Mari Vanna

The first international location of a popular Russian restaurant drops in Gramercy, brought to you by a booming Russian dining empire (66 restaurants!) that also co-owns Los Dados. The focus here is on homey grub, but Mari Vanna hopes to expand diners' horizons a bit. "Unfortunately, people in the U.S. are limited to the knowledge of three Russian dishes: vodka, caviar and borsch," says partner Tatiana Brunetti. Hoping to fill in the gap: bites like Olivier salad (potatoes with sage mayo), sosiski sausages and a rainbow trout with chanterelle and white sauce. About 30 infused vodkas should keep everyone happy. Mari Vanna's also got a gimmick up her sleeve: Guests can only enter the locked front door after ringing a doorbell, but regulars will be given a swanky key—which also unlocks the doors to Mari Vanna locations in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

See more: Flatiron restaurants, Russian restaurants