Terra is bringing modern European casual fine dining to Sheepshead Bay and Brooklyn, offering a level of food, wine, and cocktails that its owners once had to travel to Manhattan to find. The official news of Terra’s opening was announced on NYC Newswire, marking its arrival on the local dining scene.
Best Friends Turn Local Roots Into a Restaurant
Terra was founded by longtime best friends and Sheepshead Bay natives Oleg Rybak and Dmitry Khavko. Rybak, an oenophile and attorney, and Khavko, a whisky enthusiast and finance professional, were accustomed to traveling more than 45 minutes to Manhattan for high-quality dining experiences.
Seeing an opportunity in their own neighborhood, they set out to create a modern European restaurant that is both upscale and approachable, reflecting their tastes and their roots in Sheepshead Bay. To realize that vision, they brought in a celebrated, award-winning chef to develop a refined menu that blends European tradition with modern creativity and tapped Wine Director–General Manager Guillermo Lesassier to build an extensive international wine list of more than 600 varietals.
Executive Chef Dima Martseniuk and Co-Executive Chef Anna Shitova (1) – Courtesy Terra
A Culinary Team with International Credentials
Executive Chef Dima Martseniuk, a Ukrainian native, began his professional life in international economics before shifting to the kitchen. What began as a short stay in the United States to learn English turned into a long-term culinary career.
Martseniuk started as a prep cook at New York City’s Veselka and rose to Executive Chef, modernizing traditional Ukrainian cuisine and gaining national attention. His work led to appearances on television programs such as Beat Bobby Flay, Good Morning America, Guy Fieri’s Project, and The Rachael Ray Show, along with recognition including “Best Latke in NYC” at NYC’s annual Latke Festival.
After earning a Grand Diploma from the French Culinary Institute, he opened Ruta, the first Ukrainian restaurant on Capitol Hill, where he hosted dignitaries including Nancy Pelosi, Pete Buttigieg, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, among others. He also earned the “Best Dish from Local Foods” award at the World Chefs’ Summit in Japan for his borscht.
Martseniuk is joined at Terra by Co-Executive Chef Anna Shitova, a Russian native who relocated to New York City and refined her skills in several acclaimed kitchens across the city before joining him. Together, they create a menu that blends European flavors rooted in their heritage with a refined, modern edge.
Wine, Champagne, and Cocktails
Terra’s international wine and champagne program is led by Guillermo Lesassier, formerly of Michelin-starred restaurants Casa Enrique and Andanada, in collaboration with co-owner Oleg Rybak. The list features more than 600 varietals from France, Spain, Italy, the United States, and other regions, plus a reserve selection of an additional 600 bottles.
Champagne offerings include Billecart-Salmon and Salon. American wine highlights include Harlan Estate and Hundred Acres varietals from Napa Valley, while international selections feature Italian Pio Cesare, French Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, and Spanish Vega-Sicilia.
The cocktail menu is developed by mixologist Boris Gerliani, formerly of Moscow’s White Rabbit, a leading fine-dining restaurant. Gerliani uses inventive presentations and advanced alcohol clarification techniques to create a focused lineup of signature drinks.
Cocktails include the Molecular Piña Colada, a reimagined classic made with three-year-aged rum and a clarified piña colada cordial balanced with a tailored blend of acids and fructose, finished with coconut ice cream foam; the Clarified Basil Smash, featuring gin infused with fresh basil and cardamom with a clarified basil cordial; and Altai, which combines Sauvignon Blanc and bourbon with clarified apple juice infused with vanilla, the wild Altai herb Sagan Dalya, and a touch of effervescence.
From the Kitchen: Appetizers, Salads, and Mains
From the cold appetizer section, diners will find Filet Mignon Tartare & Roasted Bone Marrow, made with finely hand-cut filet mignon and rich roasted bone marrow, topped with shallots, capers, parmesan shavings, egg yolk sauce, and black truffle slices, served with crispy artisan toast. Another option is Beetroot Ravioli with Goat Cheese & Tarragon, featuring marinated beetroot “ravioli” filled with goat cheese, fresh tarragon, and citrus zest.
Hot appetizers include Mussels in Red or White Sauce, prepared either in a traditional Spanish-style red sauce or a crème blanc wine sauce, served with basil garlic bread, and Shrimp à la Mar, grilled shrimp served with fennel purée, roasted grapes, and ponzu jelly.
Among salads and soups, Tomato Consommé with Veal Cheek pairs braised veal cheek with a clear tomato broth, while Mushroom Cappuccino Soup with Truffle offers mushroom soup topped with milk foam and shaved black truffle, served with a warm artisan roll engraved with Terra’s logo.
From the Chef’s Board, guests can choose fresh oysters, artisanal cheeses, and a charcuterie board with hand-selected cured meats and seasonal accompaniments. Terra also flies in fresh stone crab from Miami every Friday, served with traditional accompaniments.
Main courses include Black Linguine with Seafood & Tom Yum Sauce, made with squid ink linguine, shrimp, mussels, and calamari in a Thai-inspired tom yum coconut sauce with fresh lime; Halibut with Roasted Cauliflower and Watermelon Radish, featuring filleted halibut with marinated watermelon radish in a citrus ginger sauce; and Quail with Bulgur and Pomegranate Sauce, roasted quail stuffed with bulgur and wild mushrooms, served with pomegranate sauce.
“Each dish is designed for conversation, plated with precision, inspired by heritage, and finished with a sense of surprise,” says Chef Dima.
Desserts and Details
Pastry Chef Iryna Maksymenko leads the dessert program. Offerings include Pistachio San Sebastian Cheesecake, a Basque-style cheesecake with crushed pistachios, Turkish pismaniye, and raspberry coulis, and Éclat de Caramel Chocolate Sphere, a dark chocolate sphere filled with caramel mousse and ganache, with a crunchy element and caramelized décor. A selection of teas, coffees, and after-dinner drinks is also available.
Terra is located at 1716 Sheepshead Bay Road, Brooklyn, NY 11235, with seating for about 70 guests. Guests can make reservations or inquiries by calling 718-675-3939, or by visiting terrabrooklyn.com. Terra can also be found on Instagram at @terrabrooklyn and on Facebook as Terra Restaurant.
The restaurant serves breakfast from Wednesday to Friday, brunch on Saturday and Sunday, and dinner from Wednesday through Sunday.
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