Cafe Glechik on Coney Island Ave.

[oakjoan]

We were visiting friends in Brooklyn earlier this week and they took us to Cafe Glechik at
3159 Coney Island Avenue.

We met them there after we walked from the subway. On the way we asked directions of a small woman in a huge fur hat, carrying bags of groceries. She lit up immediately "Cafe Glechik?! All kinds pulmeni! All delicious pulmeni, very good price!

She was right. We had a couple of kinds of pulmeni and some wonderful mushroom and onion vareniki. The other 3 had green borsch and I had red. The green was quite subtle and contained a good amount of sorrel - delicious. The red, however, was truly outstanding! Cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, beets! I could have eaten 2 bowls.

Pickled watermelon, tomatoes and cukes were brought to the table as we sat down. Very nice and refreshing in contrast to the dumplings.

We had the sour cherry pulmeni for dessert and they were also really good. They were sweet and sour. I'm going to attempt to attach some photos of our feast. Unfortunately, we were too engrossed in wolfing down the sour cherry pulmeni and all I got was a photo of the leftovers. The gooey melted cheese pulmeni in the ramekin was great.

The only gripe I have is that we'd been looking forward to a visit to the Georgian Bread Bakery on Neptune, but we were meeting our friends at Cafe Glechik and didn't have time. We drove by after dinner but it was closed up tighter than a drum. Sigh.

[foodiemom10583]

Such great food! I think we had the lamb pelmeni in butter. Even their fries were amazing: crispy, thin-cut, and covered with garlic. We also had a fruit-filled, sour cherry punch (think grown-up Hi C) that was perfect to cut the richness our meal. Service was dismissive at first, but warmed up after a while. BTW, parking sucks. However, the Brighton Beach subway stop or the B68 will leave you almost on their doorstep. It's a must-try.

[erica]

I wonder if that punch was the "compote?" The lamb pelmeni sound right up my alley, too! I can't wait to go back and sample other dishes. It should be a great way to spend an early summer night..begin with a boardwalks stroll and then a meal here..

The waiter told me that the cabbage vereniki were filled only with cabbage and there was no onion. So how do they get that deep brown color and that sweetness?

Wonder if M&I has much more competition now than years ago? Or perhaps their prices are higher than those of competitors? There were only a handful of shoppers in that vast space when I was there...

Anyone know where to buy good chocolate babka in the area? (fresh, not in a package)

[foodiemom10583]

YES! It was the compote! It had very little relation to what I know as a compotes save for the fruit, but it was pretty great. Would've been even better with the addition of a good-quality Russian vodka....

[prunefeet]

Oh man, this is going high up on my list. Thanks for the great post. I'm crazy about pickled watermelon too, and have not had it in many years...

[erica]

Just wanted to comment that I had lunch here yesterday and the cabbage varenikis ($7.50; topped with very browned onion slices) sent my friend and I into a near swoon. Ask for sour cream on the side. Portion is plenty for 2 people.

We also enjoyed the Cold Eggplant Salad; beware that this on on the sweet side. You can buy similar to take home at any one of many food shops along Brighton Beach Avenue.

Red Borscht was also very good.

Contrary to reports I've read elsewhere, service was decent. Just a few steps north from the subway on Coney Island Avenue. Take a stroll on the boardwalk (interesting sight: scantily dressed men beating themselves on the legs and torso with long-handled brushes. (Or maybe they were fly swatters) ) and come for lunch.

The restaurants is but a 10-minute walk from that other obligatory neighborhood stop, GEORGIAN BREAD, on Neptune Avenue. Talk about swooning! This hole-in-the-wall is a treasure.

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2011/06/good-bread-georgian-bread.html

http://glechik.com/menu2012.html

Earlier thread on the area with info on food shopping:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/410538

Curiously, M&I International, the Russian mega-food emporium on BBBoulevard, was all but deserted on a Thursday afternoon, while other food shops (there are so many now) looked busy enough.

[missmasala]

Have been meaning to try Glechik for years but haven't gotten there. Gonna try soon, though, because cabbage varenikis sounds right up my alley.
I totally love Georgian bread, but have gone a couple of times when they literally haven't had anything but bread (No salads or Khachapori), which can be frustrating if you wanted the other stuff, too.
Went in M&I a few months ago and also noticed that it seemed deserted and poorly stocked. I assumed that it was in a sort of "closing down" phase, so am surprised that it's still open. Does anyone have the story on M&I?

[ryan]

I went yesterday with a Ukranian friend and was really impressed. Yummy kabobs, awesome Borscht, and the Glechik Stew was tasty.