Read full review
2015-11-18
3153 views
I have been to Ivan a few times and the food is consistently good. Sometimes the place is packed and you need to be squeezed in, other times like today I walk stright in. First thing to mention is the place is tucked down a small ally off from the escalator. IT looks the part, but sadly the ally way suffers from "Hong Kong smell". Do not be put off, inside is clean, very Russian looking and most imnportantly not stinky. The menu is authentic. Don't expect Swiss chicken wings on this menu. The Ru
First thing to mention is the place is tucked down a small ally off from the escalator. IT looks the part, but sadly the ally way suffers from "Hong Kong smell". Do not be put off, inside is clean, very Russian looking and most imnportantly not stinky.
The menu is authentic. Don't expect Swiss chicken wings on this menu. The Russians are a lot more diverse than some people would expect though and most dishes come with rice, pasta or mashed potato. We dived in to the green borscht and red borscht and blini with red caviar to srat. All delicious. Green pea and ham soup doesn't sound very Russian but is delicious. Rich hearty and green. You do get this in Russia so I don't feel I am cheating. The red borscht is authentic too, bits of beef and chunky cabbage along with the beetroot. Russian red brown rather than the bright red Polish style. The blini are the traditional Russian thin types, like crepes rather than the puffy ones. All delcious and the smetana (sour cream) was geneuine, starch free. Oh and we couldn't resist the tasty vereniki; small dumplings. Really delecious.
At this point I need to mention we ordered not wine but vodka, served by the bottle in an ice bucket. 500ml for two
For mains there is a huge choice again. I can't hang back from rabbit stew, oddly served with spaghetti rather than mash, but deleicous. The Chicken Kyev is the real prize. Not those frozen variety with garlic but the real deal, crispy golden stuffed with butter.
After this we were too full but still had vodka. So we had more dumplings stuffed with meat.
Great place, tasty food and really enjoyable Russian experience.
Post