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Borsch, Vodka & Tears
Ph: (03) 9530 2694; 173 Chapel St, PRAHRAN 3181 www.borschvodkaandtears.com
Polish/Eastern European, $$ -, *** for Ambience
Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-late; Sat-Sun 9.30am-late, Closed Christmas Day, new year day; Licensed; AE DC MC V EFT, Seats inside 45, Outside seats
Chef Paul Hurley (7-11-07) Owner Andrew Kaczmarski, Mick & Sonia Vilijevac (7-11-07)
Mietta's Review
This is a real gem - Eastern Europe couldn't hope to live up to the magical world of Borsch, Vodka & Tears. It's a world that is occasionally enhanced by the mythical list of vodkas. Though the food is steeped in the ethos of Poland the real reason you're here is to explore your Slavic soul. Those without one can always sit at the footpath tables outside and smoke. On a cold winter's night immerse yourself in the warmth of a goulash, wash it down with an icy vodka and when the time comes call your sled, its bells ringing in the frosty air, to take you home.
Other published opinions
Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 13/20 "Think Polish, think the polka, pinafores and plaits. That's partly Borsch's schtick, but sexier. Maybe it's the vodka talking, but the low lighting, ruby velvet drapes, aged gilt mirrors and candelabras coated in weeks-worth of wax are immediately disarming"
The Age Cheap Eats Bars 2007 "The aged mirrors and flattering low lighting make BV&T a first-rate first date place."
Herald Sun CityStyle Best of Melbourne 04 "Let's get the booze out of the way first. Borsch, Vodka & Tears is primarily a vodka bar 105 vodkas are available but there's also has a great kitchen attached to it. The bloody mary, made with a garlic and chili-infused vodka, is excellent. So yes, you can just drink vodka here if you like. Plenty do."
Herald Sun, sunday magazine, 2003, Sally Fisher,'Kitchen is open to 11pm and snacks available after that.'
The Age, Sundaylife, Eatstreets, 7/7/02
The Age, 17.04.01, Matt Preston review "Borsch, Vodka and Tears sprang up on the site of Helen's Polish Kitchen six months ago. With its distressed paintwork and huge feature lights, this vodka bar and cafe is a far fancier operation but the good news is that Helen's influence remains in the kitchen, supplying chefs Ashley Moorhead and Anthony Cooper with her wonderful pierogi, bigos and borsch... Polish food is not usually connected with the word 'light' but here it takes off its hobnailed boots and slips into dancing pumps to skip out of the kitchen. Ooh, that'll be the fourth vodka talking..."
The Herald Sun, 13.02.01, Stephen Downes review "Only five months old, borsch, vodka and tears offers an excellent, short but well priced wine list, three table whites and five reds by the glass. There are also Chech, Slovak and Polish beers by the bottle. The food here is homely and tasty and reasonably authentic, I'm told. And it's not just because more romances fail than succeed that borsch, vodka and tears will be a hit. Score: 14 out of 20"
The Age, Sundaylife, Eatstreets, 7/7/02
The Age, 17.04.01, Matt Preston review "Borsch, Vodka and Tears sprang up on the site of Helen's Polish Kitchen six months ago. With its distressed paintwork and huge feature lights, this vodka bar and cafe is a far fancier operation but the good news is that Helen's influence remains in the kitchen, supplying chefs Ashley Moorhead and Anthony Cooper with her wonderful pierogi, bigos and borsch... Polish food is not usually connected with the word 'light' but here it takes off its hobnailed boots and slips into dancing pumps to skip out of the kitchen. Ooh, that'll be the fourth vodka talking..."
The Herald Sun, 13.02.01, Stephen Downes review "Only five months old, borsch, vodka and tears offers an excellent, short but well priced wine list, three table whites and five reds by the glass. There are also Chech, Slovak and Polish beers by the bottle. The food here is homely and tasty and reasonably authentic, I'm told. And it's not just because more romances fail than succeed that borsch, vodka and tears will be a hit. Score: 14 out of 20"
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