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Take a Trip to the Russia House

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I had noticed the Russian flag and the small Russia House sign outside the gracious mansion north of Dupont Circle a few years ago, and had read that there was a restaurant tucked inside it, but it was not until a few weeks ago that two friends and I finally got to see what hides behind the doors.

The Russia House is a cultural organization devoted to improving U.S.-Russia relations. But it also has a club and restaurant designed to introduce those who are interested to dining in the Russian style. Reservations are required, and the club encourages you to place your order in advance from the menu available on the Russia House's web site.

On the night we arranged to eat there, we climbed the curved staircase to the door, rang the doorbell and announced ourselves to the woman who answered the door. It was Valentina, the manager who took my order by email.

Valentina showed us through the bar area, which was populated with a few casually dressed people who stared at us while clutching their drinks. Then we headed down another curving staircase to the richly appointed dining area.

We sat in our own room, and had we wanted privacy, we could have pulled shut the french doors that separated us from the rest of the house. This floor is at the street level, but the combination of gilded mirrors lining the room, curtained windows, and the velvet banquette that arced around our table made us feel like we were far away from Dupont Circle and Connecticut Avenue.

While the Russia House has a wine list, there's no reason not to skip right to the vodka. Valentina serves as both manager, waitress and bartender, and she made it clear that a glass of vodka on the rocks is her specialty. One of my friends ordered a vodka-cranberry, and Valentina apologized in advance when she delivered it—she was concerned that it might be too strong. But the drinks were simply excellent.

Russia is not known for its cuisine, but the Russia House does a great job with the national dishes. The blini the chef makes are more like crepes than the thicker pancakes I have had in the past, and they come with a range of accompaniments. One of my friends had them with melted butter, I chose to have them with red caviar, and another friend had them as part of the "Russia House" cold seafood platter, which was a veritable feast that included salmon, sturgeon, shrimp and caviar.