Zagat, Time Out and New York Magazine all rate this 24 hour cafe very highly - "Borscht, whether hot or cold, is hot these days, as a culinary glasnost, heralded by Pravda and promises of the revamped Russian Tea Room, has overtaken the city. But the best borscht happens to be found at an old standby, the 24-hour Ukrainian cafe where chef Malgorzata Sibilska gets the balance of sweet and sour just right. For 43 years, owner Tom Birchard insists, Veselka’s three renditions of the electric-magenta fare have been made from scratch, even when the going rate for good beets skyrockets and others use bottled ones. A hot, “Ukrainian borscht,” Eastern Europe’s answer to minestrone is a menu staple. Traditional Eastern European “Christmas borscht,” with mushroom dumplings, and a cold vegetarian version that “looks tike paint,” with cucumber, sour cream, and optional sliced egg, are served seasonally."
I personally love a weekend lunchtime at Veselka - the atmosphere is "buzzy" and I love the Pierogi - Ukranian dumplings stuffed with meat and/or vegetables and then boiled or fried, are just scrumtious ! Desserts aren't half bad too ! Be ready to wait when things are busy, but believe me, it's worth it !
