New Orleans' source for Slavic soul food, and a great burger, will close after 12 years (2024)

The hearty flavors of Eastern Europe may not have seemed like a natural fit for subtropical New Orleans, but for 12 years Matt Ribachonek carved a niche for his Slavic soul food, serving pierogi and borsch next to a righteous Reuben and a great burger.

His restaurant started as Kukhnya inside the music club Siberia, and later grew into its own space nearby at 1300 St. Bernard Ave. as the Green Room / Kukhnya.

This Friday, however, will be the end of the line. The restaurant is closing for good.

“I consider it a dream fulfilled,” Ribachonek said. “We made it through a lot, and we got to be part of everyone’s celebrations. We’ve had our ups and downs but it’s been a great experience.”

The business has been healthy, and financials are not the issue. Ribachonek said the decision to close turned on changes in his own life and the recognition that he wants to do different things.

“Really we’re so grateful to all of our customers who have supported us through so much, the support has always been there,” he said.

Ribachonek was known for his pop-up Streets McGee when he first started Kukhnya as the tavern window at Siberia on St. Claude Avenue.

In a haven for metal, punk and other sorts of bands that don’t quite fit the conventional notion of New Orleans music, he earned a following on kielbasa instead of andouille, the comfort food quotient of stuffed cabbage rolls (kolubtsy) and blini with sour cream and caviar (that Siberia kitchen is now home to Que Pasta, Amanda Alard’s punk rock Latin fusion concept).

After the move to his own space on St. Bernard Avenue in 2019, Ribachonek even started stocking take-home staples, like frozen pints of krupnyk, a barley and mushroom soup.

The third-generation Ukrainian took inspiration from his family’s cooking. Some of the dishes use Polish or Russian names, because those tend to be more familiar than their Ukrainian analogues. But the cornerstone recipes come down through Ribachonek’s family from the old country.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Green Room became a hub for local relief efforts and fundraising for refugees.

The restaurant is normally closed Tuesday and Wednesday, it will reopen Thursday and serve its last meals on Friday.

Green Room / Kukhnya

1300 St. Bernard Ave., (504) 766-1613

Schedule to close May 25