Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant

Just in town for a concert. Looked up this place ahead of time. Booked reservation for 1 at 12 PM. Hostess seated me immediately and server Michael was attentive and answered any questions I had about menu. Atmosphere is very laid back and casual, loved the authentic vibes they tried to create. The lighting was soft and helped my visit be calming. I had the varenyky and a side of buckwheat. Server recommended the traditional honey cake. All food was delicious! Prices were fair. Staff made me feel very welcome for my first visit. Will hope to be back next time I'm in the area. Thank you 💙💛

Tried Ruta recently and had mixed feelings. The food portions were on the smaller side, and overall the flavor was a bit bland—though that might just be authentic Ukrainian style. That said, the cabbage roll was absolutely fantastic and easily the highlight of the meal. If you’re going, definitely give that a try. Service was good, but for the price, I was hoping for a bit more flavor and volume. Worth a visit if you’re curious about traditional Ukrainian cuisine, just go in with modest expectations.

Loved: their honey cake is divine, soft and dense and creamy and perfectly sweet. Would come back just for this!! Liked: cossack bowl was great, loved the caramelized onions, the short rib dumplings are definitely the best flavor Skip: the chicken kyiv, which is deep fried chicken breast with truffle oil, was unfortunately dry and the flavor a little flat. Our waiter was friendly but service was quite slow.

The restaurant was decorated with bright colors and Ukraine paintings, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Service was friendly and attentive. Lunch prices were reasonable and affordable, offering good value for the quality. The dishes were freshly prepared, the portions were decent, though the flavors were bland. I used up all the sour cream I got to give my dish more flavor. We ordered: 4*Ukrainian Lunch Combo Includes Chicken dumplings, a small sausage, potato pancakes, a seasonal salad, and sour cream. It was a light and healthy lunch. Great presentation. 3* Ukrainian Beef Borscht: Fresh, light, and bland. 4*Soup of the day: rich creamy soup of beef and mushrooms. 3*Meat Holubtsi: stuffed cabbage were bland and healthy, but not much of taste. A pleasant spot for trying out Ukrainian cuisine in a cozy setting on Capitol Hill. Ideal for a relaxed meal.

This was my first visit to the Bethesda Ratu restaurant. I was thrilled by the cuisine and the wines were very extraordinary. This is my true favorite latest discovery. they also support the Ukraine house with some beautiful items for sale. This place is a winner!

Ruta is a wonderfully unique culinary delight. The service is fantastic, the atmosphere, display of food and serving size is fantastic. The food is delicious, hands down, I crave it again already. The price is really reasonable, I’d expect it to be higher honestly. Looking forward to coming back. The potato pancakes, meat dish and honey cake were perfect.

I've never had Ukrainian cuisine, so I decided to try Ruta. I am pleasantly surprised. The food is flavorful with the warmth of a grandmother's cooked meal. Enjoy!

We had a fantastic brunch at Ruta, a charming Ukrainian restaurant near Eastern Market in DC. The Ukrainian breakfast was hearty and flavorful—perfectly cooked eggs, sausage, and crisp potatoes with fresh herbs. We also tried the classic borscht, which was rich and deeply satisfying, and the sauerkraut varenyky, which had a perfect balance of tang and comfort. The highlight, though, was the honey cake—light, layered, and not overly sweet, it was the perfect ending. Warm service and a cozy, vibrant atmosphere made the experience even better. A must-visit for anyone craving authentic Eastern European flavors.