La Maree

«La Maree» is a seafood restaurant with its own fish shop in Protochny Lane, near Smolenskaya metro station. Seafood and fish are brought in from more than 20 countries: the counters offer rare shellfish and wild-caught fish, and some inhabitants — lobsters, for instance — guests pick straight out of the tank before they're cooked. The kitchen is overseen by brand chef Abdessattar Zitouni, who leads a team of Russian and Italian cooks. Besides the main Mediterranean menu, there are Italian and Thai sections, as well as a surprisingly large selection of meat dishes for a seafood restaurant. The wine list deserves special mention — an extensive selection that has been noted more than once by Wine Spectator magazine. The interior is done in pastel tones with a nautical theme: seahorse-shaped lamp shades, chairs with gilded shell-shaped backs, and decor featuring anchors, ship's wheels, and starfish set the mood for dinner with a view of the fish counter.