Hit the road

by Alexandra Matoshko, Kyiv Post Guide Editor
Jul 02 2008, 20:07

© KP Media, photo by Vitaliy Pavlenko Biker-friendly: rough wooden furniture and attributes of American highway culture create the proper mood at Route 66.

New club-restaurant Route 66 is advertised as the first bike-post in Kyiv. But you don’t have to own leather pants and a biker jacket to enter the American-themed bar – everyone is welcome.

A legendary route among bikers, Route 66 also known as U.S. Highway 66, The Main Street of America, The Mother Road and the Will Rogers Highway, is one of the original federal routes, established in 1926, that runs from Chicago to California. But while it doesn’t officially exist anymore, Route 66 is known worldwide.

The interior of the restaurant pays homage to the historic route and its American roots. It is a mix of cowboy saloon and an American roadside bar of the 50’s – 60’s. The three halls are entirely decorated with wood, designed with baseball gloves collected by the owners in the U.S. A signature decor element is the “Singing Elvis’s Head” on the bar. Also, one of the rooms is designed as the hall of fame – there are photographs of legendary Ukrainian bikers, including the owner of Route 66. There you’ll also find pool tables and a flag of biker festival in Daytona Beach hanging on the wall.

The menu is based on American classics with Tex-mex influence and are served in generous portions – steaks (Hr 54 to Hr 125), barbecue ribs and chicken wings (Hr 98 and Hr 48), various burgers (Hr 48 to Hr 76) served with french fries, fajitas with chicken and veal (Hr 68 to Hr 78), grilled corn with toast (Hr 29); spicy ragout of eggplants with kidney beans and guacamole. Ingredients for a burrito (Hr 48) are served separately – a tortilla, two sauces and the filling on a burning hot pan.

There are special XXL dishes that would suit a small company or one very hungry man – house salad with fried veal and tiger shrimp (Hr 175) that weighs over a kilo, a club baguette-sandwich (Hr 196) with French fries or a dish of pork ribs, chicken wings, and sausages with home-style potatoes and grilled vegetables (Hr 196). Route 66 has its own confectioner who prepares traditional American pies as well as original desserts, like sour-sweet tubes of shortcake pastry with cherries covered in sour cream with sugar (Hr 34) and pear stuffed with nuts and cottage cheese and baked in pastry (Hr 25).

Right by the entrance there is a fridge filled with beer, so that you can get yourself one casually. There is a bar in the main hall to accommodate as many guests as the tables and disposes toward generous drinking as well as eating. It is meant to be a casual American eatery.

Selection of alcohols includes bourbons, American corn whiskey Knob Creek and Bukerz, and Grey Goose. Among specialty cocktails are Mohito prepared with natural soda water and “Mexican Mule” mixed with ginger ale. A special offer, “shot wheel,” is a selection of eight shots of your choice for Hr 166. As for non-aloholic options there is a selection of fresh juices (from Hr 21) and smoothies with ice (Hr 30 from 350 ml).  

Such a place couldn’t work without some cool live music. Expect daily concerts plus a famous band once a month. The official opening of Route 66 was kicked off on June 12 with a Tito & Tarantula gig – if they continue in the same fashion, Route 66 will surely become one of the musts for fans of live music clubs – whether they are bikers or not.

Alexandra Matoshko can be reached at matoshko@kpmedia.ua or 496-4563.

Route 66 (87/30 Zhylianska, 239-3865). Open 24 hours

English menu: only bar menu

English-speaking staff: Some

Average meal: 150

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