Breakfast at Restaurant Pino near Patriarch's Ponds

Pino is a two-story restaurant right at the heart of Patriarch's Ponds by Alexander Oganezov. I've already told you about the place — this is my first time writing about the breakfast. The bright interior with white tablecloths looks fresh and seems to have no expiration date. Nods to the 60s with lacquered wood and plenty of open space are a recognizable style across the restaurateur's recent projects. A similar vibe can be found, for instance, at Teatro. The team, together with chef Ruslan Polyakov, serves breakfast daily from 8:00 to 12:00. My last visit stuck in my memory for its bad service, so I came back to give it a second chance. On a Tuesday morning, four tables were occupied, and the atmosphere was pleasant.

What did I try?

• Baked syrniki, 450₽ — a local classic with an unconventional presentation. Inside: boiled condensed milk and a delicate curd base; outside: a cloud of vanilla sauce. An unconventional variation, I recommend trying it. 
• Club sandwich with salmon, 900₽ — the classic white sandwich bread is served lightly toasted, paired with salmon and lettuce leaves. You really don't expect to see a sandwich on a pricey restaurant's menu. All the more surprising, then, that it turned out genuinely worthy — and, by the last bite, a fitting dish too. 
• Stracchino, avocado, truffle, honey, honeycomb, 950₽ — Italian soft cheese, a refreshing avocado flavor, and the sweetish note of honeycomb. One of my favorite combinations. You could go for it as a healthy dessert. I had a similar culinary impression after the Tête de Moine at Mamie: a semi-hard Swiss cheese with seasonal fruit.

Breakfast at Pino turned out to be surprisingly harmonious and comfortable. The service level has improved, and I liked the refined, inventive menu and the atmosphere overall. I'll admit, I love showing up on Malaya Bronnaya in the morning, in contrast to the noisy evenings — breakfast here is especially quiet and  peaceful. Breakfast makes it into the restaurant guide with a score of 8. I'll definitely be back.