Sobranie

Restaurants

Restaurants and cafés

Victoria

Expensive

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Time Out says

Wed Mar 2 2011

Our hearts skipped a beat when we heard that a new Russian restaurant had recently opened near Victoria station. Despite a sizeable community in London, quality Russian eateries are still a rare find.

The location of Sobranie – a glass-walled unit near the Victoria Place shopping mall – does not immediately suggest cosiness nor the ‘French refinement’ the website promises. But we were greeted with a smile and warm service.

Sobranie (‘gathering’ or ‘collection’ in Russian) moves away from serving purely Russian fare – perhaps a clever move, considering Victoria’s office and tourist crowd. The menu features a very curious combination of Soviet classics, Caucasian favourites (the owners are from The Caucasus) and French staples (snails and calves’ livers).

But the interior – parquet floors, live keyboard music and space for dancing – made us nostalgic for the good old USSR (a sentiment that perhaps not everyone shares).

The food, however, was perfectly decent. We went for mostly Russian dishes: a Russian vinegret salad (beetroot with red kidney beans) and borsch were fresh, if slightly under-seasoned; herring dressed with mayonnaise, eggs and beetroot (a dish also known as ‘herring under fur coat’) was moreish.

A spatchcocked chicken was juicy, and a rack of lamb came quite pink. The best dish was dumplings filled with beef, which were light and tasted ownmade. A dessert of kartoshka (a biscuity ball of cocoa) was nicely bittersweet, although the famed Napoleon – layers of pastry and custard – was on the dry side. The wine and vodka list was uncharacteristically short.

Our main complaint was with the prices. Charging £10.95 for a dozen dumplings or £16.95 for four or five tiny pieces of lamb with a handful of vegetables is difficult to justify (although we were told there is a lunch special for £12.95).

Disappointing, despite the warmth of the service and care shown in the cooking.

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Venue details

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Address:
Sobranie 8 Fountain Square, 123-151 Buckingham Palace Road
London
SW1W 9SH

Venue phone:
020 7233 7000
Venue website:
www.sobranierestaurant.co.uk
Opening hours:
Open noon-4pm, 6-11pm Mon-Fri; 6-11pm Sat
Transport:
Tube: Victoria tube/rail
Price:
Meal for two with wine and service: around £70
Map
1. Sobranie
  - 8 Fountain Square, 123-151 Buckingham Palace Road
    London
    SW1W 9SH
  - 020 7233 7000
  - www.sobranierestaurant.co.uk
  - 51.493047,-0.146503

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Comments & ratings

(16 ratings)

The place was close to Victoria so we had no problems with taxi on our way back ))) the food was great, the live music a bit loud but it was nice for party in Russian style that we have with friends!! thanks to our waiter who was helpful with the menu so we had great selection of everything most traditional. We all enjoyed the evening!

Oscar Thu Oct 4 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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We couldn't find that place, it was hidden like a grotto. But believe me or not, last night we had the best time there, thanks to our waiter!

Joanne Sun Jul 8 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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I took there my mum for her birthday last week . She was very happy - the entertainment was great! The singers were singing their hearts out! Loved it! Very nice gesture - my mum was given flowers and the singers sung her Happy Birthday To You. Food was really nice too. I ordered Khachapuri - curd cheese pastry - lovely and very fresh! Salad Olivier - very nice, and the main course too - poussin with veges and calves' liver with mash and veges and the favourite of my - honey cake. Prices - not cheap, but very reasonable for the quality and service. I would reccommend it for a special occasion to anyone!

Oxana Tue Apr 24 2012
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had a lunch at this russian restaurant. great value for money-25% off the food bill! i ve tried russian food for the first time and found it delicious. Beetroot soup was very tasty and their signature dish-goulash was amazingly presented in a bread bowl and was delicious! Recommended!

fox99 Sun Mar 25 2012
Rated as: 4/5
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Great place for parties! The live music was super! The food was very tasty and the portions were good size! Try Napoleon cake there- it's a masterpiece!recommended!

Albina51 Tue Jan 31 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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very good restaurant! in fact this is my favourite russian restaurant in London! Yes,I do have a nostalgia for russian food and dont think that it is silly! I was born in Perm,my grand parents are still there and I really miss my grandmother's pelmeni! the one you can buy in the shop are not the same and I don't have time to cook it at home. Pelmeni at Sobranie are delicious! the portions are VERY big and if you have starters and mains you can hardly go for a dessert . I can't leave the restaurant without my favourite cake Napoleon so we always share it (again I have never seen such a huge portion in any other russian restaurant in London). It seems to me that those who claimed "child's portion" never been at this restaurant! the food is delicious! Greatly recommended!

angelN73 Tue Nov 15 2011
Rated as: 5/5
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I totally agree with Vladimir. The food is not great, overpriced, child’s portions and the service is poor. I think it is only good for people who have nostalgia for Russian food over 10 years and would pay silly money just to recollect the taste.

Elina Wed Nov 9 2011
Rated as: 1/5
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good restaurant,the best we have at the moment! I always knew that Russians never been positive about each other. That's why the time out review didn't surprise me as well as some others I ve just read! I would like to recommend this place to everyone and enjoy good food, service and atmosphere!

Irina Mon Sep 26 2011
Rated as: 5/5
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Timeout was actually very kind in this review. This place is just plain awful. Food is poor, atmosphere is dire, and the service is below par.

Vladimir Fri Sep 23 2011
Rated as: 1/5
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good spacious place with nice food and music. Will be back.

shark69 Sun Aug 28 2011
Rated as: 5/5
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