The headline tells the whole truth: it is no coincidence that this small establishment is literally called “Skrepka”. At first glance, this is not a very large cafe in a side street of a well-known district of Moscow, but inside it turns out to be much more spacious than you might imagine. I have never met such a cozy Italian restaurant with delicious dishes and affordable prices.

What my friend and I value most is the peace and aesthetic pleasure of our “cafe walks”. That's why it's so significant for us to choose the decent place to eat from all the varied options Moscow has to offer. We were almost in despair when we stumbled upon this relatively new restaurant by chance and decided to take a look. I'm so glad now that we went there after all and tried its unique food.

"Skrepka" is an urban cafe created by the team from the popular Moscow bar "Rovesnik". This bistro has an unusual feature: breakfast is served without time restrictions, meaning you can order it at any time, even late in the evening. This is a convenient quality for those who wake up late and therefore don't have to rush anywhere on their "lazy day".

First of all, the interior. Russian people often say: “they judge you by your clothes” and there is the same way. As soon as we entered, we felt the coziness and tranquility of this place. The tables were small but tastefully decorated. The indoor light is also important. By that time it was already evening, so the light inside was subdued and pleasant for eyes. In addition, some tables had lit candles, while others had beautiful flowers.

A nice young woman greeted us at the entrance and showed the possible seating options. Unfortunately, a couple of the tables by the window, which were considered the best, were occupied, but there were other comfortable places, both with regular chairs and sofas.

As soon as we sat down, we were brought menus and, just as importantly, complimentary bottle of water. I appreciated this because it already indicated the workers here knew the rules of proper service to guests. Actually, the choice of dishes was also not very large but varied and non-classical, with offerings of food that could be unfamiliar for us. For example, various natural flavorings, such as honey or interesting syrups, were added to regular cocoa, so its taste was already different from what we are used to.

As for our personal choices, we had a Neapolitan pizza with lots of cheese and mushrooms, two bruschettas with roast beef and herbs, and the same cocoa (since it was late and I couldn't drink coffee, but the options were also incredible in their combination of flavors). My friend ordered lemonade with aloe. We were also offered desserts, but we were already too full, despite really wanting to try them.

The service was excellent. We didn't have to wait long for our food. All dishes were served in the correct order: first appetizers and drinks, then the main course. No one disturbed us during our friendly conversation, and pleasant, quiet music played in the background. The kitchen was always in front of us, so we, as guests, could observe the reliable process of cooking. And no smells or sounds from there broke the magical atmosphere of this place.

This cafe reminds us of how guests should really be served.

The prices here are quite affordable for everyone. I must also mention all the amenities in the bathroom, especially for women. This is an ideal option for spending a weekend with your friends or loved ones.

When it comes to choosing Italian restaurants in Moscow, I know the best answer to that! In the very heart of Moscow, on Sretensky Boulevard, lies “Pasta i Basta” — a cozy osteria that offers guests the authentic taste of Italy combined with a homely atmosphere and impeccable service.

My absolute favourite detail in the restaurant is the plates. As the waiters love to tell the customers, all dishes were specially ordered from Italy. While eating the delicious food, one can almost feel the warm breeze and hear the sea’s waves from the plates.

The restaurant’s interior is styled in vintage Italian chic, giving it a special charm. The dining hall features painted ceilings, pendant chandeliers, and a tiled pizza station. On the walls, a collection of pasta types is presented in the form of heraldic crests, serving both as decor and an educational element for visitors. I love to look up at the display of pasta when I'm choosing from the menu. Special attention is paid to the details: Murano glass chandeliers, ceramic tableware, and other decorative elements were imported directly from Italy, creating the feel of a true Italian osteria.

The menu is a harmonious blend of classic Italian recipes and chef’s original ideas. Particular attention is paid to the pasta — there is a great variety of it, from traditional orecchiette with parmesan and walnuts to linguine with seafood, served for two or more. One of the highlights is the truffle pasta with pesto and goat cheese mousse, which offers a surprising and delightful flavor combination.

Pizza at “Pasta i Basta”, which is my absolute favourite, deserves special mention. Thin crust, a variety of toppings, and the use of fresh ingredients make each pizza unique. A standout is the truffle pizza, which combines a rich taste with an elegant presentation.

In addition to main courses, the restaurant offers a range of appetizers like chicken liver pâté with champagne jelly, as well as soups and salads that perfectly complement the meal. For dessert, guests can enjoy tiramisu, cannoli, chocolate soufflé, and icy semifreddo.

The wine list is carefully curated and features both draft options from the Italian province of Valdobbiadene and selected bottled wines from Italy and France. Guests can choose based on labels or on pairings recommended for special dishes. The bar menu also includes classic cocktails such as Gimlet, Aperol, and Bellini, as well as fruit- and berry-infused grappas.

The service at “Pasta i Basta” is marked by warmth and attention to detail. The chef often interacts with guests personally, offering his signature dishes and enhancing the overall dining experience. This personal approach brings a genuine sense of Italian hospitality to the restaurant.

The restaurant also caters to families. On weekends, entertainment and educational programs for children are held — including art workshops and basic Italian language lessons. Every Sunday, guests can enjoy a puppet theater performance by the Moscow New Puppet Theater. On a child’s birthday, the entire family receives a 20% discount on the menu. This family-friendly concept allows parents to relax and enjoy their meal, knowing their children are engaged and happy.

“Pasta i Basta” is more than just a place to eat — it’s a little corner of Italy in the heart of Moscow. The combination of authentic dishes, refined interior, and warm service makes it an ideal spot for anyone who values quality cuisine and a cozy atmosphere. Whether I’m hungry after a church service on a Sunday afternoon or simply out with my family, I know that I will be able to spend the best time in this little cosy restaurant. Among busy Moscow streets “Pasta i Basta” promises an unforgettable experience for every guest.

If you want to aesthetically drink delicious coffee and read a book in a calm and light atmosphere, you should definitely go to “Polyandria Letters”.

The company store of the St. Petersburg publishing house “Polyandria” is located in a historic building in the center of the capital. This space combines several functions at once: a shop, where you can buy books of “Polyandria” and NoAge, a coffee shop with fragrant drinks and delicious bakery, where you can spend time with friends or relax alone with interesting books, and space for different events. The book corner of St. Petersburg in Moscow is located at the Sadovaya-Sukharevskaya St., 10/12, metro station “Sukharevskaya” and is looking forward to welcoming its guests!

The first time I visited Polyandria Letters was when I really wanted to clear my head, be alone with myself, with my thoughts, a book and coffee. When I went there, it was as if I found myself in another world, separate from the real one, where it was raining and thunder was rumbling. Panoramic windows with soft sills, where you can sit, bookshelves, the smell of coffee and fresh pastries, lively but quiet conversations and a sense of peace.

At the entrance, you will be greeted by a hostess who will take you to a table or consult you about books. The first thing I did was to explore the stand decorated with books and magazines. A lot of genres are represented there: from children’s fairytales to psychology. I didn’t buy the book, because I had my own, but I looked at several options for the future. Then I sat down at the table and the waiter took my order almost immediately. They brought me a Cherry brownie raf and a piece of carrot cake. The serving was minimalistic and beautiful: there was a cupcake, a long fork and napkins on a large cow-print plate. Coffee was served in a large ceramic mug. Both the drink and the bakery turned out to be very tasty and exceeded my expectations.

Sipping my coffee slowly, I read “Three comrades”. The atmosphere was really cozy and relaxed: the patter of rain on the roof, the rustle of flipping pages, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, soft bakery — and at that moment all I cared about was how to stretch the drink for a few hours and nothing more.

I came out of the coffee shop filled, rested and calm - a state that many people want. So, if you are looking for a place where you can find peace, meet friends or work in silence — Polyandria Letters is waiting for you.

How is it possible to visit the same place several times in Moscow? The variety here is almost outrageous, providing an uncountable number of options. Posh restaurants on Nikitskaya, hidden gems of China-town on Lomonosovsky Avenue, underground gin mills in Kitay-gorod — the Moscow Government claims that there are more than 22,000 different eating establishments in the city. So why would someone choose to go to the same one repeatedly?

Having lived in Moscow for three years, I have come to terms with the city's diversity. While I still appreciate sudden discoveries, I now have a spot that serves as a safe space for every occasion and company.

The underground restaurant “Galki” on Tverskaya is underground both literally and figuratively; it is located in the lovely basement of an old building. There’s no way someone could find it without knowing the exact location: it’s tucked away two courtyard spans from the bustling street, with no signs or indicators. However, the owner of the place, Denis Nerezov, needs no introduction.

The atmosphere of mystery is further enhanced by the interior: dim lighting, eclectic decorations, canvases by temporary painters, and unexplained wooden blocks. Inside there are three halls: the bar, the common area, and the dark room. Each one has its own vibe: drinking at the bar, slow dining in the common area, and complete darkness in the dark room. In fact, during my visit to the dark room, the server even asked my friend to turn off the photo light, even though we were the only customers in the room. Dark means dark.

The hospitality here is everything. As someone who is interested in gastronomy, I absolutely hate places where you have no right to mispronounce the name of a dish or, God forbid, ask a server what it is. Here, your server is your guide in a world of signature cuisine. You can ask tons of questions, seek advice, or use the good old “Impress me”. This level of conversation is a gift from on high for gastronomy enthusiasts, but it must be a nightmare for introverts, I suppose.

“Galki” is the place to (let me highlight) enjoy the food. The cuisine here is art, so try different combinations to explore your own feelings.

The meat here is exceptional. If you ask for a medium-rare classic steak, the chef delivers a perfectly cooked medium-rare classic steak. If you request a fancy interpretation of tartare, the chef provides just that. Kudos to him! My experience at “Galki” includes more than ten dishes, but today I want to focus on the meat itself.

I’ve eaten three steaks here, and all of them were worthy. The medium-rare ribeye had a perfectly preserved texture, making it both soft and structured at the same time. The nutty aroma and undertones of the meat were beautifully paired with the light citrus sharpness of yuzu confit, complemented by the fresh astringency of herbal pillow. My only question is about the hummus: ribeye is already a rich and flavorful steak, so the creaminess of the hummus was excessive for me. It was served on the side, so I chose to skip that part of the dish.

Another ribeye I had there was served with béarnaise sauce. I have no idea what could be a better pairing for a tender, juicy ribeye than acidity. The flavors of dried fruits and musk from the evaporated white wine played beautifully with the natural fat of the steak and the tarragon's herbal notes. But ribeye isn’t too hard to cook well — what about striploin? It took me several months of weekly practice to perfect my striploin skills (my budget was crying over it too), so a nicely cooked medium-rare striploin makes me ecstatic. It needs nothing on top — just salt, pepper, and oregano. The experience of savoring the perfect bloody taste of a well-structured striploin at “Galki” made me moan and cry. With chips on the side, this cholesterol-laden delight made me the happiest person on my 16th birthday.

The steaks are not the only meat that dies and reincarnates blissfully under the local chef’s knife. Ptitim with stewed beef cheek, served under a sauce of morels and chanterelles, is the creamiest dish possible on this planet. The chewiness of the pasta prevents the small pieces from absorbing too much sauce, allowing them to coexist harmoniously. The stew enhances the beef’s sweetness, creating a perfect combination with the woody, earthy flavors of the mushrooms. Perhaps this pasta could benefit from an accent: while all the flavors here are perfected, they are pretty neat. A touch of sharpness, freshness, and acidity — like a cucumber salad at “Galki” — could elevate it even further.

Desserts may not be their specialty, but they are still worthy of attention. The classic crème brûlée is paired with lavender sorbet that has a hint of citrus, creating a perfect balance. The ingredient in the dessert called “Gold” remains a secret, but it offers a smooth, creamy combination with a well-articulated touch of honey. Personally, I would like to see an accent here as well, but for all the sweet-toothed patrons it is quite satisfying.

On the menu you’ll notice Roman numerals next to the dish names. These indicate chapters. To enhance the menu, the head chef prepares a new selection of dishes every season. Only the best, according to customer feedback, makes it to the main menu. I appreciate this approach: every time I visit “Galki”, I get to try something new.

If you’re open-minded when it comes to culinary experiences, “Galki” is the perfect place to visit, whether alone or with loved ones.

If you want to be the best – choose classic, or be the classic yourself.

I had first visited Pecorino with my closest family, and ever since it felt like a sweet home. And that’s how I would characterize the café. Located in the south-east outskirts of Moscow, not far from the metro station ‘Lermontovsky Prospekt’ where there are plenty of cafés and small restaurants, it is a little Italian haven in a typical bedroom community. A harbor I enjoy returning to from time to time.

As you come in, you hear unobtrusive Italian and classical music playing. A gentle hostess greets you and accompanies you to the table. You see a sprawling room, lovely furnished with wooden items, lighted by small lamps and daylight pouring from large windows. Then you look closely at the details, such as shelves right under the ceiling crammed with wine bottles, books, paintings, and other numerous details. That’s not what you expected when looking at a crude sign hanging outside, but now you can’t take your eyes off all the features, squinting to see every tiny thing of the interior.

A waiter takes your order immediately as you have made your choice. My first meal was warm grilled camembert with cream and mushroom sauce. I received it less than ten minutes after my beverage. Nicely served on a large plate, it was a salad with mushrooms, creamy sauce, tomatoes, lettuce, croutons and an impressive piece of grilled camembert. The ingredients balanced well in a tender harmony of warm and cold, crispy and soft, salty and sweet. That was definitely a great thing to start with.

Before I knew it, I was served the second meal, risotto with white mushrooms. This dish is a criterion for evaluating the quality of a café or a restaurant, since if you can’t cook the classics, you can’t cook at all. In this case, it was awesome. A creamy mushroom sauce with hints of parmesan, al dente rice and a slight appetizing fragrance merged all into one and it was perfect in its simplicity.

For dessert, I had a chocolate fondant with a scoop of ice cream. Having to wait for it a bit longer than for other desserts, you always get a freshly cooked sundae. Hot crispy dough with melted dark chocolate inside goes well with vanilla ice cream. Almost sugary, the fondant gets cooled by the gelato and becomes as sweet as it should be.

After my lunch, I spent a couple (or a couple of dozens) of minutes at Pecorino. Around 2 pm, people started to fill the café. Hitherto waiters were chatting in a friendly manner with each other, as the place was not much crowded. Now they began to smoothly move back and forth through the space. Not even a hint of fuss was seen, the team was as well-organized as clockwork.

My waitress gave me the bill and ushered me with a smile. Guests talked calmly and laughed while I was leaving. That’s what Pecorino is: a place of harmony, politeness, and warmth. And that’s why I’m always glad to come back.

This is where the Buddha dwells, not AI. SHE – restaurant review.

Early Saturday morning. Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street, which is always overwhelmed with people, seemed deserted and desolated and didn’t look like the center of Moscow . The Orthodox Church of the Small Ascension rises above the facade of a small gray-white building. On the stone-textured wall, there are black clothes awnings, various stucco and the inscription “SHE”. In pre-revolutionary times, the premises housed the store of the Ascension Church and the archpriest's apartment. In the 1820s, the building was a home to the "Imaginists", a popular bookstore where Sergey Yesenin and Vladimir Mayakovsky worked and held poetic evenings.

A year and a half ago, Boris Zarkov, the founder of the White Rabbit Family restaurant alliance, bought the building and founded a two-storey well-being bistro.

Who is SHE?

Her name is Sasha Weiner, and she's a great example of artificial intelligence. She has a social media account and is going to eventually pick up more realistic human behavioral habits and manners. As the AI technology evolves, ultimately, she will become more amusing, talkative and companion-friendly. The building of taste combinations and the production of something truly original are Sasha’s normal responsibilities.

5% of the menu consists of dishes invented by Sasha Weiner, and the rest of the menu is made up of mostly traditional cuisine. Wafu – is the philosophy which SHE follows. It implies the idea of the reconstruction and the implementation of Asian (Japanese) cuisine concepts into Italian one. For instance, soy sauce, mayonnaise and salmon roe are added to spaghetti, sprinkled with nori seaweed, and pizza is supplemented with avocado, stracciatella, feta and teriyaki sauce.

Temple of future, freedom and life

What if I tell you that there's nothing reminiscent of AI in this fantasy dream? You will see neither screens, nor Sasha Weiner in any of her entities and identities. However, when you enter this place for the first time, it will only seem to be a stereotypical European restaurant with fusion cuisine. But there is definitely something about the atmospheric suspiciousness of this place that will cause different concerns. 

Little Buddhas in navy blue T-shirts and wide pants scurry around the hall quietly, with the ease of a butterfly and the precision of ninja. Their skills are honed to extensive perfection. A memorial totem, centered right in the middle of the room, symbolizes the embodiment of man's unity with nature. Chandeliers, artfully carved from polymer clay, add a little sparkle to the dominating “green”. The menu has a separate section dedicated to greens, named "zozhnoye" (dietary nutrition ). The columns are repetitively used to support the entire facade, as the restaurant stands not on three whales, but primarily on spongy concrete bases. Designer Natalia Belonogova, who worked on the SHE space had a goal to demonstrate the ecosystem problems with the help of various decorative objects. To enhance this, most of the furniture is made of recycled materials.

Wellbeing-bistro

While I was drinking fragrant and tart strawberry-ginger tea, I wondered about the philosophy of this place. Turns out it’s all in one simple word: “wellbeing”.

Wellbeing is the state of a person or a group of people when they feel complete inner satisfaction, otherwise known as a positive psychology. It is a state of balance in everything.
SHE reflects this concept most profoundly.

Trying to take in the smallest details of the restaurant, I didn’t notice how the Buddha Bowl was brought to me.

An ancient relic

The name of the dish comes from the legend of the Buddha:

“The Four Guardians of the World brought the Buddha four bowls of black amber stone. Accepting this gift, he put them one into the other, and the bowls miraculously turned into one. After meditation, the Buddha was on his way to the city, where people would put the most necessary and nourishing fares into his Bowl. These were three kinds of nectar: immortality, pure wisdom and clear consciousness, and herbs that heal the body and mind”.

In my Buddha Bowl, I had half of a soft green avocado in furikake spice bread. This type of seasoning is an extraordinary combination of tuna shavings, Kombu seaweed, nori, soy sauce, mitsukan mirin (a sauce that is made with rice vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar and Japanese sweet rice wine) and sesame seeds. The bowl is neatly arranged with fresh, crunchy vegetables: cucumber, edamame beans, quinoa, fresh spinach leaves, kale, guacamole sauce and tzatziki sauce. The little circles that look like sun are falafel made with baked yams, tahini (sesame) paste, sesame oil, cumin, breadcrumbs and quinoa. According to the idea, this dish should fill you with positive energy, and the third eye gradually open, but none of the above did not happen to me. I have to involuntarily think: does it worth it?

The second course was Eggs Benedict - poached egg served on fried brioche with thinly sliced turkey and hollandaise sauce. Basically, a common sandwich with overcooked and even burnt toast. Something like this could just as easily be made at home. The only good thing about this dish was the turkey. It turned out juicy, crispy and soft. Not every chef knows how to bring meat to such a condition.

SHE leaves a rather unusual and perhaps pleasant aftertaste. On one hand, customer service has very high standards. Upon entering, the guest doesn’t have to beckon the waiter a thousand times because here he will receive high quality service.

On the other hand, the food here is unimpressive, there are no fireworks in your stomach from delight. The average check will be from 1 500 roubles to 2 500, and I’m not sure if the dishes are worth it. As for AI and Buddha, they can't exist in synthesis with each other, that is why a beautifully conceived concept doesn’t pay off.

If you wander around the centre of Moscow and accidentally stray into the area of Tverskaya Street and Pushkin Square, there’s no way you’ll be left hungry. Galki restaurant on 4/3 Strastnoy Boulevard is the place where the staff is eager to offer you a superb and high-quality meal to feed both your body and soul. The diner is wedged between numerous bars in the courtyard of tall and timewornish buildings of old Moscow. “It's not easy to find us, but it will be worth it,” its website says.

Galki is the first underground restaurant in Moscow. Entering the place, you hear alluring sounds of birds “chirping” coming from inside and then dive into the atmosphere of candlelit tables, ethnic-like yet unobtrusive music and unusual decor.

The walls are decorated with futuristic images, including various illustrations of birds; the lighting is dim and lamps are framed by wreaths of various dried herbs and leaves; the restaurant even has its quite a specific smell of wax and wood, which gives more magic to the place but can be not pleasant for some people. This creates the feeling of being inside the real jackdaws’ nest, but you don’t feel left out. You’re a part of their “flock”.

It was Friday evening, so the bustle and hum were palpable. As soon as we took our prebooked table, a friendly waitress familiarised us with the restaurant’s trademark dishes that every newcomer should definitely try: a cream of mushroom soup or lasagna served with cheese mousse for the mains, the chef’s honey cake topped with caramel nougat, persimmon and decorated with edible gold for dessert.

When first opened, Galki was the restaurant where only chefs worked: they met guests, took orders, prepared and poured cocktails. The number of visitors was increasing, and then owners decided that the coherence of the work was more important than the concept. They have hired waiters, hostesses, bartenders who are no less distinguished by a remarkable and caring attitude towards patrons.

It’s clear to me that Galki’s staff love their job. Benevolence, attentiveness of the workers, their excellent knowledge of the menu as well as high-level and quick service leave the impression of a perfectly spent evening.

Furthermore, Galki suggests an extensive choice of menu. Much of what they have on offer will be familiar. There's Roman pizza, ramen, baked potatoes with mascarpone cheese, tom yam chicken with broken cucumbers and the rest.

Among the mains is lasagna. Thin layers of dough are filled with spicy chili con carne beef, fresh basil, tomato sauce and mozzarella. The lasagna is hidden beneath parmesan mousse, served herb-flecked and seasoned with sesame seeds. The final touch in the preparation of the dish takes place right in front of your eyes: the waiter gives it a quick blast with a blowtorch. The lasagna has it all: tempting smell, rich taste and appealing look.

The wood-fired Roman pizza was our next choice. The fluffy dough with cream cheese sauce, bacon, stracciatella and mozzarella is served with fresh arugula, grated Parmesan and black pepper. The best part is the burnt-at-the-edges crust, both crisp and chewy at the same time, which even the biggest fussy eaters will find to their liking.

The restaurant also has an extensive bar list. We were advised to try the most popular Galki signature cocktail consisting of gin, passion fruit, yuzu, and prosecco. Sweet, tropical and mildly alcoholic, this drink was a delightful surprise for us. First, a velvety protein foam envelops the tongue, then exotic acidity with a ticklish crackling of sparkling prosecco and crunching of passion fruit seeds comes to replace it.

The restaurant’s average check can vary from 1300 to 1500 rubles per person. However, Galki is very customer oriented, suggesting a loyalty card system, so you can receive bonuses with each order and spend them during the next visit. The only flaw is that your time is restricted to 2 hours, but it’s enough to evaluate the gastronomic artistry and cosiness of the place. Some people can also mark the lack of free space between the tables as a disadvantage, but I personally find such an intimate and friendly atmosphere more relaxing.

If you go to Galki expecting a classic, genteel and exquisite restaurant, you’ll be disappointed. Instead, Galki is a half dark and vibrant place with an absolutely authentic vibe, a true piece of modern art. Galki is far from pomp. It’ll accept you for who you are.

If you’ve ever been to The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts or even passed by it, then you have probably seen a tall yellow bell tower with a sparkling cross at the top. Yes, you are still reading a restaurant review, and no, I’m not talking about the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The building I’m describing is the Temple of the Martyr Antipas on Kolymazhny Lane. It is not only a magnificent house of God, there’s some twist to this church.

In order to get to the temple you have to open an iron gate and go into a very snug courtyard with tables, benches and umbrellas outside for outdoor lunches during hot summer days. All this belongs to the one-story building with a mosaic of Saint Antipas above the glass door opposite the church. It is a Christian cafe that is not like any other church refectory.

When entering “ANTIПА”, you find a minimalist interior: wooden chairs, tables decorated with handmade mosaics, panoramic windows. There are only 9 tables inside, which makes the atmosphere even more endearing and intimate. On the right, there is a counter where orders are taken and a display case with desserts. A cross above the door and a red corner remind you that it is a Christian cafe.

You have to go to the cash register and look at two paper menus, lying near it, for the waiter to take your order. There are special sections for coffee, signature drinks, food, pastry and desserts. A picture of a green leaf next to the name of the dish means that it is vegan.

For the main course we ordered bulgur with mushrooms and northern berries and quinoa with salmon, avocado and egg. Bulgur was ready first. To the casual eye it looked normal, however there were only three lonely berries on the plate. When I tasted it, my opinion didn’t get any better, it, in fact, worsened. The bulgur was overcooked and too salty, it felt like some kind of a mush. The northern berries that were supposed to give the dish a tingle of freshness turned out to be regular cranberries that hadn't been completely thawed. The only tasty part of the meal was the mushrooms, so you could say it was a disappointment. Anastasia’s “main course experience” wasn’t pleasing either. For starters, my fellow author chose quinoa, which took 20 minutes to arrive. Anastasia’s hopes and dreams were dashed by a single slice of fish and unripe avocado. A ton of bland quinoa that Anastasia wasn’t able to finish was in stark contrast to the meager amount of salmon.

The menu also offers a huge variety of drinks: from simple espresso or cappuccino to cocoa with black walnuts and hazelnuts or latte with juniper, spruce and fir. We went with a black Chinese tea for me and a cherry raf for Alena. Fortunately, neither disappointed us. The Chinese tea smelled divine and had a tender cherry taste with a hint of currant bitterness, and the coffee was pretty appetizing, with a tender airy milky foam.

To end our meal on a positive note we also ordered two desserts: a small apple tart and a profiterole with cheese cream. The apple tart was sweet and tender, the apple slices were nicely caramelized and seasoned with cinnamon. The dough itself was shortbread, flavored and crumbly. The profiterole wasn't any worse: its size was perfect for a single bite, avoiding any mess, cheese cream was thick and sweet, and Alena considered it to be the best one of all she had tried at “ANTIПА”. All in all, our meal turned out to be quite controversial - while we weren't content with the main course, both the drinks and the desserts were satisfying.

Unfortunately, we can't speak fondly of the staff. The size of the cafe necessitates self-service: there is only one waiter, standing behind the counter. He was quite unfriendly and curt and even managed to have a conflict with one of the visitors.

After having our small meal we decided to visit the church of the Martyr Antipas itself. To be honest, it brought us more joy than our visit to the cafe. Amazing architecture, remarkable ancient icons create an indescribable atmosphere that can only be felt when you are inside the holy place.

Finally, this is our verdict: if you happen to pass by the Pushkin Museum, consider stopping by “ANTIPA'' for a quick coffee break and visiting the church for some quiet contemplation.

Two very different friends visit a very specific restaurant, where k-pop music plays at high volume, groups of teenagers discuss upcoming exams, and food takes on unusual shapes.

Several months ago, I was thrilled to visit CHICKO for the very first time, as my friend promised it would be the place where Korean cuisine and the vibe of the k-pop culture flourished. My expectations were quite high, and the small restaurant, in spite of how unpromising its faded outside facades looked, did not let me down. The tiny Korean oasis is squished between countless cafes, stalls and small diners. And no wonder: Frunzenskaya metro station is a huge food court where everything screams and begs you to stay and sate your appetite. CHICKO, however, can offer not only this mindless "loudness" (“Just eat at our place, we do not really care if our food is delicious or not, we just need your money”), but also some real high-quality food, big filling portions and a feeling of comfort and warmth we sometimes lack in our daily life. This time, in order to write a review, I managed to persuade Liza - the person farthest away from the k-pop culture person - to come with me.

As soon as we walked inside, I practically felt Liza’s eyes roll back and make an almost complete rotation around their axes, returning to their initial position. The point is that we have already been here. During our first visit, Liza ordered the only thing she found on the menu with the word "coffee", as she cannot live without it. However, she absolutely hated that drink. This time, the place was much less crowded. The waiters moved between the tables hurriedly. Korean music filled a small but bright green and pink room, decorated with lanterns, cardboard cutouts of famous Korean celebrities and neon signs. There was a surprising amount of greenery here, with the assuring labels stuck to them: “You can sit there and tell the plants anything you want. They are the best listeners.” I knew that Liza almost did not know anything about Korea, and if it were not for the need to write a review, I would not have been able to drag her here again.

“Love is the main ingredient” is a well-picked motto that touches people’s feelings and makes them trust CHICKO more. However, for the restaurant’s founder Sergey Lebedev those words are more than just a way to attract visitors. For only a little less than a decade he’s been infatuated with the idea of opening a restaurant where he could serve his favorite dish - korean bbq chicken. At first, his idea did not quite spark interest in people. It took Sergey many hours of standing in shorts on the streets during cold winter promoting his restaurant to figure out that he was doing something wrong. He decided to change the strategy: Sergey rebranded the restaurant into a neon, k-pop meeting spot for Asia-lovers. That idea blew up like no other! Now, there are already 31 “CHICKO houses” in different cities of Russia.

The eccentricity of this place can be felt in its every component. The first thing that introduces a visitor to the restaurant's cuisine is its menu. And let me assure you that CHICKO's menu will not disappoint! Vibrant pages, pictures of Korean celebrities and anime characters, as well as the photos of every dish you can order. The scheme is quite simple: you pick the desired items on the menu, go to the cashier, name the dishes and pay for them. Then you return to your seat. In less than ten minutes you will receive your goodies.

We started with some drinks. As soon as Liza opened the menu, she immediately glanced at that coffee drink she hated. I began to patiently explain to her that not all of the drinks are so bad (to be honest, I even kinda liked the one she despised so much). I knew that Liza has a sour tooth, so I advised her to try a sweet and sour lemonade with wild strawberry flavor “She has been waiting for you” (235 rubles). I was satisfied to learn Liza truly appreciated it. She said it was "a decent drink, refreshing enough". I, in turn, ordered an incredible lemonade “Shut down” (235 rubles) with subtle flavors of mint and raspberry complemented by delicate homemade strawberry jam. I absolutely fell in love with this combination, finishing the drink in a little less than 3 minutes.

For the main course, I took “Kkanpunggi in cheese dust” (fried chicken) (465 rubles). Kkanpunggi did not disappoint me even in the slightest - just as I imagined, it was tender and not parched in the middle. The only problem I had with this dish is that cheese dust itself is quite dry and eating it without any drink can be not as pleasant as eating kkanpunggi in sour-sweet sauce (which adds just the right amount of moisture). Overall, it was still a very delicious meal, just don’t forget to grab a beverage to enjoy it to the fullest.
Liza ordered the only dish, I suppose, she could associate with Korea. Surprisingly, the “Classical ramen” (475 rubles) managed to touch her heart. This dish is extremely interesting due to its different textures: a savory broth, spicy and salty to the best, as well as soft but not overcooked noodles, thinly sliced beef, eggs with a runny yolk, sour springy nori seaweed, and a slight aftertaste of sesame oil.

It's time for desserts! It is worth noting that by the time we started eating them, we were already so full that we decided to try these dishes purely out of interest. I ordered “Matcha jiggly cat” (245 rubles). I was instantly captured by its “wobbliness” and rich taste of my favorite green plant. There is even some sweetened matcha in a bowl next to the cat to drizzle on it. Honestly, I really enjoyed eating this cute green fellow, even though it was so cute that at times I felt bad for devouring it like a barbarian!

Liza, on the other hand, chose something reminding her of “normal food”, to use her words. It was a Korean sandwich (325 rubles). The delicate structure and very gentle sweet taste are achieved thanks to the softest pieces of white toast bread with an airy filling of cream cheese, cut bananas and crushed Oreos in between them. Liza found it a little too sweet, but defined it as a dish almost everyone would enjoy due to its quite neutral flavor.

For me, CHICKO has become an oasis of joy and tasty food. My k-pop geek heart literally soared with happiness when I discovered this place full of my like-minds and adorable pudding cats. I give this place my 9/10, reducing 1 point only for music that stopped playing from time to time, causing some minor discomfort. Liza, on her behalf, gave this place a solid 6.5/10, saying that she had really enjoyed her ramen and noting how clean the water closet was. I guess the overall 7.75/10 is convincing enough for everyone to visit this place. Like Liza said, “Come for the vibe but stay for the delicious food.”

When evening bliss spills over the summer city, it's a great choice to forget about everything and embrace the culinary culture.

This is roughly how my friends and I felt last June, when after our prom we wanted to take a break from the stray dances. So, we decided to drown the recent fuss in one of Moscow's culinary establishments, which the multicultural capital is filled with like a glass jar of milk dessert with chia seeds floating in it.

You've probably figured out that we visited a pretty cozy place. Nestled among the formal establishments on Academician Anokhin Street, the restaurant “Jug” attracts the attention of a passerby with the tunes of a warm male voice, a manifestation of the absolute musical taste that is peculiar to Georgians.
“Jug”, the dwelling of Georgian cuisine, greets the visitor at the entrance and exquisite furniture upholstery in coffee color to the lingering taste of string cheese and cold red wine, all of which resemble the touch of a loved one.

It would be unfair to divide Georgian cuisine into appetizer, main course and dessert, as practically all of its traditional dishes are so nutritious that each of them can easily be called the main. So, it is worth describing it all together to convey the feeling of good satiety I was left with after eating it.

Of course, the ensemble of our late dinner was led by various khachapuri, which were called "the lords of this evening" by my friend. Thin layers of crispy dough were covered with heavy suluguni, which stretches and breaks off like the sweetest impression of first love. Another witty friend of mine naively compared adjaruli khachapuri to a Venetian gondola into which the setting sun, disappointed in life, falls. I agreed with her. At least, that's how it seemed to me listening to the sad song of the restaurant singer, whose eyes and low timbre stupefied us more than the thick purple wine....

I will say that the meat was not perfect, but we were satisfied, as cold dishes like pkhali and badridjani softened the dryish pieces of barbecue. To be honest, it is these appetizers that I would call the dessert of this restaurant. They truly delight the taste buds with the balance of dairy and spicy. If we talk about sweets, they were mediocre, which were easily overshadowed by traditional cheese pastries.
We didn't order tea... It seemed that our blood mixed with wine made us dance. We were dressed festively, as were the rest of the restaurant customers. Fortunately, the spaciousness of the dining rooms allowed us to move around. Other guests were not disturbed by our impromptu dance, because the dining tables were located behind artful partitions on a raised platform.

We left “Jug” almost overnight, having left not much money behind. Despite a little incompetence of the waiter and a small queue in the dressing room, we were morally enriched over this late dinner. According to Georgian tradition we drank to the bottom.... I don't mean the wine. I mean the Georgian spirit.

Saint Petersburg is a city of art, architecture and tasty food. Many tourists from all over the world come to Petersburg to try the legendary “shawarma” and “pishki”, but there are some historical cafes and restaurants, about which local people won’t tell you. In this article you will find places with the most delicious food.

 “Shawarma”! Local people will tell you about the importance of pronunciation. In Moscow we say “Shaurma”, but in Petersburg can be only one right option - “Shawarma”. Any resident of St.Petersburg can tell you the right recipe of shawarma and reccomend the place where the dish is cooked the best. Legendary shawarma located on Leteynaya has become a real landmark of the city. The cafe was opened in 1998, and people continue to line up for the cheap treat.
https://2gis.ru/spb/gallery/firm/5348552838592094/photoId/30258560108645307

What about pastries? Saint Petersburg is famous for its deserts. The fluffy dough with sugar powder melted in your mouth. This pastry has become a famous sweet for tourists. You can try it in many cafes and even cook yourself, but pishkis on Konyushennaya have a special taste. The cafe has been opened since 1958 and still retains the flavor of Soviet times. Everyone comes here for traditional puffins with powdered sugar - from native Peterburgian to foreigners.
https://yandex.ru/maps/org/pyshki/

Remember the opening of Goncharov “Oblomov”? “One morning, in a flat in one of the great buildings in Gorokhovaia Street…” Now in Gorokhovaia is located a cafe Mickey and Monkeys. An unusual dish contains both food and beverage. First you drink a sweet cocktail and then eat burgers or cotton candies. “Monster shakes” are loved by children and adults.
https://s.inyourpocket.com/gallery/247566.jpg

Krang pizza is one of the most popular and recognizable pizzerias with a half-meter-long American pizza and gambling machines in the center of Norther capital of Russia. There you will feel the atmosphere of childhood. If you want to experience the taste of cheetos pizza, mac and cheese pizza or 84 cheese pizza, this place is for you!
https://www.tripadvisor.ru/Restaurant_Review-g298507-d15634911-Reviews-Krang_Pizza-St_Petersburg_Northwestern_District.html#photos;aggregationId=101&albumid=101&filter=7&ff=365394345

In Saint Petersburg, you can even experience the spirit of Asia.
In Kolokolnaya street is located a caffe Supramen. There you can try a huge bowl of ramen just like from anime movies. There are 3 kinds of ramen: meat, fish and vegetarian, so you definitely will find something for you.
https://www.restoclub.ru/spb/place/supramen-2

Saint Petersburg is a treasure for everyone. There are a huge amount of great locations, where you can try the taste of the world.

What is the first thing that pops into your head when it comes to Georgian cuisine? Probably, khachapuri, which contains a cheese mixture to die for, shredded Mozzarella for that gooey cheese stretch, Feta for a flavorful depth and Ricotta for a creamy edge, or matsoni (yoghurt that is made from a mix of cow’s, goat’s, sheep’s and buffalo milk). If you have just ended up in a lactose coma, this review will definitely be a kind of resurrection.
Lactose intolerance is a common digestive problem where the body is unable to digest lactose, a type of sugar mainly found in milk and dairy products.

Believe it or not, most adults can’t digest milk – 40 % of humans stop producing enough lactase (an enzyme that breaks down lactose so we can absorb it into our bodies) between the ages of 2 and 5. Let’s have a look at Georgian cuisine from their viewpoint.

The restaurant my family and I decided to visit is called “Kinza” (the name refers to a green herb that is used in many dishes and also known as coriander). Unfortunately, the grey building “Kinza” is located in has actually nothing to do with the national coloring. It is situated in the downtown of Izhevsk and has a small minimalistic outdoor zone with soft sofas.

However, it only takes stepping inside to see the interior that looks as if it was brought straight from Georgia. Tomato and cucumber pickles, colorful garlic, paprika, and pimentos combinations predict the rich flavor of the dishes. Moreover, in “Kinza” you can find attributes of Georgian life and take a photo with them, as my mother and I did in shepherd’s papaq.

Luckily, the food we ordered arrived in no more than 20 minutes. I started with chicken khashlama, which is a boiled dish that somehow reminded me of a light summer soup. As for me, I have always enjoyed eating soft-tasted food, but as long as you are looking for something strong-flavored and extraordinary, I will definitely not recommend this one.

A few minutes later, a devastatingly handsome waiter with black charming curls came to us with a dish the whole family was waiting for. Of course, it was khinkali. Those steamy, flavourful dumplings filled with a tender mix of beef and pork were appreciated even by my little brother. This 6-year-old harsh critic ate two of them, which is actually a great quality mark. It is also important to mention the portion size: each khinkali weighs no less than 100g.

I finished my meal with a cod fillet baked on the layers of zucchini and tomatoes. Tender, perfectly flaky cod, tossed in bold spices and baked with a tasty garlic and lemon sauce, almost melted in my mouth. I was deeply disappointed about being already full and not able to eat more than a half of it.

Overall, a nourishing lunch for a group of four in «Kinza» cost 2400 roubles. It's not expensive at all, even for Izhevsk.

Honestly, I cannot say it is possible to feel the Georgian cuisine deeply and to follow a lactose-free diet at the same time. However, that's no reason not to try some alternative dishes. Provided you are going to visit Izhevsk one day, I will highly recommend that codfish in «Kinza».

2-1 Usacheva Street, Moscow

Once upon a dream, we all want to be somewhere far from reality. The restaurant "Black Market" can give such an opportunity at first glance. Panoramic windows looking at the park "Trubetskoy Estate" allow the visitors to move to a suburb, especially in summer, when the veranda is opened. However, the cars, which drive by infrequently during the day, can ruin the magic for a while.
I walk past this place quite often. In the summer, I would glance at people sitting on the terrace, and even wanted to ask them "is it tasty here?”. And then, six months later, I was able to take the time and visit that restaurant with my friend.

"Black Market" is the restaurant of modern gastronomy, where any gourmet will find a dish to their taste. They have the national cuisines of such countries as India, China, France, Italy, and, of course, America with its famous burgers. A good thing is that the restaurant menu is updated every year, and there are also special promotions, as well as a Lenten menu. Do not be surprised if in the spring you ordered risotto "Carpaccio", and in the autumn you will not find it on the menu, such changes for the restaurant are not unexpected because every season there is a new chef with their own signature menu.

My acquaintance with the restaurant began with a cup of coffee. A coffee addict like me, cannot cope with the devilish temptation to try and compare my favorite Flat White. What a disappointment it was! Instead of strong, rich, and aromatic coffee, I got just an ordinary one with milk.

But I didn't stop there and decided to get to know the restaurant better. As I said above, I made an appointment with a friend to go there on a weekday. As a person who doesn't like uncertainty, I made a reservation in advance. When we got there, the hostess didn't even ask if we had a reservation. That was strange, but whatever.

The interior is in the style of an industrial loft. There is very heavy furniture that any lady might have a hard time moving. Wine cabinets are the classic of a bar loft. But for a restaurant of this level, it is impossible not to think about the safety of the client and not to order glass cases, which protect the bottles from falling off the shelves. If there is a strong push, there is a huge chance of all those wine bottles falling onto the guests’ heads and causing injury, because the sofas and tables are right under them.

There is an open kitchen, but our experience at the restaurant bar on the Vorobyovy Gory, where there is also this kind of visitor-staff interaction, taught us that it would be better not to sit near it. In the restaurant, the tables are very close to each other. I just wonder how people manage to sit at the tables near the panoramic window, which are considered to be the best seats, when there is a full house.

The waiters don't keep track of who took which order and the chances are that the next waiter who decided that you haven’t been served yet will interrupt your conversation with friends. When you are offered something that they don’t have, the waiter doesn't warn you and informs you about it in a familiar manner in about 10 minutes after the order. Only when it came to ordering dessert, the waiter became friendly and had a professional tone.

When we were there, they had a cocktail menu with the names based on Alfred Hitchcock's filmography. A friend got "Psycho": a very tasty cocktail consisting of rum, orange and raspberry liqueur, and caramel. Here she was lucky, but not so much in terms of the dish ordered.

The “Roast beef Black Angus” was served with a very unleavened pancake. It was supposed to be thin and airy, in fact, it was like rubber. The beef and vegetables were fresh and cooked al dente.

My situation was exactly the opposite. My chosen cocktail "Hitchcock" was out of stock. On the advice of the waiter and tempted by the ingredients, I took another one - "Spellbound”. It turns out that combining golden rum and spice syrup gives absolutely no remarkable taste. The leaf used as decoration was quite an oddity and looked like a patch of tulle. My dish was very tasty. The sour-sweet chicken and vegetables in the orange sauce were moderately spicy, which is normal for Asian food, and the breaded chicken and vegetables, grilled just a bit, complemented each other decently.

The portions were hearty and nourishing, so we ordered one dessert for both of us. It can be called simply the best. The “Millefeuille”, which was most similar to the classic recipe of “Napoleon”, was truly enormous in size. The cream deserves a separate mention: light, airy, moderately sweet, and melting in the mouth. We couldn't even resist taking it with us to enjoy it again later. With dessert, we ordered tea, which was also good and had a classic bright citrus flavor.

Now it's worth mentioning the loyalty card which is completely incomprehensible to me and which you couldn’t even use. Except on your first visit when you get 10 points and you use them to order a free glass of lemonade. So the way I see it, this card is quite useless. First of all, on weekdays from 12 pm to 5 pm, there's a 20 percent discount on the kitchen menu. There is no need for a card to order coffee either, since coffee to go has exactly the same discount. I concluded that if you want to use this card and points, you must come at a time when all promotions don’t work. Oh yes, I forgot to say, the points are charged only from 1000 rubles, so that’s why you can’t come after 5 pm and just drink tea and earn these points. The staff informs you about it only when you ask for a check.

“Black Market” positions itself as a high-level restaurant, but it is at the level of an ordinary unremarkable one, where one dish can be attributed as an almost gastronomic masterpiece, touching all the receptors, and the other can be hardly called a restaurant dish. Yet I still might give “Black Market” one last chance to impress me.

Gastronomic adventure in Nizhny Novgorod literary cafe Bezukhov with authentic interior and local cuisine.

One of the most significant cultural and gastronomic places of Nizhny Novgorod is located at Rozhdestvenskaya Street, 6. Literary cafe Bezukhov has existed for over 16 years. It is famous for its bookcrossing promotion and drama-talk events. Even though it’s pretentious, the price list here is pretty available. The elegant interior and high-quality cuisine will allow you to spend one of the most cozy evenings in your life there.

A small poetic paradise, named after a famous Russian literature character, is hidden behind authentic heavy doors. Interesting fact: a lot of decorations in "Bezukhov" are rare and historical. Furniture has been collected in different parts of Russia, and therefore there are some especially valuable items. Though the antique busts were originally in this building.

From the first step you are immersed in the dark cozy atmosphere of an old mansion. Brick walls, fancy colorful carpets and massive wooden tables create an expensive stylish interior. Greek statues and old paintings make it more refined. Muted warm light and unobtrusive music encourage reading. More than that, everyone can take a book from the shelves that are located everywhere in the cafe, and enjoy it before eating.

Service is truly worthy here. At the entrance we were met by a smiling waiter and offered to choose a free table. He brought us a menu and gave us ten minutes to choose our dishes. This time was enough to decide on the dish and look around the cafe hall. A careful observation led to the discovery of the stylized sockets for the interior. Very useful for fans of working outside the home! It is impossible not to note that the average serving time of dishes is 20 minutes.

One of the main features of the institution: a menu styled like a book. There are chapters, epilogue, prologue and even the lost chapter in it! Obviously, it isn’t a place for everyday student lunch, but it is a perfect cafe for a meeting with friends. The average check here will be 1500 rubles.

According to the menu, the cafe is mainly focused on local food. The chef Alexander Goushev specialises in Volzhskaya cuisine. The amount of fish will amaze seafood lovers: pike perch, catfish, crucian carp are cooked here using modern techniques. There is even a special part in the menu called "Volzhskie stories" that contains traditional dishes. However, if you are not into specific food experience there are some classic European positions too: Caesar salad, classic burger and others.

If you are the Onegin type and prefer late breakfast at 4 p.m., this place is for you. Breakfast menu is available for visitors during the whole day. The choice is extensive, everyone will find something to their taste. My friend decided to try Bezukhov’s breakfast and ordered branded draniki (hash browns) "Bezukhov" with salmon, poached egg and sour cream.

Draniki were juicy and satisfying. The potatoes were well fried and not burnt. Despite the appealing view of salmon, it was too briny and even spicy. However, the acid of the fish was neutralized by the soft light sour cream. The mix of microgreens and scrumptious and leaking yolk became a true discovery. This dish is a perfect choice for people, who admire a creamy salt taste.

As the main course, I chose the signature burger "Bezukhov". The polite waiter told me that the only difference between this dish and the usual burger from the menu is a special soaked cranberries sauce. The interesting presentation of the burger on a board with a knife in it was stylish. However, the lack of gloves is one of the most striking minuses. The burger was really juicy, so sauce was everywhere. To be honest, I didn’t feel the flavour of the original sauce because of the hard acid of jalapeno. It overlapped the fresh taste of meat. Next time I will ask for a spicy-free dish.

For dessert, we chose the sour cream cake. It became a taste bomb for our mouthes. Under light cloudy white muss there was hidden a layer of cherry and a layer of soft chocolate brownie.

"It was something beyond. It was something integrated and unusual" — said my friend about the mix of savours.

The light sourness of the berries perfectly complemented the sweetened delicate cream. The brownie also gave a more dry, tart taste. More than that, there was a layer with salt caramel and peanut. However, this flavour bouquet didn't cover the other ingredients. It is the best example of perfect balance.

Our choice didn’t end only with food. We decided to check out the bar menu. My friend ordered a caramel milkshake.

"It is not a McDonalds shake that looks more like a frappuccino. It was totally white, but there was a strong caramel taste. The contrast between the visual and flavor created an incredible dissonance in my mouth" — Lisa shared her emotions.

As for me, I prefer strong long-drinks, so, my choice was Mai Tai. The great balance of sweet and sour made this cocktail worth its cost. I can surely say that the bar menu can satisfy adults and kids equally.

I would definitely recommend this place to people who like mysterious atmospheric places with good evening programme. It is not a daily cafe, but it is the weekend's best choice. Calm, elegant and a little bit old-fashioned charm of that place will help you to pause and relax after a week in rush.

It was one of those evenings when the weather was a perfect mixture of coldness and heat. The last rays of the sun threw their light on the red towers of the Kremlin. Among huge, powerful houses breathing with history, there were me and my friend — small but full of enthusiasm. On this day, we had not just a usual walk around the center of Moscow. I decided that something interesting had to be done. “Shall we have a lunch at some chic restaurant?” she asked me excitedly. I couldn’t say no. The relaxation after lots of stress was much needed. The only problem was the choice of the restaurant. So we decided to rely on our fortune. I wrote to one of my friends asking him to name any restaurant in the center of Moscow.

“Beluga”, the answer came almost immediately.

And that was it. My friend and I, surrounded by crowds of busy people, walked towards an eclectic-style building, ready for something interesting. Only one road separated us from the restaurant. I had heard a couple of times about “Beluga” but never had a chance to visit it. So this experience promised to be interesting. Massive oak doors were opened in front of us by two security guards. And I immediately noticed the first positive thing about this restaurant. An amazing, antique-style room appeared in front of us. Huge marble sculptures, lots of golden elements of decor, frescoes, and the beautiful ladder that leads to the second floor and a marvelous mosaic window. Everything there showed the taste of the designers, the way they knew and loved the culture of Russia, France, Ancient Greece, and Rome, of every part of the world… The sensation was almost palpable.

We made our way to the second floor, which was as exquisite as the first, and a hostess met us, asking where we want to seat and then showing us where the coatroom and restroom were. Even these places in “Beluga” are full of gilded chic which makes the whole experience even more pleasurable — and we haven’t tried the food yet! My friend and I, after taking some pictures, decided to not waste any more time and finally went to the dining room. I’ve always thought I’m not a person who is easily surprised by the designs of the place — I’ve seen a lot of restaurants and hotels with the same classic style.

But “Beluga” seemed different to me. The room was full of the nostalgic feeling for old Russia that existed before the Revolution in 1917, something that we’ve lost. Something old-Russian and loveable to the ache in the heart. Portraits of ladies in the “a la Russe” style made this feeling even more powerful. At that point, we longed to try something from the menu just to prove that our senses were not deceiving us. The waiters in the restaurant were true gentlemen. First, they opened the door for us, then showed our tables and asked about our mood.

Only after this ritual we were given menus. And that’s when our eyes didn’t know where to focus and what to try — you simply want everything. As hard as it was, I made my pick. For the main dish, I chose Nizhny Novgorod’s duck breast in parsnip sauce with fried chard and pickled beets. As for the salad, I picked the one with corn, asparagus, freeze-dried strawberries, and pickled tomatoes. Of course, I couldn’t avoid ordering the dessert. It was a tough decision — everything sounded tasty. However, the choice was made — I’ve picked a cake with ice cream made out of Altay honey, lemon muss, and mead. It had a promising name “More than honey”. We decided to order some additional snacks for both of us, such as oysters, salmon in different sauces, and drinks. After ordering, the hardest thing was to wait for the food. However, everything arrived quite fast, and waiters made sure we liked our picks.

First came our salads, and immediately after we tried them, one of the waiters asked for our opinion on this dish. If we didn’t like it, he could easily replace it with the other one for the same price. However, we didn’t need this opportunity at all. The salad was amazing — every vegetable was fresh, and the ingredients were complimenting each other well. What I liked about my corn salad is that it had some sweet notes because of the sublimated strawberry. I thought it was not that tasty as I’ve never liked salads with some sweetness. But “Beluga‘s” dish proved me wrong.

Next, we received our oysters and salmon. The waiter told us where and when they were caught and how they were cooked. Seafood was really fresh, according to them. And, once again, we were not disappointed in our expectations. Oysters, fresh and served on a plate full of ice with lemon juice and vinegar sauce, smelled fresh and salty and tasted good. The same goes for salmon that was served with bitter-sweet sauce. Drinking our mango and passion fruit cocktails, we were quite happy with our choices. My friend and I started patiently waiting for other dishes, and the next one arrived after 15-20 minutes.

Actually, the duck was the only thing that I didn’t like that much. Though I wouldn’t call it the worst, it was not bright either. Just duck meat that was too tough to chew. However, the sauce and the garnish tasted interesting - it was slightly sweet and spicy. My friend got a crab porridge that she didn’t like that much. So I wouldn’t recommend getting exactly these dishes. You can choose any other main meal. And all of them sound interesting, the choice is wide.

However, it was time to move on to the desserts. We had to wait for 15 minutes. But the time was worth it. We were shocked by the way our desserts were served. The waiters brought us plates on which you could see long baskets resembling a beehive. Putting these plates on the table, the waiter said that this dessert was the chef's own concept, which should resemble the work of a beekeeper. After saying that, the hive got covered with smoke, which, according to the waiter, was supposed to give it a piquant taste. And then the long basket was removed from the plate, and we could finally see a charming honey cake.This action reminded me of how beekeepers use smoke to put bees to sleep on farms. We noticed a yellow ball on it, and the waiter did not forget to mention it, “This ball, when you bite it through, will convey the sensations of a bee sting."

Well, it did resemble a bee sting because of the coldness of the ice cream and the bitterness of the mead. The taste of this dessert cannot be described easily: I just feel like that’s the way a real honey cake should taste. And the smoke made everything piquant, complimenting the whole taste composition successfully. If you want to try something amazingly tasty and unusual, served specially, then you should definitely try the honey cake in “Beluga”. However, beware of some alcohol that may be found in the dessert. After we ate the cake, the waiter asked our opinion, and all we could say because of the pleasant shock was, “It’s amazing”.

As for the prices, I would say that they’re middle. One can actually afford dishes from the menu. For example, the cake was only 550 rubles! The salad’s cost was 750 rubles, and as for the duck, it was about 1750 rubles. Other things in our pick were quite pricey, but you can definitely avoid them, trying over things. However, other than seafood and alcohol there are no dishes with an incredibly high price. It’s the position of “Beluga” to help people maintain easy chic.

But you pay not only for food: you pay for amazing waiters and other people working in the restaurant that makes the whole experience better, for the design and architecture, and, of course, for the view. That’s the other amazing thing about “Beluga” that I haven’t mentioned earlier. Through the huge panoramic windows you can see the Kremlin palace very well (and take amazing photos, which I did after eating). I assure you that you’ll feel like some kind of a president, seating in the exquisite place, eating great food, and looking at your city. The place’s not crowded either, so nothing will distract you during your dinner (or breakfast and lunch, depending on the time). And I feel like it’s another advantage . All in all, I definitely recommend visiting “Beluga”, even though I didn’t like the duck meat. But it is a bearable disadvantage that is completely outshone by the advantages.

After eating and taking pictures, my friend and I decided that the time had come, and we needed to leave the restaurant. After paying the bill and leaving a tip for the waiters, we went out of “Beluga”. Waiters smiled at us, and a hostess lead us out. The servers of the restaurant made everything they could to make our experience better till the very end of our visit. So after getting out of the building, we were uncontrollably smiling and sometimes laughing at the silly jokes of each other. Night Moscow was welcoming and warm. The light of the dark city shone bright - pleasantly bright. And after some walk we decided that evenings like this should happen more often.

Diane, 11:30 AM, February 24th. Entering the town of Twin Peaks, five miles south of the Canadian border, twelve miles west of the state line. … Lunch was, uh, six dollars and thirty-one cents at the Lamplighter Inn, that’s on Highway Two near Lewis Fork. That was a tuna fish sandwich on whole wheat, slice of cherry pie, and a cup of coffee. Damn good food.

"Twin Peaks" (TV series, dir. David Lynch)

Every time I watch the opening scene of David Lynch's Twin Peaks, I think of all those diners scattered along the seemingly endless US highways, in one of which Dale Cooper, the protagonist of the iconic series, had lunch. I have always wanted to visit such a place and enjoy the atmosphere of American eateries of the second half of the 20th century. One day walking along Arbat, I noticed the door of a restaurant called California Diner, which resembled the one in the series, and I decided to go in.

The view from the street and the photos on the website do not lie to the visitor at all: the atmosphere in the restaurant is truly stunning. At the entrance, you are met by a statue of a musician, as if he has arrived from the 1960s and 1970s. Inside, the neon signs, the waiters' clothes, the jukebox, the design of the tables, the bar and even the TV screens attract your attention.

The insightful customer will find a special pleasure looking at the posters of such iconic films of that period as Roman Holiday, Crossroads, Casablanca and others. I was also incredibly excited to hear songs by my favourite bands: The Beatles and Black Sabbath as musical accompaniment. The dining hall itself is quite spacious and divided into two parts. The only disadvantage of the interior, which I noted, was the lack of lighting in the second section.

The menu is varied, so there is something to suit to anybody’s taste. They serve burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, breakfasts, flatbreads, pastas, vegetarian dishes, snacks and desserts. The choice of drinks is also wide, ranging from milkshakes to parfaits. I decided to try the Philly Cheese Sandwich with chicken, which came with French fries and salad, and the vanilla-flavoured milkshake.

The first course cost 495 roubles, the second one cost 380. On the whole, the sandwich was not bad. But for its price, it seemed a bit dry and simple to me, despite the rather pleasantly unusual sauce. The dish consists of very primitive ingredients: bread, chicken and fried onion — which you can make on your own at home. The mílkshake, on the other hand, was perfect: not too sweet and not too cold, pleasantly refreshing and relaxing. It tasted airy, soft and "fluffy" and gave me a feeling of lightness and freedom. In fact, it was a balanced combination of a drink and a dessert.

I was very pleased with the service and the staff. I was immediately walked to a free table and quickly served: my meal arrived in less than 10 minutes. The waiter was very polite and friendly. When I was about to leave, he asked if I liked the food and the place in general. I regretted that I had not brought cash with me and could not leave that nice man a tip.

The California Diner certainly has a vivid memorable atmosphere. This slice of American culture will remain a fond memory in my mind. However, the mismatch between the prices and the quality of the food (although perhaps I should have tried their signature burgers) is unlikely to encourage me to visit this place again.

The restaurant BAGEBI, which is located on Prechistenka Street 19/11 in the center of Moscow, is based in a part of the historic building of the former Dolgorukov estate. Passing by, you will definitely notice this place: it is cosely nestled amid the sculptures of the Zurab Tsereteli Art Gallery and the Russian Academy of Arts, the arch between them is what we are looking for.

The location of this restaurant speaks for itself: here all the houses have their own history, Gorky Park and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior are within walking distance. There are rumors that the walls of this restaurant were painted by the same group of artists as the walls of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, it's incredible, isn't it?

The restaurant BAGEBI was named after the district of Tbilisi, where the house - studio of Zurab Konstantinovich Tsereteli is located.

At the entrance, we were met by two wonderful hostesses, who escorted us to our table. It was located in the "Arch" hall and through the windows we could see the "Winter Garden" of BAGEBI. Sitting in such an astonishing hall with painted walls, we had the feeling that we were in a temple not only of food, but also of art. It seems to me that the opportunity to feel something like this may become a reason to pay attention to this place. The subjects of the murals in one hall were the motifs of frescoes by Italian masters such as Amborgio Lorenzetti, Piero Del Francesco, Benozzi Gazzoli, and in the other - scenes from the Iliad of Homer with motifs of ancient Russian chronicles. There is a lot of art in the restaurant, all the paintings, graphics and sculptures used in the interior are the works of the artist Zurab Tseretili. Rooms are full of sunlight and flowers, the furniture looks minimalistic, but at the same time elegant.

I also noticed how the waiters were dressed: comfortable simple clothes in pastel green and beige colors looked nice. I suppose the real credit for the created atmosphere goes to the caring and professional staff.

As a compliment, we were served two slices of bread and butter with various herbs. The menu is based on traditional Georgian recipes in the author's modern interpretation of the chef - Nikita Verchenko. The wide variety of dishes became both a big plus and a difficulty for us. Certainly everyone could find something for themselves, depending on taste preferences, because even traditional dishes had several interpretations. But it was very difficult for us to choose. Despite this, we settled on Imeretian Khachapuri (550 rubles), two types of kharcho: one in the traditional sense as soup (550 rubles), and the other as a second course (650 rubles).

The soup seemed pleasant to me, it had a lot of vegetables and perfectly-cooked beef. I liked to eat soup with khachapuri, the combination of these flavors was magical. As for Kharcho in Megrelian with chicken, this is what is in the form of a second course. My mom said that she was trying this for the first time. I wonder why the creators decided to call this dish Kharcho, because it doesn't look like it at all. This dish can be described as a acid and sharpness brown-beige substance at room temperature, to which a deep-fried cheese stick in breadcrumbs and chicken pieces were added. As my mother said, she liked it, but, unfortunately, the dish quickly cooled down and at this temperature it no longer gave such pleasure. For dessert, we shared a Honey cake made of mountain honey (470 rubles), sounds very attractive, but I didn’t taste anything special.

My absolute favorite of that lunch was a Pear Lemonade (650 rubles). It was excellent, I could feel this sweet taste from childhood, so well known to us, thanks to the Duchess, but this one was not synthetic, which made it unforgettable. The delightful taste soothed my body and soul.

I highly recommend you to visit the BAGEBI restaurant if you are not only a lover of Georgian, but also get visual enjoyment from art objects: paintings, sculptures or elegant interior items. Most of all I liked khachapuri and Pear Lemonade, it is divine, I will remember this taste for a long time. Who knows what might become your favorites, go and find out!

Reading "A Hero of Our Time" in the 9th grade, I could not even think that in a couple of years I would be in a cafeteria called "Pechorin". The character of Lermontov's novel captivated me with his charisma so much that, after learning about this cafe, I immediately went there with my friend.

This cafe is represented in several districts of Moscow - my choice fell on "Pechorin" on Novocheremushkinskaya Street. The cafeteria is located on the ground floor of a beautiful modern building with panoramic windows: you will definitely notice it from afar as it is decorated with bright white signboard.

Having just entered the cafeteria, I immediately smelled the aroma of fresh pastries. The air was saturated with the flavour of raspberries, cinnamon and coffee. It was one o'clock in the afternoon, I hadn’t had any breakfast, and this smell made me even hungrier.

First of all, I paid attention to the modern interior, full of small, but significant details. In one place there was a beautiful curved vase with fresh flowers, in another – a lamp of unusual shape, similar to a tree. The cafe had nice warm artificial lightning, which was complemented by natural light from the huge windows.

Surprisingly, there were a lot of people in the cafeteria. It turned out that “Pechorin” is also a bakery, specializing in the production of bread and pastry, which is the reason why many customers were making takeaway orders.

Unfortunately, there were no more than seven tables in total. A queue gradually began to form around them, but we managed to take an empty one. A friendly young waiter came up to us, put two menus and poured some cool water (without our request). It was pretty nice because of the hot weather outside. To put it mildly, food prices were… very high. Small cheesecakes cost 650 rubles, one croissant – 350 rubles, milled porridge - 580 rubles. Such an expensive cafeteria! However, we did not skimp on delicious food and ordered a chicken sandwich, a raspberry croissant, an apple strudel, two exclusive drinks: coconut raff and latte with salted caramel. I was disappointed that the waiter didn't take any notes. He told us that he would remember everything, as a result I got confused in the dishes and forgot to name the chicken soup. So, I had to order chicken soup at the end of the meal, which was very strange.

At first, the waiter brought us drinks, the croissant and the strudel. To tell the truth, I expected to see the sandwich, but the waiter didn't ask us about the order of serving the dishes.

The croissant was just amazing! I had tried many of them but this one was the best. Very juicy, soft dough was covered with a layer of dried raspberries and butter. Slowly taking the last bite, I felt how a delicate chocolate cream with raspberries pieces got on my tongue. My nose caught the pleasant aroma of lukewarm pastry.In a flash I found myself over the moon… It was very appetizing both to the eye and to the taste buds.

The strudel became the subject of our special attention. According to the menu, a piece of apple strudel cost 480 rubles. We expected to see a large dessert, but the waiter brought us only 100 grams. We were shocked… But later it turned out that the apple dessert was broken in the check for 229 rubles. A very strange situation. As for the taste, it wasn’t unusual: thin soft dough covered apples, raisins and nuts. Powdered sugar was carefully sprinkled on top of the dessert. My friend roughly compared it to a bun from “Auchan”, that's how disappointed she was.

The coconut raff was too sweet for my liking: it felt like the milk was mixed with white chocolate. As for my friend, she really liked Pechorin’s latte and said that the notes of salted caramel gave coffee “a refreshing effect”. Besides, she paid attention to the drawing on a drink that lasted until the end of the meal.

The chicken sandwich was so huge that we shared it between ourselves. The meat pieces were marinated in citric acid sauce and put between 2 slices of bread, which was really delicious: incredibly soft and fluffy, as if only from the stove. The chicken was topped with avocado sauce, lettuce and arugula. Unfortunately, the sandwich did not keep its shape well and quickly fell apart due to the large amount of filling, but we ate it with pleasure.

As mentioned earlier, the chicken soup was brought to me at last. To be honest, by that time I had been already full, therefore I ate only half of the broth, some meat pieces, spicy vegetables and moderately soft and large handmade noodles. There was also a half-boiled egg, the yolk of which flowed into the broth. I found this dish very nourishing and low-fat, ideally suitable for lunch.

Throughout the meal, we were approached by attentive waiters, who brought us new napkins (it was hard to eat desserts without them) and asked if everything was fine and if we needed something. Moreover, the waiters noticed that we were in their cafeteria for the first time and gave us two yummy eclairs in a beautiful box. So, we didn’t have any complaints about the kindness, professionalism of the staff.

By the way, I asked one of the waiters about the name of the cafeteria. To my disappointment, he said that it had nothing related to literature. “Pechorin” is derived from the verb, which in Russian means to bake (“pech”). So, it turned out to be a well-thought-out publicity stunt.

All in all, despite some faults, “Pechorin” appeared to be a satisfying experience for me and my friend. The homelike atmosphere, the incredible palette of dishes, the high-quality service – you should definitely visit this place. But don’t forget to take a large amount of money, otherwise you will only be able to afford a cup of coffee.

“OMG coffee” is a cafe that became famous on Instagram for its appealing breakfasts, cube pancakes and cocoa bombs. To fill your mouths with saliva, your noses with illusory wonderful aromas, and you with the desire to visit this cafe and capture it on camera, I advise you to look through their Instagram account. They clearly know that young people now love with their eyes, which is confirmed by the aesthetic design of their posts and the picturesque presentation of the dishes.

“OMG coffee” has 4 addresses: in Moscow it’s located at the Kuznetsky Most, Sukharevskaya and Kurskaya metro stations. Besides, there is also a cafe in Moscow region, the Pavlovo-Podvorye shopping center. My review is dedicated to the venue on Kuznetsky Most street.

Location: pinky and pretty

The cafe with glass doors and windows framed by wood is architecturally inscribed in a pretty building of light terracotta and muted pink colors, decorated with bas-reliefs. There are similar small shops and coffeehouses next to it, but you definitely won't miss “OMG coffee” because of its two logos.

The inside of the cafe is quite cramped, accommodating about 8 small tables made of wood or decorated as if they are made from marble. So, taking into account the popularity of this cafe, it will be fairly difficult to find a free seat here on weekends. Nevertheless, its atmosphere is very pleasant. It’s created by peach-pink and white tones in the interior, garlands on lamps and windows, numerous white vases of bizarre shapes with no less strange flowers that stand on the ledges of the walls, soft music and alluring smells of pancakes.

Service: amiable and courteous

When my friend, whom I had invited for a higher level of expertise, and I came in, a waiter immediately led us to a vacant table. In general, there were only two waiters in the cafe, but this number was quite enough. They were dressed standardly: white shirts, black pants, aprons and badges. We received our menus: for dishes and for drinks. Actually, they are a little shabby on the outside, but their filling is a masterpiece of design and photographic art. Photos of the dishes are bright, detailed and insanely appetizing. Under the name of each item, there are ingredients listed as usual. In addition, the information about the content of gluten, lactose and sugar is separately prescribed there, which is very important for some people. Both of the waiters were very polite and friendly, and answered our questions about the dishes in detail.

Our waiting wasn’t too long. First, we received our drinks.17 minutes later, samples of aesthetic cooking unfolded in front of us.

Menu: tasteful and hearty

It's worth starting with one of the exclusives of this place - the cocoa bomb. The waiter brought us a large cup with a big chocolate ball inside it. Then he began pouring hot milk on it, thereby melting the ball, from which marshmallows gradually floated. It certainly looked in the spirit of Instagram. As for the taste, my friend described it as sweet, but a little treacly.

I ordered raspberry tea with mint, although in fact, it is not tea, but a hot berry drink based on raspberry puree. It possessed natural sweetness with a pleasant sour aftertaste.

The cafe is primarily focused on desserts, breakfasts (which are served all day) and various drinks, but dishes from Asian and European cuisine are presented in the menu there as well.

I ordered a poke with salmon. It was served on a flat plate. And, honestly, I didn’t enjoy it too much, since usually poke is served in a deep bowl, in which all the products are separated from each other. Here they got a little mixed up because of the plate, but still continued to look presentable and tasted amazing.

My taste buds were delighted with how the contrasting products in the poke complemented each other. The warm, slightly tasteless base from quinoa was perfectly combined with cold briny salmon. The bitter arugula set off the sweetness of the bell pepper, and the soft avocado contrasted with the crisp fresh cucumbers. Edamame beans brought some originality to the texture, and all this eclectic taste was crowned with sour nut sauce.

Later the dessert followed. It was a cube pancake with condensed milk and salted caramel. The cream and vanilla ice cream were spread over the sponge cake that was decorated with caramel and sprinkled with dark flax seeds. Thin wafers inserted into the dough imitated the ears of some animal and made me take a photo of this adorable cake. Being smitten by my knife, the biscuit cube demonstrated its filling: a thick cream of condensed milk. At that moment, I realized that I was going to have a sugar stroke. I took pleasure from how the hot pancake was paired with cold ice cream, and flax seeds diluted this insanely sugary mixture.

Honestly, I left the dessert half-eaten, and this is not only because of its incredible sweetness, which should be expected, but also because of the richness of the previous dish. That’s why I strongly advise you to limit yourself to one menu item and enjoy drinks better.

Prices: causing pain and forming a hole in the wallet

How much does such a tasty and aesthetic pleasure cost? A lot. And it seems to me that the prices here are inflated. This is easily explained by the popularity of the cafe, its location and Instagram food serving, but still not everyone can afford it. My friend and I left 2780 rubles in “OMG coffee”. For example, my poke cost 830 rubles, whereas in our faculty’s favourite cafe “Eat&Talk” a similar dish has the price of 420 rubles. I can agree that the portion in “OMG” is bigger and richer, but still the price difference is enormous.

In summary, “OMG coffee” is a great place to meet with friends, have a delicious meal, create a nice visual content for your Instagram stories, chat about anime with waiters and satisfy your need for sugar for a long time ahead. But not on a regular basis. Otherwise, you risk leaving your scholarship or salary in this cafe.