Samovar Cafe

This place will live in my memory forever. If you pull into the parking lot and open your door consider yourself a guest of the restaurant. Nina was very welcoming and entertaining and served us her homemade borst. We had tea and dessert as well. The inside of the restaurant is closed so you can use the picnic tables out front. I would consider this more for the experience and hospitality vs what you would find at a conventional restaurant. She’s an amazing hostess and if you’re open minded will enjoy the moment.

If you’re not Russian/have no interest in the culture, then just skip it, you will probably not get it. She’s a cooky, bossy grandma living alone, making food for people. No, you can’t come inside. Yes, you must use either cash or PayPal. Yes, you must call ahead and see if it’s ok to come by. But in the end the experience is priceless! We had so much fun chatting. She definitely talked us into getting dressed up for pictures. Ended up hanging out for several hours. The food was excellent! Like a proper grandma would make. But the food is not why you come.

Nina’s phone number has changed (new number in the photos), but she is still open for business. Her menu is largely the same, and it is all made to go. However, if it’s nice out and she has the time, she may let you dine at the picnic table out front. The interior is permanently closed to visitors. Don’t let that turn you away though, as the food and overall interactions with Nina are an experience alone. Nice as can be, she kept taking photos, telling stories, and bringing out hearty, delicious dishes one after the next. A proper babushka! She also has reading material on her life and about the establishment to keep you entertained while she prepares your meal. Do call ahead so she can prep. My wife speaks Russian, but Nina speaks English just fine. Cash is preferred, but she’ll take PayPal for an additional fee.

Nina was amazing! Please call ahead and make a reservation so she can be prepared, the tea and dessert were delicious. Nina was very lively and fun to be around. Our group had a great time taking photos.

Unfortunately, Nina seems to stumble in her advanced age and the cafe is no longer sparkling and colorful. It is now forlorn and threadbare and Nina has slowed down. Food is terrible although you don’t really go there for the food. The Pelmeni was good but the borsch was made with canned peas and carrots and the sauerkraut was odd. Still an interesting experience especially if you pay through the nose for the dress up experience.

Very hospitable place with fresh Russian food. Interior with plenty of interesting decorations. Nina told us story of her life and local village. We ordered borsh and pelmeny( home made).everything was delicious!!!

The visit to this authentic Russian restaurant was absolutely delightful. Apparently, due to a variety of reasons, the restaurant is only open for take-out this year and you're expected to call in orders in advance. We didn't realize this and just stopped by. Despite our unannounced presence, Nina was very welcoming and accomodating. We ordered the chicken and beef pelmeni. Delicious! And yes, Nina came out with tea, bread and dessert trying to upsale (which she was successful at because it was all delicious), it was all part of her charm. I can't say enough about how fun it was to spend time with Nina. We also saw a couple of moose while driving there from Anchor Point.

I met Nina the owner, she was so kind and helpful to me.

Sorry to report the building is about to fall down. If you enjoy the macabre, & supporting their Russian Orthodox church to build fancy gold dome turret things, by all means dine (only outside) here. Everything is "to-go", you must call or text SMS ahead to order. Nina's Borscht is great, but she had no sour cream only mayonnaise & still charged us over $100 for lunch. The dessert was not as pictured, clearly she was out of essential ingredients. Probably best to just stick with a cup of borscht.

Definitely a memorable moment for me and my family! We tell everyone to visit and you will not be disappointed in the wonderful experience of Nina's delicious food and culture

Wow what to say, sad and very disappointed. You know when you hear about places and know that they speak your language you getting excited and want to share experience and story about your self and ask questions about native living. Well this will be NOT what you will get. I reed previously people visit reviews and I say no it can not be that way. Well I can tell you yes - sad but it is . And I will add very sad and not happy person here . We arrived and first think she asked if we book our appointment, when we said no we just want to check out and see - her answer was -need to buy something , like you have to buy or get F... out almost . So I left at that point her little shack , my friends on other hand want to see her store and felt obligated to buy tea and some cake . After 10-15 minutes my friends convinced me get in back again , and talk to her , they thought if I will speak to her in Russian she will treat me better, well not that story. I return and politely greeted her in Russian and told her that I would like to talk to her - ask her questions , her replay was " you have questions.?" And she give me piece of paper telling me what she did in her previous life before arriving to USA and very rudely ask me inRussian if I am planning to buy anything. When I replay thank you but not. Her reaction was like why you coming in if you not intrasted to shop, you have to shop what a point of your arrival. And what I even want to know. By that time I told her I don't want to know nothing more . She return to my friends and In perfect English says - you have to buy something, and if you want to take pictures in side 4 pictures she will charge 5$. My friends shake their heads and told her nope thank you , we leaving , she shook her head and still was continue mambeling under her nose in Russian that we have to buy something. By that point I just left. So if you think you will get warm welcoming-spear your time and your money to go there. Once it was maybe something, now it old shack billing with few old pieces of some Russian Coulture, but she don't care to give you any answers or any service. If you not shop you are not welcome. You cannot come by and just take pictures, she will charge you money . So spear your time to go there .tea my friends told me was just so so, and some cake they buy with it - also maybe a 3... So find other place and remember this is not what Russians look like .

The ride out to this town through the beautiful hilly fireweed covered countryside alone is worth the money Nina will extract from your wallet. Nina and her cafe / gift shop are unique, fun, and intimidating. All are getting older, dustier, and crustier- but a treat just the same. The sign on the building said "open" when we arrived but the door was locked and no one in sight. By the time I read all the notes on the door, Nina drove up from her house across the road. She got out of her car and asked if we came to look or eat- if it was just to look she wasn't going to open for us. "Lucky" for us we came to eat. She opening the door, told us to "take your shoes off" and we followed her to the inner sanctum gift shop / roped off special seating place. She explained the menu and that we would need a reservation for the "full Russian experience" given at the special seating place. The menu had 5 or 6 items but 3 weren't available unless you had a reservation. Nina cooked us borcht, pel'meni, homemade fireweed bread, fireweed tea, and dessert- all were tasty. We sat in the cafe area in front and Nina passed us our food thru a window to her kitchen area. We were the only people there but Nina is having trouble walking so we didn't mind getting up and serving ourselves. Bring your reading glasses cause every time we asked Nina a question, she pulled out some paper or brochure and told us to read about it. She has signs and printed info everywhere. Turns out she has a masters degree in electrical engineering. She also has a doctorate in money extraction- but was worth the experience. Would I go back? Probably not. Do I regret going? Absolutely not!!!

We really enjoyed this beautiful and unique place! We did not come to Nikolaevsk just for Nikolaevsk - we came to meet Nina! She is an amazing woman! The food was great. Everything is home made; Nina grows her own berries and herbs to make tea, jam, bread - I highly recommend trying these! she told us a lot about the history of the village and first Russian immigrants. Nina is a wonderful person, the store is cozy and full of pieces of Russian culture. We are happy we managed to meet her. We called in advance to make a reservation, and I recommend doing so. Thank you Nina for this beautiful experience! Wish you all the best. Elena, Sergey, Xenia, Nick

We went to the area to see the Russian town of Nikolaevsk as it was listed as about interesting side trip from Anchor Point. We went taking pictures in the town and stopped at her run down cafe to take some more. Then she drove up and swooped in to open the "closed" cafe for us. She is a good talker to get you to get "Your money". Food was very so so and priced as a fancy restaurant, that it was not. I would not recommend the cafe.

This cafe really isn't a restaurant in the traditional American meaning, more of a Russian family meal with the owner, Nina as your host. The menu is very limited with only 2 starters (Borscht and Piroshki, 3 entrees (Beef Plemeni, Polish sausage and a combo of the two) and one dessert. Most likely Nina will pick the best for you or may be out of one or the other if you dont book in advance. Make sure to check out the tea - it has a rather original taste. If you purchase a gift over $25 Nina can give you a talk About the town, Old believers while cooking the food. Also dress children in traditional Russian clothes. We didn't go for this however - just tried the great borscht and plemeni.

Our YWAM team was looking for something to do that was fun on an off day. The drive time from Homer to Anchor Point and then to the Russian village was a little longer than expected but it was beautiful. The village was not as "little Russia" as I expected but it was quaint. The Orthodox Church was not open either which was a bummer. The cafe was a little over touristy but the tea and create puffs were fun to enjoy. Nina the owner and server was a hoot. Take cash when you visit. There are tons of trinkets to look at and purchase though they are little speedy. Definitely worth the trip if you have the time.

Nina has a little Russian Restaurant along with B&B options. The place is a bit remote town near Anchor Point, Alaska. Its about 10 miles up the road, easy to get close, a bit hard to find at the end but ask anyone - like at the Post Office. The food was good, especially dessert and the tea. The B&B is a bit rustic, but you are getting the rooms for a very good price considering this is Alaska. Nina will try to sell you everything in the store so be prepared!!

5 star entertainment factor with Nina, 3 star food but hits the spot after a long drive out here. Prepare to laugh

Oh my gosh is all I can say. Bring cash, and lots of it because you will get all the courses whether you like it or not. Don't get me wrong, the food was delicious, and the decor was interesting, but Nina was quite the intimidating host. Photos are extra, and you have no choice in the matter, because Nina will take your phone and start snapping pictures. If you want an expensive, yet unforgettable and slight terrifying experience, try it.. I don't regret it!

Nina is the one woman show for this sweet little cafe located about 20 minutes inland from Point Anchor (about 40 minutes for Homer). Nina is the hostess, server, cook, cashier, photographer and educator of this Russian experience. Her food was very good. We had the soup and bread and then followed with the fire weed tea and dessert. For us, it was a perfect light lunch. If we had made a reservation, she would have cooked us an entire Russian meal. We would have given her 5 stars but found her to be a little forceful to purchase souvenirs but from what we understand, she does this to help the children in Russia and so she is a woman with a mission. The experience was very charming and we most definitely learned more about her and her culture. We'll never make it to Russia and so this was enjoyable and educational and actually fun. We dressed in costume (for $30) and Nina used our cameras to take lots of pictures. If you're open to the new experience and not expecting a typical cafe, then this is the place for you. If you just want a meal and then leave, then this is NOT the place for you. Go with an open mind and lots of money in your pocket. The meal mentioned above cost us $79 for 3.

Delightful, quirky and delicious! Nina serves Russian comfort foods like borscht, pelmini and cream puffs with a side of personality garnished with humor. Pay a little extra and opt for the Russian Experience if you want the full effect. Regardless, you'll see an interesting side of Alaskan rural life and have an off-the-beaten-path adventure.

The borscht was great! I came here for lunch and we didn't do the whole "package", just ate, but Nina was very sweet and talked to us the whole time. It's definitely an interesting experience and the food is really good. Plus, you get a little peak at the Russian village.

AVOID THIS SCAM. The food is absolutely horrible--frozen and microwaved. Nina is pushy pushy pushy-- She makes you pay $20 to take photos on YOUR cellphone, and requires each couple to pay $20 for a 'free' gift, which is a piece of junk. She is a master rip-off artist and we ended up being charged EIGHTY DOLLARS PER COUPLE! AVOID THIS TRAP.