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| - Oh, those Russians... They certainly know how to throw a good party.
Last Saturday, I was given an opportunity to enjoy what many Russians and Eastern Europeans do on a weekend night: dress up in your best semi-formal outfit to enjoy copious amounts of food and watch a Las Vegas style show. The term of "overkill" isn't a factor at National Restaurant, everything is done BIG: lots of food, lots of glitz and glamour, lots of fun.
The night:
Celebrating a friend's birthday, our group of 15 people ventured up to Little Russia (or Little Ukraine, depending on who you ask), in North York. The restaurant is open six days a week with a live music and dancing show every night. It seems odd to go to a banquet hall for dinner when it's not a wedding, and at one point, I thought we were crashing one after walking past a bride and groom posing for pictures. But we weren't in the wrong hall: every occasion, from weddings to birthdays to a night out with friends, are celebrated all in one room, with everyone else.
The dress code:
One person's tacky leopard-print outfit is another person's... treasure? It's safe to say that if you own any sequin, gawdy jewelry, leather, pleather or animal-print outfit, you can wear it here. Personally I felt modest in a black dress, boots and zebra-print earrings. Despite this personal choice of style by some, I actually like the idea of dressing up in your best outfit for a dinner and show. How come we North Americans have become casual about this?
The food:
When we entered the main hall, I was astonished by the sight of food decorating the tables. Each table had plates of food that seemed to fill every a square inch of table space. Some dishes were resting on top of other plates!
Until then, my experience with Russian and Eastern European cuisine was limited to caviar, borscht and whatever vegetable you can pickle. Our four course meal consisted of cold and warm appetizers, followed by a fish and meat course. I made an effort to try everything, though some I couldn't resist sampling a few times, such as:
- eggplant and tomato puree with loads of garlic
- blinis with caviar
- pickled cabbage, cucumbers and watermelon (the latter being my new favourite!)
- chicken kebabs
- shredded chicken salad
- spiced mushrooms
- stuffed turkey neck
- bread pastry (almost phillo) with stuffed cheese
Since the food was already laid out when we arrived, we began eating at 8pm, washing it all down with vodka and wine. The last serving of food put on our table was around 11:30pm or midnight, after which you have dessert, fruit and coffee. Much of the appetizers remained on the table the entire night.
The entertainment:
The band began to play at 9pm, and everyone flooded the dancefloor. Four singers shared the stage, each singing popular songs in English, Russian and Hebrew. I only understood a third of them, except for when one of the singers, a Michael Jackson impersonator, came on stage singing "Billie Jean". Along with the singers were the odd videos that played on the large screen behind them. These videos included various images of flowers and sunsets, to movie clips and images of Aishwayra Rai, Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities. If I understood Russian, I'd tell you why these ladies graced the video screen but I have no clue. I just watched, along with my non-speaking Russian friends, perplexed and fascinated.
After nearly two and a half hours, the band stopped playing and we stopped dancing but the show was far from over. A half dozen showgirls took the stage, dancing folkloric dances to Vegas-inspired numbers dressed in big feathered headdresses and sequined bodysuits. A couple, the main attraction I suppose, took the stage dancing outrageous and quite funny (read: cheesy) numbers. Again, this was fascinating and entertaining to watch.
The cost:
With the entertainment, the fixed menu food and the pre-ordered beverages, our bill came to $65 per person, which isn't a bad price. However this price did not include gratuities to the server so we had to add a few extra dollars on top of that bill.
Conclusion:
Would I return to National Restaurant and Banquet Hall? Hells yes! Despite the sensory overdose of tackiness and abundance of absolutely everything, it was a wonderful night out celebrating a friend's birthday, while enjoying one of the best dinners experiences I've ever had.
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