Imagine a fluffy, golden fried doughnut stuffed with mince and you’re halfway to realising the stomach-warming satisfaction of piroshki. These pint-sized pies are a Russian specialty, providing a perfect antidote for end-of-winter blues.
Berezka restaurant dining room at the Russian Club
The Russian Club in Strathfield has seen better days, but it remains a social hub for the Russian community in Sydney. The restaurant is eerily quiet, but we’re told that Sunday lunchtimes are usually the busiest. In a suburb now teeming with Korean, Vietnamese and Indian restaurants, the Russian Club is now a sentimental, if struggling, reminder of the area’s Eastern European past.
Piroshki $2 each
The piroshki ($2 each) are one of the highlights here, the yeasted buns soft and fluffy and fried so the outer layer develops a thin, golden crust. Inside is a hot filling of minced meat and vermicelli noodles that tastes even better with a splodge of chilli sauce on the side.
Napkins and plastic tablecloths
The décor may be rooted in the ’70s, with fanned napkins and blue plastic sheeting draped over white tablecloths, but happily for your wallet, the prices are just as historic.
Cabbage rolls $9
A trio of homemade cabbage rolls are a steal at only $9. It’s a feast of minced meat and rice wrapped up in cabbage leaves and cooked in a tomato sauce, served with a flourish of sour cream and fresh chopped dill.
Pelmeni dumplings $7
Pelmeni ($7) are also hefty in serve, a plate of about twenty boiled dumplings folded into tortellini parcels. Each holds a spoonful of mixed pork and beef mince, best dunked into sour cream before eating – just like the Russians do.
Stir-fried tofu, zucchini, red capsicum and carrots $9
The crowd may be predominantly Russian but they all want Chinese food, says the chef. A plate of stir-fried tofu, zucchini, red capsicum and carrots ($9) wouldn’t look out of place at your local Chinese, even if it is a little on the oily side.
Honey cake $3.50
Not everything is available on the menu, but you should be well looked after by staff who’ll feed you with whatever they have in the kitchen. Finish with a cup of tea and a slice of honey cake ($3.50) filled with cream.
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The Russian Club Berezka Restaurant
7 Albert Road, Strathfield, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9746 8364
Opening hours:
Lunch Wednesday to Saturday 12pm-2pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm
Dinner Wednesday to Saturday 6pm-9pm,
This article appeared in the September 2012 issue of Time Out Sydney in my monthly Food & Drink column Eat This! [Read online]
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mmm dumplings.I like the idea of dunking the Piroshki in to sour cream - its a little bizarre.
ReplyDeleteLove the opening line, you got me drooling straight off.
Love dumplings, in any language!
ReplyDeleteHaven't had much in the way of Russian food but considering the convenient location and $2 piroshki, I'm going to have to check it out at some stage :)
ReplyDeleteNever tried Russian food before but those savoury doughnuts look incredibly good and those prices are such a bargain! lol @ the random Chinese stir fry hehe
ReplyDeleteI've never tried Russian cuisine, this could be my perfect excuse!
ReplyDeleteMy Hungarian mother used to make Cabbage Rolls when I was a kid - I HATED them...I thought I'd grow into them as an adult, but sadly nope. Honey cake on the other hand...
ReplyDeleteThe cabbage rolls and pelmeni fine: but that is NOT how I like my piroshki [or pirukad in Estonian!]: should be more triangular and serrated at the edges for looks, have a lot more colour and heaps more filling much more finely processed :) ! OK: these were probably the first solid food I had and fell in love with [hate to tell you when!!!!] and, oh boy, they are soul food :D ! [By the bye, all of NE Europe regards these as such!].
ReplyDeleteThanks for your fine recon, we've always wondered about this joint but never ventured in, now it's on our list.
ReplyDeleteDear Helen,
ReplyDeleteThis Russian food does not seem to look as glamorous as Russian women though.
You always seem to find such interesting restaurants to dine at! I love russian honey cake, been a while since I've had it. In primary school my next door neighbour was this old russian lady and I would go over to her place almost everyday and she would always have the most delightful array of russian cakes and biscuits! She taught me how to play chess - real strict but the treats made it worthwhile ^^ The honey cake was my favourite :)
ReplyDeleteOh I adore cabbage rolls. I order them whenever they're on the menu. These are the real deal!
ReplyDeleteHi Christine - The Chinese stir fry really threw me off, but wow, the piroshki were awesome.
ReplyDeleteHi Miss Piggy - Homemade cabbage rolls! Lucky you! I find them deliciously tasty, just like honey cake :)
Hi Eha - Ahh perhaps one day I'll get to Estonia and try the real pirukad!
Hi Shawn - Love exploring the community clubs of Sydney - I really hope they manage to continue, as many seem to be struggling with changing suburban demographics.
Hi Vivian - Naww that's so cute about your childhood visits to your neighbour. So does that mean you're a chess master?
Hi Nic - I agree, these were deliciously tasty!
I have driven past this place.. I thought you had to be a member.
ReplyDeleteLooks so tasty!
The stuffed cabbage looks great! Had Polish ones before and believe these are similar. Comforting and hearty.
ReplyDeleteI've always driven by this place in Stratty quite a few times and was always curious to see what it is like. I was sold at the fried doughnuts
ReplyDeletePretty similar to what I ate in Warsaw. Love your pics!
ReplyDeleteAt last the fanned napkins goes with the rest of the decor! I cant wait to try the piroshki.
ReplyDeleteOh those dumplings and piroshki look so good! I'd be happy with just a whole plate of those for dinner.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, I always find it interesting seeing similarities between Chinese and Russian cooking - those look like Chinese dumplings and bao zi! Hehe :)
Yummm!! We're craving those delish looking cabbage rolls and dumplings!
ReplyDeleteSarah - you're right,there's an interesting similarity between Chinese and Russian cuisine!Since both countries border each other, these recipes may have originated in towns situated along the border perhaps?