onion, Capers, And Sour Cream
Russian Charcuterie Plate$30.00
Homemade Roulette, Bastruma, Beef Tongue, And Smoked Meats
Salo$19.00
Thin Slices Of Cured Berkshire Fatback On Toasted Russian Black Bread with Spicy Russian Mustard
Herring$16.00
Fillet of Baltic Herring, Boiled Potatoes And Pickled Red Onions
Satsivi$20.00
A Georgian Specialty Of Chicken In A Spicy Coriander Walnut Sauce
Pickled Vegetables$16.00
Pickles, Cabbage, Cherry Tomatoes, And Apples
Marinated Mushrooms$16.00
Wild Mushrooms In A Special House Marinade
Beef Tongue$27.00
Thinly Sliced With A Spicy Horseradish Sauce
Kholodetz$18.00

Appetizers - Hot

Siberian Pelmeni$14.00
Homemade Veal And Pork Dumplings Served In A Light Chicken Broth
Vareniki$16.00
Potato Dumplings Pan Fried With Mushroom & Onions
Khachapuri$18.00
A Savory Georgian Cheese Pastry
Mushroom and Potatoes$19.00
Wild Mushrooms, Onions, And Homestyle Potatoes
Deruny$15.00
Pan Fried Potato Pancakes
Dolma$18.00
Grape Leaves Stuffed With Lamb And Rice
Pirozhok$6.00
Choice Of Potato & Onion, Potato & Mushroom, Spinach, Or Cabbage
Beef Pirozhok$7.00
Mushroom Vol-Auvent$16.00
Creamy Wild Mushrooms In A Pastry Shell
Kulebyaka$26.00
Salmon Filet With Vegetables' And Herbs Wrapped In Puff Pastry
Pelmeni Stroganoff$25.00

Meat

Karski
Grilled, Marinated Double Cuts Of Lamb In Georgian Spices
- MP
Braised Short Rib$33.00
Tender Short Rib Braised In Port Wine Served With Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Stroganoff$29.00
Strips Of Tenderloin In A Mushroom Cream Sauce. Served With Egg Noodles
Lamb Country Style$34.00
Simmered In A Red Wine Reduction With Peppers And Herbs, Served Over Kasha
Zharkoe$26.00
Beef And Vegetable Stew Served In A Bread Bowl
Golubtzi$26.00

What 544 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Sort by

Filters

MW
MichaelW
New York Area
18 reviews
5.0
18 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a great night! Our waiter, Moon, was terrific and hilarious. Everything from cocktails to salad to main course to dessert was delicious. And we loved the old-school ambiance and piano player.
FO
FromOrlando59
Andorra
106 reviews
vip
5.0
106 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
I came pretty early on a weeknight, but the service was prompt, the food was very Slavic and the vodka plenty. I especially recommend starting with the borscht and herring as appetizers.
RE
RoniE
Los Angeles
66 reviews
vip
5.0
66 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a great find in the Theatre District. The food far surpasses other “famous Russian” restaurants further uptown. Our dinners were fresh, delicious and not mass-produced. Best of all, our charming waitperson shared with us the history of the restaurant, down to the booth we were sitting in. Everyone here was happy to see us, as opposed to the rude uniformed ones uptown.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
overall3food5service5ambience5
Our host brought us a bottle of vodka which he was special for our group. We thought it was comped or at least a reasonable price. It was $350.00 and they didn’t tell us. The final bill was outrageous. I’ve eaten there before and the prices were reasonable. They price gouged us on “Special drinks” and service. There shouldn’t be hidden cost in the bill.
JW
JosephW
New York Area
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on June 24, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Big fan of the Pelmeni and the Kulibyaka here. Was hoping for more flavor from the Stronganoff - more mushrooms - and from the Pozharski cutlet - more dill and onions. The Piroshki, both meat and veggie, were great.
JM
JasonM
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on June 20, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience5
Service was a little slow but on point The food was absolutely amazing
OT
OpenTable Diner
Jacksonville
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall4food5service3ambience5
We had a lovely evening enjoying a cuisine and culture we don’t usually have access to. The restaurant feels warm, inviting, lively, friendly and a bit upscale. The table next to us was enjoying caviar, an assortment of appetizers and flights of flavored vodka. There was live music most of the night. We tried the borscht which was delicious, mushroom barley soup, chicken Kiev and beef stroganoff. The chicken Kiev was delicious and a nice sized portion. The beef stroganoff was tasty, but had a small amount of beef in it. For dessert we each had the Russian samovar tea and shared the honey cake-we loved it all. We would have given 4 stars but the service was really slow. Apparently Sunday night is usually not too busy, but they were packed and not enough staff to serve the crowd. That being said, the staff did the best they could and we enjoyed the live music and atmosphere, we chatted with neighboring tables and really enjoyed ourselves. We would definitely go again!
CJ
ChrisJ
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place is amazing. We used to come here when we lived in NYC a decade ago, and it was top of our list when visiting this year. Pineapple vodka and braised short ribs are a necessity
H
Hawkeye
New York Area
24 reviews
vip
4.0
24 reviews
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
We enjoyed the music and the enthusiasm of the dancers-great to see a place with regulars who put on a show! Food was fine and there was plenty of it!
S
Shelley
Seattle
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on June 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Enjoyed fun cocktails, good food, and friendly service.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
31 reviews
vip
5.0
31 reviews
Dined on June 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Loved it! We enjoyed pre-theatre dinner here and everything we ordered was delicious! Babushka salad, cold borscht, potato and onion pirozhki, chicken kiev, and beef stroganoff - all were wonderful. If I lived in NYC, I would be dining here a lot! Our server, Julia, was also lovely.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love this place. Love the food, entertainment and our waiter (blanking on his name) was a gem. He and I danced between the tables before we left. I must also add that the kids loved it too.
t
theatregoer
New York Area
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on June 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food and service. The chicken Kiev and duck were outstanding.
TE
TxExMonty
Houston
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on June 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic food, service and music!
KT
KtoTheB
San Francisco
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on June 4, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Good value, friendly service, excellent location.
T
Thebeekeeper
New York Area
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on June 4, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Very enjoyable
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
150 reviews
vip
3.0
150 reviews
Dined on May 29, 2022
overall3food3service4ambience3
Russian restaurant but supporting the Ukrainian cause, inspired us to visit this theater district staple. The interior motif could use an upgrade and the kitchen was uneven but anything supporting the Ukraine should be supported.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Samovar was perfect! Our server Julia is a true gem, a New York institution!
AV
AnastasiaV
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best place in NY for commemorating Brodsky's poetry.
JW
JackW
New York Area
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food. Enormous portions.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Denver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Celebrating my daughter’s birthday with dinner and a show. She loves the piano bar experience. Russian Samovar was perfect from White Russians through to samovar tea!
j
jincy1
Washington DC
23 reviews
vip
4.0
23 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
We had a wonderful time. the food was delicious, and the piano player made the evening quite wonderful.
A
Annie
New York Area
105 reviews
vip
5.0
105 reviews
Dined on May 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This restaurant was absolutely amazing. The food was outstanding, service excellent and portions big. There is a piano player who is also excellent. We’re very critical diners & you won’t be disappointed
L
Leila
New York Area
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2022
overall4food2service5ambience3
Good service, food is barely average, great location
PT
PaigeT
Charleston
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We loved this place and we had a tremendous amount of fun! The live music was fantastic!
MV
MegV
New York Area
14 reviews
vip
4.0
14 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2022
overall4food4service3ambience4
A one of a kind experience - terrific food, craft vodkas, music and a good time.
NR
NRDC
Washington DC
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience4
Excellent food and drinks! Great service from knowledgeable and attentive staff. The live music and dancing is very entertaining but can get a bit loud. I have enjoyed coming to this restaurant several times and will definitely be back!
R
Running
Las Vegas
55 reviews
vip
5.0
55 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The chicken Kiev is great. Infused vodka is incredible. Live music nightly. Lots of fun
AK
AmyK
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food and service. Charcuterie board was incredible. The duck and lamb were out of this world. Had fun with the infused vodka sampler. My son had the crème brûlée, which he said was delicious. Lovely live piano music.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing warm atmosphere filled with great food and live music performance.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall4food4service2ambience4
The food was very good. The bus boy was excellent. He took very good care of the table. Wish the waitress was as attentive. Would recommend a trip here for something different when in the theater district. There was a piano player who did a very nice job with keeping the music at a good level that it was enjoyable-not too loud and not too soft. Convenient parking right across the street.
A
Annie
New York Area
105 reviews
vip
5.0
105 reviews
Dined on May 4, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We booked this at the last minute after seeing our show and it was excellent. Best Branzino I ever had & we’ve been to many fish restaurants including Blue Fin. We also had an avocado & prawn salad that was enough as a main course. The service was very good and what added to the lovely atmosphere was the outstanding piano player. Loved it so much we’re going back when we go into see our next show in 2 weeks. A nice surprise. We also must remember that the Russians living in the US are not Putin’s Russians & they feel for Ukrainian citizens. Excellent food!
T
Theaterdiner
New York Area
51 reviews
vip
4.0
51 reviews
Dined on May 3, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience5
Love this place, it’s unique , authentic and delicious
k
krisku
Dallas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Authentic Russian food in a fantastic atmosphere with live music.
DT
DavidT
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
My first time there. Good is wonderful and people are very nice. Looking forward to next time.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
EExcellent food and atmosphere, great service!!
N
Nina
New York Area
39 reviews
vip
5.0
39 reviews
Dined on April 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food is marvelous, the flavored vodkas inspiring, and the service charming. There is live music, which adds fun to the colorful decor. Moon is the best host and server in NYC. When Baryshnikov was on Sex and the City, he brought Carrie on a date here. Wonderful place.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
Anniversary
KT
KellyT
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was excellent! Drinks were also great! Clean, friendly staff and great ambiance!
DT
DowntownTim
Miami
45 reviews
vip
5.0
45 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
The food is fantastic. I mean really fantastic. I’ve eaten at dozens of Russian restaurants over the years. This would be in the top 2. Very festive environment. Very loud Russian music/ piano player & singer. Lots of celebrating and people, festive dancing. Our waiter was charming and fun. I can’t wait to go back

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Russian Samovar & Tolstoy's Lounge offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (212) 757-0168.

Russian Samovar & Tolstoy's Lounge is rated 4.7 stars by 544 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jul 2, 2022

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(212) 757-0168

Google Map for Russian Samovar & Tolstoy's Lounge

256 W 52nd Street New York, NY 10019

Additional information

Cross street
between Broadway and 8th Avenue
Neighborhood
Theater District / Times Square
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–12:00 am Sat, Sun 2:00 pm–12:00 am
Cuisines
Russian, Continental, Eastern European
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
We have a deal with ARO garage across the street from Russian Samovar. $18 for 6 hours with validation
Public transit
Closest to 50th Street Station ( C or E train ) 7 Avenue / 53 Street ( B or D train )
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Patrick Allouache
Entertainment
Live Piano Music!
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine

Website
http://www.russiansamovar.com/
Phone number
(212) 757-0168
Catering
We provide catering to your home or office. No order is too small We also provide Kosher catering with certification. russiansamovar.com

Russian Samovar & Tolstoy's Lounge

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information

Chicken Kiev

Beef Stroganoff

Borscht

Soups

Borscht$13.00

Gribnoi$14.00

Frikadelka$11.00

Seasonal

Traditional Russian Salads

Olivier$14.00

Vinegret$14.00

Shuba$15.00

Eggplant Caviar$15.00

Russian Trio$29.00

Signature Salads

Garden$12.00

Duck$19.00

Babushka$12.00

Prawn & Avocado$19.00

Tomatoes & Bryndza$12.00

Caesar$13.00

Crimean$19.00

Salmon Rose$19.00

Poultry

Chicken Kiev$29.00

Duck a la Russe$29.00

Tabaka$29.00

Pozharsky$26.00

Fish

Seafood Blinchiki$28.00

Grilled Atlantic Salmon$29.00

Branzino$32.00

Appetizers - Cold

Fish Platter$34.00

Salmon Blini$28.00

Russian Charcuterie Plate$30.00

Salo$19.00

Herring$16.00

Satsivi$20.00

Pickled Vegetables$16.00

Marinated Mushrooms$16.00

Beef Tongue$27.00

Kholodetz$18.00

Appetizers - Hot

Siberian Pelmeni$14.00

Vareniki$16.00

Khachapuri$18.00

Mushroom and Potatoes$19.00

Deruny$15.00

Dolma$18.00

Pirozhok$6.00

Beef Pirozhok$7.00

Mushroom Vol-Auvent$16.00

Kulebyaka$26.00

Pelmeni Stroganoff$25.00

Meat

Karski

Braised Short Rib$33.00

Stroganoff$29.00

Lamb Country Style$34.00

Zharkoe$26.00

Golubtzi$26.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

Does Russian Samovar & Tolstoy's Lounge offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Russian Samovar & Tolstoy's Lounge restaurant rated?

Is Russian Samovar & Tolstoy's Lounge currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout