Shaun McGirr: Let's grab a bite...without breaking the bank!
Moscow is a city of unbelievable prices, especially at restaurants. Upon seeing a price with many zeroes after it, I often think "divide by 30 and things will look better!"
I am often disappointed.
What to do? There are two options: go with the flow, or put a little bit of thought in to your choices. The first way is the Russian way, and involves swatting your hand while saying "Nu, ladno" ("whatever"), and enjoying the good life while it lasts. For most of us, it won't last too long! The other possibility is to play the cautious foreigner and search out places that offer good value. And then once you get there, it requires thinking carefully whether that second milkshake (at $10 a pop) is really necessary.
If you follow the first approach, you can end up paying quite a lot for pretty average food. Almost every restaurant in the world offers some expensive meaty dishes specifically designed to part foreigners from their money, and Moscow is no exception.
If you avoid these traps, Moscow is a richly rewarding culinary experience.
Here are some of my favourite places where you can eat a very nice dinner for 500-750 rubles per person ($16-25), including a drink.
Artemy Lebedev is Russia's premier designer and runs cafes on the side. The "Big Cafe" is off Myasnitskaya, and the other is on Nikitsky Boulevard.
Skip the salads and head directly to the hot dishes for some great comfort food.
http://mibk.artlebedev.ru/menu
For cross-city coverage, nobody beats Correas. Originally a single restaurant by New York chef Alex Correa, the brand grew rapidly and this has continued after he sold the business to concentrate on starting new projects. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? Somehow the quality is still fantastic and the cuisine inventive.
http://eng.correas.ru
If you just need something a little lighter and faster, head to one of the many branches of the elaborately-named "Culinary Store of the Brothers Karavaevi". Take a number, roam the cabinets to make your selection from excellent sandwiches and sweet baked goods, and listen for your number to be called.
http://karavaevi.ru