Downtown eatery aims to 'break stereotypes'

After sitting down at a table at The Russian House, diners are brought a complimentary shot of vodka and free small appetizer.

For co-owner Varda Salkey, who was a professional basketball player before opening The Russian House with her husband, Vladimir Grivkov, the complimentary shot and food symbolizes hospitality and friendship.

"We want everyone to feel welcome," she said. "In Russia, by tradition, you give your best to your guests."

The Russian House, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in October, is more than an eatery that serves a variety of dishes from the motherland, Salkey said. The downtown restaurant also hosts events such as free Russian language classes, live Russian music and screenings of Eastern European films.

"We wanted to not just bring food, but also the [Russian] cultural world to Austin," she said. "We are always trying to encourage people to learn about Russia."

The Russian House's menu, which has nearly 40 entree, meat and fish dishes, ranges from a lamb shank served in a sweet and sour sauce to eggplant caviar. The menu reflects the diversity of the cuisine of Russia, which is five times larger than the United States and has multiple culinary influences, Salkey said.

Everything in the restaurant's kitchen is made from scratch and without preservatives, Salkey said. Some of the menu items are family recipes that have been passed on through the generations.

Except for the American bartenders, every restaurant employee is from Russia. In opening one of the first Russian restaurants in Austin, Salkey said she and Grivkov felt a sense of responsibility to represent their native country well in a new city.

"We are proud of our culture, and we love what Russian people have accomplished in the world," she said. "We want to break stereotypes."

Order like a Russian

The Russian House co-owner Varda Salkey said she wants the restaurant to help people learn more about Russia.

With that goal in mind, the restaurant holds free Russian language classes every Wednesday at 5 p.m. At right is the Russian translation of some basic restaurant-oriented words, as well as how those Russian words are pronounced in English.

• Menu: (menyu)
• Check: (shchyot)
• Waiter: (ofits-i-ant)
• Waitress: (ofits-i-antka)
• Thank you: (spas-i-ba)
• It is delicious: (eto vkusno)
• Dessert: (desyert)
• Restaurant: (restoran)
• Please: (pozhalsta)

Source: Daniel Jimenez, University of Texas graduate student in Russian linguistics

Owner-recommended dishes

The most popular dishes at The Russian House are the ones Americans know the most about, such as beef stroganoff and borscht, co-owner Varda Salkey said.

However, Salkey said that while those dishes are delicious, she recommends diners order something they are not as familiar with. Salkey said she often suggests the following:

• Uzbek Plov: A hearty rice dish that is cooked with lamb, carrots and onions ($15)
• Chicken Katletos: A breaded chicken breast cutlet that is stuffed with mushrooms, apricots, prunes and walnuts ($24)
• Babushka Rosa's Treat: For dessert, a Salkey family recipe features rich, hard chocolate fudge served with walnuts and biscuits ($6)

Vodka club

The Russian House serves more than 100 different vodkas that are infused in-house.

Infusing vodka consists of mixing the alcohol with other ingredients or products, such as garlic, mint or vanilla.

The Russian House started a vodka club at the restaurant so customers can keep track of the different infused vodkas they have tried, co-owner Varda Salkey said.

Being in the vodka club means members are sent discounts and specials, and "graduates" get a free T-shirt.

"It's a fun way to try our different vodkas," she said.

The Russian House, 307 E. Fifth St., 512-428-5442, www.russianhouseofaustin.com