Siberia is now East West

The erstwhile Siberia Restaurant is now the East West Seafood & Steaks.

Executive chef Boris Shugal said the traditional Russian restaurant has been re-branded into a Western-themed one to cater to the taste buds of tourists and locals alike.

Anita Go, F&B manager, said it all boils down to American food being more popular among tourists—especially Russians—compared to what the old Siberia Restaurant offered.

Shugal said East West is basically a steakhouse that is comparable to the price market here on island.

Among their bestsellers so far include beef short ribs, filet mignon, T-bone steak, and lamb. They also serve pasta dishes and a varied salad menu, with Scallops Caesar scoring high marks among customers.

However, unlike other steakhouses on island, East West’s portions are American-size, which gives diners more bang for their buck.

East West’s executive chef also joked that because of the quality of their food, they hope to cool tensions between the West and Russia, which he calls “diplomacy through food.”

“We want to combine East and West cuisines, especially now there is tension between Russia and the U.S.,” he said, smiling.

Shugal admitted there’s also a certain comfort level in shifting back to a more continental cuisine.

“Western cuisine is easier for me now because I worked in the U.S. for so long,” said the executive chef, who is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York.

East West also boasts of an extensive wine list that has never failed to surprise diners due to its relative inexpensiveness. “Where else can you buy a good glass of wine for a mere $4?” asked Go.

As for Russian tourists pining for their homeland’s food, they won’t have to go far, as East West has retained some of their more popular dishes.

“We continue to serve Russian food and in fact we still retained our old Siberian menu. We still have our Siberian menu because Russian children, usually after a week vacationing here, start to pine for Russian food. If people on the island also want to try Russian food we can still serve Siberia Restaurant’s most popular dishes.”

Go said that East West is also open for private parties for a minimum of 30 guests and its pricing varies.

For example, during the last private party the restaurant catered for involved 60 people and it only charged $15 a plate for a spread that included five kinds of salads, four entrees, a pasta dish, and rice. It also came with a children’s buffet that serves pizza, chicken nuggets, and fries.

In the pipeline, according to Shugal, is East West’s plan to introduce more unique dishes, among them German-style and seafood sausages.

East West comfortably seats up to 60 guests and is open from 10am to 11pm daily. For reservations and for more information, call 233-7722.