Palkin is as historic as they come, dating all the way back to 1874. Although restoration did take place, the interior is as sophisticated and tasteful as in imperial times, which all adds to the feeling that you are being treated to a meal in some rich aristocrat's home. The menu is bursting with luxurious foie gras, angus beef, truffles, black caviar and game moulded into historic French/Russian recipes from a bygone era. They also have a seasonally changing five-course special menu with specially selected wines, themed around a different wine-growing area of the world. What's more their permanent wine cellar has been carefully selected to match perfectly to the Russian dishes on offer (we recommend the Alsace wine). If you have money to burn don't miss out on the Chateau Montifaud cognac. Booking is recommended.

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Palkin comments Add Yours

• Letitia - Brattleboro 02 September 2010
  I dined there with a couple of other people in 2005. When the waiter brought my fish to the table, I discovered that it was not fileted. I am very sloppy at fileting fish, so when I asked if he would do it for me, he graciously and expertly spliced and sliced my fish for me. I once asked a waiter to do the same in some overpriced London restaurant, and he didn't know how to do it. Not only was the waiter expert and professional in terms of fileting the fish, his service was just right. Very attentive, but not hovering over us. Kudos to the waiters in Palkin. And do I even need to say that the food was excellent?
• Charles - Moscow 13 May 2010
  Dear IYP,Last month I visited the Palkin restaurant with 3 friends. We had to celebrate a successfull event and it was a great experience, thank you for the idea! Here we were really feeling like czars... all the luxury. Food was great - the service was maybe even too much, but very friendly and they spoke good English. I tried the Kamchatka krab as starter and the chateaubriand. Not to forget the wodka (Beluga brand); the best I ever tried - it was 700rbl per shot, but I did not know wodka could taste like that. The food was not that expensive as expected (but I live in Moscow and prices are higher here, so...). Definitely will return to Palkin next time I am in St. Pete.