Fodor's Expert Review Skovorodka

This family-friendly, Brighton Beach favorite serves home-style Russian classics that could have been prepared by grandma. Dishes like borscht, beef Stroganoff, and stuffed cabbage are all highly recommended. The real stars of the menu are khachapuri (cheese bread), kupati (juicy Georgian-style sausage smothered in tart pomegranate syrup), and the preserved mackerel–pure oily goodness that's dramatically served with head and tail intact. Live music on weekends keeps it festive.