Slavonian European Cafe

I cook Russian food all the time. This was a 10\10. Wonderful service, amazing homemade food, and pleasant music. We will definitely be coming back. 🖤

The place is small, but cozy. The customer service in great, simple but professional. The food, from another world. You really need to taste this Slovania food.

You know it's going to be something special when you see an older couple dancing together in the kitchen as they cultivate an aroma of mixed ingredients.

Today's lunch: Rabbit 🐇 baked in a rich cream sauce with Slavic mashed potatoes - an amazing dish from My Dacha.

FOOD/VALUE: A
SERVICE/WAIT TIME: A
DECOR/ENVIRONMENT: C
PARKING: A (Shared parking lot)

*Photo by me

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Delicious Russian food and charming owners! On top of what I ordered (a generous plate of potato dumplings for $7), Natasha -- the chef and co-owner of the place -- brought me a chickpea salad and a dessert on the house. Both owners are very friendly, and speak at least 5 languages between them. The interior is bare bones but clean and cozy, and the prices are very cheap given the quality of the food. Highly recommended if you're in Albany.

Had food from here a few times with my husband. Small place we get take out. Food had always been amazing with friendly husband and wife staff. Best pizza in the area!!! No joking! I lived in Italy and pizza crusts tastes just like it!

I like to think of myself as a cabbage roll connoisseur. I have tried many from all over the area. And you have the best I've ever had including my own recipe. I've never really enjoyed perogies mostly because I think the outside is always too thick. you're filling was divine and delicate. And I've never had Napoleon cake before what in the world have I been missing all these years? This meal was superb thank you so much.

Simply one of the best meals I have ever had. The food is freshly cooked to order. Pizzas are amazing. Aladdin and Nataliya are awesome talented people. Eat here. You won't be disappointed.

A how to guide to getting the most out of the Slavonian European Café:

1. Make sure you allow plenty of time. Eastern European meals are typically multi-course, and last for 2-3 hours. Coming here, and expecting to get in and out quickly will lead to a disappointing outcome. Everything is made from scratch, some of it to order.

2. Try a few things, be adventurous. The menu does a poor job of describing what will come out of the kitchen. The meals are designed to be traditional. Pick a soup, a salad, an entrée, and a side, and it will run you roughly $20-$30 depending on what you pick. The bortsch and solyanka were great, they were the only two soups available that day. They had run out of the soup with meatballs shortly before we ordered, and did not have any of the other soups. The home fries are fried with onions and mushrooms, this is typical for Eastern European region. The stuffed cabbage was tender, and there was sour cream that was used for soups, as well as the stuffed cabbage. The Calf's Insides are just stewed organ meats, not bad, but not for the faint of heart. Some of the translations are a bit off. When they say cutlet for example, it is a ground patty, which in Russian is pronounced as kotleta.

3. This is a Slavonian/Egyptian café. There's great wrap, similar to a pita, but better, as well as shawarma which can come in the wrap, or on a plate with rice and side salad, or in a pita.

4. The owners seem to be new at owning a restaurant. The receipts were not itemized, there were no prices on the menu, we were short a fork for one course, and a spoon for another. We were patient with them, and we were rewarded with enjoying the meal, instead of stressing the little things. It was similar to being at a friend's house, if there's not enough forks on the table, just politely ask for one.

Their tables will comfortably seat up to 8 people, and this is a fun place to come as a group. They take credit cards, do take out, have a clean restroom, and are just a great addition to Albany cuisine.

4.5 stars. Middle Eastern/Halal, Eastern European, and Mediterranean flavors: a reflection of the fascinating world story of the owners, a beautiful couple who’ve lived the cuisine experiences of Egypt, Italy and Ukraine. One visit turned into a number of visits as this hole in the wall, located at a beautiful urban bus stop on Lark adjacent to other culturally diverse restaurants, continually exceeded expectations with its freshly cooked (unfortunately becoming less common in food establishments nowadays), higher quality plates and dynamically exciting menu, complete with healthy, tasteful, exciting, professional, and multicultural food and deserts. With russianradio.eu playing in the background, you’re taken to a hidden gem of a world, unassuming in its appearance, moderate to small in its amount of fellow diners, and top in what really matters: the food. The menu is the special type that invites you to try out an array of different things. Only gripe has to be the shawarma wrap (not pita -get the shawarma with rice instead. Much better) Everything else was fantastic from the borsch, to the spinach veal, to the pizza (best I’ve had in Albany) ..A true gem. Brilliant experience, My Dacha.

Place is called "My Dacha", apparently. Wonderful menu options - not your typical food options. Definitely check it out if you're looking for something different, yet delicious. Very friendly owner, fresh food.

Amazing meal! Tasted so fresh, like it was just made in my kitchen! I highly recommend the pierogies and the kielbasa. Delicious!

Amazing food love the kielbasa and the perogies.

The owner was friendly, and the food is hearty, delicious and given in large portions.. I was very fond of the solyanka in particular. The prices are very fair. If I lived in this area I would visit often!

This looks like a hole in the wall, but the Russian specialties are very tasty! Try the herring under a fur coat! To die for! The crepes and cabbage rolls are also very nice!

Friendly place with amazing food. Tasted just like I was back in Ukraine! I highly recommend it and will be going back often.

Lovely owners. Very good Ukrainian food. Don't be put off by it's conventional pizzeria disguise.

Got food from them at the Caroga Farmers market, stuffed cabbage, stuffed peppers, eggplant lasagna, beer salad, carrot salad, & salted cabbage (sauerkraut) well all excellent. Would try again.

The chicken schwarma is amazing, and the owner is delightful! And it happens to be next to a store with great beers...what a combo ;)

The food is absolutely fabulous and very reasonable. I highly recommend this cafe. The environment is humble, the owners delightful, and the food spectacular.

Great European/Slavic ethnic food. Can't say enough. Have loved everything on the menu