Sasha’s is the only place for homesick immigrants (what few we have) to go for goods rarely found outside Russia—and for those curious about what exactly it is that Russians eat. The small menu’s made up of basic dishes that can easily be prepared behind the counter. It’s fun to poke around the shop and check out the folk art while you wait: the walls are filled with merchandise such as CDs, T-shirts, matryoshki (Russian dolls), jewelry, and the like. Imported goods in the grocery are authentic, but sometimes seem quite pricey, especially if you’ve been to Russia.

Pirozhki (small stuffed buns) have a nice texture and are filled with a peppery but otherwise bland filling of ground beef and potatoes. We like the warm eggplant salad, cooked with onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Try beef-filled Siberian pelmeni—dumplings that are boiled and served with sour cream. There are also several blini on offer; some have a dillier version of the pirozhki filling; another blends the eggplant salad with feta. Sasha’s sells a wide variety of beverages including some exciting Georgian and Moldovan wines, Russian beer, and specialties such as black tea, birch juice, black currant juice, and beer-like kvas. That, alone, is worth coming for.