Dish it or Ditch it: Weekly Restaurant Review

Whether it is for a family dinner, or birthday celebration, we often find in a restaurant, eating to our heart’s content, till our pants suddenly feel a little too tight. Trust me, we’ve all been there before. But dining out doesn’t always have to mean splurging. No matter what your favorite restaurant is serving, you can still practice healthy dining. In this week’s Restaurant Review, we will be taking a look at some of the best, and worst options for your low sodium diet at Brighton’s National Restaurant.

National Restaurant (273 Brighton Beach Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235 (718) 646-1225)

Founded in 1978 by 3 siblings who emigrated from Odessa Ukraine just a few years before, National Restaurant was one of the first Russian restaurants in NYC. Over the years they have put their hearts and souls into making National what it is today; a successful restaurant, nightclub and catering hall.

Dish it:

Appetizer: Go for fresh fish instead of smoked, like their Grilled Tuna appetizer.

Salad: Stick to salads made with fresh ingredients and light dressings, like their Avocado Salad, made with fresh avocado, scallions, egg, and cherry tomatoes.

Entrée: Broiled, baked, or grilled entrees with minimal sauce are your best bet. Go for the Chicken Shish Kebab or the Broiled Salmon.

Ditch it:

Appetizer: Avoid the Assorted Fish or Assorted Pickles, and any other smoked, pickled, or cured offerings.

Salad: Their Greek Salad isn’t your best salad option. The feta cheese, brined olives, and pastrami all add to the sodium count.

Entrée: Stews and other saucy dishes, such as Beef Stroganoff are often high in sodium.