Historic cuisine of Veliky Novgorod exists mainly in literary sources. Chronicles and epic poems tell us about such victuals as «ognivo» (thick rich soup with fish fins), elk lips, white meat of lynx, baked swans and bear paws. However, these are fancy treats from a boyar or wedding feast. Common people ate much simpler things. The table was usually laid with cold collations and a pot with first course - shchi (cabbage soup), assorted vegetable soup or uha (fish soup). Actually, back then «uha» was the name for any thick soup, not necessarily made of fish. People of the Novgorod Land also ate cooked grains, oat or pea mush, dried and soaked berries, salted mushrooms, and fish of different kinds. Whitefish, bream and even sturgeon were plentiful in the Ilmen' Lake and local rivers, and such delicacies as caviar and smoked fish fillet were quite common and affordable.
Fish arrived at the table in great variety and cooked in a number of inventive ways - boiled, baked, fried in nut or poppy-seed oil, grilled, poached and stuffed. Vegetables were few in kinds but multiple in application. Cabbage, cucumbers and turnip were the favourites. Steamed turnip became proverbial as a symbol of simplicity and cheapness of a rural meal, since it more or less cooked itself in the oven while the family was working out in the fields. Stuffed with cottage cheese and garlic, it is still a gourmand's delight.
Naturally, Russian cuisine has changed a great deal over centuries. Nevertheless, today restaurants of Veliky Novgorod treat their guests to many of the traditional dishes, cooked in accordance with the old recipes as well as to the modern culinary creations.
Bon appetit, dear guests!
RESTAURANT «HOLMGART»
2, Gazon street
Holmgart» is the old name Varangians gave to Veliky Novgorod in middle ages. Nowadays, the restaurant of this name combines traditions of Russian and Scandinavian cuisine. The interior is quite distinctive, with its massive oak tables inlaid with little wooden tiles, with its skylights and especially its huge fish-shaped brazier right in the dining-hall. Here a piece of meat, fish or poultry of your choice will be grilled to perfection before your very eyes.
Opening hours: noon - midnight
tel.: 7 (816 22) 7 71 92
fax.: 7 (816 2) 11 55 26
RESTAURANT «BERESTA»
2б, Studencheskaya str.
Restaurant of the Beresta Palace Hotel**** is light, spacy and European-looking. Traditional Russian and European cuisine offers a wide range of dishes from classical Viennese schnitzel to the bear meat with rice and cranberries. Only in «Beresta» - amazing dessert «Strawberry Flambe». An extensive wine and cigar card is at your service. The «Beresta» restaurant is known for its marvelous cuisine and service on the international level.
In the main dining hall tables can be arranged in different patterns, according to the guests' wish, creating respectively a cozy or business atmosphere. One of our banquet rooms is decorated in traditional Russian style, with embroidered linen tablecloths and panels of carved wood.
Opening hours:
7 a.m.-11 a.m., noon - 4 p.m., 6 p.m.-11 p.m.
tel.: 7 (816 2) 158 010
fax.: 7 (816 2) 158 025
BEER RESTAURANT «BIERSTUBE»
2б, Studencheskaya str.
«Beresta Palace Hotel»
The classical Austrian Bierstube (literally - beer restaurant) is located at the ground floor of Beresta Palace Hotel****. Its interior is cozy and friendly, and the layout gives our guests a sense of privacy. Light polished wood, lamps suspended on iron chains, candles and embroidered wall hangings are all in accordance with the conventional interior of Austrian beer-cellars.
We always have a widest assortment of beer from various countries, including beer from the tap. The menu contains dishes from all-European and traditional Russian cuisine. You will be pleased with our democratic setting and prices. In the evening you can entertain yourself with karaoke.
Opening hours: 2 p.m. - 1 a.m.
tel.: 7 (816 2) 158 010
fax.: (816 2) 158 025
RESTAURANT «VOLKHOV»
24, Predtechenskaya str.
Aristocratic restaurant of the Volkhov Hotel *** is situated in the very centre of the city, close to its historical part. The main dining-hall is painted in shades of cream and butter, with high arched ceilings and tall windows. If you are planning a family celebration or a business meeting, you can use our banquet hall done up in gorgeous burgundy-coloured velvet.
Opening hours: noon - 4 a.m.
tel.: 7 (816 2) 11 55 09
fax.: 7 (816 2) 11 55 26
RESTAURANT «INTOURIST»
16, Velikaya st.
This restaurant of various faces is a part of the Intourist Hotel *** which is erected on the very bank of the Volkhov river, in a quiet neighbourhood. Its three dining halls - festive Rainbow, blue Russian, and banquet Crystal - will welcome you with elegant table settings and varied dished of Russian and European cuisine.
Our chef is proud to present our salad «Sadko», peasant soup «Ilmen», meat main course «Tsarskoye», and «Volkhov Fish».
There is an ensemble playing in the restaurant in the evening. Express-menu is available for groups and corporate customers. Beside organizing banquets and seminars, we provide catering, including outdoor service.
Opening hours:
noon - 02 a.m. Wed, Thurs, Fr, Sat
noon - 11 p.m. Sun, Mon, Tue
express-cafe
8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
night bar
5 p.m. - 3 a.m.
tel.: 7 (816 22) 7 44 39, 7 74 10
fax.:7 (816 22) 7 41 57
RESTAURANT «SADKO»
16, Fyodorovsky Ruchey
Restaurant of the Sadko Hotel ** has a separate entrance from the front part of the building. The walls of the main dining hall are painted with the images of mythical sea-world creatures whom, according to the legend, Novgorodian merchant Sadko met at the bottom of the Ilmen Lake. Our two banquet rooms are a perfect choice for holding family celebration or business dinner.
The menu will offer our guests multitude and variety of dishes, half of them being our house specialties. Pork «Granovitaya palata» with prunes, apples, nuts and pomegranate stones; pike perch «Golden Feather» with mussels and shrimps; salad «Baryshnya - krestyanka» with chicken cheese, apples and red bilberry - the temptation is too big to resist!
Live music in the evenings. Restaurant organizes banquets and meals for participants of conferences and seminars. We also have a fast food cafe, famous for its tasty cooking, perfect baking and reasonable prices.
Opening hours:
noon - 11 p.m., Fr and Sat noon - 5 a.m.
tel.: 7 (816 2) 66 30 04
fax.: 7 (816 2) 66 30 17
RESTAURANT «ZOLOTOY KOVSH»
14, Novoluchanskaya str.
This little cosy restaurant whose name means «Golden Ladle» is situated in a quiet part of the city, within 10 minutes of walking from the historic centre. You will hardly be able to refuse the fiery-red borsch or «Delicacy purse» - pork fillet stuffed with feta cheese, olives and garlic, or a house specialty dessert «Golden domes» with a cup of coffee exquisitely brewed. But the restaurant is particularly known for its non-filtered beer and authentic Swiss fondue (cheese, meat, fish, after any taste) - a perfect dish for a friendly company.
Live music in the evenings. Restaurant provides catering services. Take-out menu is also available. During the fest-time the restaurant offers vegetarian meals.
Opening hours:
11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
tel.:+7 (816 2) 13 05 99
RESTAURANT «BELYE NOCHI»
6, Moskovskaya st.
Restaurant is situated on the Trade Side of the city, within 5 minutes of walking from the «Beresta Palace Hotel»****. Blue-and-gold interior with marine paintings of the hall creates an atmosphere suitable for a nice, pleasant evening.
In addition to the Blue main dining hall, there is a large banquet hall (25) and a lovely cafe with a separate entrance. Restaurant specializes in Russian and European cuisine, especially fish and seafood dishes. You will surely like sturgeon oven-baked in sour cream with cheese and mushrooms, rissole «Volcano of passions», chicken cooked in wine with apples, and wonderful pork rolls called «shartanchiki».
Exquisite wines from France, Italy, Georgia and Israel are always in our menu. We offer live music, entertaining and dance programmes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Opening hours: noon-midnight, Fr and Sat noon - 2 a.m.
tel.: 7 (816 2) 66 39 88, 66 39 89
RESTAURANT «DETINETS»
The Kremlin, Pokrovskaya Tower
Located on four levels of the 14th c. Pokrovskaya tower of the Novgorod Kremlin, «Detinets» has long ago become the best-known establishment of the city. Ancient brick walls, furniture of solid wood, cast-iron chandeliers, and earthenware create an unforgettable interior. During summer time you can have you dinner outside the restaurant - right on the top of the Kremlin wall.
Dishes of traditional Russian cuisine cooked in the oven and served in pots are the restaurant's specialty. Only here you can try «medovukha» - honey ale brewed according to the ancient recipes.
Live music in the evenings.
Opening hours:
noon - 5 p.m., 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.
tel.: 7 (816 22) 7 46 24
RESTAURANT «RUSSIA»
19/1, Alexander Nevsky embankment
The restaurant of the Rossia Hotel accommodates 280, plus there are additional 35 seats in the banquet hall and 30 seats in the bar. Intricate, joyful interior and dishes of traditional Russian cuisine prepared with love and care make "Rossia" a perfect place for large celebrations, such as weddings, festivals, and conference banquets. The menu is quite extensive, and new dishes are added from time to time.
Opening hours:
8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
tel. (816 22) 3 41 85 (administrator)
CAFE «ASIA»
22/1, Yakovleva st.
Cafe is situated in the city center, in its shopping area. It differs from other cafes by its interior in Oriental style, with quotations from Eastern poetry on the walls, fountains and antique articles. Individual dining areas, separated from each other by intricate screens, give one the sense of privacy and are suitable both for romantic dates and business lunches.
Traditional dishes of Korean and Uzbek cuisines, such as samsa, kuksi, khve, megitche, are always in the menu as well as substantial meat and fish dishes cooked with special oriental spices.
Opening hours: noon - 2 a.m.
tel.: 7 (816 22) 7 22 27
fax.: 7 (816 22) 7 71 82
HUNTERS' RESTAURANT «BARIN»
14/20, Lomonosova st.
The interior of this restaurant is unusual even for Russia: deer heads with branchy antlers and mounted animals look at the guests from every wall and corner. Our menu consists of special, traditional dishes: sucking-pig with buckwheat, roasted rabbit, quails and duck with apples. It will surely make you feel like a true rich country gentleman. We also have dishes of French, Greek,
Italian, Chinese and Mexican cuisines.
Opening hours: noon - midnight
tel.: 7 (816 22) 2 39 09
fax.: 7 (816 22) 2 39 09
BISTRO «ILMEN»
2, Gazon st.
A part of the «Ilmen» culinary complex, bistro is located on the territory of the Kremlin park. Here you can have a quick and tasty meal at a reasonable price.
Grown-ups may have a hot, substantial dinner and the children enjoy beautiful fairy-tale desserts. The complex also includes a bakery and delicatessen where you can buy fresh rolls, salads and cakes while you children are occupied with slot machines.
Opening hours: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
tel.: 7 (816 22) 7 63 10
fax.: 7 (816 2) 11 55 26
CAFE «NEVOD»
13, Rozvazha st.
The cafe is situated in the city center, across the street from the Kremlin park. It is of a particular interest for lovers of fish and seafood. The interior is rather striking and impresses one with green fishnets on the walls and a small pool with gold fishes in the floor. Not every restaurant may offer you such a variety of dishes as «Nevod» does. In the menu you will find dishes made not only of typical local fish (pike, bream, pike perch), but also of more exquisite types (sturgeon, salmon, trout). Crawfish tails, octopus, mussels, shrimps, and frog legs are in the menu daily. Whatever you prefer to eat, you will certainly find here a dish to your taste. A special vegetarian menu is always available for those who does not partake
Opening hours: 11.00-2.00
tel.: 7 (816 22) 7 46 36
CAFE «NA SENNOY»
4, Volosova st.
Cafe is conveniently located on the Sennaya square, where tourist busses stop. It is only 100 meters from the Kremlin. Home-like interior, comfortable furniture, a wide assortment of appetizers and main courses, drinks and baking - that's what differs our cafe from many others. Here you may have either a snack or a dinner in a quiet atmosphere.
On Mondays our guests are welcomed to listen to music-hall songs whereas on Thursdays our cafe becomes a jazz club. Well-known jazz bands of Novgorod usually gather large audience of jazz fans.
Opening hours: 10 a.m. - 6 a.m
tel.: 7 (816 2) 13 23 70
RESTAURANT «PRI DVORE»
3, Ludogoscha st.
This restaurant is situated in the center of the city, within 3 minutes of walking from the Kremlin and hotel «Novgorodskaya**», 30 meters from the «Volkhov***» and «Akron**» hotels. 70 out of 120 dishes on out menu are our house specialties - appetizer «Zastolnaya», salad «Russian Alaska». We strongly recommend you our pike perch a la governor, meat a la tsar, chicken rissole «Volcano» and «Chinese flan» or «Palchiki oblizhesh»(«finger-licking») for the dessert. You will enjoy good music in our restaurant: ballroom pianist is playing during the day and a band entertains the guests in the evening. Restaurant provides catering services; take-out menu is also available. We offer discounts for groups of 10 and more people.
Opening hours:
noon - 1 a.m., closed on Sunday
tel.: 7 (816 22) 7 43 43
fax.: 7 (816 22) 7 62 75
CAFE «SKAZKA»
1, Bolshaya Vlassievskaya st.
Cafe «Skazka» is a famous building with a tiled roof is situated in the center of the city, not far from the ancient Kremlin walls. You will find here dining and banquet halls, dessert hall, a bar for kids and a hall with slot machines. In summer you can enjoy your meal at the picturesque terrace, where you can choose meat chops particularly for your barbecue! Cafe «Skazka» is a perfect place for a family lunch or dinner.
Opening hours:
noon - midnight, dessert hall 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.,
11 a.m. 10 p.m. on Sat and Sun
Tel.: 7 (816 22) 7 71 60
Fax.: 7 (816 22) 7 71 82
BILLIARD CLUB «PIRAMIDA»
14, Velikaya st.
Drama Theatre, 6th floor,
separate entrance
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 3 p.m. - 6 a.m.,
Sat - Sun noon - 6 a.m.
tel.: 7 (816 22) 7 43 73
