By Alyssa Ramos
Nestled in the trendy little triangular nook that is the real-life Melrose Place, is an ornately decorated and heavily vodka-infused piece of Russia called Mari Vanna. The name comes from a Slavic legend of a fairytale grandmother who welcomed hungry travelers for a home-cooked meal, and the same idea goes for it’s customers in West Hollywood…except these travelers are the jet-setting, celebrity types. Since it’s opening last summer, it has already attracted a plethora of A-list guests, and the usual who’s who of Hollywood.
What makes Mari Vanna so attractive? Well, starting with it’s prime location on Melrose Place where it joins the trendy neighborhood of popular restaurants like Fig & Olive, STK, Bagatelle, and Nobu, it’s definitely in a location where people go to see and be seen. Next is the ambience, when I walked in through the heavy cast-iron gates, I found myself standing in the quaintest, chicest Russian tea garden that I’ve ever seen. As they describe it, it’s like a “garden-party-meets-grandma’s house ambiance. There are plants, flowers, and birdhouses surrounding the cushioned wicker seating, like something you’d see in a classier version of Alice in Wonderland.
Although I’ve never been to Russia, the interior of Mari Vanna gave me a pretty good idea of what a traditional Russian restaurant would look like there, especially since they have one in Moscow. There wasn’t one square inch that wasn’t heavily decorated with different floral patterned wallpaper, Russian paintings and dolls, wooden tchotchke-filled cupboards, and brass chandeliers. We were warmly welcomed by the bartender who immediately poured us shots of one of the many house-infused vodka’s that he actually had made in their very own vodka making room underneath the restaurant that is only accessible through a trap down in the floor behind the bar.
The seaberry vodka shot was delicious, and enticed us to try some of the other flavors that ranged from original to peculiar flavors like pepper, and cucumber & dill. If vodka isn’t your choice of poison, they will also soon be offering house-infused tequilas including red pepper, pineapple, and mixed berry.
To top off the Russian experience, the Russian managers, and servers dressed in typical Russian attire will great you and be more than happy to explain the story behind Mari Vanna and everything on the menu. The menu features traditional Russian fare including braised veal with homemade noodles, beef stroganoff, and delicious deserts like truffles and kislitsa.
If you’re lucky enough to be a friend of someone who works there, you might even get welcomed into the family and given a key with a little Russian doll attached to it that grants you access to any one of the Mari Vanna restaurants on certain “members-only” nights where they keep the restaurant open past hours and hire a DJ and offer free cocktails.
Mari Vanna
8375 Melrose Pl
Los Angeles, CA 90069
323.655.1977
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