Pushkin Lounge & Bar

Amazing Experience! I recently visited Pushkin Café, and everything was absolutely perfect! I ordered the Pushkin Burger — it was juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. We also had a hookah and an Aperol, and both were amazing! The atmosphere was cozy, the music was great, and the staff were super friendly and attentive. 💯 One of the best places to relax and enjoy your evening! Definitely coming back — highly recommend!

Restaurant Pushkin If comfort food had a five-star passport, it would be stamped at Restaurant Pushkin 🇷🇺🇦🇲 This place is hands down the best Russian–Armenian restaurant I’ve ever been to. The food is so good it makes you question all your previous life choices and wonder why you didn’t come here sooner. Everything tastes like it was cooked by someone’s very talented grandmother who refuses to let you leave hungry. Portions are generous, flavors are rich, and every dish feels like a warm hug with a thick accent. The atmosphere is cozy, the service is friendly, and by the end of the meal you’re happy, full, and seriously considering canceling your diet forever. If you love Russian and Armenian cuisine — or just love amazing food — Restaurant Pushkin is not optional, it’s mandatory 😄 Highly recommended! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

best hookah in San Diego! Comfortable seating, prompt service. Unlike other hookah lounges they do not blast music, just a nice place! Also, quiet randomly their second floor is not Yellow Door, a comedy place. So we smoked downstairs and had some good laughs up top. Totally deserve a 5-star rating!

The vibe at Pushkin Lounge & Bar is definitely great, but unfortunately, the service was a big disappointment. We went in for hookah and a couple of drinks, and the experience was frustrating. When we ordered our drinks, the server told us they weren’t available but didn’t bother recommending alternatives or offering to make a similar drink with different ingredients. Later, when we tried to order food at 12:30, he told us the kitchen was closed—yet we saw other tables still getting their orders about 15 minutes after he told us that. Then, about 20 minutes later, he came over asking us to close the tab because his shift was ending. We paid, only to see him come back shortly after still serving other tables. He lied to us, and the service was absolutely terrible. Don’t even stop by at all.

Owner is awesome. Came over and spoke to us a few times. It was my first time, but my cousin is a regular and recommended it. I'm glad he did. I loved the hookah and I ordered a hot tea to sip on with it that was the perfect combo. Our server was a little off and had to ask us our order multiple times and still forgot somethings, but everything else was great. Would definitely come back.

From the moment I walked into this hookah lounge, I knew it was going to be special — but the owner and staff took it to another level entirely. The atmosphere was vibrant yet relaxing, the hookah was exceptionally smooth, and the flavors were clearly top quality and well-prepared. What really made the night unforgettable was the owner’s genuine hospitality. He went above and beyond to make sure every single detail was perfect — from customizing our hookah setup to personally checking that our food and drinks were exactly to our liking. You can tell he truly cares about every guest’s experience. The food was phenomenal — fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The drinks were perfectly crafted and complemented the vibe of the lounge. Every aspect felt first-class, from the service to the ambiance. This isn’t just another hookah spot — it’s an experience. World-class service, delicious food and drinks, and a welcoming, high-end atmosphere. You can feel the pride and passion behind every detail. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a memorable night out — this place sets the gold standard for hospitality. HAYK, THANK YOU FOR THE WORLD CLASS EXPERIENCE AND THE MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE!!!

My first time at Pushkin Hookah Lounge and it was a great experience from start to finish. The hookah was seriously impressive flavors were mixed and packed perfectly. It stayed smooth the entire session, no harsh hits, no overheating, and the bowl just kept going. The pack was done with real skill because we smoked for a long time and it never burned or lost the taste. You can tell they know how to pack a bowl that lasts without burning fast. The lounge itself has a really nice vibe. The lighting is warm, the music fits the mood, and the seating is comfortable. It’s a place you can actually relax in, enjoy your hookah, and have a conversation without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. The environment feels clean, laid-back, and put together with thought. The staff were all friendly, helpful, and checked in at the right times. They made sure we had what we needed, were fast with service, and kept the energy welcoming. Everyone there seemed like they enjoyed working at the lounge, which always makes a difference when you’re new to a place. I also want to give major respect to the owner for the comedy shows they host. That’s something you don’t see everywhere, and it adds a whole other layer to the lounge. The comedy night was great—funny, entertaining, and a smart idea for the community. The owner himself is a really good comic—natural on stage, quick with jokes, and actually funny in a real, effortless way. It takes talent to run a business and still get on stage and make a whole room laugh. Huge respect for bringing entertainment to San Diego along with a great lounge to enjoy it in.

This place is cute! The atmosphere is nice. The mango bubble drink is aesthetic and fun! The food we got was not the best food ever! Neither was the hookah but it was a cute spot! The hookah was 6/10 - made me cough a lot and not that smooth - it was also kind of expensive compared to other local spots that i love the hookah at! Food 5/10 - The beef stroganoff was a little too salty for me sushi wasn't good i was told by my friends and the Pierogi was just ok Drinks 7/10 - a little too sweet on the mango drinks and the chocolate espresso Cake 3/10 too dry Service was great- they are nice Besides messing up on the check (They fixed it easily thankfully!) removing over charged items They don't offer tap water so if you want water you must pay 10 for a bottle They add an 18% gratuity and tax you after on the gratuity as well! High service fee My bill was not adjusted on the mandatory 18% gratuity after bill was adjusted which is not nice Bill total was almost 400 50 on tip - which was mandatory 25 in taxes Spent my birthday here, it was ok

Extremely friendly place, feels like home And every Thursday they have standups Highly recommend

I'm so sad that Pushkins seems to be primarily focused on being a hookah lounge. I will say that the ambiance is great, and it is a very chill and a fun place to hangout. Also the service was great. The honey cake and the borscht was a staple that I would come here for. The borscht was delicious as ever but they don't serve it with bread. How can you serve borscht without bread!! The honey cake was also not what it used to be, but I understand it's a hard cake to make. They also took the Ukha (fish soup) of the menu! They had a great menu with delicious food and I'm sad to see them cut it back. Hopefully they can find enough customers to justify brining back all the delicious Russian staples that they used to serve.

Came here after 11 PM was hungry enjoyed a cheeseburger and some pizza. Both were excellent. Had a couple of beers and a Moscow Mule the mule was one of the best I've ever had at the bar. Very efficient, bartenders to serve quickly hot fresh food, french fries, cooked perfection. If you're stopping somewhere for a quick bite, this is the place to go. Prices were reasonable food was excellent very good quality hot, cooked perfection. I could not ask for better one of the best meals I had in Lake Geneva.

Worst experience ever. Service - 0 Hookah - 0 Food - 5 since it was fried appetizers so you can f that up. Went in and sat down, the place was way too hot, we asked for the AC to be tuned on up and never happened, our hookah and drinks took forever to come out and kept missing the limes we asked for. When we finally asked again the waiter started arguing and stated we never asked. I don't know how else to put it but over all this was the absolute worst experience ever. Woke up this morning with a sore throat and major headache from the horrible circulation.

This was not what I expected. The hookah lounges I know albeit they all back home in NYC are basically a club. This was super chill. And it was super dope. There's two floors to it and each has a semi different feel. The top floor is more spacious, comfy seats, tons of tv and it feels more seclusive and you can actually hear people more. Downtown is a bit more crowded and is more of a vibe if you're looking for energy from other people, from the bar and from the music bumping. The lighting is purple and neon pink which adds to the feel and ambiance of the place. The drinks are moderate prices as well as the hookah. It's a small owned business so they treat you right as long as you show them love. And I ain't got nothing but love for this place now that I've been. I went on a Friday night at 10pm and there was about 40 people in it. I'd say it could sit about 100. The people working were full of smiles and just a pleasure to be around. The hookah felt strong too. Lots of flavors to choose from.

Wonderful speak easy with food choices and hookah bar!! Great location in Gaslamp district, this lounge is nice alternative to night clubs surrounding it. Music is good, but not too loud that you cannot talk. Our server Yulia was just fantastic in everything. Her knowledge of menu, drinks, foods as well as general small talk. As this is a Russian themed restaurant (Pushkin is considered the greatest Russian poet and founder of modern Russian literature), Russian food items abound. However there are many other choices. In particular - I didn't see it on the menu, but I asked if they had caviar. Perhaps stereotypical but you never know - well they did and I had to order it. Second time in my life and it was pretty darn good. It was served on a bed of crepes with the side of butter. Delicious! Lovely place for a date, casual hangout or just a good old party! I

Great please to go with a group of friends or date night. The service was fantastic, they were friendly and gave great suggestions. This is as my first time trying hookah and caviar as well!! All in all the whole experience was amazing!

Vlad was amazing! Hookah was perfect, drinks were on point, vibes were perfect, and prices were super fair! This is my new go to spot and I'll make sure to tell all my friends! Thanks again guys:)

Came here for date night and it didn't disappoint! Pushkin is a sort of hidden gem in SD that everyone should try at least once. I still think about this place at least once a week, it's been 6 months since my first visit. Ambiance is AMAZING. Interior design was very unique and gave a warm and welcoming feeling. Service was friendly but unfortunately wasn't too attentive to us, maybe because it was super busy that day or we sat a bit far from the bar. Nevertheless, still enjoyed our time there. Definitely recommend to have a reservation ahead of time, it gets packed! The one dish I would come back just to have again is the Herring under fur coat. It's absolutely delicious, pickled herring on top of beets and potato. A must try if you come here. 5/5 Pierogis with beef stroganoff were also a delight. Light flavors but also really hearty. My first time trying pierogis and it did not disappoint. 5/5 My partner got the braised rabbit in sour cream and mashed potatoes. Super tender rabbit in a light but savory sauce, a comforting and warm dish. 5/5 Pushkin is a gem in San Diego and on top of my list of favorite restaurants here.

The place is nice the lounge is beautiful. But its too noisy to a point where you can't talk or hear anyone I would rather to be in a quiet place

Ambience cool decor very mid century service excellent Hookah great Will come back Yes no doubt

Was in town for a wedding and after a 6-7 hour drive, I was in need to relax. Pushkin's was 2 blocks from my hotel and an excellent selection of shisha. I let the waiter choose: strawberry, melon, and mint. Excellent choice! Atmosphere was nicely lit (not too bright or dark). Staff friendly. A must visit for people who like hookah.

Started off our meal with the Ukranian Salo (Fat) and Babushka beef pelmeni. I actually enjoyed the salo a lot, but I was probably the only one. I like fat in general, and the sauces were great. The dumplings were alright but I can't say they were much different than other ones I've had in the past. For my main, I ordered the Moscow duck. It is one of my favorite duck dishes that I have ordered. It's not a blow you away type dish, but everything about it was perfect for what it is. I was able to try some of my friend's dishes too. The beef stroganoff was delicious. The winter rabbit and chicken tabaka were solid as well. Finished the meal with the Blini and honey cake. Both were decent but nothing to rave about. -Superb service

Stumbled upon this spot last night and had an absolutely incredible time! Very chill vibe, friendly and helpful staff, and good prices too! Definitely recommend.

Never had Russian food before so this was definitely a great experience in terms of the cuisine. The service here was not... There were a lot of unique items on the Menu, so I picked... The Braised Rabbit. I've always been quite adventurous with food. I have never seen it on a menu before and so I had to order it. The texture reminded me of a chicken thigh, there was a subtle taste difference. More gamey? Not too sure how to put it but it was delicious. The sauce complimented it very well and the mashed potatoes were delicious. It was definitely a dish that suited the cold weather well. The Moscow Duck was delicious too. I am a HUGE fan of ordered Duck if it is on the menu and it did not disappoint. Cooked perfectly and the sauce paired really well with the fattiness of the meat. The Pushkin Cocktail I had was okay, wasn't a huge fan. But the free bread they brought out was delicious. I don't believe I ever had bread with that "consistency". It felt wet almost like a pumpkin bread but not sticky. The waiter was very rough -- When we walked in, a nice lady sat us at our table. We didn't make reservations and were fortunate enough to have our party of 8 sat down almost instantaneously. However, the male (blonde) waiter was not very welcoming at all. When ordering, I asked if they could substitute the vodka in their custom cocktails for tequila. I believe he misheard me because he replied with: "no the drink has vodka". So I asked again would it be possible to change the hard liquor and he was rude in his response. "No, vodka only. Read the menu." So I just ordered their house specialty Pushkin (vodka) cocktail and water. Our drinks took about half an hour to come out and the food shortly after. One of the members in our party wasn't feeling well so we had placed an order to go. At the end of the night, we received our bill that included the order that we placed to go but we never received it. So we flagged down the waiter and told him that we never received it. His response was again in a rude tone, "The rib plates are there and there. As you can see, you received everything". We then told him that the plate he was pointing to was actually the rabbit plate, not a rib plate. And without apologizing for the confusion, he said he would go check with kitchen. At that point, we were ready to go and just left. We never received the dish but was charged for it. Overall, food was amazing. Thank you for accommodating our large party on such a short notice. The service was not or I would have given this experience perfect review.

The service was amazing vlad was super attentive! Great hookah and drinks the vibe was really cute inside !

It was another busy weekend at Gaslamp in Downtown San Diego, and parking was a big issues again. This time we found a parking near this restaurant called "PUSHKIN RUSSIAN RESTAURANT ". It doesn't look appealing from the outside, but it looks Nice from the inside, and it is also still in the Main tourist area in Gaslamp. We got Seated and our lovely server Yulia came and took our order, we had: *UKRAINIAN SALO - A Variety of different salos served with horseradish, mustard, onions, pickles, and fried potatoes. *CHICKEN TABAKA - Pan-fried and oven-baked cornish hen in a garlic-herb marinade, served with ajika sauce. *LAMB SHANK - Wine-braised bone-in Lamb shank with herbs, served with roasted veggies and mashed potatoes. *STEAK STROGANOFF - Ribeye steak topped with cream of Stroganoff and served with fried potatoes. *FROM RUSSIA with LOVE - Jalapeno infusion, lemon, black currant, ground pepper, and bitters. *HONEY CAKE - MEDOVIC is a RUSSIAN Honey cake, it is a dessert that dates back more than 200 years. I had to think twice before I ordered our appetizer 'coz I didn't know if I would like a slightly Frozen, very thin Rolled Fat, it was very thin, but still Fatty ;) . We wanted to Try a Russian appetizer, so I ordered it and tasted it, and it was actually good, it has a very light flavor similar to smoke bacon. My CHICKEN was a typical regular chicken, but it was a very soft and super Juicy Chicken, and it was very tasteful. I love how my Husband's STEAK was very savory and soft, very easy to cut. When my Son's Lamb Shank came I thought it was going to be Dry or Burnt or have no Taste at all, I was wrong to think that. The LAMB shank was really soft on the inside and it had a very strong and good seasoning. And for the Dessert, it was suggested by our Server, she said it was a very popular Russian Dessert, and I'm thankful that I ordered that HONEY CAKE, it was so so good. To me, it tasted like caramel with condensed milk, I'm not really sure what the ingredients are, but all I know is that it's sooo good! I could probably eat like 3 plates of it next time. And for my DRINK, I LOVE it! The Alcohol and the amount of Spiciness was such a perfect blend on how they made it. All in all, our Experience here in this RUSSIAN restaurant was great.

The hookah server is horrible..no manners and no customer service. He is very rude and asked us to change the hookah head after 1 hour of smoking or he won"t bring charcol.. He said its a rule here but after speking with the other server he denied what he said..Itfeels thatheisforcdto work there.. I will never go back to that place.... Since you blocked the responses.. I was smoking my hookah alone and its passed 1 hour only and your server wont change the charcoal.. Why would you F..ing care if I smoke ashes or not? Its my decision to make.when I decided to come to your place I was expecting a good serves, but that's how clueless people own businesses.. And your server is straight rude.. You are the worst business owner I have seen. Go get some business management classes. Ohh and you charge %18 service fee.. For whattt??your straight rudeness..

Solid 3 stars.. Looking for something different in our city, and this joint popped up on the San Diego gift card list...bonus! Has a reservation so we were promptly seated at a table near the front...unfortunately right in front of the PA music system speakers. It was a bit loud at first so we asked it be turned down, and the staff obliged. Ordered the beef stroganoff, because Kiev is not in the menu currently.... Meaty creamy goodness served on a bed of mashed potatoes...hearty! Good flavor, and the meat was mostly tender. Even had a beer from the Ukraine on the menu, perfecto! Our major complaint was the tempo of the service...over the course of our stay the place went from empty to full, and to get our check took more than 15 minutes... Ambiance is library loft, service was slooooow, and prices are as expected. If you come just plan on European service, and be patient because the food is good.

Great environment & customer service. Security was very helpful as well. I can't wait to come back with more of my friends and family

cocktails are very good and overall atmosphere is very welcoming highly recommend also you should try pierogi

Ambiance - 5 stars. Cute, romantic and relaxing. Food - 5 stars. The beet salad was served cold and delightfully earthy but sweet. The winter rabbit tasted like chicken. It was a bit on the dry side, but the creamy sauce made up for it. It was served on a mound of very fluffy mashed potatoes. The honey cake was multi-layered and well, tasted like honey. The Summer in Sochi was light, refreshing and not boozy. It was a balanced drink (not sweet or tart). The French vanilla tea was comforting. They have an extensive drink menu of alcoholic and nonalcoholic items. Serving portions were large and plentiful. The food was plated well and the presentation was beautiful. Service - 5 stars. Yulia was sweet and friendly. Food arrived quickly.

Amazing hookah place in Gaslamp. They have the high end hookahs with premium flavors. We are very particular about the hookahs since we regularly smoke at home. This place lives up to the standard. Highly recommended! We didn't have any food but we saw other tables had some delicious food. We'll definitely be back to try the food.

Very welcoming as soon as you walk up to the location. Always a hostess ready to sit you down and make sure you get taken care of. Food is always good! We love getting the hummus as our appetizer and wings are fire! Which I was not expecting from a lounge. The drinks are also very good! And fairly priced as well. Hookah is 10/10 each time I've gone. Have not been disappointed. Overall ambiance of the place is intimate. Great for a date night! Super nice. Well decorated and not too bright or too dark.

They have the best hookah in the town. Before was Tabac but after try here, they are the best. Food was amazing, the strogonoff is woww. Must try spot for hookah and beef stroganoff.

Fun place! Love the ambiance decent vibe and decor . Drinks are great as is the food and service, very much recommend!

I have passed this place many times and finally had a chance to go and also wanted to check it out since they just recently turned it into a hookah bar and lounge. I love the interior and ambiance (see pics) with both a downstairs and upstairs. Our friends were already seated when we arrived and were seated in large comfy chairs and our server Yulia was quick to greet us and offer up suggestions. I would highly recommend the Goncharova cocktail especially if you like guava. Next up are the hookahs. I will say that these are very quality hookahs and they have an abundance of flavors. In total we had 3 which were lemongrass, pomegranate and guava mint. The hookahs theme selves are also impressive and pretty, and we never had to ask to have the coals changed (they came around frequently). For food we ordered the hummus plate and sweet potato fries - both delicious. There is also a tea that we ordered that pairs perfectly with smoking hookah, reminds me to a tea you drink when you are sick with honey and lemon. In closing, I enjoyed my experience and it's a great place to hang out and i will be back. I also appreciate that the owner stopped by and I had a chance to chat with her.

One of the best date nights I've had here in San Diego! Amazing vibe an amazing food! We were seated by the entrance where there was the nice decor with plants on the wall, and it really brought up the aesthetic. Rye Bread + Butter for the table as soon as we entered. The bread had a really nice flavor to it on its own and so did that butter. That butter was just amazing! So fresh and had some herby vibe going on. I actually asked for some butter to go! Borscht - We got the Borscht soup to start. I had Googled the dish before and was expecting a red color soup made with beetroot. But what we got was actually a clear soup with some root vegetables like potatoes and carrots and pieces of beef. Definitely not the soup we were expecting but it tasted good on its own. They gave some sour cream on the side with the soup and it went so well with the soup. Really unexpected! Sour cream on its own was really flavorful as well. Nothing like the stuff you get at Chipotle haha. Chicken w/pork Pelmini - We split the Chicken Pelmini. It came with this sauce on top which actually wasn't necessary. Pelmini on their own were really good. I tried some with that butter that came at the beginning and it was lovely! Pelmini was really fresh and a good amount of filling inside. Very filling as a dish as well! The best part? Beef Stroganoff! Oh man! This was the best Beef Stroganoff I have ever had! My husband actually agreed here. We really loved this dish. Could have had two of these just on our own. The sauce on the beef stroganoff was really amazing as well. Another part of the dish we could have just had plain. Got Sautéed Veggies on the side instead of noodles or mashed potatoes and it was a good call. Really balanced out the nutrition and got us some veggies as well. Another best part here.. Honey Cake (aka Medovik)! We were actually full with the dinner itself but as soon as we got this Honey Cake....It was gone in moment. And we wanted more! Not even kidding! This is one of the best cakes I have had here. What amazing flavor. It was nice and dense and just perfectly sweet. I don't know what it's made of but it was just amazing! My husband and I are both not fan of supremely sweet stuff and this honey cake was definitely not super sweet. We actually wanted a second one. A big thank you to the server for recommending this instead of the Blini. We really wanted to try the traditional Kvass (Russian drink made of fermented rye bread), but they were out. I'm not sure how since we got there around 5:00 p.m. just about an hour after they opened. We ended up getting the Compote Juice (server recommended) in the Apricot flavor. Apricot was subtle and just enough. It was just the right amount of sweet. And went very well with the mint leaves that were on top!

Nice place for eat and smoke hookah. A lot of different tastes of tobacco. Good service.

My first time trying out Russian food and I had a great experience at Pushkin. The place is very nicely decorated. Lots of nice paintings hanging. Service was five star, our server was super friendly and gave lots of good recommendations on food and drink. Too bad I forgot one of the mule drinks he recommended. It was very delicious. We enjoyed our food a lot as well, mushroom and potatoes dumplings are interesting, it's very new to me. Good flavor and very filling. My husband finished his lamb shank, no complaints. I don't eat lamb so I can't comment. My duck entry was so delicious, duck meat is perfectly prepared, juicy and tender, goes very well with rest of the elements in the plate. We also had beef shroganauff but I was too full to try it. Portion is very generous here. Appetizer platter is great to share with bigger group. I've never had that many different kind of pickled vegetables before, my favorite one was the picked green tomatoes. The 2 fish kind are favorite of the table. I also liked their cured meat a lot. Borscht soup is delicious. We shared a bowl and everyone liked it. I would recommend to us place to my friends who want to try Russian food.

Came here for a big business dinner because I wanted to take clients to something different. They were able to accommodate 14 of us. Our waitress Yulia was excellent, she was able to handle our big party all big herself. She made excellent recommendations and our guests were impressed with her friendliness & calmness because we did have such a big group. We tried almost all the apps and they were all delish and unique. I also recommend the 8 vodka flight, interesting vodka sampling. Everyone raved about how good their entrees were, especially the lamb shank and the steak stroganoff. The big winner was the Honey Cake. MUST GET! You will thank me. All in all 5 star service, food, and a our waitress was great!

The worst experience ever! We reserved a table here and we drove all way down to try this place.,, They were closed and the lady told us they are closing their kitchen at 9:30pm... im still shocked and surprised!

The best hookah in town! Not only is the hookah of very high quality, but lounge is very chic and cozy! The hookah tenders are super attentive and make sure that your hookah is top notch at all times. They also have amazing drinks and a great variety of teas and desserts if you do not feel like drinking. If you are hungry there is a great menu that includes delicious appetizers and entrees if you feel like having some dinner while smoking the hookah. They have a live DJ on the weekends that plays fun lounge music. I am extremely happy with the service and the quality of the place overall. Highly recommend it to everyone!

If you really like hookah, this place is legit. They really care about the quality of the hookah and making sure you are happy. The hookah tenders check on you, change your coals often and are very concerned that your have a quality experience. Beyond that, the service is very good and attentive for food and drinks. The vibe is also quite nice, they have live djs, at least the two times we have been there. The decor is nice and the seating is very comfortable and welcoming for smoking hookah and having a good time with those around you. Overall a great addition to San Diego's hookah scene.

Overall decent experience, with some flaws and questionable experiences. I wanted to support Pushkin after reading about the threats and retaliatory actions this place recently endured because it's name contains the words "Russian Restaurant," as further detailed in this U-T article: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/dining-and-drinking/story/2022-02-28/san-diego-restaurants-pull-russian-vodka-and-post-flags-of-solidarity-to-protest-war-in-ukraine. (The owner is Armenian, he has family in Odessa, and when I visited, there was a big Ukrainian flag in the window) I also wanted to re-acquaint myself with Russian food, as I hadn't had any in a while. The interior of the restaurant is elegant and old-timey, with interesting artwork, and elk and other game heads surveying the room from on high. We had caviar with chilled vodka, borscht, dumplings, and martinis -- when in a Russian restaurant, more vodka, please. Pushkin didn't charge for the first round of vodka, spasibo, zdorov'ye! There are two caviar types available: two ounces of "red" for about $20 and "black" for $95. Red is salmon eggs, no thank you. I asked if the black is Beluga; the waitress replied it's "Beluga Paddlefish," of which there's no such thing. (Paddlefish roe is a cheaper US substitute for Beluga Sturgeon roe, https://www.businessinsider.com/paddlefish-eggs-being-resold-as-beluga-caviar-2012-6 ). It was quite good, and was served with smoked salmon and little cream cheese wedges. The borscht was excellent. The dumplings had sour cream on the side and the remaining broth got drunk down with remaining sour cream. Very good. I noticed the menu had several Russian vodkas for sale (Russian Standard, St Petersburg, et al) Many other local restaurants have stopped serving those, and many liquor stores and distributors have stopped all Russian vodka sales. I don't care if a restaurant wants to liquidate their remaining stock while committing to no longer support the Putin regime through new purchases, but the Pushkin plan was unclear. We stuck with the Belvedere, and here's to the Polish people for what they're doing to aid all the Ukrainian refugees heading west. We got somebody else's credit card back after payment, but were able to resolve that with the next table. Overall, a good and definitely interesting experience, but I'm not sure that I'd make the trek to Gaslamp again for it. I wish the owner, his family, and the employees the best during these tough times for Ukrainians -- and I wish he'd better explain the vodka situation.

Atmosphere was so cozy. Service was cozy. Food was comforting. I don't think I've ever had Russian food and I felt like I was somehow home. The complimentary bread was dry/bland/dense as described. But it was actually very well paired with the pelmeni. The pelmeni had just enough flavor that it kept me wanting more. And more. And more. The bread between was a nice pallet cleanser for me to have more pelmeni. I think I would have wanted more mushrooms. It was really delicious. The honey cake .... Definitely perfect with the condensed milk. It was like heaven. They don't make it in house but it's for sure a winner. They source it local to a bakery within San Diego county if I remember correctly. The Armenian fashion was a nice twist having the disaronna. I'd come back!

Excellent food, service, and ambiance. When I read that this restaurant was being penalized by some individuals because of the activities of Russia in the Ukraine, I knew I wanted to eat here again. Our waiter told us that the majority of the staff was Ukrainian. The Borscht was excellent as usual. What surprised me was how tasty the Golubtsi with Beef was. Cabbage has not been a normal part of my dining experience. But I thought I would try it. The entree became my favorite dish of the evening. When you approach the front door, you are met by a young man who is nicely dressed. He escorted us to our table. The staff was immediately attentive to our table.

I hate giving this place a bad review but I was really disappointed at our last visit. The decor at Pushkin is amazing. I was inspired to redo some of my bedroom because of their decor. The drinks were good- I had a dirty martini. They had only 3 flavors of vodka for the tasting flight- the server said they're not going to be doing that anymore. The food was ok. There's another Russian restaurant in north park with way better stroganoff. The service was meh. We got a hookah and that was good & they kept up with the coals. I'm sad at how much this place has changed and it seems like they're leaving all their Russian inspiration behind. I understand that they received a lot of hate from people because of the war and that's not right. I hope they are able to turn this place into something great

Great customer service by our waiter EDDIE he was the rockstar of the night ,besides the food was quick and delicious ,took my in laws to celebrate his birthday and everything was just fantastic from the food to the customer service definitely will come back anytime soon

Funky Russian restaurant with authentic décor in the heart of San Diego. Very interesting historical menu which, unfortunately, is very limited. Flavor-wise, food there does not taste as good as Pomegranate: borscht lacks salt and pelmeni somehow are overcooked. Olivie salad also felt very blend to me. Loved the ambience but would have to go to alternative restaurants for food quality.

Made reservations and came with my little brother and his wife. They had never experienced Russian cuisine before and I was in the mood for them to try many times so I over ordered not knowing how large the portions were. Had leftovers for days. LOL They served some funky non-alcoholic beverages which started appealing to us the more we tried them. The large sampler was humongous, the Ukranian Salo was very interesting and delicious, never had pork fat sliced so thin before. The blini's, the pelmeni's, and pierogi's amazing! Can't leave out the borscht though that and the fish soup were excellent with the fresh dill. Service was great, my brother and his wife had a great time and would love more than anything to go back and try other items.

BAD PART FIRST GOOD PART LAST: Recommended this place to my girl group and went here for drinks for happy hour (on a Sunday 5-7pm drinks are $10). We decided just on drinks and the tab came out to be instead of $20 per person 2 drinks for 4 people each (for a total of $80 before tax) it ended up being roughly $150 prior to tip etc. when we asked the waiter why we got charged full price for each tab he insisted we came after 7 pm (see screen shots below our tab was started at 5:27 pm) he "couldn't" adjust the price and we had to take our loss and ended up getting the bill split 3 ways still being over charged after asking him to correct it person A paid $20+ tip-- the only one correct then party B paid $50 prior to tax & tip -- should have been $40 prior to tax+tip, and myself who paid $26 prior to tax and tip which should have been $20, he wouldn't refund me the $6 he owed and said "oh I don't know I guess I can do it like this and you guys can figure it out later and just Venmo each other." STILL DID NOT DO THE MATH CORRECTLY AND STILL OVERCHARGED US. -- I wish he would've just refunded the correct amount and instead of us overpaying. ****Not to mention an 18% service fee on EACH TAB**** Added photos of the cocktails because the drinks were good. I used to like this place but I don't really want to come back nor recommend it again to anyone. Good Part: On a separate note have come here with my partner and the food vibes and hookah were dope but after tonight I'm not sure I'll be back just because I don't want to be overcharged. I will say that previous times my experience was great it was lowkey and chill.

The worst costumer service, very rude workers, not a welcoming environment. Would not recommend.

Came here to smoke hookah.Worst customer service from the hookah server .Not friendly AT ALL. He stated that they have a rule that we have to change the hookah and make a refill after one hour, because they have this rule and it is not true . He would not change the charcoal for us and when he did, he only added one charcoal .I don't recommend ANYONE to come here. You feel very unwelcome. I would never come back here again . responding to your comment because you had blocked the respond back. It is none of your business if I smoke ashes or not. I think you don't know what Hookha is and I recommend you stop serving it at your place. We also heard the other table complaining about the service. Also, you should hang a poster stating that it is a rule to change the hookah every hour for $18. This is what your server stated. I've never heard or been told to do that in the 100+ hookah spots that I've been to across the United States.

Pushkin's use to be my favorite Russian restaurant. Unfortunately, upon visiting I discovered it was no longer the same. Not sure if it has new owners, but it is completely different. The food was no where up to close to what is was. It is now more of a hookah lounge. Tons of smoke makes it hard to enjoy dinner. The staff were very nice, but service is extremely slow for only a handful of customers. Unfortunately this will be my last time visiting.

Recently visited this place in the evening. Opening the front door, you are immediately greeted by an atmosphere of coziness and comfort. It feels like you are somewhere in Europe! Almost immediately, the waiter came and took the order. While waiting for the ordered food, I looked at the establishment, the tables and also visited the rest room, everywhere is very clean! I didn't think to write a review, so I apologize in advance for the photo with the food started. But when I tried the food ... Dumplings and honey cake took me back to my childhood, as if my mother was cooking it, it's delicious, nothing more to say! On the advice of the waiter, I ordered a double salmon roll, beautiful presentation, tasty and fresh fish! The only remark is that I didn't find the wasabi spicy at all. But this is according to my taste preferences. I also ordered ginger and peach tea, and when the tea pot was almost finished, the waiter himself offered to add water, it was very well received, thank you! I highly recommend visiting Pushkin! Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Ambience 5/5.

The food is phenomenal. Absolutely delicious Russian dishes, which is very rare to come by. Their ambience is refreshing and lighting is on the darker side. I really enjoyed their all around experience. The food is authentic Russian. My Viet/American wife tired it for the first time and fell in love with all of the 5 dishes we ordered. Big fan. Good service too. This place looks like somewhere Iohn Wick would have a mission in. lol

Great place to hang out with friends or on the date. Open late. Loved the Interoir , music and the overall atmosphere. Loved the food too.

Great place to chill or to come and have an authentic Slavic food. Lovely selection of drinks and housemade infusions. Soooo good! And for you hookah lovers I say- it's the hookah Mecca of San Diego.

Sooo happy Pushkin turned into a hookah lounge! As an avid hookah smoker, I'm very particular about the type of tobacco I smoke and the hookah it's served in. Pushkin's hookahs come straight from Russia and hit very smooth. The blue berry mint which is usually my go to was a little too sweet for me but they have this tea flavor that's amazing. Service was great and so was ambiance.