Restaurants in Moscow

We've recently been to a very interesting restaurant, Oblomov.

 Oblomov is a famous Russian character of a novel by Ivan Goncharov. Like most Russian literature, "Oblomov" novel (1859) is very versatile and profound. However, in a nutshell, the protagonist, Oblomov,  is a symbol of dwindling and lapsing into idleness  Russian nobility.

The three-floored mansion in the city center houses the restaurant. There are 3-4 rooms designed in the 19th century style. Having entered Oblomov, you're immediately find yourself in the atmosphere of the 19th century. They tried so hard to restore the atmosphere that they succeeded. Being there is an unforgettable experience. Which I would not apply to the food.


The place is certainly overpriced.  As I see now, the prices on the menu do not include tax, in the end, tax ran up to 30 dollars. Service 10 % has also been included which is not a usual practice in Russia = 20 dollars for the bland, impersonal service of a waitress who couldn't explain coherently what the dishes on the menu were like.

I ordered milk-sucking piglet roulette at 600=20 dollars for several thin slices. I'll tell you one thing: I should have bought some cheapest sausage in a convenience shop nearby and eaten it at home at 2 dollars and the taste would have been the same. I ate it up with aversion,  just because it was expensive.

Porcini in sour cream (picture below) were served in a bun. Porcini is actually a very traditional Russian dish. So if you are interested in authentic cuisine, you'd better try them. It's also difficult to spoil the dish made of porcini stewed in sour cream so the dish was as tasty as any porcini would have been. It's well worth trying at 450 roubles=15 dollars. 

The rabbit at 850 roubles=30 dollars was just boringly regular, common, mediocre. I suppose any housewife can cook it like that. It was like a familiar home-made dish of your granny, which you've tried many times but still find mouth-watering. Only your granny wouldn't charge you that much. Moreover, there was a lot of meat, enough even if you are very hungry.

The dish we both liked was duck medallions at 800 = 27 dollars. Beautifully served with original taste. If you don't go to the restaurant just to eat, but to try something new - this dish seems to be the right choice. 

Desserts. They didn't impress me much. Some whimsical definitions on the menu don't make up for the lack of flavor. I ordered eclairs at 90 roubles = 3 dollars which were tiny even for me. They were tasty in a boring sort of way, one could buy such at any cafe. I've tried my husband's dessert at 300 roubles, now I don't remember what it was like, which is a definite sign of boring taste.

The waitress. She couldn't manage to put on a smile at us till we ordered at 3 000 roubles. After that she relaxed and started talking to us and even joking. I think waiters are the essential part of restaurants and employing such indifferent staff, either they are bored or underpaid, is a mistake restaurant managers often make.

All in all, visiting the Oblomov is a worthwhile experience unless you're strapped for cash. The atmosphere created there is hard to beat. The food you'll order needs a fastidious preliminary discussion with a waiter in order to feel content with your choice. Some dishes represent the Russian cuisine which is rare in Moscow restaurants. The service is a bit impersonal but some may call it "unobtrusive". 

   

Also the Brown Fox and Lazy Dog cafe here.