Dvin Restaurant
One of Webster Groves’ Best-Kept Secrets
by
Marian Rein
Dvin Restaurant
8143 N. Big Bend Blvd
Webster Groves, MO 63119
(314) 968-4000

Located
in Webster Groves, Dvin Restaurant serves up authentic Eastern European/Russian
cuisine that is out-of-this-world good. Lidiya Skilioti and her daughter,
Natalya Bryantseva, are its only employees. With only nine tables, Dvin is the
place to go for an excellent meal at low prices — a place for a great family
meal or with friends for a quiet, unique dining experience. If you happen to
have been raised in a European family, you’ll feel right at home — it’s like
eating in the home of a traditional European cook.
This
is down-home cooking at its best! Don’t let the unassuming exterior fool you
(if you can spot it at all). The food is fantastic, so it’s a wonder that Dvin
doesn’t have a waiting list — a week in advance. I arrived with two friends on
a Saturday evening and had no problems being seated.
In additional
to its menu of traditional Eastern European dishes, there are always daily
specials. With several specials to choose from, I settled on the vegetarian
offering — eggplant stuffed with mushrooms in a cream sauce and served with
mashed potatoes. I don’t know if the dish actually has a name, but I call it
wonderful. I seem to remember saying, “mmmm” after every bite.
I
also tried the Chicken Roulette served with roasted potatoes, and a pork dish
that was stuffed with carrot and garlic. I can’t say which dish I liked the
most — honesty, they were all delicious.
When
the bill arrived, one of my friends picked it up and took a double take. We
were very surprised that three outstanding entrees and three salads would cost
only $40. I kept thinking about my son — when he was just a little guy, I would
search for a place to go that served home cooking at low prices. I live a half
mile from Dvin — I never thought about going there, probably because it’s just
not easy to see while driving down Big Bend.
Dvin
also caters events of up to 40 people. While they lack a liquor license, feel
free to bring your own bottle of wine or beer. From now on, I’m a regular —
patron that is!