Le Courage

Russian-French Cuisine in the Interiors of Imperial St. Petersburg of the 18th-19th Centuries.

The restaurant Le Courage opened in 2019 at 2 Baskov Lane and is symbolically located in the "Russian House" residential complex. In French, "Le Courage" means "courage," "bravery," and "boldness" – the idea is not only to recreate the atmosphere of the period of the Russian Empire's flourishing, but also to honor the courage of the people of that era. The luxurious interior of the restaurant transports you to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period of the development of Russian cuisine. At that time, it was not considered bad taste to borrow something new and interesting, so French influences began to appear in Russian gastronomic culture. It was then that Russians discovered foreign delicacies: seafood and imported alcoholic beverages, such as champagne, which were previously unavailable and unheard of. At the restaurant Le Courage, they treat the past with great respect, and this idea is reflected in everything – from the interior to each dish. During the day, light streams in through large floor-to-ceiling windows, creating shadows from a pattern that replicates the historical fence of the Michael Palace, while in the evening, warm lighting is provided by chandeliers adorned with flowers. The romantic atmosphere is further enhanced by candles that decorate the bar and tables. The interior of the restaurant was designed by Olga Voldaykina, who is also a co-owner of Le Courage. Antique furniture from the 19th century, enfilade doors, and aged stucco on the ceiling all create the atmosphere of a forgotten St. Petersburg mansion from the time of the Tsars. Every day from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, the restaurant serves breakfast. In the morning, you can enjoy Guriev porridge with nuts, dumplings with cherries and sour cream, soft-boiled eggs with red caviar, croissants, and syrniki (cottage cheese pancakes). The main menu also features Russian-French influences: turkey liver pâté with berry jam and brioche, herring with potatoes, beef tail aspic with horseradish, pancakes with caviar, Olivier salad, and borscht with rendered pork fat. For dessert, you can choose from blanmange with poppy seeds, crème brûlée, or a "Potato" cake. The wine list mainly features Russian and French wines: sparkling, rosé, orange, white, and red wines, as well as champagne. The restaurant Le Courage is not about creating something new, but about remembering the past, because it was wonderful.