According to Russian Samovar owner, Roman Kaplan, the spirit of Russia - Zastoyle - consists of extravagant meals with lots of conversation and frequent toasts. At Samovar where 'everyone is a friend,' you'll find traditional Russian folk bands playing every night and a deliciously Russian menu of homemade pickles, borscht, pickled herring, beef stroganoff, salmon coulibiak, chicken kiev and a smattering of lamb and veal dishes. Let's not forget that famed Russian ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov (whom you probably remember as Carrie's Russian lover on Sex and the City)is an investor.

A popular watering hole for the Russian and non-Russian community for many years, Samovar makes all of their exclusive vodkas (Russian, Polish, European and American) in- house and in a variety of fruit flavors. A warm and jolly atmosphere, Kaplan is pretty sure that if you stop in once, you'll keep coming back.