Step into the Russian Tea Room, a dazzling, opulent space that transports you with its classic borscht and caviar, alongside an art collection that dazzles as much as the food.
"Tea service in this opulent dining room is always a fun option before a show at Carnegie Hall (right next door in Midtown). For $145 per person, you get a three-tiered tray of savory sandwiches followed by a substantial selection of sweets. It’s a lot of food. The smoked sturgeon sandwich is a favorite, and you should reach for the chocolate chip scone and mini red velvet cupcake first among the desserts." - carina finn koeppicus, kenny yang, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick
"How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Well, you’ve got a number of options, but the important thing is that your route should include a stop at the Russian Tea Room next door. Every New Yorker should visit this nearly century-old, red-and-green jewel box of a restaurant, founded by the Russian Imperial Ballet in 1927, at least once. Live out your Anastasia fantasy over red borscht and blini as you marvel at the extensive art collection, and wonder which of those Chagalls and Picassos are authentic and which are reproductions. There's no need to strain your budget for a full meal—though we do have a soft spot for the boeuf à la stroganoff—but pop by for afternoon tea or a martini." - molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah, neha talreja
"The Deal: $45 Lunch, $60 Dinner, $60 Sunday Dinner Every New Yorker should visit this nearly century-old, red-and-green jewel box of a restaurant next to Carnegie Hall at least once. Restaurant Week is an excellent opportunity to marvel at Picasso and Chagall works gracing the walls—not to mention the year-round Christmas ornament chandeliers—without straining your budget too much. The signature red borscht is a great choice for an appetizer, and we love the very tender boeuf à la stroganoff for a main." - bryan kim, willa moore, sonal shah, neha talreja, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick
"Every New Yorker should visit this one-of-a-kind, red-and-green jewel box of a restaurant, founded in 1926 by the Russian Imperial Ballet, at least once. With Picasso and Chagall works gracing the walls, mixed in with reproductions, it’s like an art museum—albeit one that also happens to serve around 50 different vodkas. (Actual art museums should consider this an earnest profit-boosting suggestion.) As the gold-leaf ceiling and the $230 nesting dolls in the gift shop may tip you off, the Russian Tea Room is not a famously affordable restaurant. But there’s no need to have a three-course meal here, and it is possible, and worthwhile, to experience this place without straining your budget too much. Before catching a performance at Carnegie Hall next door, live your Anastasia fantasy over afternoon tea, or indulge in a caviar martini and a herring tasting platter that’s nearly as delicious as the people-watching possibilities in the scarlet banquettes around you. photo credit: Lanna Apisukh Food Rundown photo credit: Sonal Shah Herring Tasting At $34, this appetizer is some of the best bang for your buck you’ll find on the menu. Served with toasted pumpernickel bread, the three pickled herring selections are all bright and savory, and especially delicious with dill. photo credit: Sonal Shah The Cavitini The Russian Tea Room is the sort of place that makes you feel like you ought to be eating caviar and drinking vodka, and this crisp Beluga vodka cocktail—served with 10 grams of Hackleback caviar on a cucumber slice—is an efficient way to check both boxes. Share it with a friend and they'll happily bring you two more-than-half-full glasses. photo credit: Sonal Shah Caviar Tasting See above: If you don’t feel like drinking, this is the best way to ingest your requisite caviar. This platter comes with five grams each of trout, salmon, and whitefish roe, but we especially like the buckwheat blini they're served on. Not essential, but fine if you want to splash out. photo credit: Lanna Apisukh Boeuf À La Stroganoff A signature dish at the Russian Tea Room, for good reason. The beef ($48) is very tender and, as the manager may proudly inform you, the cream sauce is made with 13 different types of mushrooms. The portion size also is generous—and, as with the Cavitini, your server will be happy to split your order into two, to share with your dining partner. photo credit: Cheyenne Cohen Afternoon Tea Afternoon tea, starting at $145 per person (or $75 for fancy children 12 and under). It's served from 11:30am-4:30pm and includes a glass of champagne. There’s a wide variety of savory and sweet bites on offer, but we especially like the creamy shrimp salad and smoked sturgeon sandwiches, the chocolate chip scone, and the mini red velvet cupcake." - Molly Fitzpatrick
"Founded by members of the Russian Imperial Ballet, offering standard and Royal Afternoon Tea with options like international caviar tasting." - Elizabeth Rhodes Elizabeth Rhodes Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure, covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina,
