The kitchen is doing its job, but the front-of-house—particularly the bartender with arm tattoos—undercuts the entire experience. Simple menu questions were met with impatience and a passive, dismissive tone that made ordering feel like an inconvenience.
Dining out should feel welcoming, not uncomfortable. When basic interaction comes with attitude, it overshadows even good food.
No one expects forced cheerfulness—just courtesy. With a reset on service standards, this place could easily improve. Until then, the service is the weak link.
Service: 1
Amir Farrokhi
Great food, but service makes it hard to enjoy
I really wanted to like this place. The food has potential, and that’s why I gave it a second visit—hoping my first experience was just an off day.
Unfortunately, both times I was served by the same bartender/waiter, and the experience felt consistently uncomfortable. Simple, reasonable questions (e.g., asking whether dark rye bread is available for borsh, or if mustard and garlic are offered) were met with visible irritation and passive-aggressive responses.
As a customer, you shouldn’t feel like you’re “doing something wrong” for asking menu-related questions. There was a recurring no-stupid-questions attitude, which made what should’ve been a relaxed meal feel oddly tense—like navigating an emotional obstacle course instead of ordering food.
I’m not asking for over-the-top friendliness—just basic courtesy and professionalism. Restaurants thrive on hospitality, and when that’s missing, it overshadows everything else.
I hope management takes this feedback seriously, because with a warmer approach to service, this place could be somewhere I’d actually recommend and return to regularly.
David W
Amazing little bar with great cocktails and great pelmeni. We love this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joseph kush
Best russian food I had in Seattle. Great drinks and amazing borsht.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Muugii M.
Great drinks and amazing food! Borsht was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joy Denham
This is one my favorite places I've found in Seattle so far! Everything is so unique and spot on, from the creative drinks, the delicious food, the cool ambiance and awesome staff. Really a special little place, not like anywhere around!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Honey Cake, Pickle Plate, Pirozhki, Pickled Cucumbers, Carrot Salad, Sour Cream and Cheese Sauce, Small Batch Salt Pickled Cucumbers
Jurate Dickinson
Absolutely DIVINE pelmeni and honey cake 😋
Recommended dishes: Pelmeni, Honey Cake, Pirozhki
Dry Vov
I highly recommend visiting this tavern. The food is delicious, organic, and healthy. The staff is attentive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pelmeni, Honey Cake, Borscht, Pickle Plate, Pirozhki, Layer Cake, Elderflower Thistle, Cold Borsh, Pelmeni \u0026 Vareniki, Garlic Rolls, Pickled Beets, Pickled Cucumbers, Salt Pickled Cucumbers, Dark Rye with Goat Cheese Butter, Carrot Salad, Sour Cream and Cheese Sauce, Small Batch Salt Pickled Cucumbers
charlie rubin
Super fun bar with horseradish martinis (very nice), and tasty food. Great vide and one of our go-to bars in Seattle.
Just moved to the neighborhood. This cocktail bar has the best vibes of any bar nearby. The snacks and cocktails were lovely too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stacy deBruyn (SeattleFinds)
Amazing neighborhood bar with excellent dumplings and pickled stuff. Cocktails are unique and well balanced. 100% worth a visit, or 2 or 3 or... Our go to before a show at the Seamonster. Also a good way to support female owned business.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Danylo Kurgan
Excellent place for drinks and delicious food!! Nice place to stop for a little drink on a date or a dinner with a friend. Bartenders are friendly and the staff works hard!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alan Z
Love this place. Great drinks. Tasty food. Unique ambience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pelmeni, Lenin Drop, Borscht, Pickle Plate, Pirozhki
Food delivers. Hospitality does not.
The kitchen is doing its job, but the front-of-house—particularly the bartender with arm tattoos—undercuts the entire experience. Simple menu questions were met with impatience and a passive, dismissive tone that made ordering feel like an inconvenience.
Dining out should feel welcoming, not uncomfortable. When basic interaction comes with attitude, it overshadows even good food.
No one expects forced cheerfulness—just courtesy. With a reset on service standards, this place could easily improve. Until then, the service is the weak link.
Service: 1
Great food, but service makes it hard to enjoy
I really wanted to like this place. The food has potential, and that’s why I gave it a second visit—hoping my first experience was just an off day.
Unfortunately, both times I was served by the same bartender/waiter, and the experience felt consistently uncomfortable. Simple, reasonable questions (e.g., asking whether dark rye bread is available for borsh, or if mustard and garlic are offered) were met with visible irritation and passive-aggressive responses.
As a customer, you shouldn’t feel like you’re “doing something wrong” for asking menu-related questions. There was a recurring no-stupid-questions attitude, which made what should’ve been a relaxed meal feel oddly tense—like navigating an emotional obstacle course instead of ordering food.
I’m not asking for over-the-top friendliness—just basic courtesy and professionalism. Restaurants thrive on hospitality, and when that’s missing, it overshadows everything else.
I hope management takes this feedback seriously, because with a warmer approach to service, this place could be somewhere I’d actually recommend and return to regularly.
Amazing little bar with great cocktails and great pelmeni. We love this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best russian food I had in Seattle. Great drinks and amazing borsht.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great drinks and amazing food! Borsht was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is one my favorite places I've found in Seattle so far! Everything is so unique and spot on, from the creative drinks, the delicious food, the cool ambiance and awesome staff. Really a special little place, not like anywhere around!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Honey Cake, Pickle Plate, Pirozhki, Pickled Cucumbers, Carrot Salad, Sour Cream and Cheese Sauce, Small Batch Salt Pickled Cucumbers
Absolutely DIVINE pelmeni and honey cake 😋
Recommended dishes: Pelmeni, Honey Cake, Pirozhki
I highly recommend visiting this tavern. The food is delicious, organic, and healthy. The staff is attentive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pelmeni, Honey Cake, Borscht, Pickle Plate, Pirozhki, Layer Cake, Elderflower Thistle, Cold Borsh, Pelmeni \u0026 Vareniki, Garlic Rolls, Pickled Beets, Pickled Cucumbers, Salt Pickled Cucumbers, Dark Rye with Goat Cheese Butter, Carrot Salad, Sour Cream and Cheese Sauce, Small Batch Salt Pickled Cucumbers
Super fun bar with horseradish martinis (very nice), and tasty food. Great vide and one of our go-to bars in Seattle.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Borscht, Pickle Plate, Pirozhki
Came here for restaurant week and the dinner for 2 deal was incredible! As an Eastern European and vegetarian, I can’t recommend this place enough!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Just moved to the neighborhood. This cocktail bar has the best vibes of any bar nearby. The snacks and cocktails were lovely too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing neighborhood bar with excellent dumplings and pickled stuff. Cocktails are unique and well balanced. 100% worth a visit, or 2 or 3 or... Our go to before a show at the Seamonster. Also a good way to support female owned business.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent place for drinks and delicious food!! Nice place to stop for a little drink on a date or a dinner with a friend. Bartenders are friendly and the staff works hard!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love this place. Great drinks. Tasty food. Unique ambience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pelmeni, Lenin Drop, Borscht, Pickle Plate, Pirozhki
Food was INCREDIBLE
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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