Rus Uz

Arlington: plov, crepes, shashlik and a gourmet deli

Steps from the Ballston Metro station, a big table of Russian and Uzbek cooking is set: fragrant plov, shashlik from the grill, hot crepes and manti. Come for lunch or dinner with friends and family, and ask about private dining for a special occasion. The dining room is cozy, and next door a gourmet deli stocks Russian and Uzbek goods.

What to order for the table? Start with the headliners:
- Plov, the crown of the Uzbek table
- Lamb and chicken shashlik, kazan kabob and lula kabob
- Steamed manti and dumplings of every filling
- Lagman noodle soup, shurpa and mastava
- Beef stroganoff, Chicken Kyiv and roasted salmon
- Stuffed cabbage rolls, dolma and lamb shank

Pair the plov with appetizers: hot crepes, crispy meat turnovers, baked samsa and savory hand pies, plus cold plates of caviar tartlets, Olivier salad, vinaigrette and smoked fish.

Next door (Unit 1A), the Rus Uz Market stocks Russian and Uzbek delicacies and goods from Central Asia and Eastern Europe, along with homemade dishes you can take home and reheat.

The bar pours beer, wine and vodka, and the table comes with ayran, kvass and a berry fruit drink. A weekend table is best reserved ahead, and for private dining just call to talk through the details.