Restaurant Armenia

It's been cold in Moscow and the forecast showed rain.  My friend and I ditched our plans for a day out of the city and decided to visit several shops we've been wanting to see.  Late morning the skies were looking a bit grey and frankly it was simply time for a coffee.  She knew of a great little Armenian restaurant and suggested we stop in to warm up.  

It was delightful!  An elegantly carved wood booth with leather upholstery and large pillows was a perfect place to get warm and cozy while looking at the sleet on the other side of the big window.  We ordered several varieties of baklava to try.  A tall, willowy older gentleman with salt and pepper hair and a kind face was seated at the next table.  When our delights arrived I asked the waiter to take a picture of us.  Much to my surprise the man suddenly jumped up and photobombed our picture!  I looked at him in surprise, and with a twinkle in his eye, he smiled and gave a nod.  I threw my head back in laughter.  We enjoyed our baklava and warm drinks then suddenly our mystery man appeared offering us each a small wrapped box.  Inside was a dark chocolate candy.  How did he know my weakness?  

Joyful, fun, generous.  This is who the people of Russia are.

Oldich

Laughing, chatting, smiling and warmed by the company of a group of women, I enjoyed the journey downtown and the destination. A retro restaurant with a chic appeal. The eclectic decor of the cellar felt warm and comfortable while we enjoyed a variety of menus items with a hip twist. Wait staff that spoke English was a plus in my book. 

A fun bonus is the vintage clothing store on the main level. 

Hachapuri

A sign hangs in the front window claiming to be "2013 Trip Advisors favorite ex-pat restaurant".  From the number of ex-pats who have told me about it and the conversation around our table about favorite dishes, I would guess that statement to be well deserved and true.

A crowded room, an accordian playing, a piano with candles lit dancing in the dim light pulls one into intimacy with their table as they huddle close in conversation.  From the Georgian menu we decided to order an array of grilled vegitables, hachapori, dumplings and keebobs.  We picked and nibbled and shared food and conversation.  Before we knew it the night was over and it was time to pull out the umbrellas to head home.

Cafe Michel

Every time I pass this cafe I think how nice it would be to have a meal here.  Maybe it's the carved gargoyals that draw me in or the cozy seating just inside heavy brocade curtained windows.  It just appears warm and inviting.

Vetran's day, one of the American holidays that Chad has off but the girls have school, provided the perfect opportunity to check it out.  This restaurant actually is close to the embassy, only a 15 minute walk!  

The menu, in English, was exquisite.  It felt like I would be dining in true Russian style.  A chilly day on the outside, the heavy, hot meals seemed to complement the season.  A special menu featuring "pumpkin" caught our eye.  We shared a plate of pumpkin risotto and a bowl of steaming hazelnut soup.  I never could have imagined up a soup made from nuts, but here in Russia where life can seem a bit cold and bleak, it seems appropriate.  The creamy, nutty flavor was softly bland but intriguing.  

We left satisfied but agreed that splitting two entrees was the way to go.  It would be a pricy meal out if we were planning on a filling dinner, but lunch didn't manage to break the budget.

Correa's

A friend showed me this little cafe not far from the embassy.  Maybe a 20 minute walk going past the zoo it will be on the left.  It's the sort of place to go with a friend for lunch or just a cup of coffee.  They had a menue in English which always makes me smile.  I like to know what I'm ordering!  I had a nice ceasar wrap that was the perfect size for lunch.  Not particularly fancy, but nice and cozy. 

Centrale Pizza

"Just a short walk from the embassy." we were told as our group set out for dinner.  I guess it was.  In this city anything under 30 minutes is a short walk and we were just at the 30 minute mark when we arrived at the door.  Simply straight up Novey Arbat, across the river and past the Radisson on the other side of the street.

Yummy pasta!  Yummy pizza!  This Italian restaurant is one we will definately return to.

My My

We haven't been out to eat here as a family yet.  It's expensive, so we have just been cooking at home.  It also seems that we are busy enough that to throw the time in to go out to eat just hasn't happened.  But Sunday after church we felt it was time.  I did quiet a bit of asking around and if we wanted to try some Russian dishes we should just go to My My around the corner.  Close and cheap.

First, as an American I read this restaurant name and think "my, my".  But the pronounciation is actually "Moo Moo", as in the sound a cow makes.  This chain restaurant is easily identifiable with the red logo and black and white cow patches on the building.

Cafeterial style was a nice way to introduce ourselves to Russian food.  Salads, soups, rolls and entrees were simply laid in front of us and we went through the line saying "Ya hachoo" (I want) and a finger point.  Not much outside of the mashed potatos was identifiable so we each picked something different and enjoyed a smorgasboard of dishes.

Bland in spices, but flavorful in a mix of ingredients I found Russian food much more to my liking than Colombian food.  I can't say we were jumping up and down in excitment over this wonderful new menu but it wasn't bad.

The price was the best thing of all.  Cheaper and much more healthy than McDonalds, and less money than going to the coffee shop as a family we will keep this on our list of emergency places to grab a meal.  And if you visit us here we are likely to take you there, shuffle you through the line and let you decide if you like Russian food or not!