Lasciatemi Cantare

Italian cantina with a lively atmosphere on one of St. Petersburg's main bar streets.

"Amore Italia," a restaurant by restaurateur Mikhail Georgievsky, is expanding its presence on the banks of the Neva River. A new Italian culinary outpost has opened at 37/20 Nekrasov Street and is named after a line from the popular retro Italian song "L'italiano" by Toto Cutugno. The Italian phrase "lasciatemi cantare" means "let me sing," and this is not about karaoke, but about a relaxed atmosphere with a touch of irony. The restaurateur's dream is to create a feeling of "joy" for guests – a sentiment shared by restaurateurs, sommeliers, hoteliers, and anyone who is genuinely inspired by hospitality. Mikhail Georgievsky chose Nekrasov Street for his second Italian project (the pizzeria Bruno opened on Kazanskaya Street in 2024) for strategic reasons. "Nekrasov Street is one of those addresses in St. Petersburg where people are willing to go for a walk in search of something interesting, intriguing, and new," Mikhail notes. "We chose Italy because we genuinely love it, and we wanted to expand our scope. Bruno is very compact, and we wanted to create something larger. It's easy and enjoyable to love Italy: it has everything – its people, who are talkative and friendly, and its cuisine, which is warm, heartfelt, and accessible. That's why Italian cuisine is always successful in countries that don't have their own strong culinary traditions." The menu is the result of a creative collaboration between three chefs: pastry chef Kristina Nikochina (Kuznyhouse, Zoe Spb, Zoe Msk), Alexey Pirogov (Novotel St. Petersburg), and Bek Avazov (Bonch, Bruno). In the mornings, the two spacious rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows are filled with the aroma of freshly baked pastries and coffee. The first tastes of the day include poppy seed rolls or cinnamon and cardamom rolls (230 rubles), cinnamon rolls with nuts, caramel, and chocolate cream (330 rubles), Neapolitan rum babka (270 rubles), pistachio cookies with white chocolate (320 rubles), cinnamon rolls with blackcurrant (290 rubles), and freshly baked brioche, which can be topped with salmon or bacon with Hollandaise sauce (530 rubles), or tuna and salsa verde (590 rubles). For those who prefer a more substantial breakfast, there are also hearty Italian-inspired breakfast options. The location in the heart of one of St. Petersburg's main bar districts makes it ideal for evening gatherings with friends over a glass of wine, so the restaurant places great emphasis on appetizers that can be enjoyed as accompaniments. Among the signature dishes are several types of tomatoes with verbena and mozzarella (550 rubles), a bruschetta on freshly baked ciabatta with homemade pate, ricotta, and caramelized onions (350 rubles), and the spicy chianotini appetizer (590 rubles). The wine list focuses on Italian classics, complemented by selections from other regions, while the cocktail list features a variety of Negroni variations. The summer sparkling cocktails in the Spritz style are the featured drinks. The "Focaccia di Recco" (450 rubles), a hot and juicy flatbread made with yeast-free dough and generously topped with fresh stracchino cheese, is a signature dish and a testament to its exclusivity. Homemade pasta is prepared in seven popular variations. The team's favorite is the pasta with shrimp, squid, and homemade bisque sauce (750 rubles). Pizza is baked according to classic techniques with a modern twist, and the main courses include stuffed squid with roasted vegetables (790 rubles) and beef cheeks with sweet potato cream (890 rubles). The atmosphere of the cantina, full of spontaneity, sincerity, life-affirming humor, and charm, which is what people all over the world love about Italy, was created with the help of "St. Petersburg's Basquiat" – the artist who works under the pseudonym Zoika. Especially for "Lasciatemi Cantare," Zoika, who cannot read and draws words, imbuing them with plasticity and character, created a series of posters with Italian symbolism, playing with the style of advertising posters and signs. They feature gastronomy, fashion, and a love of life, with Prada alongside Aperol, and lemons alongside love. This visual narrative is full of warmth, sincerity, and lightness, and that's what "Lasciatemi Cantare" is all about.