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I grew up in a Russian household so I'm pretty familiar with the home cooked and special occasion/restaurant dishes. The pelmeni (little boiled dumplings with meat) were great; served with butter/sour cream and vinegar like they're supposed to be. Yes they're frozen and then boiled, but that's how we did it at home, too. You can order some Vodka in a small carafe and then serve shots around the table at your convenience to be enjoyed with your meal. The waiters are pretty average and the service doesn't really lack in any department. The restaurant itself looks like someone's traditionally-decorated living room with some tables set up. The three times I visited, there was a man playing the accordion as we ate. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and a good reminder of how versatile food in Manhattan may be. Will definitely come back again and again.

I grew up in Russia and have been an American for over 20 yrs. After reading some decent reviews of this place, I took my friend, who'd never tasted Russin food, to this place for lunch. The food is not prepared on premises but delivered from Brooklyn. Pelmeni and Vareniki, the Russian well known meals, are brought from Brooklyn frozen and boiled there before serving. The deserts are nonexistant and we ordered Cherry Vareniki and Syrniki, which were horrible... This place doesn't do justice to Russian food. Don't be attracted by the cheap food they serve... you get what you pay for or even less...

I went to this restaurant with my friend, who is also Russian, and my American boyfriend a few years ago. We all enjoyed the food very much. It tasted great, like real home cooked food that my mom would make, with all the flavor, less grease, and no nagging from my mom to eat more (jk sorry!). We had the blini with red caviar, Pilmeni, Golubtsy, and some other stuff I cant remember anymore, but I do remember that even though we all have different tastes, we all loved the food. The portions were large and the price wasnt too bad for how much we ordered. The staff was nice also.

We live in Manhattan and had never been here before. My husband ordered the salmon kulibiaka and I ordered the chicken Vanya and both were excellent. Huge portions, accompanied with crispy fried potatoes. The salmon kulbiaka was in a phylo dough, and frankly would have tasted wonderful no matter what was in the phylo dough. The chicken Vanya was a pan fried whole baby chicken moist and tender and garlicky. The only down side is that the food is a bit greasy (cooked with lots of butter, I'm sure), but we happen to like that, so we were happy and took home the leftovers for another meal.

Born and raised in Moscow, I need a Russian restaurant in Manhattan I can "call home" to go there anytime I feel like having food I grew up with (without having to ride to Brighton Beach) and bring my American friends there (for exposure purposes). For years, Uncle Vanya's has been the choice, not because the food there was every particularly good, but because the other Russian restaurants in Manhattan are (1.) a huge rip-off and (2.) NOT authentic at all (aside from Russian Samovar and Vodka Room). In contrast, Uncle Vanya is affordable and cozy, waiters who worked there in the past were good acquaintances of mine. BUT... over the past 2-3 years the restaurant has been on a steady downward slope. They changed their staff (new staff is less friendly) and every time I come there, the quality seems worse and worse. Not surprisingly, they have fewer and fewer Russian clients and at this point seem to be oriented entirely toward American clientele who, as they see it, will attribute any shortcomings to an "authentic Russian flavor" and stay happy even with a subpar performance on their part. Well, my friends, don't buy into it: Uncle Vanya is not a "nostalgic reminder of the homeland", does not have the atmosphere of a "19th century Russian village", and does not taste like "babooshka's cooking". Rather, it is a restaurant, which several years ago was comparable to a decent fast food place in Moscow or St. Petersburg, but has since pretty much deteriorated into a a subpar place. For their and their clients' sake, I really hope they get their act together soon, stop trying to cut corners, and hire a new cook (or convince the present one to put more effort into her cooking).

and that about sums it up. the food is always better than good, the waiters are nice, the dessert is phenomenal. i don't understand why this place is so inexpensive, i really hope that doesn't change...

I found this place randomly one night and now make a special trip to have dinner here. I really enjoy the food and the atmosphere. You feel like you're in someones living room - very cozy and welcoming. Many nights there is live music. I recommend the duck, the beef stew, the beet salad and the pelmeni. And of course, the flavored vodka is out of this world. Come here if you truly want a unique dining experience.