European Restaurants in St. Petersburg

Letuchii Gollandets (Flying Dutchman).
This upscale restaurant is part of a complex onboard the replica Flying Dutchman ship that includes a fitness center, beauty salon and DJ bar. The restaurantês best feature is the views across the Neva that are afforded by the full-length windows. The shipês position allows a great outlook right over to the Winter Palace on the left bank of the Neva and the Stock Exchange and Rostral Columns on the Vasilevsky Island Spit. Quite a swank restaurant, in addition to the views the Flying Dutchman boasts stylish furniture and fittings, a trendy bar and nice low-key chill-out music. The service is decent as well but the meals can take an age to come. The menu has a mix of meat and fish dishes, with little on offer for vegetarians. Most of the meals are fairly sparse À just the meat and fish with whatever side dish you order. Of course the food is very tasty, but at an average of $30 for a main course, itês not at all good value. An average bill per person at the Flying Dutchman should top $50. Worth coming for the atmosphere and views, but not if youêre just after a quality dining experience.
Opened 11-01 daily (cafe: 11-20).
Address: Mytnenskaya Naberezhnaya, #6, metro Gorkovskaya (on the Flying Dutchman ship). Tel: 336-3737. Open 12:00-0:00.

Tri Peskarya.
Tri Peskarya claims to be a Lithuanian-European restaurant. What Lithuanian cuisine is exactly is probably a mystery to most people and a visit to this restaurant wonêt make things much clearer with only four dishes on the menu specified as Lithuanian. The dishes are more generally Eastern European in flavor with meals such as cheese-filled pork the norm. Very cheap with most main courses costing $10 or less. The food tastes better than you would expect for the price and the service is also better than you would expect À very quick and efficient. Also a good place for drinking, Tri Peskarya has six types of Lithuania Svyturys beer on tap as well as a quality range of beer snacks, all priced lower than you would expect. And all this is topped off by one of those country house style interiors that for once doesnêt look cheesy. The food at Tri Peskarya wonêt take St Petersburg by storm, but itês a well-run restaurant where that boasts value for money and something a bit different.
Address: Nevsky Prospekt, #70, metro Gostiny Dvor. Tel: 579-9937. Open 12:00-3:00.

Ili.
A very popular two-level complex right in the heart of Nevsky Prospekt, which makes the low prices so hard to believe. Downstairs is a bistro and bar where the most expensive meal costs 150R ($5.50) or 200R ($7.40) with a side. Sure, the food is pretty ordinary but it fills if it doesnêt titillate the taste buds. Likewise, the alcohol is very cheap making this a great 24 hour drinking hole. A young student clientele might make it an even better one depending on your interests. DJs keep the atmosphere upbeat at night time and the interior looks rather trendy for a bistro, although the tables and chairs are quite uncomfortable. Thereês no table service at the bistro À you have to order at the counter. Upstairs at the restaurant there is table service and the food isnêt much more expensive. Which is a good thing because it doesnêt taste much better either. Dishes on the menu range from Asian soups to pasta and cost a maximum of 300R ($11). But Ili has its purpose. Itês a cheap place to fill up on food or alcohol amongst a young, vibrant crowd. Possibly best as a pre-party place or somewhere to meet friends when youêre short on cash.
Address: Nevsky Prospekt, #52, metro Gostiny Dvor. Tel: 331-9090. Restaurant open 12:00-2:00, Bistro open 24 hours.

Teikhen.
Teikhen is well worth a mention just for boasting one of the weirdest mixes of cuisines of any of St Petersburgês restaurants: European (specifically Mediterranean), Japanese and Mexican. Japanese dishes dominate the menu and the interior is a modern take on traditional Japanese design, decorated in red, grey and white. The result is quite sleek and stylish. Located on a corner, Teikhenês large picture windows look out onto Nevsky Prospekt on one side and the Fontanka Canal on the other. With three cuisines on offer there is a lot of choice. The Mediterranean food is great while the Mexican dishes are a little bland. Prices are about right at around 400R ($15) for a main course. Then there is an endless selection of sushi, sashimi and other Japanese dishes to choose from. Teikhen has thoughtfully late breakfasts from 11am À 2pm and a good value business lunch after that. More than just a restaurant, there is either live jazz music or a DJ performing at Teikhen every night from 8pm until closing time at 6am. A stylish place with a lot of choice and meals that wonêt have you complaining.
Address: Nevsky Prospekt, #66/29, metro Gostiny Dvor. Tel: 314-8034. Open 11:00-6:00.

Il Patio.
The pizzeria chain that has countless outlets in Moscow also has a couple of locations in St Petersburg, both on Nevsky Prospekt, making it a convenient place to dine. With a casual atmosphere, you donêt have to worry if a day of sightseeing has taken its toll on your appearance at Il Patio. Your best bet is to stick to the restaurantês specialty and sample one of their pizzas À theyêre filling and the more expensive ones are very tasty. Staff are also happy to remove or add any ingredients you request. Pizzas range in price from 120 rubles ($4) to about 400 rubles ($14). Drinks cost around $4 or $5. There are also pasta, seafood and other assorted Italian dishes on the menu but itês better to steer clear of them. There is a salad bar on offer that has a strong aura of potential food poisoning around it. The outlet at 30 Nevsky Prospekt serves some decent breakfasts as well. The omelettes are filling and flavorsome. The staff is generally efficient and the food is made quickly even though these restaurants are always busy. An average bill per person is about $20.
Address: 1. Nevsky Prospekt, #30, metro Nevsky Prospekt. Tel: 314-8215. Open 9:00-21:00.
2. Nevsky Prospekt, #182, metro Ploshchad Aleksandra Nevskogo. Tel: 271-3177. Open 12:00-23:00.