For anyone unfamiliar of Andrei Dellos and his establishment eateries like Café Pushkin and the former-Shinok that recreated a proletariat farm eatery complete with goats and milk maidens, than prepare your senses from one of the most visually dazzling restaurant spaces in the world. Think Paris's Le Meurice meets Romanov summer palace infused by a Russian pop-star demographic, Turandot is a real life visual fairy tale the retells the classic story of a Chinese princess and French king through fourteen dramatic eating spaces topped-off with authentic Louis XIV antiques under a joint-leadership of international and Russian chefs. The Florentine Courtyard is laid in marble floors with grand colonnade with glass atrium room and ornate Italian sculptures. Even more elaborate, the Chinese Hall is a circular dining room under fresco sky ceiling with gilded fountain and dinnertime harp music. A separate Silk Hall and Tapestry Room offer more private space for grand Russian celebrations that attracts new-guard aristocrats and TV celebrities.
The Food
A United Nations of menu options includes a European-style tasting or ala carte menu, Dim Sum and Japanese sushi selections. Alan Yau of Hakkasan originally presided over the Dim Sum side the kitchen, a menu mainstay of Moscow's poshest restaurants, serving a rotating presentation of steamed dumplings, crispy duck rolls, steamed crab claws and lobster tempura. The European-style menu delivers appetizers of shrimp salad with pork-filled ravioli, foie gras on strawberry salad, crispy shrimp with bacon and salmon with scallop tartare. Menu oddities can jar the Western palette with heavy items like truffle soup with foie gras, green caviar with potatoes in cream sauce followed by family-style entrees like whole steamed fish, rack of lamb with lentil pancakes, beef stroganoff and Russian-style fried chicken. Be sure to try the assortment of Russian ice creams, made in-house, for dessert with flavors like Sichuan pepper, green tea and ginger.
Last Word
During warmer summer months, a rooftop terrace that’s more eclectic than eccentric offers after-dinner lounge scene.
