Cafe Dacha

[bapak]

I am surprised that our roving foodies have not reported on Cafe Dacha, a Russian restaurant located at the site of a former Italian restaurant (was the Luciana?) next to Sakura on Soi 94. My wife became aware of Dacha when one of her Russian student came in today with a large Apple and Pineapple pie for the staff. It was delicious. So after school closing time we set off to look for it and having found it, indulged in Vareniki. It was well worth the effort.

We had a chat with the owner/chef, Konstantin. He said he took over the Italian restaurant about 2 months ago.. and the Italian menu was still available.

The Russian menu is brief.. but I would rather have short menu when you know that the food is done well as opposed to a many page one where you know the food has to come out of the freezer.

[Hobiecat]

just curious....is that next to the sushi shop on Soi 94?

[Super Joe]

Yes Hobie, it's what was the Italian restaurant up until just recently.

SJ

[Siani]

I am surprised that our roving foodies have not reported on Cafe Dacha, a Russian restaurant located at the site of a former Italian restaurant (was the Luciana?) next to Sakura on Soi 94. My wife became aware of Dacha when one of her Russian student came in today with a large Apple and Pineapple pie for the staff. It was delicious. So after school closing time we set off to look for it and having found it, indulged in Vareniki. It was well worth the effort.

We had a chat with the owner/chef, Konstantin. He said he took over the Italian restaurant about 2 months ago.. and the Italian menu was still available.

The Russian menu is brief.. but I would rather have short menu when you know that the food is done well as opposed to a many page one where you know the food has to come out of the freezer.

Sounds great BP, will give it a try next time You are always so good at updating us on new eateries, thanks I am going to nominate you as the HH food critic, always an honest report!

[Farang]

I visited the Dacha today with a professional restaurateur who also has had a chain of pizzerias.
The pizza in Dacha was absolutely superb and my professional friend could not laud enough both
the quality of the raw materials and the over-all quality of the pizzas. My pizza was covered with
true Parma ham and splendid Italian cheese. The ingredients were of such splendid quality that
there was no need to hide them under layers of melted cheese.

Everything in Dacha was spot on; very attentive staff, excellent service, proper tableware and linen.
The lay-out of the premises is tasteful, the bar well-equipped and the lavatory spotlessly clean.
A large pizza was 270 THB and a half-liter of decent house red was 350 THB. Dacha pizza appears to be
a splendid replacement for the late Bella Mia viands.

[Have a cigar]

Not much choice on that menu and most of it sounds rank rotten IMO.

[caller]

Not much choice on that menu and most of it sounds rank rotten IMO.

Well, it was just the Rusian menu, as mentioned in the OP. So if you ever visit the place to check out the rest, as per farangs post above yours, do come back and tell us how you got on?

[JW]

Gotta give it a try this week I reckon!

[Terry]

Between May '87 and October '91 I was working on a project in Moscow and actually spent all of the calendar year of 1990 living in an old syle Soviet apartment block.

As such I don't have too many fond memories of the place - they were difficult times and life was not easy.

One joy that WAS a great experience was queuing up in the Vareniki halls for freshly cooked hot, steamed Pel'meni when it was about -15 degrees C on the street outside.

I still recall the steamy atmosphere and the marble slabs of the old style serving halls.

Great internal central heating - especially with a drop of vodka...........

I will have to try some when I'm next back home in Hua Hin

[dtaai-maai]

One joy that WAS a great experience was queuing up in the Vareniki halls for freshly cooked hot, steamed Pel'meni when it was about -15 degrees C on the street outside.
Great internal central heating - especially with a drop of vodka...........
I will have to try some when I'm next back home in Hua Hin

Best wait for a cold day, Terry!

[bapak]

Revisited Cafe Dacha and was not disappointed.

I had Borsch (small serving). Quite good and authentic. Was missing the black bread that usually accompanies Borsch. Konstantin said it was impossible to find Hua Hin. Price Baht 110.

My good wife ordered Risotta. She was quite happy with it. I can tell you if she was unhappy, she would soon make it known. Cost Baht 200.

During our meal, I observed a very attractive Pizza being devoured at the next table. So I ordered same to take away. Very spicy Italian style with olives and anchovies.. Quite tasty and good quality ingredients. Cost Baht 240.

Konstantin keeps expanding his Russian menu. We also meet his latest staff member.. Alexander, now 1 week old.

We will be back.

[Farang]

Whenever I get a craving for true rye bread approved by the real rye-bread eaters (Russians, Estonians, Ukrainians and Finns) I order it through the net and get delivery by bus-freight.

Here's the link: http://www.anns-bakery.com/index_en.htm

[JW]

Did Dacha last night and chose from teh specials board (I guess the same as bapak did!) Rissoto was excellent, Borsch was good (first go) and had a pizza too. Food was all very good and will go back and try some other things.

[Farang]

I've been visiting The Dacha several times lately. I've just tested their rabbit and it's really,
really superb. I haven't had rabbit this good since many, many moons ago in Spain.
Rosemary & bacon braised rabbit is 400 THB/portion.

It' money very well spent.

[Homer]

Tried it, liked it. I'll be back.

Menu said the minestrone soup had fresh vegetables so I decided to find out in the first course if they were telling the truth. They were. No tomatoes so it wasn't red but very good nonetheless. Didn't miss the tomatoes.

Pizza was thin crust. Complex flavors in the sauce. The cheese? Imagine a chef deciding what varieties and quality of cheeses he wanted, and that he wouldn't offer pizza if he couldn't find them. Then imagine he found them. Crust, sauce, cheese and toppings worked very well together.

Servers spoke darn good English, were attentive but didn't hover.