Ivan the Kozak G/F, 46-48 Cochrane Street, Central Tel: 2851 1193
Grub: One of the few traditional Russian and Ukrainian restaurants in Hong Kong, with probably the most reasonable prices.
Vibe: The restaurant is set up like a small Russian house. All the decorations and ornaments come from a collection the owner and his wife brought from Russia and Ukraine. There is also a small ice room - borrow the thick coats and take photos in the Arctic conditions.
Who to bring: This is a very romantic place for couples, but also perfect for groups of friends. It's great to bring people who aren't afraid to try new dishes and cuisines.
What's hot: There are so many traditional dishes worth trying. Start with the Ukrainian Borscht served with sour cream. The difference between this and the stuff local restaurants pass off as borscht is immediately obvious.
Move on to appetizers, and try the Riba Pod Shuboy and Deruni Minskie. The former is a beautiful red salad formed from layers of sole, potatoes, carrot and beetroots. It's so fresh tasting and will stimulate your appetite. The latter is a delicious Ukrainian pan-fried potato cake.
If you love sausages, don't miss the home-made pork variety.
