Pelmeni by the plateful, ruby-red borscht, charcoal kebabs and beef stroganoff in a bread bowl — hearty, home-style Russian and Eastern European cooking served in a tongue-in-cheek Soviet-era dining hall in Sheepshead Bay.
Stolovaya means “canteen” in Russian — the no-frills neighborhood dining halls where generations ate hearty, honest food. Ours brings that spirit to Brooklyn, with Soviet-era posters and banners on the walls and a dining room styled after a vintage railway car.
The kitchen grew out of a dumpling shop, and pelmeni and vareniki are still the heart of the menu — alongside soups, salads, grilled kebabs and classics like beef stroganoff, golubtsy and chicken tabaka. Portions are big, prices are friendly, and regulars have been coming back for over a decade.
The dishes guests mention again and again — from the dumplings the place was built on to the grill.
Rich, deep-red beet soup — one of the most-mentioned dishes in reviews.
The house specialty. Order them by the plate or floating in chicken broth.
Beef and mushrooms in sour-cream gravy, served inside a hollowed-out loaf.
Uzbek-style skewers — chicken, pork, beef or lamb — plus smoky lamb ribs.
The Georgian classic: a whole bird pressed flat, crisped and finished with garlic.
Half-moon dumplings with potato, mushroom, cabbage — or sweet cherry for dessert.
Menu items vary by day — call for today's specials and prices.
Guests say the food is rich and homemade — just like a family kitchen, and often cheaper than cooking yourself.
The Soviet-era posters and railway-car design are part of the fun — reviewers call it an authentic trip back in time.
Attentive waiters who keep things moving calmly, even on the busiest nights.
Order takeout online and pay when you pick it up — or call ahead and your order will be ready when you arrive.
★ Ordering direct skips the delivery-app commission, so your whole order supports Stolovaya.