Stoli Bar & Restaurant

It appears that offering a price fix Groupon/Living Social/etc. is basically their business model.  I can't imagine anyone actually paying full price for the 'four course meal' offered.  It's probably worth the $35 dollars paid to Groupon, but given that you pay tip on and tax on the 'full amount', Stoli  is probably coming out ahead.

I did want to try the place, so I bought the Groupon and took a friend.  I'm jealous to read others received a spinach salad (miniature tomatoes notwithstanding) - the standard salad appears to have now been downgraded to 'small plate of iceberg lettuce, with a few radish slices.'  The soups offered - borsch or mushroom - are really good.  The borsch isn't as good as MY borsch, but I was still pretty impressed with it.  I enjoyed the tilapia as well (teeny tiny slice as it was), and I liked how the fish was adorably decorated with small dancing vegetables (of course, I did note the price fix option only offered as an entrée veggie crepes, chicken and tilapia - basically, the least expensive mains - guess you pay for the presentation).  The final course - crepes! - were quite tasty - so all in all, I did enjoy my meal.  I guess I'm just a bit turned off by the insinuation that customers are getting a good deal through Groupon.  The meal seems to just be worth the Groupon price. They should scrap the Groupon and go with a $20 price fix.

My wife's boss, who loves vodka, came to town. Groupon had a coupon. No brainer, right! We had been here seamlessly for the past three years...save the bread. But, tonight; would be different.

We had a Groupon for four Prix Fixe. The prix fixe ... plastic laminated menu stated spinach salad...etc to start. The boss LOVES that salad. The wait staff arrives and announces ... iceberg replacing spinach salad tonight...not arrugla, freise et al ...ICEBERG the cheapest, most UN-Nourishing lettuce known to man.  Well, well, well; the wife's husband has egg on his face and we haven't started with the caviar flights. OH Boy, what to do ...Vodka! ... and breathe.

Working through the four courses ... salad minus 2 stars, soup four stars, main courses...meh two stars. Fish course ... barely half a fillet, chicken - these are your choices - skimpy at best, smothered by not-quite cream or butter and mashed? potatoes. Moving right along, the client starts to ask about the vodka tasting spikey, and may we have an ice bucket to keep it chilled. Now, I have the whole chicken ranch on my head. I'm just trying to protect 'local' great merchants and this is going 'south.'

Vodka sets in ... thank whomever, desserts arrive and conversation evolves away from - Why can a successful restauranteur NOT get IT...BE THE BEST, SERVE THE BEST.

You know, I would not say this if I did not invest in so many restaurants.

How many people have had Russian food anyway? I certainly haven't, so for authenticity, your guess is as good as mine (probably better).

The beet salad was OK, the borsch soup was not too heavy, and had lots of nice texture, the chicken straganoff was served on a bed of mashed potatoes and cream, and was a bit too creamy for my taste.

Overall, it was a decent meal, but if not for the Groupon I probably wouldn't consider it worth the money.