Where can I get truly authentic Russian food in the Boston area???

[sherimabob]

I am trying to find out about my background through its food. There are a few places I had in mind, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions? I would really like a truly authentic place. No "fusion" places.
Thanks for your help!!

[grant.cook]

Hmmm.. I don't know the cuisine well, but in the Allston/Brighton area, you've got Berezka and Bazaar - eastern european groceries, and there's a small Polish section on Dorchester Ave (Cafe Polonia) that might have something up your alley.

[tatsu]

You should hit Baza Market in Newton Highlands, hidden behind Filene's basement. Go around 11, 11:30 in the morning and sample the hot bar, it's pretty great and cheap at 7.95 a pound or so. Pretty good market over all, the "H-Mart" or "C-Mart" of Russian stores, which isn't exactly a compliment, but the hot bar looks good honestly, and it isn't that huge a company in comparison to the Asian chains. I guess the comments here are that the groceries are not so cheap but the produce is dirt cheap. I'm not terribly price sensitive, everything looked cheap to me.

Not too far away in Newton Center is St. Petersburg, a full-service restaurant. Never tried.
http://www.cafestpetersburg.com/

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Baza
30 Tower Road, Newton, MA 02464

[sherimabob]

I have been t o the Baza. The food is ok, but the fried stuff is usually soggy and greasy. I want to go somewhere, where the food is freshly made for you.

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Baza
30 Tower Road, Newton, MA 02464

[galka]

you can try Vernissage, they have a restaurant, a store and a catering business. I order food there sometimes, it is pretty good.

http://vernissagerestaurant.com/defau...

[tatsu]

I understand, which is why I recommended going early to get it fresh. But thanks to all the other CH'ers, you have plenty of options here already.

[Luther]

The most "authentic" Russian food experience is Arbat in Allston. It's a certain kind of Russian experience, not sure if it's the one you're looking for...

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Arbat Restaurant
20 Linden St Ste 221, Allston, MA 02134

[sherimabob]

Is Arbat a restaurant? Or a caterer/function hall? The website says it has a $65 banquet price.
It looks fantastic! Just straight up... russian food!

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Arbat Restaurant
20 Linden St Ste 221, Allston, MA 02134

[Luther]

It's a club/function place. I think you can hire them to give a private party or go as you would to a normal club and then pay for food. I don't think it's advisable to go if you're not a serious "scene" Russian.

[Taralli]

One of the folks I work with just clued me in on this place under the name of Crystal at 20 Linden St., Allston, as a Russian gal is marrying into their family. Said the place was big & boistrous with karaoke and ages ranging from kids to grandparents. Food was so so, but huge quantities. Fridays and Saturdays seem to be the most popular nights. I remember a similar, somewhat under the radar, place within sight of St. E's like this years ago w/multiple birthday celebrations going on simultaneously & much dancing & toasting. Anyone been recently? http://www.crystal-restaurant.com/

[teezeetoo]

vernissage is russian and the jazz there, usually thursday nights, is a delightful addition. For shopping, I buy quite a lot of things at Bazaar (I prefer the one on Cambridge Street in Allston) and some things at Baza (they have remarkably good bread in their bakery as well as very good frozen pierogkis, pelmenis and blintzes and a remarkable selection of smoked fish, herrings, )

[steinpilz]

In Brookline Village, right by the T station, there's Stoli Bar and Restaurant:

http://www.stolibar.com/

[BobB]

That's a tough question. My wife is Russian and I swear she knows at least half of the roughly 30,000 Russian emigres in the area, and in our experience it is nearly impossible to get really good and authentic Russian food in restaurants.

We've discussed this, and her theory is that in Russia (at least until very recently) there was no widespread tradition of going to restaurants, so the Russians here do not look to go out and find good food - at least, not of their native cuisine. Instead, they have a tradition of entertaining lavishly, which they do in spades - we been to more authentic Russian dinners than I can count, with more courses than you can even imagine eating, but always in people's homes, never in restaurants.

The closest to an exception was the old Cafe St. Petersburg, when it was in Brookline, before it moved to Newton and became more of a function hall than a restaurant.

You can, of course, get very good food, both ingredients and prepared dishes, at the better Russian grocery stores such as Bazaar and Berezka.