NEO

"NEO" is a restaurant-museum dedicated to the history of food and culinary discoveries, where dishes from the past, present, and future converge.

"NEO" is a restaurant of discoveries located on the top floor of the "ATOM" pavilion at the VDNKh exhibition center. The restaurant's important educational mission is to introduce Moscow residents and visitors to the city to the history of gastronomy and the achievements of science in the field of food through dishes from the past, present, and future, presented in the author's interpretation of chef Mark Statcenko. The name "NEO," meaning "new," reflects the main idea: the development of gastronomy, like other areas of life, would be impossible without humanity's desire for everything new, including new tastes and combinations. To implement this project, the "Atom" foundation invited Evgeny Reimer, a Samara restaurateur and founder of the Milimon Family restaurant association, known for projects such as the "Livingston" restaurant-travel experience, "Vashche Ogon'," and the artisanal bakery "Beloturka." Evgeny created the concept for the new establishment, based on the main idea of the entire "ATOM" pavilion: "education through entertainment." The menu is based on neo-Russian cuisine, representing a balance between the past, in the form of favorite dishes of Soviet scientists, modern comfort food in the author's interpretation, and fantasy dishes based on future trends. The bar menu was created by Alexander Bulavtsev, head bartender at Milimon Family, using traditional Russian beverages – distillates, liqueurs, and infusions – with locally sourced products, traditional berries, and herbs. The wine list supports Russian winemaking, from large producers to young winemakers. The interior was designed by architect Andrei Tsygankov, founder of the Nograph bureau. The space is seamless: "NEO," with its many interesting visual elements, fits perfectly into the overall exposition of "ATOM." The eclectic design is a blend of past and future, where the future is represented by biomorphic forms, holograms, and media technologies, while the past is represented by artifacts such as frescoes and wooden reliefs. A special area of the restaurant is called "Food of the Future," where a holographic woman will talk about current trends and perspectives. At "NEO," you can learn about the Zero Waste movement, which has become another important feature of the concept: the creators of the restaurant believe that the future of gastronomy is impossible without a responsible attitude towards nature. Located on the top floor of the "ATOM" pavilion, the restaurant occupies nearly a thousand square meters, with a similarly sized terrace. The impressive views of the Central Avenue of the VDNKh, the square in front of the "Cosmos" pavilion, as well as the fountains and other iconic landmarks of the country's main exhibition, make the restaurant's terrace a unique observation platform and an excellent place for hosting vibrant events, from concerts to open-air gastronomic dinners. The restaurant also features a children's area where educational and entertaining workshops will be held, making it one of the key places for family leisure activities at the VDNKh.