Russia’s war in Ukraine has caused one San Diego restaurant to change its concept. Pushkin Russian Restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter is changing to Pushkin Lounge & Bar effective in May.
This is due to backlash, threats and “don’t go there” social media posts that has caused business to lose 65% of its business. Pushkin was a hybrid Polish-Russian restaurant, really, but the word Russian in its name has forced the change who a whole new type of business.
“Unfortunately the ongoing war in Ukraine has caused Pushkin Russian Restaurant great difficulty due to public perception making us guilty by association simply due to the name of our beloved restaurant,” according to the restaurant’s Facebook page. “We have made the difficult decision to pivot our business model and rebrand.
“Pushkin Russian Restaurant will become Pushkin Lounge & Bar effective May 5. This new upscale venue will serve great food and drinks with the addition of hookah.
“We are adding comfortable and luxurious seating changing our decor and will be serving the most flavorful hookah in San Diego.”
Located at 6th & F Street, its menu consisted of out-of-this-world meat-stuffed cabbage rolls covered in a delicious sauce (a PubClub.com favorite, if you can’t tell), beef stroganoff, lamb shank, large beers for 10 bucks and a dizzying array of fruit-infused vodkas.
Hookah bars are seemingly quite popular in the Gaslamp. Just a block over on 5th & F is one spot, there is another on G and 4th with yet another potentially planned on 4th between G and F streets in the former Tropical Savor location.
Website: pushkinrestaurantsd.com
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