Founded by former members of the Russian Imperial Ballet in 1927, the Russian Tea Room's ornate interior harks back to Imperial Russia with its opulent red and gold colour scheme, plush red leather banquette seating and antique samovars. Located on 57th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenue, the Tea Room was a magnet for Russian émigrés and show business types, due to its proximity to Carnegie Hall, but fell from favour and eventually closed its doors in 2002.

The restaurant reopened, under new ownership, in 2006 with its interior restored to its former grandeur but boasting an updated menu that added a contemporary twist to the traditional French and Russian dishes. There is also plenty of variety on the menu with dishes such as black tea smoked sturgeon with bacon braised cabbage in a light mustard cream rubbing shoulders with Japanese influenced dishes such as Kobe beef with truffle mashed potatoes, and asparagus. Appetizers include classic red borscht, angry Czar lobster with chilli vinaigrette, olives mache and citrus zest, and pickled herring fillets.

The wine list features a carefully chosen selection of white, sparkling and red wines from the new and old world while the cocktail menu includes a range of Russian-themed specials such as the Cosmonaut, Nureyev and their trademark Moscow Mule.