When there are a thousand wonderful restaurants from which to choose, how to you go about choosing a good restaurant in Moscow?
Moscow is known for being expensive. It is deserved. In most cities, even Moscow, if you know your way around you can eat well and at a reasonable cost. Well one of the good restaruants in Moscow has to be the KB44. (Kvartira 44, KB stands for Kvartira in Russian since "B" in Russian is pronounced "V"). With great assurance, I can say that you would never choose KB44 on the basis of street appeal.In fact, I can safely say you would never choose it.
True to the theme of the Soviet era, the KB44 requires you to depart the sidewalk for a typically shabby "Soviet era” courtyard. The entrance arch is a little dirty, the ground under the arch is bare, and as you look at the dilapidated gate, one is tempted to ask, "Is this to keep people out or keep people in?” A few steps from the paved sidewalk, the unassuming door, marked to identify the entrance to the restaurant, veils a happy surprise: dirty and shabby to clean, tidy, and delicious!
Decorated with furnishings which are typical of a soviet style communal apartment, KB44 is a gem. The friendly staff makes sitting among table top radios and propaganda posters very enjoyable and interesting. Enjoy simple, but tasty, culinary experimentation as you look around at memories from the Soviet past. As soon as Elena, one of my Moscow tour guide colleagues, and I walked in, I knew this was a place to add to our list of "Best Moscow Restaurants”.
A leisurly visit to KB44 at the end of a day of touring Moscow may be worth an extra hour or two of Moscow guide company. Its like dessert at a restaurant. After a six course meal, if the dessert is terrible, that’s all you'll remember about the restaurant. But if the dessert is to die for, you will forever remember a spectacular meal. So, while you relax and enjoy the atmosphere of KB44, you and your private Moscow tour guide can chat about the exciting day of Mosow touring. Nevertheless, I am sure that your visit and meal at KB44 will be an enjoyable one! I hope you agree that KB44 is one of the very good restaurants in Moscow.
Author: Steve Fowler is a pilot for an American legacy airline and tour planner for RussianTourGuide.com |
