Russian Tea Room

150 West 57th Street (between 6th & 7th Aves.)
(212)581-7100
Scheduled to open last week in October

Okay, so I’m a food snoop.  Here’s the skinny on the Russian Tea Room to come – Gary Robins (formerly of the now defunct Biltmore Room) is set to head up the kitchen at the Russian Tea Room, which will be reinvented by the new owner, who goes only by Hussan.  Having once acted as manager at Gotham Bar & Grill, Scott Kearney is moving uptown to manage the renovated four-story space.  One of four sommeliers (one for each floor) leaked that the new Russian Tea Room will offer formal Russian & French fare, waiters to parade the space in coat tails and all, offering up over 40 vodkas (some never been offered in the US), and an impressive selection of caviars (sadly not beluga). 

After the untimely demise of Warner LeRoy, owner of both Tavern on the Green & the Russian Tea Room, his daughter, Jennifer LeRoy, picked favorites (Tavern on The Green), selling the Russian Tea Room to Hussan.  Though she generously offered to rent the famed Tiffany chandeliers to Hussan for the bargain price of one million dollars a year, he graciously declined.  The Russian Tea Room will return to the restaurant scene with a newly adapted menu by the end of October, latest, first week in November.   

Until we eat again,
Restaurant Girl