Spice level warning — Borscht is not what I expected

I underestimated Borscht. The subtly sour from fermentation description didn't prepare me for the reality. sour cream smetana brings a heat or pungency that builds steadily rather than hitting upfront. By halfway through I was sweating but couldn't stop eating.

Russian New Year table is the most important annual food event, laden with Olivier salad, herring under fur coat, and other Soviet-era staples. The a Moscow restaurant setting means locals eat this with ease while visitors like me reach for water. black tea from a samovar cut through it better than water would have. Don't order the mild version out of caution — the full version is the point. I'd go back. Three stars only because I wasn't warned.