By Sarah Musgrave, Pure Canada   MSN TRAVEL

Hear Rumen Dimitroff say “Vodka is a way of life,” and it’s obvious he means it. At Samovar Room , the latest of this impresario’s three Russian-themed nightclubs, patrons are invited to walk past the long mahogany bar, through the kitchen, into a walk-in fridge where they can taste-test imported vodkas. Imaginative drinks like the blue-tinted Russian Windex, served from a squeeze bottle, are presented in glasses from a traditional tea service. But Dimitroff’s favourite brand is Stolichnaya, plain and simple. And how does he prefer to drink it? “With vobla!” he says, referring to salt-cured fish. “It’s all about drinking, eating with your hands and enjoying the interaction with other people.”

http://travel.ca.msn.com/canada/photogallery.aspx?cp-documentid=24079101&page=4

September 18, 2009

It’s the East-ends second floor den of crimson colours, Russian accents, premium liquors and a history that includes a bar that Al Capone used drink at. If you’re in stilettos, be advised, the only thing that stands in between Winchester Street and Samovar Room is a flight of steep, iron topped stairs – take it from me, using the banister is a non-negotiable option because you need to see this place. Samovar Room, another slick Russian-themed concept from Rumen Dimitrioff, is the latest project from the man Toronto Life heralded as “Toronto’s ambassador of Russian Chic”. With locations such as Rasputin and the original incarnation of Pravda Vodka Bar, it’s clear that Rumen’s resume bodes well for atmosphere and premium vodkas – however, Samovar isn’t so simple to describe as that.

Referred to as the “(R)Evolution of Vodka Absinth Champagne & Caviar” the lounge prides itself on introducing premium libations such as Champagne, TABOO Absinthe and Vodkas alongside a menu of zakuskis (Russian tapas) and decadent caviars. Hard-to-find Camitz Sparkling Vodka sits alongside must try Zubrowka bison grass vodka, a desirably smooth vodka with a characteristic cinnamon flavour – a must try for anyone who finds themselves here. Uncommon cocktails such as the addictively blue Russian Windex are delivered in traditional metal Russian tea glasses called podstakanniks, by bartenders in red ushankas (Russian fur hats). It’s the details that make Samovar interesting, a recipe that is only elevated by the sippable liquors and divine delicacies.

While the novelty of sipping spirits rather than shooting them isn’t native to most Toronto nightclubs or lounges, Samovar excels in them; all underneath crimson lighting radiating from the art deco multi-layered ceiling. Clearly, the duality of Samovar is another attractive feature of the locations décor. One foot rooted in the 1930’s, by virtue of the lounge’s speak-easy aura, and one foot in the glorious realm of a Russian themed nightclub; wartime propaganda, vintage Russian cartoons loop on flat screens and the bar, a fixture where Al Capone himself used to imbibe at during his regular pilgrimages to Toronto back in the day. Samovar is lively and there’s no doubt it will be the fixture that the upper Parliament Ave area needed. Relaxed, low key, built to entertain and there to welcome, Samovar Room is now open, so ladies and gents work those muscles, climb those stairs and you can thank me later!

http://www.dine.to/profile_features.php?feature=review&id=17963

Samovar, a new vodka, absinthe, and champagne lounge in Cabbagetown, is the latest Russian-themed venture from Rumen Dimitroff—the man behind the original Pravda Vodka Bar and Rasputin on Queen Street East. The lounge, named after the traditional Russian teapot, is on the second floor of the historic Winchester Hotel.

The space, formerly the Laurentian Room, has hardwood floors, burgundy banquettes, and a long mahogany bar that dates to 1935. Paintings of samovars hang on the walls and a copy of War and Peace sits on the counter at the coat check. The lounge is said to be haunted and a favourite spot of Al Capone. “I get a kick out of it,” Dimitroff said. “At the end of every shift we leave [the ghosts] something to drink.”
Servers dressed in fur hats and officer’s caps serve absinthe out of two antique Siberian samovars. Cocktails are served in traditional tin cups and glass jars. “I don’t have a standard glass. In Russia there wasn’t a standard so we use different sized jars and mugs,” Dimitroff said. “Not everything has to be uniform. That relaxes people. I like to give people an element of surprise so people feel like they’re not out in Toronto, they’re in Russia.”

A small cocktail menu includes dishes like spicy fried sausage, Russian herring, shrimp stroganoff, beef tartar, and caviar. Stolichnaya features prominently on the drink list, which includes the Black Russian and the Kir Royal. Private vodka tastings are held in the large walk-in fridge, accessed through the kitchen. “In order to get in there you have to wear a Russian uniform and a Russian hat,” Dimitroff said of the space, which holds eight.

A doorman dressed in full Russian regalia ushers guests into the upstairs bar and arranges for taxis and hands out bottles of water and packages of gum to patrons as they leave. “My goal is to make sure the service is there,” Dimitroff said.

Samovar, which opened in late July, holds 140 for receptions. The space is available for private bookings.

—Susan O’Neill

http://www.bizbash.com/toronto/content/editorial/16379_russian_samovars_soviet-era_propaganda_posters_fill_new_cabbagetown_lounge.php#cont

September 1, 2009 | 12:45 pm | Style Blog.ca

I have to admit that when it comes to bar hopping, I always stay within my comfort zone (Yorkville, or King St. W.), so when I heard about the opening of Samovar Room in Cabbagetown (51A Winchester St.), I jumped at the opportunity to explore Toronto a little more. The area is a host to many lovely-looking cafes and restaurants, and I will definitely be going back to explore those little hidden gems. As for the Samovar Room, Al and I thouroughly enjoyed our visit! I am not a great judge of drinks, so according to the expert (Al), the Cosmos were great…and I can attest that the champagne with strawberries was yummy! As was the food! We were served traditional Russian “zakuski” all through the night, which included various types of sausage (kolbasa), salmon rolls, delicious rye breads, and even Russian pizza! Perhaps I am a bit biased, but having been raised on those traditional foods myself, I definitely enjoyed every single item I ate! I loved the propaganda posters on the walls, the paintings, and the hats worn by the bar’s staff! And the service was great too! The place was packed, but we still got to try every single hors d’oeuvre, thanks to our super attentive server! After a few drinks, my friend and I were itching to dance, but had to go home before the fire-eating go-go dancers had begun their performance, it was a Thursday night and we both had to work the next day. Boo! So if you are looking for a new place to grab a drink or two with friends, definitely check out Samovar Room! Surprisingly, Cabagetown was not at all a hassle to get to! Just take the streetcar East on Carleton St. and you’re there in no time!

http://styleblog.ca/2009/09/01/foodie-samovar-room/

August 24, 2009 | 12:32 pm | Karon Liu

It’s oddly appropriate that a Russian-themed bar has opened in Cabbagetown. But instead of borscht, Samovar served crudités (sprinkled with salt rather than dipped in ranch), skewers of meat, house-made blinis with caviar and, of course, plenty of Stolichnaya during Thursday’s opening night.

Thankfully, the decor is less Yakov Smirnoff and more an homage to the Soviet era. Clips of old Russian cartoons are projected on the wall, a copy of War and Peace sits on the coat check counter, and two collages of propaganda posters adorn the sides of a small stage at the end of the bar. Not so subtle are the fur hats and officer’s caps worn by the staff.

Proprietor Rumen Dimitroff said he wanted to maintain the integrity of the building, which was built in 1935 and was once a haunt of Al Capone. As a result, there is no exterior signage: instead, a doorman in full Russian guard regalia directs visitors to the upstairs bar and dance floor.

“I always look for places that are off the beaten path,” says Dimitroff as he shows off a bottle of Okanagan Taboo Absinthe in the chilly tasting room behind the kitchen. “I don’t want to open a place on a strip that’s just bar after bar after bar.”

If this night’s patrons are any indication, the crowd is all over the place: suits mingle with students ordering bottles of sparkling wine, older couples in shorts and T-shirts dance to MIA remixes, and young professionals trade business cards. But everyone’s attention is drawn to the space’s original bar when the fire-eating go-go dancer starts her show. Afterward, the DJ spins such guilty pleasures as “Disco Inferno,” and dancing is more free-spirited than sleazy, a sign that things are more fun back in the U.S.S.R.

Samovar, 51A Winchester St., 416-925-4555, samovarroom.com.

http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/bottoms/2009/08/24/just-opened-samovar/

There’s still a number of fine vodkas, in particular Stolichnaya and Wyborowa Exquisite, but this time around, the proprietor has decided to focus on fine champagnes (including Perrier Jouet, Mumm, and Hungaria Grande Cuvee), and, more importantly, that oft-mythologized, recently legalized boho nectar: absinthe. Due to its formerly shady status, many absinthe brands are still somewhat rare, which makes Samovar’s collection, including Pernod, Taboo (a B.C. brand), and many more to come, an attraction in and of itself.

Absinthe has been known to mess with some serious drinkers like Ernest Hemingway and Vincent Van Gogh, and it has developed a reputation as an aphrodisiac, hallucinogen, and everything else under the sun. In reality, you’ll probably be affected much more by the 74% alcohol content, but there’s no denying that absinthe is a mystical spirit. It’s also a very social and ceremonial spirit, which is something else that Samovar capitalizes on. Guests are encouraged to partake in the absinthe ritual, dripping water over a sugar cube before the absinthe is poured in. The result is a flavourful combination, and one that is more conducive to sipping rather than shooting (believe me, you don’t want to be taking shots of absinthe). Rather than fountains, however, the water is dripped straight out of old-school Russian metal samovars (kind of like a teapot, but much more Russian).

Whether you’re sipping a vodka cocktail or chasing the green fairy, you’ll want to sit back and enjoy yourself. “I want to take this back to my father’s tradition in Russia and Bulgaria,” says Rumen in his gruff accent. “It’s not ‘let’s have a shot and get out of here,’ but ‘let’s have a drink and enjoy ourselves’.” In accordance with this philosophy, Samovar has a full card of menu items that are conducive to alcohol induced snacking. Charcuterie is both smoked in house and imported from a multi-generational salami and prosciutto making family, while classics like Steak Tartare and Shrimp Stroganoff are prepared in house. There’s also a good selection of fine caviars. For the really adventurous, the walk-in freezer is known to host food and vodka tastings, complete with fur coats and fur hats for guests.
Despite its ominous vibe, Samovar is ultimately a welcoming place. There is a strong focus on hospitality and service, as if it were your own basement (if you lived in a 1935 heritage building with Russian accents). But if you do feel like getting a little crazy, there are often DJs, and the wide wooden floor lends itself easily to dancing. On other nights, the space hosts burlesque shows, entertainment, and even trapeze performance. After a few sips of absinthe, you might be down for more than you think.

http://www.martiniboys.com/Toronto/Samovar-nightlife.html

June 19, 2009 | 11:11 am | Davida Aronovitch

The city’s ambassador of Russian chic, Rumen Dimitroff (Rasputin, Pravda), brings another vodka-inspired nightspot to the east end—this time at 51 Winchester Street. As with his other tributes to the motherland (Rasputin pays homage to czarist Russia; Pravda plays on Soviet communism), Samovar is loaded with cultural shout-outs. The bar unites centuries of Russian cultural history, starting with the titular antique teapots from which classic eastern European drinks will be served. Dimitroff, who has been steadily colonizing the east end, is trying to break the region’s reputation as a second-fiddle destination. “I’m trying to make the east end a little more attractive.”

Perched above the Winchester Hotel and consciously unsigned, the new Cabbagetown bar picks up where the former resident—the loungey Laurentian Room—left off. Old World features include high ceilings, the space’s original 1935 bar, fireplaces and decorative mirrors. Heavy burgundy drapery and rich woods set a warm atmosphere that borders on lusty. The heritage digs eliminate “the cliché of the square dark bar,” as Dimitroff puts it.

The luxurious ambience will get an erotic influx with monthly burlesque shows for which Dimitroff is currently sourcing a team of dancers. DJs are likely to keep the beat most nights, though tunes won’t be loud enough to hinder conversation. The small stage will double as a VIP lounge, but the most sought-after spot in the house is likely to be the intoxicating spirit-stacked “crisper”; guests can wear supplied fur hats and coats while perusing the booze options. “It’s a very romantic space,” says Dimitroff of the old-style refrigerator, which he hopes mimics the charming freight elevator table at his former restaurant, Bravi.

While Rasputin and Pravda impress with the quantity of their vodka selections, Samovar focuses on hard-to-find absinthes from Europe and North America, like Kabu, from British Columbia. A slim list of beers includes both Russian and local representatives; a small-plates menu features steak tartare and a cocktail-ready twist on a Russian classic, shrimp stroganoff. “There will be some surprises there,” says Dimitroff of the food. He’s most excited about a Russian-style weekend brunch that includes countless selections of smoked fish, salads, caviar and homemade gravlax. For drinkers immersed in their own pickling process, he entices with a taste of the old country: five different kinds of Russian cabbage, pickled apples, pickled green tomatoes and pickled watermelon. Of the last import he says, “It’s a bit salty, with a zing of sourness.” We might need a few glasses of Stoli before we hit that.

Samovar, 51 Winchester St. Opening next month.

http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/opening-daily-dish/2009/06/19/east-meets-east-at-samovar-another-russia-themed-bar-from-the-owner-of-pravda-and-rasputin/