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9 Bone-Sticking Eastern European Dishes to Try Right Now

by Claire Stanford
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by Claire Stanford

These long, cold Minnesota winters are the perfect time to take a tour of the Twin Cities's best Eastern European dishes. From vodka shots to dumplings, to succulent meats and endless potatoes, Eastern European menus offer lots of tasty options to stave off winter's chill, not to mention making it easy to store fat for the icy months ahead. Without further ado, we present 9 Eastern European dishes in the Twin Cities that are stick-to-your-bones good.

Did we miss your favorite Eastern European bone-sticker? Let us know in the comments.


—Theresa Swaney

· All Eater Maps [Eater MPLS]

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Crossroads Deli

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2795 Hedberg Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55305
(952) 546-6595
(952) 546-6595
Visit Website
No list of Eastern European dishes would be complete without at least one entry for borscht. The problem is that borscht is like Miley Cyrus, everyone’s got an opinion. While Crossroads Delicatessen’s borscht may not be to your particular liking, it is a perfect starting point for the uninitiated. Eaters beware though, this borscht is of the beet-less variety and is instead heavy on tender meat, crisp cabbage, and sweet and sour broth. Beet lovers should head to any one of the Twin Cities’s Russian restaurants for their cravings.

2. Mort's Delicatessen

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525 Winnetka Ave N
Golden Valley, MN 55427
(763) 544-2900
(763) 544-2900
Visit Website
Continuing the culinary traditions of Jewish Lithuanians, Mort’s Delicatessen serves up a plethora of hard to find Eastern European dishes as well as new American favorites. First things first: order Mort’s one pound potato knish (think potato empanada topped with sour cream and chives). Second, fill what’s left of your stomach with a half order Mort’s reuben, a corned beef sandwich topped with sauerkraut, horseradish, cheddar, and russian dressing.

3. St. Petersburg Restaurant

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3610 France Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55422
(763) 587-1787
(763) 587-1787
Visit Website
You might be surprised to learn that you can party like a Russian jetsetter without even leaving the Twin Cities metro. St. Petersburg Restaurant and Vodka Bar, an upscale Russian eatery in Robbinsdale, offers chandeliers galore, Russian music, and dancers on the weekend, along with high-end vodkas and entrees. Shell out for an authentic Chicken Kiev, and keep the party going all night long by trying their house-made coffee-infused vodka.

4. Hammer & Sickle

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1300 Lagoon Ave #150
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 367-4035
(612) 367-4035
Visit Website
Ever wonder why vodka is the drink of choice in Russia? Try a vodka shot from the new Hammer & Sickle restaurant in Uptown this winter and you will have your answer: it gives you that warm tingly feeling that cold-climate dwellers need. Between vodka shots, get an order of vareniki, or potatoes dumplings. Hammer & Sickle has six different traditional and contemporary varieties, like vareniki stuffed with potatoes, chorizo, and jalapeños.

5. Rye Delicatessen

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1930 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 871-1200
(612) 871-1200
Visit Website
If you are in the mood for a traditional Old-world pastry, head over to Rye Delicatessen and order a dozen rugelach. This small croissant-meets-nut roll pastry gets its name from Yiddish and has a long history stemming back to Jewish Eastern Europeans. Rye Delicatessen fills theirs with dried apricots, currants, and walnuts and at $10 for a dozen they are an excellent investment for the holidays or a quick snack.

6. Nye's Polonaise

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112 E Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 379-2021
(612) 379-2021
Visit Website
You can’t talk about Eastern European dishes in the Twin Cities without mentioning Nye’s Polonaise Room. Hipster decor and attitude aside, Nye’s serves up some genuine old-world fare, the kind your grandparents used to eat. You won’t be disappointed ordering their pierogi and polish sausage plate, which comes with a potato and prune pierogi (Polish dumpling), a juicy Polish sausage, and side of sauerkraut.

7. Kramarczuk's East European Deli

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215 E Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 379-3018
(612) 379-3018
Visit Website
Everyone knows Kramarzcuk’s has a wide selection of delicious sausages at their deli counter, but have you ever visited their restaurant? This cafeteria style eatery will have you longing for the Soviet Union as you indulge in Ukraine and Polish favorites. You can’t really go wrong, but their Ukrainian meatball dish is definitely worth a try. The all beef meatball is topped with creamy tomato sauce and laid over a bed of egg noodles to keep your stomach full and toes warm.

8. Russian Tea House

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1758 University Ave W
St Paul, MN 55104
(651) 646-4144
(651) 646-4144
Visit Website
The Russian Tea House isn’t open very often, only Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, but when it is open, it is worth the visit to this cozy house on University Ave in Saint Paul for a plate of beef stroganoff over potato vareniki or dumplings. For only $5, this simple but filling dish gives you is exactly what you need during winter: a hearty meal.

9. Moscow on the Hill

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371 Selby Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 291-1236
(651) 291-1236
Visit Website
Along Selby Ave in Saint Paul sits Moscow on the Hill, a contemporary casual restaurant with dim lighting and over 60 different vodka options. While you should definitely have a shot of their house-made horseradish vodka, Moscow on the Hill’s Babushka Stew is really where it is at: Duroc pork shoulder stewed in a clay pot with vegetables and your choice of mashed potatoes or buckwheat pilaf. If vodka and stew don’t fill you up, nothing will.

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1. Crossroads Deli

2795 Hedberg Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55305
No list of Eastern European dishes would be complete without at least one entry for borscht. The problem is that borscht is like Miley Cyrus, everyone’s got an opinion. While Crossroads Delicatessen’s borscht may not be to your particular liking, it is a perfect starting point for the uninitiated. Eaters beware though, this borscht is of the beet-less variety and is instead heavy on tender meat, crisp cabbage, and sweet and sour broth. Beet lovers should head to any one of the Twin Cities’s Russian restaurants for their cravings.
2795 Hedberg Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55305
(952) 546-6595
Visit Website

2. Mort's Delicatessen

525 Winnetka Ave N, Golden Valley, MN 55427
Continuing the culinary traditions of Jewish Lithuanians, Mort’s Delicatessen serves up a plethora of hard to find Eastern European dishes as well as new American favorites. First things first: order Mort’s one pound potato knish (think potato empanada topped with sour cream and chives). Second, fill what’s left of your stomach with a half order Mort’s reuben, a corned beef sandwich topped with sauerkraut, horseradish, cheddar, and russian dressing.
525 Winnetka Ave N
Golden Valley, MN 55427
(763) 544-2900
Visit Website

3. St. Petersburg Restaurant

3610 France Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55422
You might be surprised to learn that you can party like a Russian jetsetter without even leaving the Twin Cities metro. St. Petersburg Restaurant and Vodka Bar, an upscale Russian eatery in Robbinsdale, offers chandeliers galore, Russian music, and dancers on the weekend, along with high-end vodkas and entrees. Shell out for an authentic Chicken Kiev, and keep the party going all night long by trying their house-made coffee-infused vodka.
3610 France Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55422
(763) 587-1787
Visit Website

4. Hammer & Sickle

1300 Lagoon Ave #150, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Ever wonder why vodka is the drink of choice in Russia? Try a vodka shot from the new Hammer & Sickle restaurant in Uptown this winter and you will have your answer: it gives you that warm tingly feeling that cold-climate dwellers need. Between vodka shots, get an order of vareniki, or potatoes dumplings. Hammer & Sickle has six different traditional and contemporary varieties, like vareniki stuffed with potatoes, chorizo, and jalapeños.
1300 Lagoon Ave #150
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 367-4035
Visit Website

5. Rye Delicatessen

1930 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
If you are in the mood for a traditional Old-world pastry, head over to Rye Delicatessen and order a dozen rugelach. This small croissant-meets-nut roll pastry gets its name from Yiddish and has a long history stemming back to Jewish Eastern Europeans. Rye Delicatessen fills theirs with dried apricots, currants, and walnuts and at $10 for a dozen they are an excellent investment for the holidays or a quick snack.
1930 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 871-1200
Visit Website

6. Nye's Polonaise

112 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55414
You can’t talk about Eastern European dishes in the Twin Cities without mentioning Nye’s Polonaise Room. Hipster decor and attitude aside, Nye’s serves up some genuine old-world fare, the kind your grandparents used to eat. You won’t be disappointed ordering their pierogi and polish sausage plate, which comes with a potato and prune pierogi (Polish dumpling), a juicy Polish sausage, and side of sauerkraut.
112 E Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 379-2021
Visit Website

7. Kramarczuk's East European Deli

215 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Everyone knows Kramarzcuk’s has a wide selection of delicious sausages at their deli counter, but have you ever visited their restaurant? This cafeteria style eatery will have you longing for the Soviet Union as you indulge in Ukraine and Polish favorites. You can’t really go wrong, but their Ukrainian meatball dish is definitely worth a try. The all beef meatball is topped with creamy tomato sauce and laid over a bed of egg noodles to keep your stomach full and toes warm.
215 E Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 379-3018
Visit Website

8. Russian Tea House

1758 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55104
The Russian Tea House isn’t open very often, only Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, but when it is open, it is worth the visit to this cozy house on University Ave in Saint Paul for a plate of beef stroganoff over potato vareniki or dumplings. For only $5, this simple but filling dish gives you is exactly what you need during winter: a hearty meal.
1758 University Ave W
St Paul, MN 55104
(651) 646-4144
Visit Website

9. Moscow on the Hill

371 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Along Selby Ave in Saint Paul sits Moscow on the Hill, a contemporary casual restaurant with dim lighting and over 60 different vodka options. While you should definitely have a shot of their house-made horseradish vodka, Moscow on the Hill’s Babushka Stew is really where it is at: Duroc pork shoulder stewed in a clay pot with vegetables and your choice of mashed potatoes or buckwheat pilaf. If vodka and stew don’t fill you up, nothing will.
371 Selby Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 291-1236
Visit Website

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