The Daily Meal

"Idiot’s family-friendly ambiance — soft music, games, and large menu — are just as inviting as its traditional Russian menu with home-style favorites like (...) and pelmeni (dumplings)."

Lisa Lubin

"This was a lighter, milder version with beets, broth, a generous amount of sliced soft onions, spices, and a healthy dollop of sour cream – making it a flavorful mix tasting almost more like French Onion Soup more than the borscht I remembered."

Andrew Dobson

"I enjoyed: Zolotaia Bochka “Golden Barrel” Beer, Complimentary Shot of Vodka, Salad Raskolnikoff, potatoes, pickled cucumbers, fresh cucumbers, tomato, red pepper, leek, dill, Pelmeni, wild mushrooms and sour cream."

Elena Ulko

"Frommers describe the food as ‘homey and satisfying’ and recommend the miniature pies (pirozhki) stuffed with cabbage, apricots, or potatoes. Try to sample the local Russian fare, especially the apricot pirozhki!"

Richard Norton-Taylor

"It is frequented by students (including foreign ones) who come here to fill up on a range of dishes. I would recommend the borscht."

Mark Thomson

"Try the borscht. (If you’ve never had it, borscht is beet soup. It tastes much better than it sounds.)"

Vagabond

"Serves most vegetarian options, of which the best is (...) and pelmeni (köttfärsbit in särkild dough, served with sour cream)."

Elena Ulko

"The Idiot is named in honor of Dostoyevsky’s fictional work and the decor is reminiscent of his time, with an eclectic array of furnishings, antiques, books in glass-fronted cabinets, and overstuffed leather armchairs to sink into after your delicious mushroom pelmeni."

Thom Meintel

"A yummy salmon pelmeni, a Russian dumpling dish that’s not unlike wontons and served with a mushroom sauce."

Michele Cameron

"It serves tasty, good-value traditional Russian food, with plenty of meat-free options, including pelmeni (dumplings with mushrooms)."