Ivory Garden

«Ivory Garden» on 8th Sovetskaya Street welcomes guests with a bright, minimalist interior: large windows, sixteen-foot ceilings, columns with elephant bas-reliefs, wicker lampshades, and plenty of greenery create a calm, Balinese atmosphere. The kitchen is open, so you can watch them baking buttery croissants, fluffy vatrushkas with various fillings, and dreaming up new buns of the day. Pastry is handled by Ekaterina Turkova, formerly of Cococo bistro, while the kitchen is led by chef Nikita Golubev, ex-«Zelenoe bistro», known for his skill in fermentation. Breakfasts here are built around egg dishes — there are almost ten of them on the menu. Benedict with salmon tartare is served on brioche, shrimp is added to the scramble, and the omelet is made with truffle julienne. The brioche with butter and a generous portion of red caviar deserves special attention. The menu also includes several types of tartines, and bread can be taken to go. There isn't really a main menu as such at «Ivory Garden», but the starters and porridges essentially serve that purpose. The rice porridge with parmesan is made as a nod to risotto, and the green lentil hummus with smoked meats pairs well with cider and beer. The place is located near Chernyshevskaya, Ploshchad Vosstaniya, and Mayakovskaya metro stations; the average check is 1,000–3,000 rubles.