Russian Tea House

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Losthandfound

Joined 4 years ago

Unique in the best sense. I've been frequenting this spot since I was a student at the U in the '80's. Now live in Chicago but still stop in a couple times a year and always take frozen piroshki home with me. Everything I've had has been fantastic. The piroshki are a wonderful combination of meat,rice and spices wrapped in bread-like dough that are unlike anything I have ever had. If you want to try something differen do yourself a favor and stop in. The only draw back are the hours: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Tuesday thru Friday. ps This may be the cleanest, neatest establishment I've ever been in.

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blackninja

Joined 5 years ago

Great place with amazing food.. The piroshki is one great option. It is made fresh and turns out soft and warm with great meat and cheese filling that is perfectly flavored. If you can make over there on a Friday, the dumplings and stroganoff are to die for. Easily the best dumplings I have ever had.

The atmosphere is great too. It's a home style seating arrangement upstairs, with tables set up like you would find them in your own dining room. The guys playing the accordion and singing are great entertainment with lunch as well.

Overall: great food at a reasonable price and a fun relaxing atmosphere. Highly recommended.

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JonHW

Joined 5 years ago

A Great Local Experience. The Russian Tea House reminds me of a look onto a kitchen table in a families home. This was to be my first experience of many small family restaurants I recall eating at. It opened a whole new world of eating for me as I was now willing to look past the the restaurants on TV commercials for the local eating "joints".

The Russian Tea House is more of a blue collar take out place than a high brow hang out. The food is good, hot, and the aroma that greets you at the door is incredibly welcoming and memorable especially if experienced on a cold and stale Minnesota winter evening. It is a taste and experience that has left me with a very fond memory since I recall first visiting there in the early '80's.

If you want a trendy Brass & Glass place that typically distroys local neighborhoods - those are located 5 blocks to the east at University and Snelling. For a neighborhood mom & pop type experience, you just may be surprised. Check it out for yourself.

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alenushka

Joined 5 years ago

Nothing to write home about. First, it is really hard to find the place open. When we finally managed, we were totally unimpressed with oversized and overpriced pierogi with more dough than filling. The cabbage rolls were OK, as was the beet soup, but the menu is too limited. I expected to have real Russian pastries and tea accompaniments, but found only a very mediocre eatery with scant ethnic flavor. Beautiful pictures on the walls did not save the day.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Local favorite near the university serves authentic Russian cuisine.. In Short
When Nikolai and Linda Alenov decided to open a restaurant, they turned to the one person they knew to be an absolute expert on the subject of Russian cooking: Nikolai's mom. With her authentic culinary advice under their belts, the couple founded the Russian Tea House in a St. Paul house. The short, takeout-oriented menu features such Russian favorites as piroshki, cabbage rolls and borscht.