Comparing Pelmeni across three restaurants — an honest verdict

I ate Pelmeni at three different restaurants in the same week to compare. The results were illuminating. The use of salted herring varied significantly — only one got it right. The rich and dairy-forward profile should be consistent but interpretation differs widely.

Russian New Year table is the most important annual food event, laden with Olivier salad, herring under fur coat, and other Soviet-era staples. The best version came from a family New Year table, which felt authentic. vodka was offered at all three but only one knew how to serve it properly. The gap between mediocre and excellent Pelmeni is larger than you'd think.