Leo

The name is short, but it evokes so many associations – each person has their own. And the sign, although located on Patriarch's Ponds, is almost unnoticeable: "Leo." This private gastronomic salon, created by Elina Tabidze (restaurant group gt.) and Yulia Sumacheva (production company "White Media"), offers a format that is both new and classic for modern Moscow. It's a place where gastronomy meets art, creating a culture not just of food, but of leisure.

Art exhibitions and bold photo projects, literary readings and theatrical evenings – "Leo" is a vibrant hub of creativity, attracting artists, scientists, inventors, politicians, and entrepreneurs. Some become members of the club, while others are their guests. And on days when there are no club events, the doors of the gastronomic salon are open to everyone; all you need to do is book a table on the website, and "Leo" will welcome you with an impeccable Italian menu, a carefully curated selection of delicacies – from artisanal cheeses and sausages to Sri Lankan pink peppercorns – and a level of service unavailable in traditional restaurants. You can come to "Leo" as if you were visiting old friends, and together create your own menu. Perhaps even using ingredients you brought yourself, such as fresh game, freshly caught fish, or a basket of mushrooms. Or maybe with a prized Italian truffle purchased at auction. And the new exhibition on the walls of "Leo" will add even more uniqueness to the moment.

The space at "Leo" is not just unusual, it's alive. The interior is filled with designer items and works of art. Vases by French masters René Lalique, Édouard Cazaux, Pierre d'Avesn, André Hunebelle, and brands Sabino and Verlys, sconces by the Austrian company J. T. Kalmar, chandeliers from the Italian glass manufacturer Venini, and original lamps made from Soviet vintage glass from "Arktika" – all of this can be admired by guests, and even purchased for private collections, making room for the next exhibits. Just like the paintings on the walls, and practically everything that is currently the focus of the salon's vibrant cultural life.

"Leo" conveys its sophistication and perfectionism in everything, including the cuisine. Here, if it's a green salad, it's made with six different types of greens; if it's a steak, it's a tomahawk; the lasagna with Bolognese sauce barely fits on a large oval plate, and the chicken is slow-cooked for an hour and a half "from scratch" to preserve its tenderness and juiciness. And knowing its guests well, "Leo" combines their dream of "dolce vita" with a nostalgic longing for childhood. With tubes filled with delicate condensed milk cream, "bird's milk" cake, and a light custard, and a convincing collection of Italian homemade pasta: with vongole and chili, dried beef, duck and mushroom stew, olive oil and pepper, ravioli with beef and a spicy filling called "knödel." After all, "Leo," created by Elina Tabidze and Yulia Sumacheva, is, of course, a "Da Vinci."