Why Come Here? Affordable way to taste great caviar in NYC, date night
When I think of caviar, I imagine a group Russian Oligarchs sitting on plush sofas in gold adorned rooms. They laugh as they slide $1,000s worth of fish eggs into their mouths with the reckless abandon I would attack a bowl of guacamole.
To put it another way, I don’t view it as a food of the people. But that doesn’t mean we’re not a little curious what all the fuss is about. Well now there’s a place to find out without having to cut a deal with Putin. It’s called Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge and is run by Olma Foods, one of the nation’s premier distributors of caviar. Because of their connections they can offer smaller, more affordable quantities than the typical one ounce serving which can range from fifty dollars to several thousand. Think of it as New York’s first tasting room for caviar.
The decor sets the stage for the grand affair (and a great date night) with a layout that intersects opulent hall with trendy lounge. Olma’s corner location provides ample light and an almost under-the-sea theme including deep blue couches and lamps that look like bubbles. Near the entrance is a blue * white Faberge egg jewel case which shows off the goods.
When it comes to the caviar, you can order a mini-lini (a Russian crepe) with everything from salmon roe ($5) to the world famous Beluga ($32). But the real steal here is the caviar tasting platter, which includes all eight offerings (including beluga) for a mere $55. If you’ve been wanting to see what this delicacy is all about, there’s absolutely no better way.
Caviar Tasting Platter 
This has to be one of the premier food experiences in New York. The caviars above are laid out in order of price. My personal favorite was the karat, which had a slightly stronger briney flavor. The beluga was also incredible as expected and the creamiest of the lot.
Since you likely can’t afford to fill up on this stuff, they also offer a variety of interesting sandwiches including lox, foie gras and cold smoked arctic char. We were offered the Salmon:
Salmon Lox Sandwich 
Creamy with the perfect amount of saltiness, these are some of the best lox I’ve eaten in New York. They come on a fresh crunchy French baguette that would make the sandwich worth the trip in its own right.
Note: I was invited as a guest of the establishment and received a complimentary meal. This was not in exchange for a positive review and opinions expressed are my own.
Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge
420 Amsterdam Avenue (@ 80th Street)
New York, NY
