Shinok

Shinok Review

Half-zoo, half-collective farm, the 24-hour Shinok is a faux-Ukrainian farmyard complete with goats, a cow, hens, and a knitting granny. The enclosure is completely sound- and smell-proof, and the animals don't really impinge on the meal. Ukrainian cuisine doesn't differ that much from Russian, sharing dishes such as borscht, vareniki (Ukrainian-style pelmeni stuffed with cottage cheese), and solyanka (a spicy, thick stew made with vegetables and meat or fish). For an unusual taste from the Ukraine, try salo (thin slices of fat) and the Ukrainian beer Starokiyevskoye. The helpful servers can give advice, although not all speak English. Go on an empty stomach, because the food can be very filling.