Nasha Rasha – LOST GEM
A profusion of infusions is the hallmark of Nasha Rasha where well over 100 bottles of infused vodkas line the back wall of the bar. These homemade concoctions are all prepared downstairs by Slava, the brains behind this operation – some of the most requested from the long list are peanut butter and jelly, borscht made with beets, sour pickle, garlic and dill, bacon and chocolate. We spent a spectacular few hours sampling several of the homemade vodkas and learning how they are each made. Some quite simply while others require an inordinate amount of time. We tried an array of delicious drinks – mango, which is made with the fresh fruit stood out as a favorite of some, while the Molotov cocktail, a fiery blend of hot pepper extract excited others. For the purist, however, along with the normal array of bar offerings, Nasha Rasha stocks between 700 and 900 different name brands of vodka. Slava prides himself with his collection and compares it to that of a museum of vodka. There is a $7000 bottle, one studded with jewels, another in 24 karat gold and an original Smirnoff bottle from 1886, never opened. Having trouble deciding? Try a flight with four shot glasses of the customer’s choice. The atmosphere of Nasha Rasha, which literally means “Our Russia,” harkens back to the U.S.S.R. of the 1970s. Russian army uniform jackets that hang on each bar stool waiting for patrons to put them on, along with officers’ hats, make for great photo opportunities. Combine this with U.S.S.R. flags, nested dolls, an endlessly playing video of stilted old Russian comedy, and traditional Russian food including delicious chicken Kiev and dumplings. Without a doubt, an evening spent a Nasha Rasha was an exciting event for the Manhattan Sideways team and one that we highly recommend to others.
