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| Minnesota Palate, April 2004 |
Drink like a tsar, or commissar
By Kelly Westhoff
Looking for a new happy hour spot? Come one come all to the St. Petersburg Restaurant and Vodka Bar in Robbinsdale. Just outside the crunch of downtown, no one can complain about the parking: it's free and plentiful, as is the vodka.
The bar stocks about 150 different vodkas, and new brands or infusions arrive several times a month. Bartender Marc Bender says, "It's like playing with that 128 box of Crayolas," glancing up at the rows and rows of bottles behind the bar.
In case you haven't already guessed, the St. Petersburg Restaurant and Vodka Bar is Russian. Pay attention and you'll probably notice a waiter taking orders in Russian from a table of Russian-speaking customers. Real Russians come here because real Russian vodka is on hand, but there's a flavor here for people of every background.
The Vodka Bar carries a list of specialty brands that are hard to locate, many from Russia, Poland or nearby. The flavors vary widely as well. There is a Clementine vodka, a key lime vodka, a black cherry vanilla vodka and a chocolate vodka, to name a few.
If you don't know much about vodka, order a Vodka Flight. But make sure you've got friends on hand to help you drink it. One Flight comes with four shots of vodka. Order a Russian Flight and you'll get four different types of Russian vodka; order a Polish Flight and you'll get four different types of Polish Vodka.
Make it at Home:
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Perhaps pure shots aren't for you. In this case, a Sunset Martini might do the trick. This drink earns its name from its layers of color. Orange on the top, red on the bottom, it arrives looking fun and tropical. And it smells just as pretty, like fresh citrus. The taste is pleasing, too. It's tangy juice with a bite.
Another recommendation is Peter the Great. Served up a dark red, this martini is made with Jewel of Russia Vodka. The taste is sharp, but it goes down smooth. Hints of berry linger on the tongue and a sweet scent fills the nose.
All this vodka just might put you in a dancing mood. Should it be Friday or Saturday night, you'll have some tunes to help you groove. A house band strikes up at 7:30 p.m., and with the vodka flowing, nobody will mind at all if you do get up to dance.
Caviar and Salmon and Cabbage, oh my!
Soak up some of that vodka with a round of appetizers.
Those in the know at the St. Petersburg swear vodka, not champagne, is the perfect match for caviar. If Beluga eggs aren't your thing, try the Seafood Blintzes, crepes filled with salmon and crab. The Cabbage Pirojki are puff pastries stuffed with cabbage and baked. They come ready to share. The Peppered Pork Loin gets high marks, as does the Eggplant Dip. If you want something simple, the Pickled Relish platter offers crunchy finger foods.
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If you go
Where
The St. Petersburg Restaurant and Vodka Bar
3619 France Avenue North, Robbinsdale
763-587-1787
www.myvodkabar.com
Hours
Lunch: Tuesday–Friday 11 am–2 pm
Dinner: Tuesday–Thursday 5 pm–11pm
Friday & Saturday 5 pm–1 am
Parking
Ample, free parking lot
Drinks to Try
Sunset Martini
Peter the Great
Vodka Flight