Na Zdorovye (13 Bolshoy Prospekt, St. Petersburg) – located in the Petrogradskaya district of the city center (not far from the Peter and Paul fortress), this restaurant serves various Russian specialties (including its famed mushroom dishes). The interior is Russian country style with wooden furniture, folkloric decorations, painted wall-panels, country quilts on the chairs – complemented […]
Khachapuri (Ukrainsky Boulevard, 7, Moscow) – this restaurant is located on a green pedestrian strip graced by a collection of fountains and a playground, making its summer terrace the perfect place for families with kids. Dishes from the former Russian republic of Georgia are served here (such as pkhali), as well as salads with plums and […]
Gallery Café (27 Ulitsa Petrovka, Moscow) – considered a “go to” place for well-connected locals (mainly those 25 and over), this restaurant’s menu contains Italian, Japanese, French and Russian dishes from Executive Chef Sergey Markin. Along with the food, its patrons order drinks from daiquiris to raspberry with Maracuja, frappe saint-tropez, goji-berry with strawberry cocktails, […]
Druzhba (Novoslobodskaya, 4, Metro Novoslobodskaya, Moscow) – located within a shopping mall of the same name, Druzhba ranks among the top Chinese restaurants in Moscow. On the menu is a huge selection of carefully chosen Chinese favorites that represent various regions and styles of cooking. There’s something for every palate. There’s live music to entertain patrons […]
Chekhov (4 Petropavlovskaya Ul., St. Petersburg) – this restaurant’s 19th century décor contrasts with a 21st century remake of Russian dishes. Fiery red borsch, chicken Kiev, baked whitefish and cabbage pies are served, with the sweet scent of homemade cherry Nalivka floating in the air. A white piano, an antique gramophone and oak furniture complete […]
CDL (50 Povarskaya ul. Bolshaya Nikitskaya, Moscow) – this restaurant’s initials (which mean “Central House of Literateurs”), is housed within an old mansion and is considered one of Moscow’s better dining destinations. World leaders like Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Indira Gandhi, and top executives from companies like Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson have dined here during […]
Café Pushkin (26A Tverskoy Boulevard, Moscow) – this three-level restaurant, whose atmosphere is owed to its Victorian-era décor, serves Russian food which is reputed to be fit for Czarist royalty, such as blini, caviar, ukha (a creamy, spiced fish soup), grilled sterlet with forest mushrooms, and pelmeni (meat dumplings).
Buono (Radisson Royal Hotel, 2/1 Building 1, Kutuzovsky Prospect, Moscow) – located on the 28th & 28th floors of the one-time Hotel Ukraina (one of the famed Stalin-era “Seven Sister” buildings), this restaurant is regarded as much for its panoramic views of the city as it is for the food. Various Italian dishes are prepared […]
Tokyo 55 (Runeberginkatu 55, Helsinki) – this is a popular sushi restaurant. It also serves other Japanese dishes, as well as European cuisine. There is an “all you can eat” buffet during lunchtime from Tuesday to Friday. Among the items recommended are the pork belly and teriyaki sirloin. That, as well as the sushi platters.
Saaristo (Klippan Island, Helsinki) – due to its location, this restaurant offers fantastic views of Helsinki’s shoreline and passing boat and ship traffic (an attraction unto itself). Housed in a Jugend-style villa that was built in 1898, this restaurant offers various local dishes. It’s no surprise that during the Summer, many crayfish festivities and wedding […]