Kalinka Moya

Casual Dining with a Russian Flair

"Kalinka moya" – a magical phrase that evokes childhood memories: your lips curve into a smile, and images of harmonicas, samovars with steaming spouts, and stacks of pancakes, pies, and pastries with golden crusts flash before your eyes! The "Kalinka Moya" restaurant opened its doors in September 2021. It embodies the Russian soul with vibrant touches, from the samovars used for tea ceremonies to the brickwork that dates back to the building's construction in 1770. Large stained-glass windows overlook the Kazan Cathedral, creating a sense that a carriage is about to arrive, carrying elegantly dressed guests who will dismount, greet the owner, Mr. Milutin, and engage in conversation. The menu at "Kalinka Moya" can be described as casual dining, but with a deep respect for traditional Russian cuisine. The young chef, Andrei Vinogradov, uses locally sourced ingredients from farms in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. Each dish is built around a primary ingredient, prepared in a variety of ways: sous vide, grilled, cooked in a Josper oven, blanched, and baked. It's also worth noting the selection of homemade pickles, dried farmer's meats and game from the Altai region, local cheeses, thinly sliced raw northern fish (stroganina), and salted fish from the Baltic Sea – all abundantly represented in each section of the menu. A wide variety of pies, pastries, and homemade cookies are available as accompaniments to tea or as appetizers. The restaurant's pride and joy is its handmade dumplings and vareniki, with about ten different varieties available. Guests can purchase these to enjoy at home. For breakfast, Chef Vinogradov offers porridge with various toppings, egg dishes with a variety of additions, toasts, sandwiches, pancakes, and vareniki, as well as syrniki (cheese pancakes) and baked goods. In the appetizer section, the chef offers stroganina of muksun fish (490 rubles), which is served alongside potato pancakes with whipped sour cream and a generous portion of sturgeon caviar (540 rubles). Among the salads, the classic Olivier salad (450 rubles) and the salad with Baltic sprat (490 rubles) remain popular choices regardless of the season. Lovers of soups will enjoy the classic, rich solyanka (550 rubles) and the pea soup with smoked meats (470 rubles). The grill section features Gatchina chicken (270 rubles per 100 grams) and steaks of Voronezh beef (from 750 rubles per 100 grams), which are served with homemade sauces based on plums, tomatoes, or peppers (from 90 rubles). The dessert selection is equally impressive and offers a variety of sweet treats. The famous rum-infused babka, a St. Petersburg specialty, is served with whipped cream and cloudberries (390 rubles), while the buckwheat honey cake with lemon ganache is adorned with fresh, juicy berries (480 rubles). The wine list at "Kalinka Moya," curated by sommelier Kirill Burlutsky, features a selection of the finest wines from Russian producers: Phanagoria's "Pet Nat" and Valeria Zakharina's "Kokur Brut," Chateau Taman's rosé Zweigelt and Sauvignon Blanc, Sikory's Riesling, and Kacha Valley's Sangiovese. These wines range from rich and full-bodied to light and sparkling, with tannins and delicate bubbles that dance on the tongue. However, don't limit yourself to wine, as the cocktail menu, created by Dima Yatsikman, also offers some surprises: the "Zhar-Ptitsa" cocktail (650 rubles) perfectly embodies its name. When served, the bird made of baking paper is lit on fire, creating a dramatic display before disappearing, leaving the guest to savor the combination of vodka infused with hibiscus and cranberries, red vermouth, chili pepper, and cordial with vanilla and barberries. Served in a rocks glass, the A.S. cocktail hints at the famous Russian poet with its name and tropical notes, evoking a sense of origin. The "SAD" cocktail captures the French chic with Chartreuse liqueur and Lillet aperitif, which will add a blush to your cheeks and inspire you to whisper "mon chéri!" to your companion. In the interiors of "Kalinka Moya," every guest is under the watchful eye of mythical women-birds, Sirin and Alkonost, who greet guests at the entrance and guide them to each of the restaurant's rooms, through a colorful composition of colors and a variety of textures. The juicy orange, terracotta, delicate blue, and green hues in the furniture are complemented by the fragile and uncompromising brightness of the brickwork, carefully restored during the renovation. The monograms on the tiles and the crystal, combined with bronze, brass, and malachite inlays in numerous decorative and lighting fixtures, create a sense of luxury and transport you back to a time when life was vibrant with grand balls, palace splendor, and unusual delicacies served at special dinners in the Winter Palace. Here, there is always time to celebrate life, because life itself is a reason to celebrate!