Fenix

Fenix? Hm… I like they’re bistroganofff I think I wrote correct.

This place was great! It was like coming home to your family’s house when you need your craving for homemade food satisfied. The chicken kebabs and chicken snitzels were to die for. The mashed potatoes were soft and creamy. The veal dumplings with sour cream on top were just like mama makes them, perfect and nothing like the microwaveable store bought ones! The food was fresh and its obvious they use healthy organic products. The service was prompt and the atmosphere was very welcoming. The prices are reasonable for what you get and are lower than most places in the area.
Great lunch spot for a business meeting or just to meet with friends. As well as, ordering to go if you are in a rush, they deliver!
They also do catering for events or large business meetings at the office.
I definitely recommend this place!

Coming from a Russian family, I guess I expected more. But the first thing I noticed were dishes that did not seem to be in the correct genre. My friend had the taco salad, which seemed odd. It was not good at all and was left mostly uneaten. I had the euro style dumplings and the frozen ones I get at Whole Foods are probably better. Still, at least it came with potato and cabbage salads which seems to fit the whole Easter European thing. I would have like more options, when I went by the first time they had pirozhki but they said this was «special». Anyway, my dish was okay and the beer was good ($ 4.50 for a Baltic 7) but overall this is not on my list of recommended places and I likely won’t be back.

Time: 12:07pm/59°F sunny
Purpose: The place had a grand opening sign hung up for several weeks. I remember this place use to be 7 Pleasures passing by, but everytime theres hardly anyone inside. Today I pass by again finally saw two people dining.
Ambiance: Located on Commercial street place joins other businesses in same building. It’s not well known yet or low key type of place. Inside feels like a rented hallway made for event purposes. Irregular shape tables with burgundy chairs and couple of painted wine bottle pictures on the wall. Ceilings are pretty standard with fabulous chandeliers. Some areas have real bricks expose and there’s no effort in hiding it. They just put pictures and mirrors over it at best. Plenty of seatings don’t have to worry about that. Makeshift table for the DIY tea/​coffee looks out of place and a tad tacky, IMHO. Nevertheless, it is what it is place is begging for your attention. Great for simple business lunch dine in or take out.
Staff: One guy by the door entrance handing out menus to people passing by. I said, hi how you doing? Are you open for lunch? Answers yes they’re open for lunch and here’s a menu. I took menu gave it a good look at it decided alright, I’ll give you a try. First thing I notice was its left untouched only minimal decorations.
Cleanliness: Grade A, dining area was clean no way of telling in kitchen though. Seems passable on all level if an inspection were to be done right there and then.
Eats/​Drinks: Lamb kebob comes with salad/​bread $ 11.25. Only thing I enjoy from this dish was the lamp itself, everything else was just average at best. It’s listed under the hot plate section, but my order was luke warm, drop another 10°F it’ll be cold dish. You get 4 – 5 pieces of tender lamb chunks grilled on skewers. Not salty or bland, flavor was perfect just how I imagine it would be. With the homemade dipping sauce slather on, it was even better. I didn’t even have to use my molars as front teeths were enough to break up fiber strands before eating. Rest of the items not as good or what I wanted it to be. The quarter piece of pita bread tasted like the type from a plastic sleeve bought at grocery store, very dry and crumbly. Cucumber/​tomato salad was just ok, couldn’t mess that up. Rice pilaf was somewhat mushy and bland, but edible. Afterwards, I felt dish with all included extras should be near the neighborhood of $ 8 – 9 respectively. Not pass double digits and climbing.
Main Features: Pelmeni and piroshki.
Products/​Services: Apps-​herring plate/​smoked salmon, piroshki, soups, hot plates-​chicken kebob/​lamb kebob/​beef stroganoff/​chicken schnitzel/​chipotle dijon ribs, pelmeni-​euro style dumplings, blintzes-​euro style crêpe, sides-​rice pilaf/​french fries/​mashed potatoes, domestic/​import beer, coffee/​tea, sodas. Takes plastic, take out available, sidewalk seating.
Punch Lines: Off beaten path, quiet, alleyway, street parking (hard), hard to spot, close on weekends, calm vibe, not busy during lunch, nothing past $ 11.75, serves wine/​beer, décor leaves something to desired, pricey, laid back, warm service, kitschy décor, light bites, business lunch, nothing out of the ordinary, interesting takes, tucked away, industrial interior, not as great, go elsewhere.
Tradeoffs: Don’t let the grand opening sign fool you. It’s basically the same as 7 Pleasures now closed. Although some items are listed at lower price. Not all offerings are available now compare to that of 7 Pleasures.
Final Thoughts: Sometimes when you walk pass a deserted place at the height of lunch time, it makes you wonder. It sure got me today as, I should’ve known when the menu was nearly identical of last business. So, I came and gave it my best shot to liking the place, but it just falls short. There are some things that needs to be address before expanding menu. Lastly, don’t push people into buying a piroshki after tasting the samples. Not everyone will like it. As for me? It really tasted like a curry beef pocket that you can pick up at any chinatown bakery for half the price.