Lucky Izakaya bar

A Moscow take on the Japanese izakaya concept, featuring original cuisine from "Glen Ballis" and an Asian-inspired cocktail bar.

Moscow, Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street, 23 Website Concept creators: Glen Ballis, Ivan Kukarskikh, and Bogdan Panchenko About the restaurant "Izakaya" is an Asian gastro-bar for everyday enjoyment. Literally translated from Japanese, it means "a place to stop and have some sake." This format is popular in Japan, where people come to relax and unwind with friends and colleagues. The project's ideator and executive chef is Glen Ballis (Margarita Bistro, Remy Kitchen Bakery, Cutfish), who lived in various countries in Southeast Asia for many years and opened three restaurants in Singapore (Moosehead Kitchen-Bar, Maggie Joan's, Gemmills). Head chef is Andrey Krasov ("Fahrenheit," "Wine Cellar"). Glen's deep knowledge of Asian cuisine and Andrey's love for Russian ingredients give a unique interpretation to the dishes. The menu at Lucky Izakaya Bar features tataki, Vietnamese dumplings, noodle soup, yakitori – a national street food dish prepared in custom-made clay ovens and robata grills. This three-tiered grill is considered a hallmark and symbol of Japanese cuisine, and a special type of charcoal is used for it. "The bar menu at 'Izakaya' includes Japanese lagers, fourteen types of sake, a selection of Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese spirits, eight signature cocktails, each of which highlights the flavors of the East and reflects the symbolism of Japanese numerology," says head bartender Maxim Gorelik. The interior of Lucky Izakaya Bar, designed by the Sundukovy Sisters design studio, is comfortable and minimalist in terms of colors, decor, and materials: solid wood, gray concrete, brick, terracotta textured plaster in the kitchen area, and glass. Restored beams and arches, chairs with curved backs and elegant frames, glass "falcons" bricks, shelves above the bar, and an open fire all emphasize the uniqueness of the architecture and the Asian feel of the menu. The space accommodates 58 seats, 19 of which are located at a long, low bar where guests can watch the chefs and bartenders at work. Panoramic windows offer views of the city center. In the summer, these windows will be opened, connecting the bar space with the street. The establishment will be open from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM on weekdays and until 2:00 AM on weekends. During the day, you can enjoy a delicious lunch here, and in the evenings, the bar becomes lively, as it should be – "a place to stop and have some sake."