Cinderella Bakery & Restaurant

Cinderella Bakery & Restaurant
435 Balboa St (6th Ave.), 415 751-9690
Open 6 days, Tues-Sun 9am-9pm, closed Monday.

Cinderella is a high-ceilinged restaurant with about 40 seats, with a large bakery at the entrance which has an ample selection of cookies and cakes of all kinds, including creams.

There are six Russian restaurants in the City. This one, which has been on the same location for some 50 years has the lowest prices of all and features most of the well-known Russian dishes, such as beef stroganoff, chicken Kiev, cabbage rolls, stuffed bell peppers, blinis, pirogis, an array of appetizers, and, best of all, four kinds of soup, including bortsch (beet soup) with sour cream.

Prices are unusually low, with entrees at $5.95 and $7.95, soups $2 cup and $2.95 a bowl, and most appetizers and dumplings under $5. All are served with Russian bread, and butter.

Beverages are also low-priced, e.g., Heinekens Dutch beer $2.50 (probably, the lowest price in the City!).

Most of the dishes will satisfy lovers of Russian food, which is on the heavy side. Portions are typically large. Of all the foods we tried, the only ones I would not recommend are the various cutlets (chicken, fish, veal – all $5.95) and the heavy Russian-style cheesecake. Especially recommended are the cabbage rolls and the fish and cold-cut plates ($5.95). The fish plate contains smoked salmon and smoked sturgeon!

Soups, all hearty, e.g., borscht (beet), spinach, barley $2 cup, $2.95 bowl, served with Russian bread, and butter. All come piping hot, Russian-style. The thick, deep-red borscht, with sour cream, is to die for. It is worth a trip here just for this soup alone.

Entrees—served with fries, kasha, or potatoes, bread & butter – beef stroganoff with mushrooms and sour cream $7.95, chicken Kiev (with butter in center) $7.95, leg of lamb $7.95, cabbage rolls filled with beef and rice and served with a generous dollop of sour cream $5.95, fish, beef, or chicken cutlets fried Viennese-style $5.95, stuffed bell peppers $5.95, dumplings or cheese fritters $5.95. Cutlets may prove heavy and too oily for American taste.

Appetizers and salads, e.g., marinated mushrooms $3.95, smoked salmon $5.95, fish platter of salmon and sturgeon $5.95, cold-cut platter of ham and salami $5.95, summer salad $2.95, Russian salad $3.95, vareniki $1.95 each, pirogi $2.10 and $2.20 (fish). Fish and meat platters are generous in size, enough as a starter for 3–4 persons, especially with the thick bread and butter.

Breakfast—eggs $3.25, with a generous portion of ham $3.50, omelette, $3.25.

Sandwiches—on Russian bread—e.g, ham, salami, or cheese $3.25.

Beverages, e.g., tea, cold milk, or hot chocolate 90 cents, soft drinks 90 cents, domestic beer $2, Heinekens beer $2.50, red or white wine $2.50 glass, Russian kvass $1.75.

Summation: While not everything was to my taste and that of my guests, most dishes were hearty and tasty, and in ample portions.

On one occasion, I had a bowl of borsch, cabbage rolls, the ubiquitous Russian bread, and butter, and a Heineken. It was too much food; a cup of soup would have sufficed. On another occasion, I had spinach soup and a meat platter, with Russian bread, and butter, and a Heineken—again, too much food, but good.

When I eat at Cinderella Bakery & Restaurant again, I plan to have a bowl of borsch and a tasting platter of stuffed crepes—blini and pirogi—and dumplings — vareniki—with sour cream, and, of course, a Heineken.

I look forward to it! Where else can one eat such hearty food at such prices?

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