Zee M.
Yelp
As many times as I've visited, then returned, then re-returned, to Aleksey's, I surprised myself upon realizing I'd never reviewed it outside of my time writing for "Valley Planet" and "Culture and Leisure Magazine."
I discovered this many years ago, in the Dark Ages, when ethnic eateries and markets in the Music City were few and far-in-between...and seldom lasted. That has pleasantly changed over the intervening years...
Aleksey's may have been the clarion call of this transmogrification, separating the drought of the 90's from the cornucopia of, say, last Tuesday.
My understanding is the actual Aleksey, himself, was originally an expatriate Russian ballet dancer. My understanding now is the newer owner hails from the Republic of Georgia. But bear in mind that although the language barrier is easily hurdled here, there's just enough remaining to make anyone's "understanding" a potential MISunderstanding, so don't take this paragraph as gospel.
Aleksey's sports a great number of non-perishable and slightly non-perishable items in the form of canned and "jarred" goods (Riga Sprats, Polish Teas, Smoked Fish), as well as candies. These originate from nations far and wide and, though predominately Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, and the like, you'll find Czech, German, and other items.
Ratcheting everything up a notch or eight is a very enticing refrigerated area teeming with numerous sausages, cheeses, and the like. I can't say which come from over the waves and which from, say, Chicago, but chances are you'll be overjoyed, regardless.
Imported "Salads" and Slaws and, during the holidays, a GREAT selection of imported holiday candies...
My last visit, I was very happy to discover Aleksey's offers fresh Kielbasa (well, frozen, but uncooked)...unfortunately, they were out at that time. I will be buying that every time I go, every time they have it in stock, particularly since the nearest source after Aleksey's of which I'm aware is in one of the war-torn areas of Saint Louis.
On one of my visits prior to that, I happened upon, and nabbed, a cheese-infused pastry of some kind. There's always something new, and something tried-and-true upon which you can depend.
You won't find many options around these parts to compare with this neighborhood deli. True, there's World Market, but that chain (as much as it's deservedly revered) can't match the freshness and variety of the refrigerated items here and, in its endeavor to be the be-all and end-all, can't concentrate as heavily on Middle and Eastern Europe as does this more specialized shoppe. Give thanks that Music City denizens are lucky enough to have the option to shop at both, then do so.
Aleksey's is comparable to, say, Huntsville's European Market, Birmingham's Nabeel's International Market and Mediterranean Food Market, and Al Baraka near Chattanooga (though I'm led to believe ownership has changed and that's altered the food offerings there). After that, you're pretty much compelled to head to Hotlanta. Yes, you can always shop online, but why, unless it's for something so rare you'd put up with buying it sight unseen and taste un...licked?
If you're not that familiar with such fare as Swiss/German Cervelat (sausage), true Polish Podlaski or Morski (cheeses), or Russian Moskovskaya (sort of a salami/kiełbasa family member), Aleksey's would be the perfect place to knock out a platter for some festive occasion and offer the meaty/cheesy ambrosia to your friends or coworkers or family or neighbors or people in need of bribing. As I once said, you can always tell the quality of a wedding by the number of cheeses you can't name at the reception, and that's also a good rule of thumb elsewhere (for both you and your self-created Aleksey's samplers). And, while on the subject, "The Rule of Preserving Thumb" tells us to have Aleksey's do all the slicing FOR you.
Now, show all those wannabe foodies that you've stopped wanting to be and now ARE be. Stock up here and get out the mandolin--the slicey, not the stringed, kind--you'll be the highlight of the social season on whatever rung of the ladder you currently occupy.
Or just grab some snacks, hole up in front of, say, "Bates Motel," and indulge yourself to the dismay of all non-participants.