Veselka Brings The Borscht Back To The Bowery Tonight

The Veselka outpost at First Park is gone, but fans of Ukrainian soul food don't need to trudge up Second Avenue for their pierogi fix anymore. After three years in development, Veselka Bowery opens its doors to the public in the Avalon Bowery for the first time tonight at 5 p.m. Tonight and tomorrow it will be serving till midnight, with longer hours (eventually 24/7) and delivery coming as the restaurant gets its sealegs.

The new space is not too dissimilar to the original—no trendy Edison bulbs here—but this one has a long communal table in addition to regular tables. Especially compared to the neighboring DBGB, Veselka Bowery is downright light and airy.

As for the menu, they are still finalizing the details and prices (really waiting till the last minute!), but the we're told it stays true to the spirit of the original with lots of new Ukrainian and Eastern European dishes mixed in with the classics. So yes: pierogies, they've got a few.

The big thing at the new Veselka though is the booze. VB boasts a full service bar whose main emphasis is vodka. They've got 75 types available, with a vodka list and vodka flights available. You can order 1.5 ounce pours for yourself, of 7 ounce carafes for a table. Beverage prices start around $9 and move up into the high teens/low twenties if you order the fancier Scotches or vodkas.

Part of us still wishes some enterprising soul would just bring back the late, great, Kiev (which, jeez, closed over a decade ago) but since that is clearly never going to happen a new Veselka will just have to do. Bring on the borscht!

9 East 1st Street // 212-387-7000

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By Garth Johnston in Food on November 4, 2011 11:22 AM

Comments [rss]

BreadGal

I bought the Veselka cookbook a long time ago - maybe 2 or 3 years ago? And never got around to making anything out of it because most of the recipes are rather long. That changed tonight - I made borscht with pork butt! Really amazing. I added sour cream and dill on top. With some really amazing bread I made myself on the side, called Dumbo Delicious from Baked Better (http://bakedbetter.com/dumbo-d.... Great all around!

remyngtin

good luck

Jerrell

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Eggcream

Funny how diverse the "reviews" of Veselka are here. I haven't eaten there in years but remember it fondly. Did they go downhill? (GASP!)

Can we blame OWS for that? I think we can. Go!

lightstays

Veselka has the nastiest excuse for Eastern European fare this side of the Danube. The refuse they peddle wouldn't be served in a Kiev homeless shelter.

ronshapley

Ok, Ok... peoples...chill !!!!!! Little Poland awaits you at 14th and 2nd avenue.. Primo quality and cheap.. If you haven't been there......

Zachary Galler

it got a "c" rating, and its a legititmate one

AnthonyBSD

As a Ukrainian I loathe Veselka and all its incarnations.

Peanut_Butter

How come?

Detex

Love the one on 2nd Ave. My brother lived a 1/2 block away for years, great place on the way home from the pub!

Mary

Always loved the original on 2nd Ave. And still miss Kiev. I remember going there for breakfast after a night spent at the Mudd Club!

redo_undo

Haven't been to Veselka in years, maybe it's time to stop by again.

Peanut_Butter

I only "discovered" it within the last year. I've been more than a handful of times and I find the food overpriced. Nice atmosphere, though, and a good place to go at 2am.