- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee |
- All
- Price Range:
-
£££
5 reviews for Cafe Cossachok
All Reviews
Cafe Cossachok
19/3/2010
For some reason Eastern Europe is so exciting to me and I can't explain why, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that when I was little my dad worked in Russia for a while and I always loved the pictures he had of him standing beside Saint Basil's Cathedral. Then my mum went through a Faberge egg phase and they were dotted all around the house. Slightly more embarrassing is that my dad brought home a Russian hat and trying to be cultured, insisted on wearing it at all times, including the weekly shop to ASDA, oh dear. One of my most prized possessions is my traditional Russian "Nevalyashka" tumbler doll who I named Barbara, she is cute as a button. I also love Russian literature and Gogol's "The Overcoat" is one of my favourite short stories of all time.
I've never been to Russia but recently spent a year in Dresden where I explored countless GDR museums and let out the communist in me. So for the time being, Cafe Cossachok will have to be the closest I get to Russia. The décor is awesome and it has a relaxed vibe and there's always funky Russian folk music on, the food is authentic in the fact that everything seems to pickled.
Last time I was here I opted for some pickled trout and some cabbage, pretty Russian and pretty delicious too. The staff were also really friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our meal and a good thing too as I was starving!
If you're in to Russian food then this place is a great and a fantastic experience to boot.
Cafe Cossachok
17/11/2009
1 photo
It's unusual to see a Russian restaurant, and the first thing you notice here is that they have got it spot on with the general feel of the place. Russian art and tapestries adorn the walls and the tables and chairs look suitably rustic. The folk music playing in the background was also charmingly infectious and i found myself humming it for days after, so on atmosphere and decor it really hits the spot.
The problem I had however, was that i just didn't find the Russian food all that appetising, far too much beetroot and pickles for me, and while my main course of grilled trout was nice enough it didn't really capture my imagination.
However, I think this was all down to personal preference as this place has been packing them in for years now, and fans of Eastern European cuisine or culture won't be disappointed. It couldn't be more authentically Russian unless it was downing a bottle of vodka before breakfast, so even taking into account i wasn't that crazy about the grub, it's still a winner.
Cafe Cossachok
22/9/2009
The decor in here is incredibly Russian; there are a variety of tapestries hanging from the ceiling in squares and it's relatively modern as it has just been done up. The waitress that we had was nice but slightly unsure of the menu/what she was doing.
The food was amazing. For starters, I shared a starter of pickled fish and mushrooms which came with a complimentary shot of vodka which is always nice.
While we were dining, although I'm sure this isn't a regular feature of Cafe Cossachok, a group of punks walked past and shouted "F**king middle class people!" at us. That was fun.
They have a great selection of Vodkas. On Sundays, they have live music. The music was lovely. So was the vodka. Expensive though.
Cafe Cossachok
9/1/2010
You know that horrible sensation you get when you stroll into a place knowing full well you intend only to buy a drink and then instantly realise it's primarily restaurant.
Soon enough, you're sat at a table for two, menu in hand, being read out the specials and asked if you would like "a drink to start".
Thankfully at Cafe Cossachok this isn't an issue. The place is a restaurant, no doubt, but its close proximity to Trongate 103 (it has a door leading into it) means it's used to people like me coming in for 10 minutes as they wait for a show to start. My bill? Little over a pound on an order of one Coke, yet the staff couldn't have been more welcoming. Indeed, attendance at the establishment's own weekend music sessions and shows is encouraged even if you do not wish to eat.
Like all the best restaurants, coming here is an experience in itself. A Russian Cafe-Gallery the decor is elaborate and the music authentic and strangely alluring. It has a vibe of positivity, as if it's being run by the right people for the right reasons.
Meanwhile the food, having dined in their original premises in the Merchant City area, is wonderful, with some particularly spectacular desserts on offer, most notably the Kutuzov Cake (just try it).
Cafe Cossachok
22/10/2009
2 photos
If only for the series of concerts which present a wide range of world music from fiery Russian folk, gypsy and kleizmer, this place is worth a visit.
I popped in for the first time just last week and had borscht - a country soup made with cabbage, tomato, beetroot and garlic and uralskie pelmeni, Russian dumplings with potatoes and mushrooms, served with a creamy sauce.
The selection of vegetarian options is great and to revert to my first paragraph, the owners stress that "you do not need to have a meal if you just want to enjoy the music".
Really, really good.
