47. St. Petersburg Food #2 - Russian Fast Food
There is no shortage of American fast food chains in St. Petersburg (McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, KFC), but as I have not eaten at those places in the US in years (decades, in some cases), I saw no reason to start in Russia. I've always been more interested in local establishments (or even local chains), so that's where I've been going here in St. Petersburg.
One of my favorite places for a quick and inexpensive dinner is a Russian chain (Chainaya Lozhka, "Tea Spoon") that serves borsch (beetroot soup, but you probably already knew that) and blini (thin pancakes that can be stuffed or topped with a variety of sweet or savory ingredients). It's quick, inexpensive, and filling. Typical price for a hearty meal is 300-500 rubles (USD $5-$9).
Another local cafe chain, Teremok, is also present on seemingly every street corner and is quite good. This restaurant originally started as a food stand and has expanded in recent years to dozens of locations around the city center and the suburbs. The focus here is also the range of traditional Russian staples: blini, borsch, kvass, buckwheat kasha, and syrniki. The food is relatively healthy, filling, and inexpensive - again, approximately 300-700 rubles for a meal.
More on some of the less familiar foods available at Teremok: kvass is a delicious beverage made from rye bread. To my taste, it occupies the middle ground between beer, root beer, and cola and may have a small amount of alcohol, although you'd have to drink gallons to feel any effect. Syrniki are delicious fritters that are apparently supposed to be breakfast food but I could (and have) eaten these at all hours of the day. They're made from cottage cheese, flour, eggs, and sugar; pan-fried; and served with sour cream or berries.
If American fast food were more like Teremok or Chainaya Lozhka, I might eat it in the US occasionally! These establishments are a great way to taste traditional Russian street foods. You won't find Beef Stroganov, Veal Orlov, or Chicken Kiev here, but if you want to experience more affordable traditional dishes, these are the way to go.
One of my favorite places for a quick and inexpensive dinner is a Russian chain (Chainaya Lozhka, "Tea Spoon") that serves borsch (beetroot soup, but you probably already knew that) and blini (thin pancakes that can be stuffed or topped with a variety of sweet or savory ingredients). It's quick, inexpensive, and filling. Typical price for a hearty meal is 300-500 rubles (USD $5-$9).
Another local cafe chain, Teremok, is also present on seemingly every street corner and is quite good. This restaurant originally started as a food stand and has expanded in recent years to dozens of locations around the city center and the suburbs. The focus here is also the range of traditional Russian staples: blini, borsch, kvass, buckwheat kasha, and syrniki. The food is relatively healthy, filling, and inexpensive - again, approximately 300-700 rubles for a meal.
More on some of the less familiar foods available at Teremok: kvass is a delicious beverage made from rye bread. To my taste, it occupies the middle ground between beer, root beer, and cola and may have a small amount of alcohol, although you'd have to drink gallons to feel any effect. Syrniki are delicious fritters that are apparently supposed to be breakfast food but I could (and have) eaten these at all hours of the day. They're made from cottage cheese, flour, eggs, and sugar; pan-fried; and served with sour cream or berries.
If American fast food were more like Teremok or Chainaya Lozhka, I might eat it in the US occasionally! These establishments are a great way to taste traditional Russian street foods. You won't find Beef Stroganov, Veal Orlov, or Chicken Kiev here, but if you want to experience more affordable traditional dishes, these are the way to go.
Comments
Post a Comment