Zorya Eastern European Restaurant & Vodka Bar – 48 Chalk Farm Road, London NW1

Jacklyn Swiecicki had a Great Time at Zorya

Zorya served on ice

My (Polish) father always taught me that the key to making sensational pierogi (Polish dumplings) was time, time and more time. That would explain why my father always purchased our households supply of pierogi from a sweet old Polish grandmother with all the time in the world!

Growing up in a Russian and Polish household, my taste buds are no strangers to the mouth-watering delights of Eastern European cuisine, and given the influx of Eastern European nationalities setting up base in England, it is no surprise that traditional eateries are popping up all over London.

From memory, I recall loitering in my parent’s kitchen as they prepared dishes like Polish begos, a slow cooked cabbage and meat stew, which took hours to perfect, and traditional barszcz, a flavoursome beetroot soup that only made its much-anticipated appearance on Christmas Eve. All dishes were carefully cooked and painstakingly laborious to deliver. Whilst the end result was always a taste sensation, the time involved was evidently sometimes too much to commit.

The opening of Zorya, an Imperial Vodka Room, named from the Slavic mythology of the guardian goddess known as the Auroras, brings together a sampling of Eastern European dishes, and offers them alongside an impressive selection of over 250 vodka’s sourced from all over Eastern Europe.

Without personally needing to dedicate your whole weekend to cooking, Zorya serves up all of the classics, like Russian pierogi; lush potato and cheese dumplings that need to be devoured to be believed (£5.75), or perhaps indulge in a platter of mixed sausages served with horseradish crostini (£5.50) – that is only the bar menu! The bar menu offers a sampling of choices designed as the ideal accompaniment to a night full of drinking, and with prices starting at £5, the menu delivers bursts of intriguing flavours, without bursting one’s wallet.

Speaking of drinking, this brings me to what seems to be the most significant allure of Zorya. Naming itself the Imperial Vodka Room, Zorya certainly lives up to its name. The drinks menu is over-flowing with vodka samples from all corners of Eastern Europe, with unique and potent vodka’s from Belarus, Poland, Kazakhstan, Denmark and even France all making an appearance. With 25ml drinks starting at only £3, clearly Zorya has kept the prices very Eastern European, as opposed to London’s usually exorbitant drinks prices.

As well as serving up ice cold and colourful vodka shots, Zorya also creates divine cocktail creations, such as a Moscow Lassi, a refreshing cocktail comprised of fresh cucumber, vodka (of course), apple juice and yoghurt (£6). Or, if you’re not a Vodka fan (heaven forbid!), Zorya also offers an impressive wine and champagne list.

After all that drinking you may find yourself in need of a good meal. The main dishes on offer range from £4.50 for soups such as barscz served with dumplings, up to £13.50 for dishes like bigos, or blinis served with smoked salmon, aubergine and herrings (£5.25); or why not try the Hungarian catfish paprika stew (£12.50), or the roast duck breast teamed with braised red cabbage and paprika roasted potatoes (£12.50).

The staff at Zorya needs to be commended. Staff are friendly, helpful and always making sure you have a full drink – without making you feel like they are stalking your table. My only complaint is that the restaurant and bar is only open until midnight, and for some Londoners that’s just when the party starts.

Despite this, food prices are exceptionally reasonable, and the drinks menu is out of this world. Zorya poses to be a fun night out, with an electric atmosphere created by the haze of too many vodka shots.

Nasdrovya!

Jacklyn Swiecicki

Zorya Eastern European Restaurant & Vodka Bar,
48 Chalk Farm Road,
London NW1