Russian food can be a bit difficult to explain to people. Honestly, if you're a foodie, Russia is a terrible country for you. The food that most people eat day in and day out is, in a word, terrible. I mean, ketchup is considered an acceptable thing to put on pasta--and it's not just acceptable, it's what most people use for pasta sauce. Gross. In general, Russian food is hearty, flavorless fare that is good for filling your stomach but doesn't exactly leave you wanting more. 

That said, there are some really good parts of Russian cuisine, and there are some really strange (for Americans) parts. When it's done well, traditional Russian food can be quite good. It's not a flavor-packed experience like Indian food, but it's very comforting, satisfying food that is perfect for, say, a long-awaited dinner after a frigid winter day spent slogging through snowdrifts. Here's a great summation of some of the more unique--and extremely common--foods that make up Russian cuisine: 17 bizarre foods every Russian grew up with