Verōnika

"Verōnika is an Eastern European restaurant located in a converted church at Manhattan’s Swedish photography center, Fotografiska New York. The restaurant first opened in January 2020 in partnership with restaurateur Stephen Starr and featured a menu with dishes like borscht, chicken Kiev, schnitzel, escargots, and lobster Américaine. It received a two-star review in March 2020, praised for its romantic ode to the Grand Traditions of Eastern Europe and specific dishes like coulibiac. The restaurant experienced multiple closures and reopenings due to the pandemic and management changes. In its second life under the ownership of CultureWorks, the menu shifted to continental European classics." - Melissa McCart

"Borscht January 31st “There’s nothing inherently sexy about borscht. It stains, it’s full of cabbage, and it doesn’t beckon you to lean over the bowl and whisper something about your lower half. But eating the Ukranian borscht at Veronika (a high-end Eastern European restaurant in Gramercy that opened in the beginning of the year and has been closed since March) changed that for me. Slurping its porky broth was one of the more sensory-filled dining experiences I’ve had in an otherwise sanitized year. It was poured tableside, which meant I got to admire a steamy flow of beet soup as it swarmed a little mound of shredded cabbage, onions, and dill. I stuck my face as close as possible to the bowl before I ate it, like I was a beet aromatherapy patient. This was sexy soup.” -Hannah Albertine, Staff Writer" - hannah albertine, nikko duren, hillary reinsberg, arden shore, matt tervooren

"Veronika, where diners can enjoy dishes with a vaguely Western European bent, and which offers priority reservation privileges to members." - BySam Stone

"What's Different: The original iteration of Verōnika opened in January 2020. It was helmed by Stephen Starr and had some impressive Eastern European food. Now, the food is continental European, and Stephen Starr is no longer involved. Verdict: The new Verōnika, still at Fotografiska Museum, doesn’t make bad food. It’s just kind of boring. Your options are seafood, steak, and—the only distinctive aspect of the menu—various schnitzels. None of the dishes live up to the scene-stealing dining room. But if you want to be in a beautiful space that you can dress up for, you can have an alright time here." - team infatuation

"Verōnika was an opulent Eastern European restaurant located inside the Fotografiska museum in Gramercy. It opened in January 2020 and was known for its picturesque setting complete with stained glass windows and gigantic tiered chandeliers. The menu featured Eastern European dishes like borscht, pierogis, and goulash, crafted by chef Robert Aikens. Despite being open for a short period, the restaurant received accolades from critics for its well-executed dishes. It closed due to prolonged industry recovery and staffing challenges." - Erika Adams