Caviar Russe

The caviar here was perfect. Served as a sampler of three varieties (or you can choose single varietes a la carte). Accompanied with blinis, toast and sliced potatoes rounds, along with crème fraîche and chopped parsley. We had a three course dinner; you can also choose a six-​course tasting menu. Very expensive – around $ 950 with tips for three people. Celebrating a birthday, but this price tag was a first for us.
Would I go back? Yeah, maybe, if I was REALLY in the mood for caviar and feeling flush. The dinner was quite good, although not excellent. The setting is nice, but… it’s up a flight of stairs from Madison Avenue in midtown. There’s an open kitchen, but it’s not really visible from the dining room. The service verged on impeccable, but there were a few glitches – most notably, removing plates before everyone in the party was finished. And the menu is a bit strange – in particular, they serve a dish of crispy poached egg topped with caviar. (The egg is breaded and fried after poaching and is pretty amazing.) But on the menu, all it says is, «Egg.»
Here’s the real downside: the maître d’ – officious and rude. I asked questions about the size of the caviar portions. How does 25 grams of caviar compare with an ounce? His response was to bring over empty tins to show us the sizes of 25 grams and two larger quantities. We buy caviar for ourselvves at the holidays… we know what an ounce looks like, and we thing that’s a nice generous portion, and just wanted to know if 25 grams was equivalent. Simple question. I Googled it, and it’s about 23 grams to the ounce. That was the answer I was looking for. He was rude throughout the meal, and struts around the place like it’s his own little kingdom. He should be fired if he’s an employee, and if he’s the owner, he should replace himself with someone more suited to dealing graciously with patrons spending huge amounts of money to eat caviar.
Finally, a tip – they serve madeleines with your coffee, so if you order the three-​course dinner, you can make all three courses savory, have a more satisfying meal, and go with the cookies a your dessert.

Found this place thanks to Unilocal while trying to find something to do 2÷13÷16 before a private tour of MOMA after hours. We came in before their dinner service started, so only enjoyed the Osetra Caviar and Hamachi Crudo. I really wanted to try the lobster.
We had the place to ourselves with an incredible view of Madison ave and truly perfect service. The staff was outstanding, striking the perfect balance of privacy and attentiveness, which could have easily gone awry in the near empty dining room. The caviar and crudo were just amazing with an absolutely outstanding presentation. All enjoyed with a bottle of champagne creating one of my top ten dinning experiences of all time.
If you love caviar, this is the place to go !

In one word IMMACULATE! The food was incredible, the service was flawless, the food was incredible. This was one of my top dining experiences. My boyfriend and I are still talking about the Tuna Tartare. This was our first time here and it will definitely be on the repeat list.
We shared a caviar as ample with 3 different 25 gram servings and each had the 3-​course tasting menu. It was more than enough I satisfy us.
Be prepared to spend big bucks (our lunch bill was around $ 850) but it is definitely worth it!!!

Perfect place for an intimate dinner. Very small but very beautiful space. The staff is so polite and attentive. The caviar was super fresh and so delicious. Some of my favorites were the toast with caviar, salmon on flatbread, the egg, scallop and the foie gras. But I think the food can have more flavor. Our waiter, even though he was lovely, didn’t know some of the courses that came out. It was on a Thursday evening and we were the only table (later another party came) which I loved, felt like we were in a private dining room. Overall it was a very pleasant dinner!

It is one of my favorite lunch spots. Always fantastic seafood & caviar. Wine and tea choices are decent. Great service. All my family members love this place.

Stumbled upon this little gem walking down Madison Ave.
Very romantic, posh and special. Love the option of a 3, 5 or larger course tasting menu.
I got the five and it was incredible. My favorite was the halibut and parsnip soup.
The staff was superb, incredibly nice and accommodating. The manager, Armando, went out of his way to make sure the experience was fantastic, and it was!
Will go back!

location — prime ! madison ave
décor — HIGH CLASS
Staff — extremely at your beck and call (for those prices especially)
Pricing — well its a caviar boutique… so $$$$
food — Stick strictly with the caviar and oysters (truly gets your money worth there) …everything else was just overpriced… a cup coffee was $ 10. COFFEE !
would i go back… Yes, the caviar, oysters & service were amazing

Went looking for a new place to dine in the area and stumbled upon Café Russe. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. You walk into a nondescript building and get into an elevator where you are transported to a place far away from life’s challenges and into a restaurant where you feel lost in a bygone time for a couple of hours. Be prepared for sky high prices but wonderful caviar, oysters, risotto, salmon and the requisite wine and champagne to wash it all down. Service is very good, perhaps a smidgen under great, but the food is the star of the show. A wonderful meal and I’m already looking forward to go back.

Best Caviar place in Manhattan, hands down. Highly recommend their 6 course Caviar dinner. You will not be disappointed

So many times I have passed by this place however only first time am going to eat here. As a huge fan of caviar, I’m so excited and cannot wait to try out their signature dishes. Restaurant was high end from both inside and outside, and it has been perfectly judged by the price tag.
Many options were provided. Different prix fixe or even the caviar tasting menu. We opted for the caviar tasting, which provided six spoons of caviar upfront and each dish followed with caviar somewhere on the plate as well. My favorite among the six dishes was king crab. One thing that I didn’t enjoy much was the whole grain bread, which was a bit hard to bite…
Our waiter has been extremely helpful in explaining both food and wine and he even let us try small sips before ordering it. Well deserved the Michelin star.

Michelin one star.
First time having to be buzzed in to get into a restaurant.
On the 2^nd floor with a nice view of Madison Ave.
Small restaurant with about 6 tables.
Tried the lunch tasting menu. All the dishes were excellent; Excellent, attentive service.
: A

I brought my husband here last Friday for his surprise birthday dinner. This was our second time here and the place is very romantic! I had already called the restaurant ahead of time to select the menu. We both had the six-​course Signature Caviar tasting menu paired with Champagne and Wine.
We started with a plate each of six heaping spoons of caviar which was paired with Brut Champagne. This was not part of the six course menu by the way. The first course was a large piece of tuna with a huge heaping of caviar which was paired with another glass of champagne. The second course was two oysters with two spoons of caviar paired with a glass of rose. The third course was a crab variety with cubes of assorted watermelon and a crab bisque and on the side they served a piece of corn muffin with a heaping of caviar. This course was paired with wine. The fourth course was one large scallop with a wine reduction sauce and mushroom and a large heaping of caviar on top of the scallop. This course was served with champagne. The fifth course was a piece of halibut with a hollandaise type of sauce which was full of caviar. This was paired with a glass of wine. The sixth course was dessert. This was a creamy vanilla ice cream scoop with a huge heaping of caviar paired with the last glass of champagne. We were also served a basket full of madeleine cookies which we brought home with us.
This was a spectacular meal and worth every dollar! We highly recommend it!

One of the most enchanting dining experiences. Excellent service, wonderful atmosphere over looking Madison Ave and the food is something that everyone should experience. Truely a dining adventure.
If you are so tired of just eating out and experiencing the NORM, treat yourself to Caviar Russe.

Inside is gorgeous white and silver décor with a romantic ambiance. The staff was very knowledgable and attentive. I had a sampling of three different caviars, which all were superb. I also tried the blue fin tuna and the beef carpaccio, both were out of this world delicious! I cannot wait to go back for more!

This place has a Michelin Star and is under the radar, feel like an exclusive members club only, but what a gem. Atmosphere is intimate and ultra classy.
We came for lunch and had a blast, staff will treat you like a Rockefeller. Service is professional, amicable as well as very polished.
We tried some Foie Gras, Osetra, Crab and top quality seafood at a level of Masa, and many more dishes perfectly executed washed with some good champagne…
Pricing is about right for this type of establishment…
Overall a terrific experience.

I’ve heard that there is a special brunch menu available for $ 65 on non holidays. Unfortunately that menu was not available to us but it was a blessing in disguise because we were able to experience this venue fully.
We opted for the 3 course so we could do a separate caviar tasting (after all this is Caviar Russe). Delicious and worth every bite. They serve it with crème fraîche and mini toast and crepes.
Though the lunch tasting was good; you really come here for the caviar.
This place can get very expensive. Looking around there were some customers with expensive wine bottles and caviar tastings that range in the 1K +. This is unfortunately out of my price budget and out of most…
If on a date or special occasion you can just opt for a glass of Venue Clique and more inexpensive caviar tasting for kicks and giggles if you are not a connoisseur and walk out under $ 200 for the two of you.

Our dining experience was sublime.
The Select Osetra gave an extraordinary opening. Buttery and slightly briny, I recommend savoring it on its own, then alternating it with the blini and crème fraîche side, and occasionally, a bordeaux white wine. Perfection.
We got a 3-​course meal. After the shrimp with pesto and nasturtium amuse-​bouche, the foie-​gras wowed my senses (and my spirit!). It has to be the best foie-​gras I have ever had (and I have had a lot). My husband had a king crab, which had a great texture.
Our main courses were a wild stripped sea bass and a Long Island duck. Though the sea bass itself was typical, the sauce was very good, the veggies (lobster mushrooms, romanesco, and pearl onions) were excellent, and the crispy skin on top made for a more interesting texture. The duck was magnificent – great texture, not greasy, full-​flavored.
Desserts were a Campari and a Chocolate cake, which is the bigger star between the two. The chocolate dessert’s sweetness level was perfect, and it looked like a modern sculpture to boot. It featured ‘shards’ of chocolate and meringue stuck on a unique (yes, unique) vanilla ice cream and a kahlua ice cream. The Campari had a complex flavor, a hint of bitterness, with various textures and types of sweetness.
I loved the subtle complexity of the various dishes in this meal. There were no assaults of flavor, but there was no lack of flavor either. If you love caviar, this is a must. If you don’t love caviar, dining here is a must as well (most of their other dishes do not have caviar in them).
The dining room is intimate and beautiful – at lunch time on a Saturday, it was only us in the room overlooking Madison Ave, in a round corner booth (a perfect setting). Style was a mix of classic and slight modern touches.
I love trying different restaurants and usually don’t repeat, but this is one I am looking forward to returning to!

Even without the caviar this would be a stellar restaurant, but for anyone who enjoys caviar it is an absolute must visit.
The dining room is elegant and intimate, and service is friendly and professional.
Food preparation is meticulous, complex, inventive and surprising. We had the caviar tasting menu, which began with a spoonful of each of six wonderful caviars, mostly osetras. The differences were in some cases surprising, yet subtle enough that it was great to be able to familiarize ourselves with the flavors unaccompanied (except for wonderful blinis – really more like crepes) and crème fraîche.
Then we were served six courses incorporating the same caviars. Our favorite courses were all the cold ones, including the oyster, tuna, and ice cream.
The caviar tasting menu is an amazing deal, as the caviar alone would cost more than the entire meal.
Wine pricing is also extremely reasonable. We had a half bottle of Krug Champagne and a superb bottle of Puligny-​Montrachet. I doubt you could find these wines at a better price at any restaurant in the city.
Needless to say, Caviar Russe is on our must-​visit list for our next trip!

I didn’t realize this place was on the second floor, so look carefully. The food and drinks were delicious. Service was generally good.
Food:
Caviar with blinis were the best here
Oysters with caviar — the cold granita was a bit overpowering but this was good
Blue fin tuna — very good
Striped bass — good
Veal — good
Passion fruit dessert — delicious and not as tart as I thought it was going to be
Caramelized brioche with caviar — delicious

***Caviar Russe is a great option to indulge in caviar; I really like their large spoon servings, which allow you to try a variety of caviar without having to spend an outrageous amount of money; this caviar boutique also features a fine dining restaurant that serves elegant fare though some courses definitely shine more than others***
Caviar might be the most expensive premium ingredient in the country considering that reasonably priced truffles like Oregon truffles are available. Like truffles though, caviar seems to be more accessible now, which might be due to the rise of farm-​raised caviar in the US. I’ve had caviar at several restaurants where chefs integrated tiny portions into courses. I’ve also had caviar (both in the restaurant and to go) at the renowned Petrossian, which has a LA boutique.
Petrossian also has a location in Manhattan and its main competition is Caviar Russe, which not only features a wide variety of caviar but a fine dining restaurant where you can enjoy high-​end cuisine in an elegant dining room that has several contemporary touches.
Like Petrossian, many of the caviar tins at Caviar Russe are unbelievably expensive due to the nothing-​quite-​like-​it-​taste of caviar as well as its rarity. Fortunately, all of Caviar Russe’s caviar can be purchased in a large spoon size (about 5 grams). While this is not a large portion, it is more than enough to get a good taste of the caviar as well as to have enough leftover to pair with traditional caviar accouterments like blinis and crème fraîche. And all of this comes at an attainable price with several selections below $ 20 and even an option below $ 10.
It was very illuminating trying several different caviar selections in the same sitting. There were a lot of differences in flavor profiles. Some were saltier. Some were brinier. The ocean and fishy flavor, which I really like, stood out more with some selections. What I noticed most was how salty the North American farm-​raised caviar was compared to the Caspian Sea imported Osetra caviar, which had a stronger fish flavor as well as a smoother finish.
My favorite selection was the Gold Osetra caviar, which had a great color as well as a perfect balance of salty, briny and tasting-​of-​the-​ocean flavor. The Classic Osetra perfectly delivered a salty note and then a strong fish note. I also really liked the Sterlet caviar; it was one of the least expensive options and had a smooth finish that was absent in the other lower priced caviars. The pressed caviar delivered an incredibly strong and fishy punch, but I did not like it since you lose caviar’s delicate and unique exploding pearl texture.
The caviar accouterments were really good. The toast was a perfect crispy vessel for the caviar. The blinis were French crepes style and they were very thin, delicate and sweet. I also liked the rich crème fraîche, which had a mild flavor that did not wash out the caviar flavor.
Caviar Russe’s tasting menu integrates caviar into a few courses, but there are several non-​caviar French courses as well. Caviar Russe’s open kitchen is very small (which is in the bar). With some hot courses, you can hear the snap and pop of the food as it cooks.
I went with their 5-​course tasting menu and instead of an amuse bouche, I was presented a small complimentary course to start. It was very creamy and smooth uni custard with fragrant Australian black truffle, tangy avocado crema and crisp radishes. It was easily the best course of the night.
Next were raw oysters topped with minced apple and celery granita as well as a very generous portion of Classic Osetra caviar. It was a nice mix of ocean, salty and refreshing. I did feel that the celery and apple had similar refreshing notes and that the caviar and oyster had similar briny notes. While this actually made those elements shine more, I also thought that this course could have used something else.
The Bluefin tuna was paired with perfect sides though the fish itself (while fresh, moist and soft) lacked the great flavor of Bluefin tuna at top sushi restaurants. The lobster and bone marrow risotto featured perfectly al dente rice though there was not much lobster meat in the dish (a good amount of bone marrow though). The main course was moist and dense wild striped bass that was topped with a chorizo red wine reduction and garnishes like nicely smoked artichokes, artichoke purée, fennel, and mushrooms.
Dessert featured traditional sweet ingredients like chocolate, caramel and vanilla, but it was nicely done. Warm madeleines ended the dinner.
Service was very professional, polished and pleasant; Caviar Russe is expensive, but there are a lot of flavors here you will just not find elsewhere.
Caviar Russe is an excellent option for those looking to indulge in a classic caviar experience. Their French cuisine is good, but there are also more exciting restaurants in the city.
I am not sure what the parking situation is.