Thread: Best Restaurants 2011 - 3 of them in Russia!

The Awards | The World’s 50 Best Restaurants

#48 Анатолий Комм представляет Varvary | The World’s 50 Best Restaurants

Chef Anatoly Komm is turning heads with an approach that is unashamedly 'traditional Russian' on the one hand, but exciting and contemporary on the other. Fans of Komm include Ferran Adrià, who praises the chef for turning clichéd Russian cuisine on its head by combining traditional dishes and contemporary techniques with spectacular results.

His 12-course 'Gastronomic Show', for example, features Borscht with Foie Gras and a Russian Salad using ingredients sourced in Russia.

#83 Semifreddo
#99 Chaika

Anyone heard of and/or eaten at ANY of the restaurants on this list?

Ресторан "Подворье"
Ресторан "Подворье" - Google Search

funny timing...this restaurant, a favorite w/ the "elite," just burned down.

I guess these are some pig disgusting places for nouveau riche snobs where a cup of coffee costs about $100. No thanks.

Originally Posted by Basil77

I guess these are some pig disgusting places for nouveau riche snobs where a cup of coffee costs about $100. No thanks.

++100 ! Waiters hanging over your back and actually being snobbish themselves. Have been to such places a few times, but I don't like it either - I just don't appreciate the over-the-top touches. I prefer basic but stylish.

Speaking of coffee - I am currently in Vienna (Wien); the café capital of the world!
As it is Good Friday, I suspect that pretty much EVERYTHING is closed, apart from cafes etc (and churches!), so I guess I'll be drinking coffee and praying today! Is Good Friday recognised in Russia?

PS - I think it is a VERY sad thing, that Starbucks is the only coffee place that realises that some people are allergic to milk, and offer soya cappuccinos and lattes. Why can't the traditional places wake up to this? Starbucks is not my thing really, but they make such good soy lattes and have free wireless....

I don't understand what's so surprising about the fact that 'World's best restaurants' are expensive places for snobs. What did you expect? Starbucks or McDonalds in this list? A restaurant is evaluated not only for its cousine, but for service also. Waiters should stand behind your back being snobbish... this is a part of their charm.

Originally Posted by Hanna

Speaking of coffee - I am currently in Vienna (Wien); the café capital of the world!
As it is Good Friday, I suspect that pretty much EVERYTHING is closed, apart from cafes etc (and churches!), so I guess I'll be drinking coffee and praying today! Is Good Friday recognised in Russia?

The tradition to close everything on a holiday extremely contradicts to Russian point of view. If people are free of work they will go everywhere: shops, store, supermarkets, restaurants, cafes etc. In Russia EVERYTHING is open on any holiday. The only except is New Year (January 1st).

Originally Posted by Hanna

As it is Good Friday, I suspect that pretty much EVERYTHING is closed, apart from cafes etc (and churches!), so I guess I'll be drinking coffee and praying today! Is Good Friday recognised in Russia?

Of corse it is. This year Orthdodox and Catholic&Protestant Easter are at the same day so we also have it here today.

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Страстная_неделя

Originally Posted by Basil77

Of corse it is. This year Orthdodox and Catholic&Protestant Easter are at the same day so we also have it here today.

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Страстная_неделя

Ok!
Well, I found to my surprise that it is business as usual here in Vienna.

One of the best places that my daughter and I have ever eaten was actually the student run restaurant for the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. The prices were amazingly inexpensive (nothing over $15 in the full service dining room) http://www.techniquerestaurant.com/TECHNIQUE_menu.pdf and their cafe I think nothing was over $8 and it had a great vibe to it with amazing pastries. The students were carefully watched over and anything that was not prepared properly they had to recook it! The students in their hotel management classes were the wait staff and were learning about how to properly set tables, open and pour wine and all that proper etiquette so you had amazing service and tip was included with the cost of the meal! If you ever have the opportunity to visit one of these, I would highly recommend it.

Technique

Originally Posted by Hanna

Ok!
Well, I found to my surprise that it is business as usual here in Vienna.

I never realised there were places where everything was closed on Good Friday! Even here, in a vastly catholic country, people go to work as any other day on Good Friday. The sole exception is teachers, as kids have both, Thursday and Friday off during the Holy Week, for some reason.