Skazka is an Uzbek run Russian restaurant in Cluster M, JLT. Its interior is a little unkept and untidy, resembling those inconspicuous family-run restaurants mobsters and mafioso eat at in the movies. We had the bonus of a bunch of bulky Russian hit-man types having lunch there when we visited. Their presence added a little drama and thrill to the ambience, our melodramatic imagination automatically averting our eyes every time they’d look in our direction.
The food at Skazka is good, not fantastic, but good, and includes many Arabic dishes too. I assume this is to broaden appeal. My food-buddy Tiny and I stuck to the Russian favourites, ordering Borscht and Meatball soup to start. I ordered a lamb Plov while Tiny, who has lived in Russia for many years, ordered a Beef Stroganoff. My Borscht was nothing to write home about. Nor was my Plov a patch on what Plov House in Cluster W serves. And that surprised me, considering the strong Uzbek connection at Skaska. I think Tiny’s comfort food looking Beef Stroganoff was best of the lot.
Service was a little hit and miss, with the food very slow in coming to the table after our order was taken. The general attitude of the single waiter was, ‘ho-hum, I’m bored out of my wits doing you a favour by serving you’. I actually had to ask for him to bring me some sour cream to have with my Borscht, and then too, he gave me this ‘I’ll think about it’ look. Lucky for him those goons were sitting in the front, otherwise, I might have…um, complained. Tiny tells me the indifferent service is part of what makes Skaska authentic. Hmm. I’m not convinced. I like Plov House much better.
Waste NOT. Want NOT.
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