Russian Restaurants
1. Idiot
When Idiot first opened, its vegetarian menu proved an immediate hit with the local expat community. It serves meat-free versions of Russian food, from
borsch
to pelmeni.
Nab. reki Moyki 82 • 315 1675 • $30–$60
2. Russian Kitsch
With its ironic images of Soviet leaders and menus bound in the ideological works of Lenin, Russian Kitsch reduces the one-time Soviet “threat” to a surreal dining experience. The food, an eclectic mix of Russian, European and Asian, is good too.Universitetskaya nab. 25 • 325 1122 • $30–$60
3. Literary Cafe
Centrally located, this café is famous as the place where the national poet Pushkin met his double before setting off for the duel in which he would lose his life. The café, it must be said, has made the most of this historical hook, and its food, while perfectly edible, is not as memorable as the ideal setting.Nevskiy prospekt 18 • 312 8543 • Open 11am–1am • $90–$120
4. Russian Vodka Room No. 1
The name of this place says it all. Authentic Russian dishes such as ukha and blinis feature on the menu, along with a variety of pickles traditionally eaten with vodka, such as salted cabbage, gherkins and pickled mushrooms. The restaurant serves 213 different types of vodka, and there is even an on-site vodka museum.Konnogvardeyiski bulvar 4 • 570 6420 • 945 0890 • Open noon–midnight • $60–$90
5. L’Europe
Located within the sumptuous Grand Hotel Europe, this Art Deco marvel is one of the city’s top spots for people-watching and sampling some of the best food in town. The house special, truffle-scented scrambled egg topped with caviar set within an empty egg-shell, is a decadent classic.Mikhalyovskaya ulitsa 1/7 • 329 6630 • Open 7am-11pm • over $120
6. Kvartirka
After a long day’s shopping, head to this cozy Soviet-themed café, where hearty, home-made Russian fare at good prices is served with a rather un-Soviet smile. The café also specializes in a samovar tea service accompanied by a mouthwatering assortment of Russian pastries and jams.Nevskiy prospekt 51 • 315 5561 • Open noon–1am • $30–$60
7. Na Zdorovie!
Serving fresh, delicious Russian food at reasonable prices, Na Zdorovie! (“To your health!”) needs no gimmicks to recommend it. The kind of place where you feel obliged to down a shot of vodka or two, this restaurant is somewhat out of the way, but worth a visit if you are in the area. The pancakes are particularly tasty here. There is live gypsy and Russian folk music in the evenings.Bolshoy prospekt 13/4 • 232 4039 • Open noon–11pm • $30–$60
8. Davidov
Located in the luxurious Astoria Hotel, Davidov offers top-quality international and Russian cuisine, including imaginative black and red caviar dishes to rival those found at the Grand Hotel Europe.Hotel Astoria, Bolshaya Morskaya ulitsa 39 • 494 5815 • over $120
9. Russian Empire
Containing four separate dining rooms, and set in what was once a part of the Stroganov Palace, Russian Empire is a throwback to the time of the tsars. With 19th-century armagnacs and delicious food served on Versace porcelain plates, this restaurant offers perhaps the most extravagant dining experience in the whole of Russia.
10. Palkin
Founded in 1785, Palkin has long been the haunt of some of the city’s finest writers, including Dostoevsky and Gogol. Superb, traditional “Imperial Russia” cuisine – venison dumplings with sour cream, for example – shares the menu with more cosmopolitan creations. Fashionable Palkin also houses a permanent display of local art.Nevskiy prospekt 47 • 703 5371 • Open noon–last guest • over $120
