Blini exceeded every expectation

I went in with low expectations — I'd had mediocre versions before. What I found was Blini made with real commitment to salted herring and technique. The rich and dairy-forward result was more complex and satisfying than anything I'd had before.

Russian New Year table is the most important annual food event, laden with Olivier salad, herring under fur coat, and other Soviet-era staples. The a Moscow restaurant was exactly right for this kind of eating. black tea from a samovar was offered as the natural choice and it elevated everything. When a dish you thought you knew surprises you completely, that's worth celebrating. Five stars without hesitation.