If hearty, down-to-earth food and a lively pub ambience is what you're after then look no further than Nevsky Prospect where the Warsteiner Forum on Ploshchad Vosstaniya offers both.
It was the eve of my dining companion's birthday. We chose a cozy corner table and celebrated the occasion with a meal which, though plain, was delicious and not in the least heavy or stodgy as I had anticipated.
Large brass lights hung low over wooden tables, a striking black and white tile floor and wooden wall panelling create a pleasant atmosphere which was being enjoyed by expatriates and Russians alike.
The waitress kindly brought a vase for my flowers and an ashtray to serve as a candleholder -- we came prepared in the event that such niceties would not be included!
A selection of German beers, Erdinger and Warstainer from Germany's largest brewery is on offer to complement the rather salty cuisine.
We opted for a very pleasant semisweet white wine called Clevner Traminer at 8 Deutsche Marks from the range of German Durbacher wines available.
There were also a few varieties of French and Russian wines and champagnes.
The Warsteiner Forum serves a mix of German and Russian cuisine prepared by a Russian chef trained in the art of German cooking.
The menu is available in Russian, German and English with prices in German Marks -- DM 1 is 3,500 roubles at present -- all prices were in marks).
Cold snacks range from simple sandwich with sausage at the not too reasonable price of DM 5,50 to crab salad at DM 14 and black caviar with lemon at DM 24.
We rejected the all too familiar Russian soups on offer --borshcht at DM 5,50, solyanka with sturgeon for DM 15 and shchi with mushrooms at DM 10 and instead chose some German specialities.
My Maultaschen soup was an excellent bouillon with a tasty German variation on pelmyeny (meat dumplings) for DM 5,50.
My companion tucked into a filling vegetable Eintorf soup at DM 8,50 -- full of fresh vegetables, pasta spirals and cubes of ham.
We agreed that the soup served with fresh black and white bread was substantial enough to be a meal in itself.
For the main course my companion chose the peasant's breakfast with salad for DM 11,00.
This was a generous serve of light, sauteed potato cakes with onion diced smoked meats and fried egg. It was not too fatty and was accompanied by a fresh garden salad.
I had one of the few vegetable options on the menu -- potato cutlets with mushroom sauce at DM 8,50. The rapturous expression on my face as I tried my main course ensured that my companion did not allow me to finish it alone.
We even thought to order a second serving of these tasty, vegetarian potato cakes topped with a creamy mushroom sauce.
Other main courses on offer were Russian specialities: pelmyeny with soured cream (smyetana) and butter for DM 9,50, pancakes with mushrooms DM 7 or meat DM 8,50, fried sturgeon with French fries at DM 17 and Beef Stroganoff with rice at DM 17.
German dishes included frikadelle with fried potatoes for DM 11, steer meat with salad DM 19 and pork escallop DM 9.
It was possible to order side portions of fried potatoes for DM 3,50, macaroni for DM 3,50, vegetables at DM 5, French fries at DM 4,50 or rice at DM 3,50.
We ordered a vegetable salad for DM 4. However, though excellent, we barely touched it as the salad portions with our main course were ample.
Other salad options were fish salad for DM 8 -- layers of finely diced salmon, fresh cucumber and egg in a mayonnaise dressing -- or a simple tomato salad DM 4,50 and beetroot salad DM 4.
We rounded off our meal with fine, strong percolated coffee with cream for DM 3.
Mulled Moldavian wine is available at DM 5,50 per 250 ml glass.
Unfortunately we were unable to have dessert as by this time the kitchen was closed and the waiter expressed an eagerness to catch the last metro home. Apart from this the service was efficient and unobtrusive.