Veselka Reviews

Seems everyone knows Veselka, NY's favorite Ukrainian delicatessen restaurant. Our recent Sunday brunch bunch liked it as well. Beyond Brooklyn, visitors from Pennsylvania and Brazil enjoyed the food and the scene.

I liked the cheeseburger that they served with French fries. They also serve Ukrainian food, such as pierogis.

We had a very late dinner one night and I need a place that was fast and could seat us. This fit the bill. I found it on my own when normally I get recommendations from those in the know. The food comes very quick (which worked for us because we need to go to bed) and it was decent. I can't say it was out of this world, but we were in and out and satisfied. Nice staff.

Excellent breakfast. Delicious food especially the pierogies, potato pancakes, blintzes and coffee. This is the kind of food my grandmother made, only better (sorry grandma). Great food and support for Ukraine, a good combination.

Delicious vegetable soup take out purchased on February 13, 2021. Previously inedible (in earlier review) vegetable soup now absolutely the best. Well done - please keep up the culinary excellence.

Great menu selection! Service was fantastic! Omelette and potato pancake were delish! Always a favorite when we are in NYC

Deluxe meat plate with beat soup and cold apple cider. Bland and boring. We were left sorely disappointed after all of the recommendations. Mediocre.

Great place, great food, great price. Service was meh but my friends were into the waitress so they enjoyed. I got rhe short rib pierogis and they were fuego. Also the latkes and apparently the reubens. Overall 10/10. Will be back for soup when it’s cooler

Who knew we could eat so many pierogis? Cheese. Mushroom. Short rib. Bacon, egg and cheese. All swoony.

It's really difficult and almost impossible to get bad quality food in nyc. Well, but tonight we found Veselka ..: and,let me tell you I can proudly say this is the worse restaurant in Manhattan. Please avoid this place by all Means. Enjoy nyc!

We wanted to try some authentic cuisine that we hadn't ever really had before, and this place was on a list of restaurants you should not miss. I wish I could go back and try one of everything. Everyone at my table had something different, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed what they ordered (even the more hesitant ones). Our server was very helpful, too, with recommendations.

I had to get Ukranian food for special occasion which supposed to be next day . I wanted pirogies, I had them before- they are delicious! I get them in 15 min! I took ready to cook for next day event, and frozen for my self. Very well packed! Dozen of each- with cheese,short ribs , potatoe, sauerkraut &mushroom!- we tried the same day with my husband at home, just 4 min in boiled water, and you fell suburb! Veselka gives plenty cream onion and apple sause for each kind of pieties. You would never get this at any other place! You can have at restaurant or delivery or pick up ready or cook by yourself - what’re u want! Veselka has special recipes ! I know, I’m Ukrainian:) Also Polish will like them! AND all people at the event to whom I brought this food -(different causins from the World in a NJ church) eat them and like so much! There were other, more familiar food for them, but they all like Ukrainian Veselka’s pierogies! Many compliments to Veselka!

We had a delicious meal here. We had the deluxe meat plate with a cup of borscht and a meat plate with side salad. We were seated quickly even with them being busy.

I am hosting a Ukrainian refugee student for the summer and brought her to NYC for her first visit. So I wanted to find a good Ukrainian restaurant and decided on Veselka based on previous reviews. I am of Polish descent so also enjoy eating pierogies, latkes, and golumpki. We found the food to be excellent. My Ukrainian guest said the food was like her grandmother makes in Ukraine and the best meal she had since coming to the United States. We had the pierogies, latkes, and hot borscht. Charming ambiance with a brightly painted mural and outdoor seating also available. Although we were quickly seated, we waited for over 10 minutes for our server to come over to take our order. The food arrived quickly, but we waited for quite a while to get our check. Otherwise this would have been a 5 star review.

Had a great lunch! Reasonably priced, really nice combinations of perogies and meat or veggie selections. Very busy on the weekends; open 24 hours, when we're in NYC again we may try going outside normal meal hours as to not have to wait for a table.Highly recommend!

Waited in a short line, but were seated quickly. The pierogies/varenky’s, borscht and chicken paprikash were very tasty. The vegetarian stuffed cabbage I would pass next time.

A interesting of of Polish and Ukrainian (mainly the latter) delicacies. One seldom gets to enjoy in such a friendly environment. No surprise to see this in TripAdvisor's top 1%. The classic Ukrainian pierogi bowl, the beef stroganoff and the stuffed cabbage rolls and the Blintz with rasberrie coulis were greeted with high acclaim.

Veselka has long been one of my favorite local eateries in the East Village. A while back the restaurant seemed to want to expand menu offerings and at that time it seemed like the place was losing some of it's character. But thankfully on recent visits I see the charm shining through. The menu is no longer trying to over-extend. Rather it focuses on what Veselka has always done well: 1) dishes celebrating Ukrainian traditions (like pierogi and sausage) plus 2) American classics with meat or with vegetables (like chicken cutlet with mashed potatoes or a quinoa salad). . As always the food is served in a casual, friendly setting. I hope Veselka keeps this appeal always.

In the heart of the East Village, at 2nd Ave. and 9th St., stands this venerable institution, a relic of the Ukrainian immigrants of New York. Try the combination plate, with stuffed cabbage and pierogies, meat or vegetarian. Not inexpensive, but what is these days? Oh, yeah, McDonald’s.

I must be missing something. We ordered fried Perogi. Ok but a little bland. We also ordered the deluxe meat platter and the stroganoff: both served lukewarm. The cookery lacked any real depth of flavour and was under seasoned, it was just a bit ‘meh’ and very underwhelming, given the reviews on here. I’ve been lucky to spend a fair bit of time in Lviv and Kiev for work, this is a bit of a ‘Hollywood’ type approach to Ukrainian food. Whilst based in fact, it’s not entirely a fair reflection of the reality We won’t return to see the sequel ....

This was a cool find. We were walking around looking for something good and affordable and found this place. The sauerkraut mushroom pierogi was the best Pierogi I’ve ever had. The waitress was so nice.

Nov 14, 2020 I had my meal here while limited indoor dining in NYC was available. (At the moment, mask wearing is mandatory, except when seated while eating or drinking.) Veselka has been an East Village staple for decades, serving Ukranian favorites to hungry New Yorkers. Borscht. Chicken Soup. Matzoh Ball. Pierogies. Beef Stroganoff. Late-night breakfast. Challah French Toast. Blintzes. The menu definitely falls into the category of "comfort food", since there are so many favorites to be had. My personal picks range from the Pierogi Dinner, to the Matzoh Ball Soup with a side of Kasha, or the Challah French Toast. The food is freshly prepared and served quickly, and made right on the premises (you can see the chefs working in front of the restaurant. There is always something tasty and enjoyable here to eat! There are also several vegetarian menu options. Make sure to ask your server to see what's available at the moment. The waitstaff is fast, friendly and very helpful in choosing the right item for your meal! TIP THEM WELL GREAT food, great prices, great meal experience! Enjoy your meal here! pre-Covid 19, Veselka was open 24/7. At the moment, they have changed & limited their operating and take-out hours. Check their website for more info on hours of operation, menu availability and outdoor dining options.

I always come to Veselka every time I visit NYC. I sometimes come here even twice during my one week visits because their borscht is THE best. This place USED to open 24 hours. I used to walk here at random hours at like 2am just to get a bowl of borscht. Due to COVID, their hours are limited. They are strict (as they should be) with vaccine cards & ID, so make sure to bring them. Some of the tables near the entrance door had dividers, but the main dining area didn't, which was a little scary during COVID peak in Dec 2021. Servers are efficient. Food comes out pretty fast as well. Even if there seems to be a long line outside, the line moves fast so just get in the line! Just make sure to order borscht with every meal.

This is the wonderful kind of place NYC can support, serving focused, authentic food. We went for a late weekday breakfast. The decor sets the mood. Service was prompt and friendly. The food was delicious and reasonably-priced, with a broad spectrum making choosing just one the hardest part!

Well we were in New York for the weekend and I wanted to go ethnic. My daughter and I started with Ukrainian borscht and vegetarian borcht. They were both very goid but not like my Babas. The varenyky were yummy. We each had different ones. My son had the brunch ones with egg, bacon, cheese and potato. My daughter had the short rib ones. My husband had the truffle ones fried. Everyone enjoyed their varenyky. I had the meat deluxe platter which came with a kielbasa, stuffed cabage, and 3 didferent varenyky. 1 meat, 1 potato and 1 mushroom. I enjoyed the varenyky for sure. They were light and tasty. The kielbasa was OK. I have had better. The stuffed cabage was OK, i am used to tomato sauce vs the mushroom gravy. It tastedgood but not like my Babas. I would come back with my family again though. Traditional Ukrainian food is hard to come by in the US.

Definitely look for the peirogis, because we ended up going here twice for them! You can go for breakfast lunch and dinner and at any time, it's amazing. Veselka is a great stop-by if you're needing a snack or you want an entire meal!

Good service. Food far from impressive, average at most . Price medium level. Location is good and the patio is ample

Food was fine. Inside was super busy. A nice touch that you can sit outside in a cubicle with a heat lamp and avoid some of the crowd. Service was prompt. Had a chocolate egg cream. This was the first time I've ever had one... but I won't be having one again. It just tasted like watered down, cold hot cocoa... but with a fizz that my belly didn't really like. The pierogis were small, but tasty. My husband said that the stuffed cabbage was dry. I had Bigos which was recommended to me by our waiter. I had never heard out if before but it's a "stew" made of kielbasa, roast pork, sauerkraut and onions. Served with mashed potatoes and I got the beet and horseradish side (which was too sharp to be given in such quantity). Mine meal was fine tasting, but very, very dry. My belly was full, although not much quantity, it's filling. However, with all the restaurants in city, I don't think I'll return. I'll try someplace else new instead.

A great spot for breakfast in the East Village. The Cheese Blintz is great. The cappuccino comes in a massive cup. Eggs, pancakes all good as if the service. Expect lines on the weekends but easy entry during the week.

I have gone to Veselka many times usually at various times during the week and occasionally on the weekends. This particular Sunday afternoon at around 3 PM I was there and found they have a Sunday brunch menu. (served until 4 PM). I started with a bowl of chicken noodle soup, A good choice, for my Brunch entrée I ordered the eggs Benedict served with Nova Scotia salmon on their delicious potato pancakes. Included with this particular Brunch is orange juice, fruit cup, and coffee, turns out it was really an excellent choice. They were quite busy, but as luck would have it we were seated at a window table. I noticed the maître d’ who I believe his name was Gary, keeping an eagle eye on this busy place to make sure everything was in order, it certainly was. While he was making the rounds he stopped by our table to to make sure we were enjoying our meal. It is things like that that make you feel good about your dining experience. Our server was quite pleasant and professional. Very good food served at reasonable prices. I definitely will be back again!

On March 24 I went to Veselka with two friends. We ordered Borscht soup. My friends chose the vegetarian version and were fine. I had the "Ukrainian" Borscht with pork meat - and got so sick with food poisoning the same night that I had to cancel my trip back to Denmark next day and see a doctor and stay two more nights in NYC before feeling strong enough to get on board a flight. Only clue: Slight surprise by being served a Borscht with meat that was at most room temperature instead of the steaming hot soup I was expecting.

Fresh baked bread, opened 24 hours a day. Fantastic coffee and lovely staff, a huge menu to choose from. This is a must visit and a perfect alternative to the generic restaurants.

Arrived at 11.29 pm, refused service. It says they are open until 12 which is a lie. We traveled 30 minutes specifically to eat there after the theatre, visiting from London. The manager / owner (not sure) was very rude and disrespectful. Gave a bad impression of Ukrainian hospitality. Extremely disappointed and will tell everyone I know not to visit or support this place.

Went for lunch at Veselka for the perogies. I was introduced to boiled potato perogies years ago by an Hungarian family and did not even know that they could be fried. So I had 4 different boiled perogies and 4 fried. They were all very good, but I do have a preference for the boiled perogies. The service was fast and solicitous.

Veselka has been on my radar way before it made a cameo in Ocean's 8. I finally got the chance to try it. I came in with two friends on a Wednesday at around 6 and it was busy, but not too packed yet. There were so many things on the menu that I wanted to try but I decided on the Deluxe Meat Plate (1 meat, 1 potato, 1 sauerkraut and mushroom pierogi, 1 meat stuffed cabbage with mushroom gravy, grilled kielbasa, side of sour cream & beet horseradish salad) since it had a little bit of everything. The platter also comes with a small soup, which you can pick. I went with the Ukranian Borscht and it did not disappoint. I had never had borscht before but I do like beets, and it was a good way to start the meal. As for the pierogis, these weren't the ones I would have picked if I was ordering a la carte. I thought they were only okay. The filling was a bit underwhelming. Maybe they would have tasted better fried? The kielbasa was good but the star of the show was the stuffed cabbage. Meat/rice/mushroom gravy - what's not to love? I definitely want to go back to try the potato pancakes, Ukranian meatballs, and the blintzes, so I'll be back! Tip - try to avoid the bathroom if you can. It's pretty gross in there - not sure if they clean it.

Friendly, welcoming, attentive, and cheerful best decribes the front-end staff. Delicious, authentic, and filling best describes the yummy Eastern European menu. Unlike their competitors, menu prices, remarkably, have not escalated and/or taken advantage of the inflatonary/supply shortage spiral. Brought back smiles from my memories of the cooking of my beloved Babusia who received her special angel wings over 43 years ago.

april/may 2016 went to this fabulous restaurant with my tour guide from New York City Greeter as per his suggestion and im super happy we went! Im Ukie and it was great food, i was quite impressed!! plus open 24 hrs

Everything was so delicious from the borscht to the pierogi bowl and honey cake. The food is always freshly prepared and to your table within minutes. I especially loved the mushroom and sauerkraut pierogi.

Popular standby for Ukrainian Food. Good food -- we had pirogies and sausage, and borsch. Average value (dinner for two - $60+) and average service. This place can have a wait for tables.

We visited Veselka on a Thursday late afternoon. We were looking for Ukranian food and based on the reviews on Trip Advisor thought we would have a great meal. Not sure who is writing these rave reviews but we certainly did not find the food or the staff worthy of such reviews. We understand that this is not a high end restaurant and offers more comfort food at a reasonable price. We had the pirogi's and the stuff cabbage. We are not sure if there was any cabbage wrapped around the filling. Do they use cabbage or some thin gluten based something! The filling was not good either lacking flavor and way to mushy. And now for the gravy over the cabbage. The gravy was thick and tasteless - did it come in a vat? The pirogi were ok but nothing to write home about. The hot borsch soup seemed to be the best part of the meal. The staff while not outwardly rude but were not friendly. It was like we were a bother to wait on. Maybe that is just the New York City way. Overall, I would not recommend eatlng at this restaurant if you have other choices. There is another ukranian restaurant next door. Try that one first.

Considering that I’m a native New Yorker, and I went to High School only a few blocks from here (in the 1970s) I’m a little embarrassed that this was my first time at Veselka. It will most certainly not be my last, however. I was a regular at nearby “Kiev” for many years, and I was close to tears when it closed. But this restaurant has now become a new favorite, and I will most certainly make it a regular stop whenever I’m back in NYC. The pierogis are nothing short of spectacular. And the potato pancakes are delicious as well. Service is very friendly and efficient. Prices are very reasonable. Veselka represents everything that’s great about the New York culinary experience. It’s a unique ethnic establishment that does right by the culture it represents.

We had pierogi combo plates (one meat, one vegetarian), which included cabbage rolls and side salad/soup. To drink, we had a strawberry milkshake and a vanilla egg cream. All fantastic. Service was extremely quick, efficient and friendly.

very good dinner with fresh and not very expensive dishes; good Ukrainian beers ; friendly team. We must support them, especially at this time :)

We just came back from the restaurant Veselka in Williamsburg where we ordered food for two to go. We waited for 40 minutes and ended up with nothing. We paid for the order and left, while the poor waitress was running back and forth to the kitchen and apologizing, but she simply didn’t get the food to us. During our wait, we observed that around 20 other orders were fulfilled. When I approached the manager to ask for something since we saw that our borscht and pies were already made, he didn’t even apologize and said there was nothing he could do because there were too many orders. He told us we’d have to wait at least another 30 minutes if we wanted our food. It completely ruined our Saturday evening and was a huge disappointment. I highly do not recommend this place.

We have been here many times since our last review; am reviewing now since they have takeout and outdoor dining within the NYC current rules. We got takeout earlier this week; the short rib pirogues are as good and as grand as they always have been and the Madam Alexander continues to be grand. We called ahead for takeout and it was ready for pickup in about twelve minutes. From previous reviews I recommend: the oatmeal, cheese blintzes with raspberry sauce, the BLT, which is the Aristotelian ideal of a BLT, it is the best ever, thick white bread, toasted just right, with fresh L and T and great bacon - the bacon is so good I even order a side of it with the BLT, and the best pea soup and mushroom barley soup in The Known Universe! Really, they both border on a stew more than a soup. When you go for a meal here take one of each of the soups home with you and give them a try.

We ate outside in the street/sidewalk cafe. We had borscht and the meat combination and enjoyed it immensely - stuffed cabbage, pierogi, and had blini for dessert. The service was pleasant and hardworking. An up experience in a challenging time... offering comfort food to soothe ruffled nerves...

Food was ok and tasty, service relatively fast since it was really busy but in the end, the server made me feel really uncomfortable.

The Borscht was so Borschty, I felt I was reliving my previous life riding as one of the Earl of Cardigan's Light Brigade. Albeit a very utilitarian restaurant, this just adds to the ambience when munching through the CLASSIC UKRAINIAN VESELKA PIEROGI BOWL: 65TH ANNIVERSARY which includes 2 Potato, 2 Meat, 2 Sauerkraut Pierogi topped with slab bacon, grilled kielbasa and caramelized onions. Fabulous home cooking leaving you feeling that you won't need to eat for another hard winter.

Four of us were visiting NYC for a week and we’re fortunate enough to find this gem not far from where we were staying. Great staff, great food (potato pancakes are delicious) and they even gave us a matzo ball to try when we said we didn’t know what one was. So good! Highly recommend!

didn't expect to find such a speciall food experience.Had a wonderful unexpected lunch....borscht, pierogies and potato pancakes. Ate more than I should but couldn't resist.

This is a great place to get away from the burgers and fries and head towards eastern Europe. Try some beets in horseradish which combines surprisingly well. My favorite pierogi’s stuffed with short rib were very good. Friendly efficient service.

I placed an order as a gift for family in Oregon recovering from surgery for chicken soup and pierogis in Oct, 2023. Through my error and third party error (not Veselka) the order was shipped to MY home in NJ. After contacting the restaurant, they shipped the exact order to my family at no additional charge. I was floored. Excellent customer service. Now the food - totally homemade and delicious. My BIL thought I had made the soup myself. Do not hesitate to order from this wonderful establishment.

Excellent place for a lunch with friends. They have plenty of outdoor seating, so they're open despite the covid restrictions. Great choice of Ukrainian dishes. The stuffed cabbage was delicious.

Excellent meal at a busy time. I always love a quick stop at Veselka for good pierogi, even at breakfast time!

I took my mother to this restaurant on a busy Saturday afternoon. There was a line that went out of the door, but it did move very quickly. I felt that this establishment was packed and quite loud. The servers brought the food out to us relatively fast, but I did not find these servers to be extremely warm. The food was absolutely delicious, but it was rather expensive for what I would have called just mediocre portion sizes. I really loved the pierogies, and the chicken schnitzel sandwich (it did not come with any sides) was tasty.

Delicious Ukrainian food. Home cooked and from scratch. Warm atmosphere. Server was a bit inattentive as I was left sitting for long periods. Otherwise good experience.

Went for breakfast fare around noon and ended up ordering pancakes which not only tasted strange (maybe too much baking soda) but were served with a plate of those tiny butter packets just removed from the freezer, rendering them pretty much useless. $3 extra for real maple syrup added insult to injury. When I remarked about the letdown I was told they usually don’t bring frozen butter out with their pancakes. Our other food was just ok. Some of the other items coming out of the kitchen looked good so maybe we just ordered wrong.

We all had an absolutely perfect breakfast at this iconic restaurant. The potato pancake was crispy and came with applesauce. Eggs and home fries were great. The challah toast was superb. The best was the blintz with raspberry sauce. Our server was so delightful! She made our experience even more fun. We were happy to support a Ukrainian restaurant!

Our service and food was outstanding at Veselka. The pierogies were scrumptious. Our entire lunch was very good and authentic. We would recommend Veselka!

Not sure what is going on in this normally deliciously prepared restaurant. The normally edible vegetable soup last week was oversaturated with fresh dill. Today, the soup was so sweet that it was inedible !!! A new chef? A chef who has lost his mind?!? Sabotage in the kitchen. Management & Take out customers - Beware.

We went here for dinner and then breakfast on a recent stay in New York. Service was excellent, both efficient and friendly. We luckily had a very short wait for dinner around 6:30pm. Both meals were excellent, very filling, very good value. Family friendly also. Highly recommended.

This restaurant is well known in its neighborhood; they have been serving delicious Ukrainian food for 65 years 24/7. Locally they are quite popular. I recommend them for any tourist visiting Manhattan over several days. You'll bring home good memories of great food and people. I had been here awhile ago for their traditional fare but I wanted a special location for my Thanksgiving dinner. There are no reservations and people were waiting outside each entrance. I opted to sit at the counter with only two minutes to wait, and ordered the turkey dinner as shown on the menu. It was only $35, likely among the lowest cost in Manhattan for the full dinner. I saw no shortage of helpful efficient service. The servers hustled and earned the tips that day. Coffee and tea came with the meal and I choose a dark Chech beer. I was offered coffee to go since I didn't have it with dinner. This was a pleasant surprise. I will make more frequent visits here from Long Island.

One gets the feeling that there used to be a lot of similar cafes in the City, but Veselka is a survivor. And it's fairly clear why it survived -- the place is crowded & noisy, pretty much all the time (open 24/7, no reservations accepted), yet the service is prompt, the wait staff is courteous, and our coffee mugs & water glasses were refilled regularly. Oh, and the food ... not the best pierogis I've ever had ... but pretty close! And if you've never enjoyed a proper blintz, here's your chance! Reminiscent of a bygone era ... and if you have to wait for a table (and you will, unless it's 3AM), it's totally worth it.

Loved this Ukrainian breakfast and I don’t like breakfast usually! Highly recommend the corned beef perogie bowl! It was spectacular and the service at this place is on point. I usually do not go to the same place more than once when traveling but I could probably eat here everyday and would love to go back for another meal next time I’m in town! It was my fave meal on this trip to NYC!

Been back from New York for a month and can’t stop thinking about the corned beef... incredible. Managed to get a low key pierogi addiction too.Busy and friendly restaurant. Oh I miss you...

Had three dozen pierogi sent Goldbelly... Vaselka packaged terrible ... Never again.. vaselka was rude and didn even apologize

Extremely fast—we were in and out in 20 minutes, with a full meal in between, but didn’t feel rushed or pushed out. Also, delicious. Great spot if you’re in a moderate hurry but don’t want to compromise on fast food.

While visiting the city for a Billy Joel concert, we found a Ukrainian restaurant that got great reviews, and since one person in our party was raised in a Ukrainian home, this place seemed to be a perfect place. It’s open 24 hours a day so it’s very convenient for post event meals or snacks. Even at midnight, it was 75% full. We had 3 different soups and all were better than Mom used to make. The pierogies had many choices for the fillings and what we selected were fresh and flavorful. This place apparently has been around for 65 years and I would guess that they’ll be here for many more years to come.

We walked across 2nd avenue looking for a good looking restaurant to have dinner and cover from the storm, the high ceiling and nice interior of Veselka made us to get there. We have a good pea soup (suspiciously fast!) good and a Ukrainian mixed-grill. Good solid "farm" food, like we know from The Netherlands. Ambient is very nice. My companion asked about the history of Veselka and we got the whole story. It was nice to hear the oral version of it. A restaurant with tradition and with a place to keep.

Veselka is an excellent choice for something different in the trendy East Village district. Although they serve traditional brunch offerings on the weekend, their specialty consists of Eastern European favorites like pierogies and borscht. Plenty on the menu for everyone and a good selection of beers too. Service is always prompt and friendly with the staff reflecting the young vibe of East Village. Pricing was reasonable for Manhattan. Will definitely return.

I make it a priority to stop here on each visit to The Big Apple! This is a trip through a time machine and across the Pond for Pierogis, Cold Borscht, and Potato Pancakes served as authentic as it gets! The Service is spot on! An experience like the ultimate field trip! Hope they don't change a THING!

We visited NYC from Europe, and decided to do a late lunch on New Years at Veselka. So essentially we rang in the New Year (European time) with Ukrainian food. It was very busy but we had booked so that was a good move. This place serves traditional Ukrainian food and it is tasty. If you’ve grown up with - or around - Slavic food you’ll feel right at home. Portions are generous and for those who prefer more western food they also make pancakes, waffles, french toast, salads and sandwiches. Worth a visit.

My wife and I had Sunday brunch here and we found the food to be truly outstanding. We both had the brunch pierogis which are filled with egg, bacon, cheese and potatoes. We were both surprised how amazing the flavor was and we were happy with the fried preparation (as opposed to the boiled preparation) as the exterior was crisp. The service and atmosphere are family friendly and our coffee cups were kept full. I am sure the other food choices are equally wonderful and we would highly recommend dining here.

Ordered a delicious Thanksgiving meal for 3 including my 96 year old Ukrainian Aunt. It was fabulous - moist turkey, delicious mashed potatoes and stuffing, pearl onions, cranberry relish, sweet potato and marshmallow pirogi, scrumptious butternut squash soup and apple and pumpkin pie. What more could you want. Everything was packaged beautifully. We pulled up and the order was ready and off we went to my aunt's apartment. Instant magic. Thank you Veselka staff. Happy Thanksgiving to you.

Enjoyed Veselka's prompt seating on the patio and delightful service on Sunday, September 1 for brunch. The egg and pancake dishes were good, but wish I had tried their Beef Stroganoff for breakfast!

This is a really neat place to visit. The food is fresh and delicious, the service is good and it is reasonably priced by NYC standards. It is basically a Ukrainian diner, low key, and worth a visit. To be fair, it is more of a brunch place than dinner but there is still a waiting line at 5pm. No reservations and a 60 minute COVID time limit. Get the crepes and dumplings!!!

We read some good reviews about this restaurant and had to try for our selves. It was as recommended, great flavors and a very good variety of old country dishes.

Quick service and good food at the dining area in grand central terminal. Plenty of favourites and additions to the menu which I look forward to trying next time!

Great soups and pierogies. Very comforting place. My favorite spot is sitting outside one a little bit of a chilly day with a big hot matzo ball soup. A little more expensive than the Ukranian spots in the neighborhood.

The food is great. I look forward to each meal. Real old fashion food with real old fashion freshness.

Wow I’m still thinking about those varenyky. I think I have to go back for those alone! Delicious drinks and delicious food! Can’t wait to go back

The server was very nice and friendly. The food was amazingly good. In fact, if I lived in NYC, I’d probably come back regularly. When I arrived, close to 10pm, I was immediately seated. The restaurant quickly filled up. I asked if it was normal to be this full this late at night – and was told that normally there is a long line waiting to get in. There just wasn’t a line that night because it was a very cold night – which it was. In any case, the food and also the desserts were fantastic.

We ate outside and had excellent service. The Ukrainian food seemed like a cross between Jewish Deli and Polish. It was excellent. The prices were very reasonable. We will go back.

We had an early dinner before a show and it was excellent. Highly recommend this restaurant. We will be back.

It’s a NYC classic amongst a dwindling number in Manhattan. Traditional Ukrainian food served with well earned aplomb. It’s all good - but don’t skip the pierogi and honey cake! - so go. Warning: may be packed! Make borscht not war

What I like and someone else likes can be two different things. Fortunately, Mr Sweedie has great taste in food and is happy to share his faves with me. Veselka in the East Village. We made it to @veselkanyc on our 4th day in NYC. 70 years this year since they first opened. We walked straight in, yet when we left there was a queue. So if you’re heading there, you may be in for a wait. Menu is comprehensive and there smaller dishes to share or just to try it out if you’re a newbie like me. I wasn’t super hungry so tried the handmade varenkyk / pierogi. 4 for $10 and you can choose from 5 different filling. You’ll be asked if you’d like them boiled or fried. Each serving comes with sautéed onions and sour cream. The decor oozes the pride of Ukrainians. Plenty of blue and yellow flags, pictures, murals etc. we will return before we leave and explore more of the menu. So what’s next Mr Sweedie? #thewanderingreviewer #nyc2024 #usa2024 #veselka #veselkanyc #ukranianfood

Veselka serves (supposedly) Ukrainian food in Ukranian atmosphere. Indeed there was a show and song of the waiters in native attire, but the food was very American, quite average in quality, way below the 4.5 stars that they rate in Trip Advisor. Ukranian dishes were disappointing. There was a long waiting line in front of the Veselka , I would not waste my time there on my next visit to NYC. Service was friendly but slow. Cleanliness is OK.

Excellent borscht & pierogis. Also enjoyed the potato pancakes. Good service and food came out in a timely manner. Needs larger / better restrooms. Just one person at a time in a crowded restaurant.

Had a fantastic Sunday brunch. Met a local friend there and he said “this is a classic New York place”.....he was correct. Great beet soup, stuffed perogies and stuffed cabbage. Good selection of exotic beer as well. Be prepared to wait, which means it’s good

Very good food!! I hadn't ever eaten Ukraine/ polish food and I was pleased and impressed! Their lemonade was delicious and a great refreshing drink. We did the goat cheese and potato filled in boiled and fried and I liked them all!

There’s a wait to get in here on Saturday or Sunday mornings/afternoons but if you come on a weekday you’re in easy. My favorite meals here are pancakes for breakfast, and eggs and potato pancakes are great too. The Ukrainian dishes, borscht, goulash, etc. are worth a detour, and the usuals, burgers, grilled cheese, and more, are also good. Veselka serves 24/7 so if you’re out all night this is your place too. The waiters are welcoming and efficient. This is the best of our neighborhood.

Although it was a bit chilly, brunch tends to be a popular event as the wait for an indoor table around rush hour hits 30-35 minutes. Service during then also tends to be slower, but waitstaff is friendly and accommodating. The brunch menu is highly condensed compared to the full menu. Prices are not completely unreasonable for NYC brunch, but I do wish a slightly larger quantity of food was given despite this. Food was comforting and warm, but I expected it to pack a bit more flavor.

This was our first visit. It is a very busy spot full and full of life. The food is very good and the meal sizes are plentiful. It was hard to chose and I can’t wait to go back. We had the beer bourguignon and the cabbage roles which come in both mushroom sauce or tomato sauce. The borscht is very good! The pierogis come in many options and the apple pierogi bowls is a great dessert. The restuarant is very loud with people enjoying their conversation. It was full when we went there and I would say the only downside if that the service was just OK.

A very good place, we felt good. Kind staff, good Ukrainian food, reasonable price. Lots of customer so be prepared for waiting.

I was introduced to try the food there. We had a great dinner and the staff was very friendly. We enjoyed the traditional dishes.

Best meal this trip! Seriously! Stopped in for lunch. Long line but it went fast and SO worth the wait. I tried borscht for the first time and it was AMAZING! Followed by the vegetarian reuben made with latkes topped with a special sauce, homemade sauerkraut, and melted swiss cheese! WOW! The others in my party were also very happy with their choices. Come with an appetite. You won't be disappointed.

Absolutely delicious and authentic Ukrainian food. Was visiting with Polish family and wanted a taste of Eastern Europe while in New York. We were sat quickly even during a busy Sunday lunch and food was also very fast considering the rush. Veselka has truly impressed us! Great portion sizes, very reasonable prices and fantastic in flavour - it felt just like home. The interior is gorgeous, and the service is fantastic (we were served by the lovely Siarhei) from a team that clearly shares their own culture with the cuisine. 10/10 - an absolute must in East Village!

I had lunch here in March 2022. I ate outside. My server was a young lady from Kiev and we were both sad about the current situation in Ukraine. I was seated at about 11:30 am and over time it became very crowded. The food was absolutely delicious. I had vegetarian borscht, four pierogi (cheese, potato and mushroom), one potato pancake (latkes), one blintz. The menu gives you the option of ordering smaller portions which I took advantage of. I was so stuffed after my delicious lunch but I walked all the way over the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO so hopefully I burned it up. Although the lunch was expensive ($43), I think it was definitely worth it and I look forward to returning to Veselka for another lunch. By that time I hope the situation in Ukraine will be better.

We love this place. Our son is a young chef in New York City and works in a Michelin star restaurant. This is one of his favorite restaurants. This is a must for us every time we visit at least once a month. Every time we’re in the city we make sure to have breakfast here at least one time. I have to admit I was confused by some of the negative reviews. We started going here at the height of the pandemic and even then we have always been treated extremely well with great service and amazing food. We’ve traveled the world and love to try all different types of foods. The food here is not only authentic it is delicious. Compared to many other popular breakfast spots in the city the prices are also very reasonable considering the amount of food that you get. The pierogies and the blintzes are fantastic! If you like European food this is definitely a place you want to go. There is also a great butcher right across the street that if you visit you need to go in there as well. It’s a great neighborhood. It’s a great restaurant. It’s a great staff. It’s great food.

We had to queue for 20 minutes but very glad we did. Interesting decor and good service. Slava Ukraini!

I have recently moved up to the Big Orange and I’ve been looking for some places to munch in around the Village and such. Me as well as my daughter we’re on a tour bus when we were recommended that we should go to this place and that it rarely had too much of a wait. So we walked over and were sat down immediately. This place has perhaps the best pierogis I’ve ever had outside of Europe, and I mean it. The meat pierogis especially have just the right amount of texture and zest to be a true delight. while i had the fried pierogis i have no doubt the boiled ones are equally as great. besides the pierogis there is also the borscht which was lovely, i receive it warm with a sort of pot-roast type meat, i’m not usually a borscht guy but the flavor was incredible. looking at the menu, there’s a whole lot of stuff to dig your teeth into. the potato pancakes and beef stroganoff looked lovely, but if you feel more inclined to get american-type cuisine they also have a selection of chicken and hamburger (despite the classic american faire however they do not have hot dogs) dishes. truly there’s something there for anybody to enjoy! finally the desert was also lovely, my daughter got the peach pierogis while i munched on the banana cream pie. the peach pierogis were especially wonderful, topped with vanilla ice cream and more peaches. my banana cream pie had a great whipped topping and was incredibly creamy in terms of texture, while also including slices of banana. Overall, my meal was wonderful and I give this a very strong recommendation! Can’t wait to go again when I find myself in Manhattan!

A hyped restaurant. We waited close to half an hour before we were seated. A very busy restaurant. The menu looked interesting but nothing extraordinary. Food mediocre and service aceptable. Tremendously overpriced for the food quality.

Great Ukrainian place for quick bite. My kid loved varenyky with potato. Quick service and value. Definitely will be back. Слава Україні!

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I read that Veselka was a Ukrainian restaurant. But it had so many staples like latkes and stuffed cabbage that I knew it was the right place for the kind of home cooking I hadn't had in years. The eggs benedict on latkes were outstanding, the pierogi were new to me but I'll be back for the stuffed cabbage. The price was reasonable, the attitude was friendly and helpful, I loved the neighborhood. From now on, its on my NYC list of regulars!

Great place for diner in the east village. Get food and service. We sat outside for dinner and will be back to try breakfast.

We had a great meal on Friday night with family and friends. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and the food was outstanding. The Pierogis are the absolute best, with our favorites being short rib, meat, potato and cheese. Other favorite meals in our group were the veal goulash and beef stroganoff. I can't wait to go back. Next time, I'll have pierogis not just for an appetizer but for my main meal.

This was either my first time here or my first time in a long time. I was worried about long lines so we arrived around 11:45 on a steamy hot Saturday. We did not want outdoor seating and were seated inside quickly. Service was quick because turnover matters. We had a variety of boiled pierogies which can with three optional accompaniments: sautéed onions, sour cream, applesauce. My husband’s cheese blintzes were even better, slightly sweetened. There are many more choices on the menu, even for vegans and vegetarians.

To be honest, we were curious about Veselka because it is an Ukrainian restaurant and Ukraine has been in the news. Not unsurprisingly there were the blue and yellow flags at the tables and all over. It was lunchtime and the place was quite full on a weekday. Service was good. The food was well cooked and tasty. The waitress was helpful and cheerful. A good first impression!

We liked this place, in authentic East Village area close to two metro stations (Astor Pl. 1 Avenue) and the Stomp show. It is a place with NY tradition and kind of history. Recommend : Borscht Soup Pierogi Salmon Burger

Veselka in the East Village is a Ukrainian restaurant serving up favorites such a Pierogi and borscht. Service was friendly and we were seated right away for dinner at 6:00. We ordered the Ukrainian combo meat plate which had 2 meat and 2 potato boiled pierogi along with meat stuffed cabbage & gravy. Everything was delicious, it was also served with a cup of borscht which tasted like a chicken vegetable soup. We also had variety of fried pierogi with meat, potato, truffle mushroom and goat cheese. These were served with sauteed onions & sour cream. Dessert was fruit pierogi served with ice cream. There is so much more on this menu including breakfast and brunch. If we stayed in NYC longer we would have gone back for another meal. The restaurant is open 24/7.

All of my ancestors from my father's side are Ukrainian, and Polish from my mother's side; so growing up; I was privileged to experience the many dishes that Veselka (pro: Va-Sail-ka) offers on its menu; pierogies, borscht; the kielbasa, just to name a few. While visiting my daughter who lives in East Village, I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Veselka for lunch as well as for breakfast on a number of occasions. The food is fantastic; the service is awesome and the ambience has a great Eastern European atmosphere. One of the items I'd have for lunch on one occasion was the beetroot salad which was shredded beetroot mixed with horseradish; absolutely mouth-watering. On the occasions when I enjoyed breakfast I normally had a piece of kielbasa along with a bagel with schmear (a generous slathering of cream cheese) along with a bottomless cup of coffee. Anyone could tell this place was popular with the steady queues (lines) of customers waiting for a table.

I finally had a chance to try Veslka for lunch to see what are some of the Ukrainia favorite dishes. While there was a line outside, it moved very quickly and I was seated in less than five minutes. The waiter was patient with me while I sipped on my seasonal apple cider as I eventually decided on the potato pancake combo plate which is a very small soup (I picked chicken noodle, everyone around me had borscht) with a nice piece of bread, followed by a very tasty "latke" with the veal goulash option (good but perhaps a bit creamier than I expected). I really wasn't hungry for dessert, but had to try a blintz - again it was good, perhaps I was expecting it to be a touch cheesier (maybe I should have ordered it with the optional raspberry sauce like everyone around me - except I don't like raspberries). So while I am glad that I tried it, now I need to go back and try some of the other delicious sounding options on the menu next time

A loud and busy place - but busy for a reason. They have great food! Had the meat sampler. The cabbage roll was excellent. The beef stroganoff was great. I would recommend this place - and priced reasonable for the location.

Since 2/2022 Veselka has allowed 🇺🇦staff to dictate the atmosphere at place. I am not a pro-Zelensky zealot and not interested in Ukrainian politics with ny watered down bortsch.

Wonderful place. I always went there when visiting my daughter in N.Y. straight off the red eye from the west coast. Always made me comfortable dragging my luggage in, jet lagged and sleep deprived. Great taditional breakfast with nice potato pancakes and fresh orange juice. reasonable prices, nice staff. Lunch and late night are great too. Highly recommend!

We headed to Veselka for dinner and enjoyed tasty Ukrainian food - portions are generously sized and are a reasonable price. Highly recommend the beef rib pierogi.

Had not been to the East Village before, but wanted to try Veselka after reading the reviews. Homemade soups were wonderful, deluxe meat plate did not disappoint. We were too full for dessert, so that gives us a reason to return.

Visited in July looking for somewhere different to have breakfast other than the usual mainstream restaurants. Veselka was amazing! Cosy atmosphere, the staff were very friendly and polite. Breakfast was to die for! I had the pancakes and two eggs breakfast (which came with your choice of Bacon, Sausage or Corned Beef Hash) whilst my partner had the special fried egg sandwich. I do highly recommend trying the Corned Beef Hash it was gorgeous! Will definitely be visiting again!

The food is fantastic and so reasonable for NYC. There are so many reasons to love Veselka. Their pierogies and the borscht are amazing! Their breakfast is the perfect start to the day. There is comfort food (for when you need it) and just downright good meals - always. They are open 24/7, so no matter when you are "hangry" you can find great food. I do not live in NYC, but whenever I visit, Veselka is my first stop after checking into my hotel and always my last stop before I leave the city. And truthfully, I often eat there or grab a dessert to go a few more times during my stay. The atmosphere is perfect NYC. Peter, the host, is friendly and great at juggling people and tables, so your wait during busy times is never too long. I highly recommend Veselka to anyone who wants great food, great atmosphere, and reasonable prices. I can't wait to get back to NYC and my favorite restaurant!

My first ever Ukrainian food experience. The dumplings are the same as the Polish ones. So no surprises in that. The Borscht was the first time I had, it was great, not sure what it was supposed to be served. But mine was just warm so to my taste I would prefer if it was actually hot. The food is very comforting and great on a cold day. It was annoying that you have to wait outside and it was -7° Celsius. So not very pleasant. They don’t even have heaters outside or even offer a hot drink to warm us up. A bit disappointing.

Family had delicious brunch. The pierogies special filled with eggs and ham was to die for. My wife had the eggs Benedict and devoured them. One daughter had chocolate chip pancakes, which were delicious. Other daughter had very tasty omelette. Only drawback is the place is very loud.

They charge you $13 for the 66th anniversary bowl which was supposed to come with grilled kielbasa. They didn’t add to the order and they didn’t want to refund me for that. Will never order from them again and they charge $5.00 plus tip.Rip off

I was visiting New York for pleasure and was dying to find a russian/ukrainian restaurant. The selection on their menu is fantastic, there is lots to choose from, not only that but the food tastes sooo amazing. I am personally ukrainian and i must say that the food really does remind me of a time where my grandma used to make me the same type soup. Definitely worth a visit!

We were in New York with some French friends and had just been to see Stomp so we wanted to eat locally and show them a 24 hour diner. It was great, bit cramped as we were five on a table for four but we managed with a bit of juggling. Not really the place to order starters and mains as everything comes at same time but we enjoyed all of it. The borscht is sublime and stuffed cabbage is filling! Goulash had a great taste and Ukrainian beer was appreciated. It's a quick turnover of tables but we all came away satisfied and full.

The food is very disappointing. Borscht was okay apart from the meat which was dry and tasted like it was cooked days ago. So called "beef stroganoff" had nothing to do with the dish. The meat in there was chewy and tasted awful so as the sauce, obviously wasn't cooked from fresh. Worth noting that the waiter asked about side dish for "beef stroganoff" which already comes with some kind of pasta and he did not mention that. Obviously, the side dish just went to garbage.

Ukraine on the plate Dishes like those that my mother from this country prepared for me. It’s simple, it’s good! It’s unique, I’ve rarely seen a Ukrainian restaurant in the countries I’ve crossed. Veselka means joy in Ukrainian The name is very appropriate

Food is good, but don’t go expecting to spend more than a tight hour on the weekends. My college friend and I travelled some distance into NYC to see each other, and were given the check after an hour and told “ you understand- it’s the weekend.” I wasn’t even done drinking my tea... what the owner was basically saying was that we should understand they need to make as much money as quickly as possible. OK guys, got it. A place for a quick breakfast then, not to visit with an old friend.

Brought by a local— full/busy/snug diner. Large, ethnic diner menu. Breakfast always available. I’ve read mixed reviews, but everything we had was great. We had several kinds of peroigi, meat stuffed cabbage, fries. The dishes and the classic condiments they serve with them all complimented nicely. Dinner for 2 with tip was about $50. I’d definitely go back to try other dishes.

Popped in for a brunch on a busy rainy day, we were seated straight away and the service was very pleasant. I liked that they had all the brunch classics but with a twist. There were lots of other interesting options too, wish I could go back and try the borscht and the pierogi. The atmosphere was very cosy and perfect for a cold rainy day, I thought it might be a bit basic because it’s a 24 hour venue but it felt cosy and folksy.

I saw this restaurant on a Ukrainian news programme and decided to try it for a taste of home while in NY. The hot borshch was excellent and tasted just like at home (shhh don’t tell my granny!) For main course, Ola’s Goulash was tender and full of flavour. We’ve also had the meatballs in mushroom sauce with mashed potatoes. Their watermelon ice tea is excellent and they serve Lvivske beer (major kudos for that!) Все було дуже смачно!

Stopped in for lunch with my wife and a friend. There was a bit of a wait to get in (maybe ten minutes), but wow, was it worth it! Veselka serves Ukranian comfort food, and all of us totally enjoyed our experience there. We all had blintzes and pierogies, and they are to die for. My wife had borscht, which she loved, and I had matzoh ball soup, which was really, really good. The only things I can complain about (but just a little) are that they don't take reservations, and the cup of soup was really small for the price. But the quality and the taste? Magnificent! They have both indoor and outdoor seating, the staff is terrific, and even though I live about 50 miles away I know I will be back.....probably for dinner next time....I really want to try their veal goulash!

They don't have respect for long time customers they don't honor long time customers and they are generally cheap with their servings and rude with their service such a shame on them.

Went on a weekend for my birthday. My polish mother use to make homemade pierogies and this restaurant was even better. I have never had Ukrainian food but I will keep going back if it's this good. What was an even bigger surprise was the salad it had burrata and mixed greens with some sort of vinaigrette and was devine ( and I'm not a big salad guy). Try the watermelon tea it was great. Service was fast and freindly and very clean . If you like German , polish eastern European please try .

I visited Veselka at Grand Central Terminal and it was ok. I had the chicken paprikash with potato pancake. The potato pancake had an oily taste to it as if it were deep fried. It sat at the bottom of the chicken paprikash. The chicken paprikasah was ok. Some spice would have added a great flavor but perhaps it’s not in the native recipe for the dish. The dish was nothing to shout about. It was gluten free.

I adore this restaurant. We ate outside for breakfast. Such a nice vibe and the wait staff was super friendly which can be odd in NYC. Very helpful with menu recommendations. Breakfast was so wonderful and everything was tasty. Pierogi a little bland but still good. Everything else flavorful. I’ll definitely be back when in NYC. 10 out of 10 recommend!

Veselka is a must-hit for any trip to New York. The service is excellent, the food is fantastic, and they're also very quick. The cabbage rolls with mushroom gravy are a must

This wonderful Ukrainian restaurant is one of the many highlights of eating in the Lower East Side. Try the borscht with cabbage, beetroot, beef shards, sour cream and potato. Or the barley and mushroom soup. Or the chicken both with matzo balls. Order some fried or boiled perogi/perogen - have them in or alongside the soup. But, don't forget the ultra-delicious and crispy potato latkes - so thick and crunchy that with a bit of salt are a meal on their own. Sounds like so much, but then it's so good. We didn't need too many mains, but the meat in cabbage leaves with a tomato gravy was pretty darn delicious and huge... Top it all off with the cheese blintzes - not the rolled up ones like my bobba made but a similar dollop of cream cheese, not too sweet, on a thin pancake folded into quarters. I added a bit of sugar and cinnamon and I was back in my delicious youth... Yum yum yum! [Good for take-aways too]

Went here on the recommendation of my son who lives in Queens. It did not disappoint. My understanding is that it is a very popular spot and I can see why. If I lived anywhere close by I would dine there on a regular basis. I had the stuffed cabbage and added a side of Ukrainian Beets and Horseradish Salad which was something I had never heard of before but it is now a favorite. Service was prompt and friendly. It is a bit cramped inside but overall an excellent experience.

Everything we had from soup to dessert was great-and we had a lot if variety with some to take home. My asparagas bisque (seasonal) was excellent. We tried various pierogies (including the dessert cherry ones), potato pancakes, and meat and vegetarian versions of stuffed cabbage..all delicious. The beet & horseradish salad and the Ukrainian pudding with poppy seeds, nuts, raisins & more were new to us but both very delicious!

It was our first ever trip to NYC and we had done loads of research on YouTube.This place was recommended by Here.Be.Barr and we are so grateful. When we arrived there was a queue but it was being managed very well ,pretty soon we were seated inside. Our waiter(Joshua)was a delight. He guided usw through the menu and pretty soon we were on a gastronomic rollercoaster of taste! We had a bowl of Borscht,each. My main was a Potator Pancake combo plate, strogonoff, borscht and a potatoe cake with apple sauce..My husband had the 68thBowl which was perogi containing different fillings, meat,cheese,mushrooms. Both mains were excellent quality and the standard of presentation was good. We decided to have a dessert but didnt know what to have. Our waiter suggested Medovyk (chocolate/walnit/honey)cake which looked lovely. I had Raspberry Blintz, which were light fluffy pancakes containing cheese, OMG OMG,gorgeous. The resturant is buzzing, quite loud but it is a celebration of all things Ukranian. If we come back to NYC, we will return .

Good Central European food at prices that are reasonable by NYC standards. The menu was extensive and genuine.

All of my ancestors from my father's side are Ukrainian, Polish from my mother's side; so growing up; I was privileged to experience the many dishes that Veselka (pro: Va-Sail-ka) offers on its menu; pierogies, borscht; the kielbasa, just to name a few. While visiting our daughter who lives in East Village, my wife, daughter and I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Veselka for breakfast. As with my previous personal experiences with Veselka, the service was fantastic; with attentive, courteous, and friendly staff. For my breakfast, I had a piece of kielbasa along with a bagel with schmear (a generous slathering of cream cheese) along with a bottomless cup of coffee. My wife and daughter each had a spinach omelette. All ishes were delicious. I especially loved the Eastern European ambience of the restaurant. Although we were one of the first customers to arrive for breakfast after Veselka opened for business, it was quite remarkable to see that the restaurant was near capacity when we finished our meal. Veselka definitely a must-go-to restaurant when visiting Manhattan.

We ate at Veselka on Good Friday, a Ukrainian restaurant recommended by my daughter who lives in East Village. The place was packed, but only a 10 minute wait for us, a party of 5 at midnight. The food was amazing and our server, Adam, made the experience so much fun for us. Adam’s recommendations were spot on and greatly appreciated. My daughter had the Challah French toast which was soft, thick and eggy delicious. I had the best albacore tuna melt on rye in my life! The matzo ball soup and potato pancakes are the best! The burger was fresh pressed, thick and nicely cooked, slightly pink in the middle and the bun was very fresh. We can’t wait to come back again to try other things on the menu. For me… I’ll be thinking about that delicious tuna melt. Great food and great service by Adam were a winning combination for us!

I love this place. Great food and great service. This time around I ordered matzo ball soup - it was delicious. Next time I will get Borscht. Their menu has a variety of meals and sandwiches - based on Ukrainian specialties - well worth trying. I also noticed they had a selection of Ukrainian beer so I’ll be going again. If you are in the food court of GCT well worth a visit. Check it out!

After a late arrival we found this place about 11 PM a few blocks from the hotel. It's a large diner that was pretty busy for late night. The Cup of Soup and a half a sandwich special 2 $17 was a good value and was plentiful and tasty. I had 8 pieces of Pierogi and it was good although I had them deep fried and they might have been better boiled.

Heard about Veselka on the @MarcMaron podcast, WTF, and had it on my list to try. Go here for the food, not the service. Very good Ukrainian food -- I had the Latke Combo Plate with very rich Beef Stroganoff and a cup of cold borscht, and the others had a schnitzel sandwich (which was tough and overcooked) and the Baczynski, a ham, salami, and cheese sandwich on a baguette. Service was indifferent at best, negligent at the worst ... we had to keep tracking down our server to take our orders, get water refills, get our check, etc.

One of the things I was most looking forward to in New York was having proper pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. My expectations were extremely high and I was not disappointed at all. This restaurant is amazing. Having flown in from UK we were up ridiculously early and sitting eating the pancakes at 6am. Love the fact it’s open 24hours. The pancakes were exactly what I wanted and the coffee was also excellent. I like the free refills in diners too. Brilliant start to our holiday and I’ll definitely be back if in NY again.

Yummy – we visited here our first night in NY City for some wonderful Ukrainian food. I had a “65th Anniversary Bowl,” (they have been open for 65 years), which contained three different kinds of pierogis, sausage, and more. It was pretty good…I’d recommend the pierogis fried versus boiled. I had a piece of chocolate peanut butter pie, which was OK without being spectacular. Overall this was a very good visit, but we had to wait outside for about 45 minutes before we could get in to be seated. I would still go back again, and I do recommend it.

We ordered out for six adults the Friday after Thanksgiving. We got assorted pirogies, borsht, potato pancakes, stuffed meat cabbage , stuffed vegetarian cabbage, some chicken dish and got free pumpkin pies. Everything was delicious. The order was ready when we got there and prices are very reasonable for the amount and quality of food they give you. Best restaurant in New york.

Still a East Village happening place. busy but line moves quickly. Quality of food delish. Borscht was great. Kapusniak (cabbage soup) was great. mulled wine delish on a cold evening. also had the potatoe pancakes. more latkes style. v good. beet salad w arugla and spinach. yum. Medianyk look amazing. we were too full to try it

Was craving Ukrainian food, cheese vareniki in particular, so looked up what's available in NY during my business trip. Saw Veselka mentioned in a number of places, so decided to catch a subway and have a lunch here just before heading to the airport. Was quite disappointed with the food. Seems like they use cream cheese instead of farm cheese, which makes vareniki taste completely different. To be fair, I didn't order anything else, so can't say for the rest, maybe everything else tastes awesome. The service at the bar area was non-existent, I waited at my seat for a while, no one came. Eventually moved to the general area. The lady at the reception and waiter in the sit-down area were very helpful though.

We’ve wanted to visit this restaurant for a long time. Visiting our son and his family, we made the trip into NYC to have lunch here. My ancestors are Polish and hubby is Ukrainian. 3 of us ordered the blueberry pierogi bowls. Simply delicious. As good as my Ukrainian mother-in-law used to make. We ordered the cherry pierogi bowl to share. Just as good. Sweet where the blueberry was tart. Server was friendly and helpful. We will definitely return on our next NY trip.

Having grown up around Ukrainians and Ukrainian comfort food, I was eager to try this restaurant. There is always a line outside, though the line does move quickly. The mushroom barley soup was excellent, hearty and tasty, truly satisfying. Of course, I had to try the pierogis and the sausages, both of which were quite good. Unfortunately, the beef stroganoff and the latkes were a bit disappointing; both were under-seasoned. The latkes could be fixed by sprinkling on a little salt and pepper, but the beef stroganoff remained on the bland side, when it should have been rich and full of flavor. The medovyk honey cake is a classic Ukrainian dessert and is very good, though maybe not quite as good as that served in the Russian Tea Room. The pyana vyshnia drunken chocolate cherry cake was not as successful, tasting more like just a regular chocolate cake and lacking cherry, rum, dulce de leche, and sour cream. The meal was a little more expensive than I expected, but still I'm glad I visited; it brought back a lot of good memories.

We thoroughly enjoyed our evening at Veselka. The location is excellent, the food, especially the Pierogi was really nice and the Ukrainian lady serving us was really friendly and efficient.

I do not see how this restaurant could garner such high marks on Tripadvisor. Wait is horrible to then be seated haphazardly with mediocre, diner food. Would not waste your time on this place, so many other great restaurants in NYC.

Veselka had been on my NYC wish list for quite a while. However for one reason or another I'd always failed to visit on previous trips. Finally I made it and I'm very happy I did. Took the kids for breakfast and they loved it almost as much as I did. Veselka serves a wide array of dishes all hours of the day, this means you can order lunch/dinner items for breakfast. The kids loved the French toast, blintzes, and potato pancakes with sour cream and apple sauce. We the parents loved the pierogis filled with short rib, egg/cheese/bacon, potato/cheese, mushroom topped with kielbasa. This was also my first time filling a long time wish of having borscht, it was delicious. Light, refreshing, earthy. Service was beyond friendly and felt more small town than big city. Seemed like they had lots of regulars while we were there.

Had read about this place and was Happily surprised. Great place for a pause in East Village. Had outdoor seating and all just perfect. Next time i’ll stay longer and eat more:)

We have been here many times since our last review; am reviewing now since they have takeout and outdoor dining within the NYC current rules. We have been here twice in the past week and the pirogies are as grand as they always have been, I had two large orders of the beef short rib each time. From previous reviews I recommend: the oatmeal, cheese blintzes with raspberry sauce, the Madam Alexander with sweet potato fries, the BLT, which is the Aristotelian ideal of a BLT, it is the best ever, thick white bread, toasted just right, with fresh L and T and great bacon - the bacon is so good I even order a side of it with the BLT, and the best pea soup and mushroom barley soup in The Known Universe! Really, they both border on a stew more than a soup. When you go for a meal here take one of each of the soups home with you and give them a try. When they reopen the dining room be advised this joint is usually packed and fairly noisy in a good, bustling Village sort of way. The only quietish times are between about 10ish and noon and then 230ish to 3 until about five. You will have up to a 20 minute wait at prime times but it is well worth it. The wait can be longer, up to 30 or 45 minutes around brunchtime on a summer Saturday or Sunday. The service is always quick, professional and cheerful. Really, you must eat here at least once, try anything on the menu that strikes your fancy, you will not be disappointed!

100% worth the short wait to get in. the food was absolutely delicious and came so quickly. i’d highly recommend the cheese and potato varenyky/pierogi as they’re absolutely delicious. the atmosphere of the restaurant was very joyful and welcoming. definitely worth the visit.

Clearly a popular place with queues most of the evening. Presentation is not much more than a diner, but then that is what it is, being a 24/7 restaurant. Food was OK without being remarkable. Dumplings, goulash and stroganoff. Good value for money. Certainly worth a visit if you don’t have to wait too long, but I find it hard to believe this truly one of NYCs top rated restaurants.

I saw Veselka being talked about on the Food channel and told my niece who lives in NY and really loves pierogies about it. Turned out it is one of her favorite places to eat and just blocks from her apt! We visited her in July (from FL) and even though it was raining cats & dogs we took a train from Westchester to join her at Veselka's to eat. YES it was worth it! The pierogies are amazing....ate short rib, potato, sauerkraut & mushroom ones. Also potato pancakes. They had I combo I would have liked to try but it was only with 'boiled' pierogies.

Really excellent Ukrainian comfort food! I was able to try two flavors of their yummy yummy pierogies, the matzoh ball soup, and some grilled kielbasa. Super convenient to the Hyatt Grand Central.

This restaurant was an amazing experience! We ate dinner there and everything was delicious! The pierogis were homemade and tasted like you were in Poland! The kielbasa was grilled to perfection. The desserts were decadent and luscious. Add to the wonderful food, the friendly atmosphere and service, and the reasonable prices! All together, we loved Vesekla and we will definitely be eating there again!

We wanted to eat Ukrainian. The Veselka was close to our hotel and highly recommended. Well, with a good reason. The food is classical Ukrainian but far from plain. We share a deluxe Combo which consisted of pierogi (meat and potato, smoked sausage and a big stuffed cabbage, filled with rice and minced meat. It was served in mushroom gravy. By the side we got sour cream, fried onions and horseradish salad. Superb. To start we got a green salad that came with a sauce of sour cream, mustard and dill. Drink: coke. Cost with tip: 28 usd.

The service was great and the food even better! A must visit when you’re in the city. Homey vibe with hearty ukrainian food :)