The menu shows a heavy Russian influences, but is definitely a higher level of cuisine than one usually identifies with Russian food. White tuna carpaccio with truffle oil and a green seaweed salad is a fine example ($12). The sweet potato dumplings, which can be ordered as an appetizer but also come with several main courses, are delightful. They also serve a mean cast-iron seared steak and frites, as well as cast-iron seared mussles, which are full and meaty and melt in your mouth.

A tasty section of the menu (which also happens to be the cheapest) are the "sticks." These are skewers of seared meats (tuna, shrimp, beef, etc.) served alongside mouthwatering sauces (which run the gamut from curry to ponzu.)

After dinner, you've likely avoided the growing line outside the establishment to enter the bar downstairs, one of the hottest hippest spots in Dallas (currently!) Take the steps down into the dungeon-like lounge, severe with concrete and heavy fabrics and Scandinavian minimalist furniture. Have any one of numerous drinks named wittily after famous Communist heros. Drinks are pricey here, but strong and delicious.

The atmosphere downstairs is young, chic, gorgeous, well-dressed, and LOUD. The place gets PACKED around 10pm and a line develops outside. They only let people in as others leave once that happens, so get here early unless you want a boring wait.

A word of warning about the bathrooms. They are unisex...partially. There is ONE door to enter, but once in the door you face an unmarked partition. Girls should turn left, boys should turn right.