Russkaya Rybalka (Russian Fishing Expedition)

Frommer's Review

For a more hands-on dining experience, head to this island escape not far from the city center and catch your own meal. This restaurant took over a territory of ponds and now harvests local fish that customers can reel in themselves. The chefs then do the dirty work of cleaning, and prepare the fish for you to order. Catfish, eel, carp, crayfish, sterlet, and even sturgeon are among the offerings, but the choice depends on the season. Some months only one type of fish is big enough to eat, limiting you to the fish they bring in from outside. Ducks and swans populate the ponds, too, but are not on the menu. Among the dozens of homemade sauces, the garlic-almond cream sauce is the standout. You can sit on the sunny terrace, or you can rent out the little heated wooden huts that seat six to eight and have your food brought to you there -- huts cost $55 (£28) for 1 hour, $70 (£35) for 2 hours or more. The restaurant itself is welcoming and offers a generous children's play area. The wooded location is a plus and a minus: You get to enjoy fresh air and exhaust-free outdoor eating, but you have to find your way here first. In a taxi or car, it's just 10 or 15 minutes from the city center, but on public transport you have to rely on a trolley bus ride from the metro stop that sometimes takes 30 minutes.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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