Lunch at Cafe Sochi
Steve Fenwick
Sochi (somewhere on Homestead in Cupertino) today.
Arrived: 11:45AM. The place was empty, except for the owner--older
Russian/Eastern European gent--and, from the sound of it, his wife in
the kitchen (older female voice, also speaking apparently in Russian).
Between 11:45AM and 12:40PM, there was our group of three, a pair of
Asian women who left when they found out that the restaurant only does
Russian food now (no more Malaysian), a solo Asian male diner who may
have been looking for Malaysian but stayed anyway, and a pair of
Russian/Eastern European men who chatted with the owner in something
that sounded like Russian. Service was attentive and prompt, but not
obtrusive--none of this "how is everything" nonsense.
I had the marinated hen (the entree, not the lunch special). My
companions, in trembling lack of creativity, both had the Chicken Kiev.
The hen was excellent, with a done-to-a-turn skin that was just getting
crispy over the thinner bits and was still a bit fatty in the folds. It
was a whole hen, split in half. The vegetables with it were a mix of
potatoes, cut into large chunks with skin still on, sliced peppers, and
onions, marinated in something spicy and sauteed. Maybe some paprika in
the sauce--maybe a lot?
My companions' Chicken Kiev looked a little artificial. The rolls were
almost too-perfect looking, but I think that was just good technique.
Each was about the size of a pear (one per serving). There was not the
huge glob of melted butter in the middle, which is what I expected from
other versions, but it looked like it was reasonably moist. The eaters
seemed happy with their choices.
Lunch for three was $31, with tax but no drinks--$11 for the hen and $9
for each of the Kievs. These were pretty full plates; the hen was quite
a stomachful for lunch, more of a dinner portion. The Kievs were a bit
less food, but still looked more than adequate for lunch. There were a
number of appetizers (piroshkis, borscht, etc.) that would have bulked
it up nicely for dinner. There were also three lunch specials under $6.
I'd go back.
Steve
--
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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq.
>Arrived: 11:45AM. The place was empty, except for the owner--older
>Russian/Eastern European gent--and, from the sound of it, his wife in
>the kitchen (older female voice, also speaking apparently in Russian).
>Between 11:45AM and 12:40PM, there was our group of three, a pair of
>Asian women who left when they found out that the restaurant only does
>Russian food now (no more Malaysian), a solo Asian male diner who may
>have been looking for Malaysian but stayed anyway, and a pair of
>Russian/Eastern European men who chatted with the owner in something
>that sounded like Russian. Service was attentive and prompt, but not
>obtrusive--none of this "how is everything" nonsense.
We've been really pleased with the food and service every time we've been.
The food isn't frou frou fancy spectacular, but it's darned good, honest
cooking.
Anne
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Spam
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Steve Fenwick
Do you go for lunch or dinner, and Russian or Malaysian? And were they
more crowded?
Anne P. Mitchell, Esq.
>> We've been really pleased with the food and service every time we've
>> been. The food isn't frou frou fancy spectacular, but it's darned
>> good, honest cooking.
>
>Do you go for lunch or dinner, and Russian or Malaysian? And were they
>more crowded?
Dinner; Russian, and no, never more crowded. But I got the impression
that they do some sort of good take-out or catering business(?)
Anne
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