Russian restaurant forced to undergo major changes following backlash over war in Ukraine

A Russian Restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter is getting a makeover.

“Hopefully changing it, Americanizing more will help save it," said owner, Ike Garzyan.

The restaurant located on 6th Street has been open for eight years, serving Russian cuisine with a modern touch.

However, over the last year, it hasn’t exactly been business as usual for Garzyan.

“I just didn’t think that people would stop going to a restaurant only because it's Russian," he said.

[gaelga]

Why do they need to Americanize it? WTF is this? If your employees are Russian and Ukrainian against the war, simply put forward that you are anti-war and show your support for Ukrainian sovereignty. period.

[zaraloveskoda]

Pushkin is a wonderful restaurant. Rich, flavorful food (their braised lamb — chef’s kiss) and lovely, unique interior. It’s so pathetic and racist to punish the restaurant for being Russian, and I feel bad for them for feeling pressured to become more “Americanized”. This is not the freedom of expression America should be known for.

[Robgeee]

Wow it’s sad that they have to go through the route of “americanizing” their restaurant. I will try to support it. Hopefully others support him as well!

[benr]

as a ukrainian, dont harass russian people in the states for being russian. thats judging people based off their ethnicity. Russian food is good asf. dont boycott things in america for being russian, boycott things in russia for being supportive of the war. its very very easy to not be a horrible person to people who dont deserve it, so dont.

[poppystars]

Awe punish a restaurant owner for a war 9000 miles away, sounds about right for uppity dummies.

[thinkerly]

It's a shame. As Dmitri Gordon, the media figure said some time ago, Putin is not Russia, and the Russian language is not Putin's. Pushkin was a truly amazing poet, playwright, and novelist, and that restaurant should not be hurt for taking his name.

[JohnCSmith-lpqr]

People are so dumb ...Pushkin is a poet 😂

[Necfasopvas]

That’s because there’s a lot of ignorant people. A war has nothing to do with culture. People need to STOP politicising every aspect in life and concentrate more in sharing common grout through food, music, art, history etc. a democratic world is a free world, you don’t need to be obligated to condemned a war you choose not to be involved with.

[jineeshpr]

People are idiots. Just eat good food and enjoy

[anthonysooto]

Please 🛑the hating, and stereotyping our own american-russain citizens, didn't we learned from what unjustice, done during WW2 to our american-japones citizens, African-American. We can not forget, or allow this too continue, WE are ALL-AMERICANS.

[MobileCritic]

Every day I learn more and more how idiotic humans are

[tiadiad]

There is an amazing Russian restaurant in Sacramento. Great food, no Ukrainiamericanization needed.

[nancyvaldes]

I suggest the Onwer should put a Ukranain flag in front a show Solidoraty💯 2 Ukrain🇺🇸🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇦

[YourATFAgent]

They did this back in WW1 to German-Americans.

[vside]

Now imagine if this was applied to Chinese people 🙄. Oh wait, I forgot that it is ok to be prejudiced, but only when directed at European cultures/people 😮‍💨. It's like people forget what our people did to our own (Japanese Americans) in WW2.

[jailbreaker]

The West needs to stop acting like how the West treated germans in the 1910's. Hurting people who probably dont even support Russia is infantile

[brianticas]

Ignorance and hate man. Hating a Russian restaurant for something that is happening overseas and that the man has nothing to do with the war man.

[rockymountainlockpicker]

That’s a shame. Don’t punish people who have nothing to do with a war on the other side of the planet. The guys food didn’t bomb anything. He should be treated with the respect of any other American citizen

[bombaybeach]

That's not really fair-the owner has nothing to do with the war. Not all Russians support the war, and many who won't comment on the war are afraid of going to prison. Guilt by association should not be the American way.

[MarkKlung]

It would be nice if Rocio de la Fe's name could be corrected in the closed captions.