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The history of Russian Samovar starts well before the restaurant itself. Originally Jilly’s Canteen, and owned by friend of Frank Sinatra, Jilly Rizzo, Samovar was the go to hot spot for Sinatra and The Rat Pack. In homage to Sinatra, Johnny Carson, and the good old boys, we decided to maintain the original red banquettes from back in those days. We also preserved the original bar as featured in The Manchurian Candidate and even unearthed original artwork from the talented people who frequented Jilly’s before we were fortunate enough to acquire this landmark location.
Russian staples & infused vodkas are served at this longtime eatery that hosts live piano music.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 256 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 757-0168
Website: http://www.russiansamovar.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: restaurent.com
Photo Gallery
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Reviews
YaroslaV
An amazing place. Festive decorations, a very cozy atmosphere, excellent Slavic cuisine, and highly professional service. I especially want to highlight the unique and memorable presentation of the cocktails. In short — a fantastic restaurant. Definitely worth visiting, especially during the holiday season.
… moreArisa Chuklin
Great food great cocktails but definitely on the pricier side.
The beef stroganoff stuck out to me and I really liked the cucumber gimlet
We got reservations just in case but you might get seats if u walk in
Best part is it’s near the Wicked Theater which makes it a great pre Broadway meal
… moreThe beef stroganoff stuck out to me and I really liked the cucumber gimlet
We got reservations just in case but you might get seats if u walk in
Best part is it’s near the Wicked Theater which makes it a great pre Broadway meal
Andrew Wing
I’ll be straight with y’all. This place starts going downhill before you even walk in. The sign outside is dirty and run-down, and that already sets the tone.
In the entryway, there were people smoking and clearly drunk, blocking the way and not bothering to move for paying customers. Not exactly a warm welcome.
Inside, it’s cramped beyond belief. The aisles between tables are so narrow it feels like a nightmare if you’ve got even a hint of claustrophobia. Tables are packed in tight just to squeeze out more profit, and it shows. Comfort and safety clearly aren’t a priority here.
The bathrooms deserve special mention — and not in a good way. They were extremely dirty and unhygienic. Strong odor, overflowing trash bins full of used paper, visible grime everywhere. This is completely unacceptable for a restaurant and honestly pretty shocking for New York.
Service was painfully slow. The person taking our order didn’t seem like a trained server and tried to memorize everything instead of writing it down — which, unsurprisingly, led to mistakes.
The borscht came out lukewarm and unpleasant. The dumplings had gristly meat inside and were basically inedible. We asked for hot coffee and were served hot water with jam.
Cocktails all came out the same, poorly poured, and clearly short. Not good at all.
The music was way too loud, the sound system poorly tuned, with constant feedback that hurt your ears. The playlist was repetitive and intrusive — zero restaurant atmosphere, more like a badly managed noise show.
❗️❗️❗️Worst part: the staff member repeatedly touched us while talking — unnecessary physical contact, overly familiar behavior. That made us extremely uncomfortable. That kind of conduct is not okay anywhere, especially in a restaurant.
Bottom line: our evening was completely ruined.
Looks like whatever reputation this place had back in 1986 is long gone.
I won’t be coming back, and I sure won’t be recommending it to friends. Truth be told, this is a dirty, uncomfortable, and poorly run establishment that seriously needs to get its act together
PS. I’ve been to hundreds of restaurants over the years, in different cities and countries, and I rarely leave reviews at all. This is the first time I’ve ever felt the need to write something this negative. Even now, I still feel uncomfortable thinking about the experience.
… moreIn the entryway, there were people smoking and clearly drunk, blocking the way and not bothering to move for paying customers. Not exactly a warm welcome.
Inside, it’s cramped beyond belief. The aisles between tables are so narrow it feels like a nightmare if you’ve got even a hint of claustrophobia. Tables are packed in tight just to squeeze out more profit, and it shows. Comfort and safety clearly aren’t a priority here.
The bathrooms deserve special mention — and not in a good way. They were extremely dirty and unhygienic. Strong odor, overflowing trash bins full of used paper, visible grime everywhere. This is completely unacceptable for a restaurant and honestly pretty shocking for New York.
Service was painfully slow. The person taking our order didn’t seem like a trained server and tried to memorize everything instead of writing it down — which, unsurprisingly, led to mistakes.
The borscht came out lukewarm and unpleasant. The dumplings had gristly meat inside and were basically inedible. We asked for hot coffee and were served hot water with jam.
Cocktails all came out the same, poorly poured, and clearly short. Not good at all.
The music was way too loud, the sound system poorly tuned, with constant feedback that hurt your ears. The playlist was repetitive and intrusive — zero restaurant atmosphere, more like a badly managed noise show.
❗️❗️❗️Worst part: the staff member repeatedly touched us while talking — unnecessary physical contact, overly familiar behavior. That made us extremely uncomfortable. That kind of conduct is not okay anywhere, especially in a restaurant.
Bottom line: our evening was completely ruined.
Looks like whatever reputation this place had back in 1986 is long gone.
I won’t be coming back, and I sure won’t be recommending it to friends. Truth be told, this is a dirty, uncomfortable, and poorly run establishment that seriously needs to get its act together
PS. I’ve been to hundreds of restaurants over the years, in different cities and countries, and I rarely leave reviews at all. This is the first time I’ve ever felt the need to write something this negative. Even now, I still feel uncomfortable thinking about the experience.
Ben
The atmosphere is something out of a mob/gangster movie. Very dim light very cool. The food was great! The cheese bread is a must when you come here. The Moscow mule was the best I’ve ever had. Shislik was mid at best. Very Russian style
… moreMikhial podgayetsky
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We recently celebrated my brother’s birthday with a private party at Russian Samovar in Manhattan, and I can honestly say it was one of the most unforgettable nights we’ve ever had. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was electric, warm, welcoming, and filled with that unique energy only this place can create.
The live music set the perfect tone for the evening, upbeat, soulful, and full of life. Between the laughter, the dancing, and the clinking of glasses, it felt like we were transported straight into a celebration somewhere in the heart of Eastern Europe. People were smiling, singing, and having the time of their lives, and the energy was absolutely contagious.
And the food… just wow.
Every single dish was a masterpiece, beautifully prepared, rich in flavor, and full of that homemade authenticity that’s so hard to find. From the appetizers to the main courses, every bite was a reminder of how much love and tradition goes into the cooking here.
The staff went above and beyond, professional yet so personable, treating us like family and making sure every detail was perfect. They handled everything effortlessly so we could focus on celebrating, eating, and dancing the night away.
By the time we looked at the clock, it was 3AM and none of us wanted to leave. We laughed, sang, and toasted to life, friendship, and family, exactly what a birthday should be.
Russian Samovar isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience.
If you’re looking for a place that captures the heart, soul, and spirit of true celebration, this is it.
We’ll definitely be back, not just for the food, but for the feeling this place gives you.
… moreWe recently celebrated my brother’s birthday with a private party at Russian Samovar in Manhattan, and I can honestly say it was one of the most unforgettable nights we’ve ever had. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was electric, warm, welcoming, and filled with that unique energy only this place can create.
The live music set the perfect tone for the evening, upbeat, soulful, and full of life. Between the laughter, the dancing, and the clinking of glasses, it felt like we were transported straight into a celebration somewhere in the heart of Eastern Europe. People were smiling, singing, and having the time of their lives, and the energy was absolutely contagious.
And the food… just wow.
Every single dish was a masterpiece, beautifully prepared, rich in flavor, and full of that homemade authenticity that’s so hard to find. From the appetizers to the main courses, every bite was a reminder of how much love and tradition goes into the cooking here.
The staff went above and beyond, professional yet so personable, treating us like family and making sure every detail was perfect. They handled everything effortlessly so we could focus on celebrating, eating, and dancing the night away.
By the time we looked at the clock, it was 3AM and none of us wanted to leave. We laughed, sang, and toasted to life, friendship, and family, exactly what a birthday should be.
Russian Samovar isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience.
If you’re looking for a place that captures the heart, soul, and spirit of true celebration, this is it.
We’ll definitely be back, not just for the food, but for the feeling this place gives you.
Vanessa M.
This is the best Russian restaurant in all of NYC. Their food is authentic & fresh. We tried the Borschtini & the Soviet Standard cocktails which were amazing. Their infused vodka is a must try. We will definitely come back!
… moreMahmoud Adel
This restaurant was recommended by my Russian speaking friend a famous math magician Oleg Roitman aka The Human-Computer. I was astonished how authentic the restaurant with great cozy vibe and every table has a story with its regular famous patron. The food was scrumptious made with fresh ingredients, Every dish was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented with incredible flavour. The staff were incredibly attentive and friendly. They made us feel welcomed. Our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and made excellent recommendations. The food arrived quickly and everything was perfect.
Definitely I recommend this restaurant.
… moreDefinitely I recommend this restaurant.
Colin “Colin Chase” Wellshear
I met a Russian girl so I took her here for our first date…. and.. im blown away. I had an exceptionally good time here, and I loved the Georgian wine.
… moreDumitrita Paladi Contes
It was a fun experience. I had a delicious shuba salad, but both pirozhki weren’t authentic and too soggy, and the borscht tasted more like solyanka, I wouldn’t order it again. The bartender Gishan was friendly and mixed two delicious White Russian cocktails for me. I felt bad for him when a Russian customer started making fun he doesn’t speak Russian and ordered in a very nonchalant manner. Then it got very busy for a Tuesday night and the staff seemed stressed handling the crowd. The live music was enjoyable although when it got noisy, you could barely hear it. And the bathroom area has a serious cleanliness problem. I doubt I will be coming back.
… moreL.
+ You can get $25 off your bill using the link on my profile.
We loved the deco and the cultural vibe in the restaurant — they even had a Russian cartoon on the TV screens, which was fun. They also had a Ukranian flag hanging by the bar which I felt was thoughtful of them with everything going on. The bartender welcomed us very warmly and gave us recommendations including which plates pair with which drinks, although we’d already had dinner so we weren’t able to try out the food. While the cocktails didn’t suit our palate completely, they tasted very intriguing, and it was fun to hear about which cocktails are commonly had in which situations. I want to go back to try the food, which looked a little pricier from a brief skim, but also sounded intriguing.
… moreWe loved the deco and the cultural vibe in the restaurant — they even had a Russian cartoon on the TV screens, which was fun. They also had a Ukranian flag hanging by the bar which I felt was thoughtful of them with everything going on. The bartender welcomed us very warmly and gave us recommendations including which plates pair with which drinks, although we’d already had dinner so we weren’t able to try out the food. While the cocktails didn’t suit our palate completely, they tasted very intriguing, and it was fun to hear about which cocktails are commonly had in which situations. I want to go back to try the food, which looked a little pricier from a brief skim, but also sounded intriguing.