What (& Where) Do You Eat in Russia? - Part 2

 

As I mentioned in my last post, we have plenty of restaurants to chose from. 

 

We don't really go to any typical "Russian" places.   There are a lot of places called a "Stolovaya", which is a basic, cafeteria-style restaurant that was "popular" (i.e. pretty much all that existed) in Soviet times.  They are still pretty popular with locals - basic soups, potatoes and other filling sides, pelmini (little meat dumplings in broth), cabbage, maybe some meat or fish.

 

But being in a big city, we have other options. 

 

Tandoor is our favorite.  The best Indian food in the city.  Owned by an couple (Indian man, Russian woman) who also live in Atlanta (funny, right?), and we see them all of the time around the neighborhood & at our gym.  The Range Rover on the sidewalk is theirs.      

 

 

 

A few of our favorites - Bengali fish curry (extra spicy), lemon rice, and baigan masala ( a creamy, spicy, coconut eggplant dish)

 

 

Our closest pub is Radio Ireland.  It's a 5 minute walk from the apartment.  How great is that?



 

 

 

They have set up their outside terrace - 2 TV's playing football, and it has temporary windows & heaters set up until the weather gets nicer (which is still isn't in late June!!!!).

 

Pat seems to like it here

 

 

Testo is where we go for pizza or salads for lunch during the workweek.  Really good thin-crust pizza

 



All Russian menu, but we manage just fine

The other place we go to is the Fish House.  They sell fish, and are a little on the expensive side.  But they have a reasonably priced lunch menu with Russian soups (Ukha, Solyanka, creamy mushroom), typical local salads (Olivier Salad, herring salad, cucumber with sour cream), and a few international stand-byes. 

Ukha is a primarily a clear fish broth, made with a mix of local fish, and usually a few small pieces of root vegetables.  Not my favorite, but it's not bad.

Solyanka is a Russian & Ukrainian soup, normally made with meat, cabbage, pickles, tomatoes, and a bunch of spices and some vinegar. 

And Olivier Salad (or Russian Salad) is a very traditional salad in Russia.  It's normally made with diced potatoes, peas, onions, eggs, pickles, some sort of protein (chicken, bologna or ham, tongue, shrimp), and mayonnaise.  Everything is diced up into small, uniform pieces.  It's pretty tasty if you ask me!

 

 Next up are the Ginza restaurants - Terrassa, Ribeye, Mansarda are the ones nearby.  According to their website, the Ginza Project Group owns more 100 restaurants & bars in St. Petersburg & Moscow.  They also own several in NYC, London, and now Miami.

 

They are pricy!  And snobby!  And even if you have a reservation, they may bump you for someone who looks more fabulous (especially on a Friday or Saturday night).  And all of the waitresses are at least 6 ft. tall without heels & legs that stretch to the moon (as well as their fair share of other enhancements).   But the food is good, and it's a fun scene to hang out in every so often.

 

Terrassa (i.e. Terrace) is on the roof

 

 

Flashback from June 2013 - dinner at Mansarda (i.e. Attic)

 

 



Now let's go to Belgium.  Or at least, drink some Belgian beer.  At the Kriek Brasserie, they have 100+ draught and bottle beers.

 



Dve Palochki (Two Sparrows) is our favorite sushi/Asian restaurant.  It's a chain, and not too fancy, but good & fresh sushi.  And they are open 24 hourss/day, so it's always busy

 

Favorite Coffee Shop?  The Coffeeshop Company, which is a Viennese chain.  Nice Café Americanos and croissants, and their Iced Latte isn't half bad!

Best breakfast?  Café Singer.  This is a rather famous building in Saint Petersburg - it was the Russian branch of the Singer Sewing Machine Company.  Art nouveau in style, with a glass tower & globe at the top.  After the 1917 revolution, the building was given to the Petrograd State Publishing House.  And to this day, it still holds a book store on the 1st 3 levels. 

The Café is newer (2006), but is a great place for breakfast - blinis, pastries, omelets, etc....

 

Schaste ("happiness" in English) is a new & trendy café.  Really slow.  But good coffee and pastries.

 

 

And finally, Where do we go to watch sports or just hang out with friends?  ToNYc Bar.  Good burgers, pizza, wings - they have the American bar specialties & then some.  Nice beer selection, reasonable prices, and you can always find a game to watch  

 

 

Once (IF !!!) the sun comes out this summer and the temperatures actually get warm enough to sit outside, I'll share some more pictures of the outdoor patios and other restaurants that we visit............  IF the sun ever comes out again!