After The Tears

9B Gordon St, Elsternwick. (03) 9523 0969
Score: 32/40
After the Tears is the second chapter of the Vodka, Borscht & Tears story and while it has maintained many of the gems of the original, it has also transplanted some of the drawbacks, like charging $14.50 for four pierogi dumplings.

The Elsternwick outpost of the original Windsor location has a welcoming, spacious vibe – much more so than its smaller parent. There is more space to move and many more tables. And on our visit on a Sunday evening we were entertained by the adorable Stilleto Sisters, who entertain tables with their Eastern European folk style singing, with the help of an accordion, bass and violin.

So too do we find the same impressive vodka and beer list, with pages and pages of vodka to choose from and a crop of beers including favourites like Okocim and Zywiec.

While there are some main-sized dishes, such as shitzels (around $23) or polish sausages ($22) the best way to eat here is by sampling the tapas-style taster plates.

As a huge fan of the Polish stew Bigos, it is always compulsory ($13). The After the Tears version features ham hock, sausage, braised pork, mushrooms, prunes, juniper berries, sweet cabbage and sauerkraut. We also ordered some pierogi ($14.50 for four/$20.50 for six), choosing the wonderful and traditional mushroom and cabbage variety. They also come stuffed with beef and chicken or potato and cheese (which the Poles call Ruski, because it is the Russian style of dumpling).

Other highlights in the tapas-style section of the menu were cabbage rolls ($11), blintzes ($9), salmon blintzes ($13) and honey vodka prawns ($13).

I find the food at both After the Tears and Vodka, Borscht and Tears really lovely, but very over-priced. As a Jew of Polish extraction I find it hard to understand why my fellow chosen ones would venture here for dinner when they can go elsewhere and get a similar vein of food for a quarter of the price or even pick it up from Balaclava Deli and take it home for a nosh. For those who aren’t as familiar with this style of food, I’m sure they’re happy to pay-up to order something they wouldn’t normally sample, but if I get a craving for a big plate of steaming pierogi, this isn’t where I’m going to come for a bite to eat.

Having said that, I’m the first to admit that there is a wide variety and everything is tasty. There is also a variety of soups (around $9.50), including several different kinds of borscht and a chicken meatball soup that was lovely.

Desserts are again a trip behind the iron curtain, with sweet pierogi ($10), crepes ($10) and strudel ($9.50). The crepes with chocolate and hazelnut were delicious.

The drinks are a different kettle of fish altogether. With four pages (in small print) of vodkas, cocktails and mixed drinks, this is a great place to come and sample the spectrum of this spirit. I especially enjoyed tasting a drink ordered by a compatriot on my table, a Pleasant Street Tea ($8.50). This is a vodka-based drink, mixed with Turkish apple tea, pomegranate syrup and wild bee honey, served hot, although you can have it iced too.

Overall this is a lovely place for an evening out, a few drinks and some accompanying snacks, perhaps before or after a movie at the Classic Cinema next door. But if you’re looking to fill your belly with hearty Eastern European fare, I think there are better value propositions around.

Website: www.borschvodkaandtears.com

Service: 8/10
Food: 8/10
Value for money: 6/10
Ambience: 8/10