The Greeks

Greeks & Pasta is a restaurant on Neglinnaya where Mediterranean cuisine is built around Greek tradition. This season, the Pinskiy&Co project, led by Anton Pinsky, refreshed its concept: Italian classics joined the Greek lineup, fitting organically into the place's already established character. Chef Dmitry Smirnov works with simple but honest combinations — Greek yogurt, feta, dorado, octopus, anchovies, aromatic oil — producing dishes with a clean, legible flavor.

Our guide's team finds the tzatziki with smoked paprika oil fresh and tangy, and the adjika-marinated chicken cooked to perfection.

The room is built on contrast with Moscow's pace: whitewashed textured walls, sofas shaded by sprawling greenery, floor-to-ceiling windows and an open kitchen create the feeling that the city has been left behind at the door. The concept nods to the Greek mesimeri — the afternoon lull, when food becomes the main event. There's no forced ethnographic flourish, just the feel of the coast, recreated through space and light.

The menu features tzatziki and a mezze assortment, saganaki with shrimp, grilled octopus, and a Greek salad that's become a house signature. The moussaka deserves special mention: not a bake, but a spread of pickled-and-smoked eggplant with ricotta and pine nuts, a dish with unexpected depth of flavor. This season the menu grew with pasta and other Italian classics that don't clash with the overall Mediterranean register, but rather expand it.

Our undercover guests rated it 7 out of 10 for dinner, for precise ingredient work and a space that genuinely helps you switch off.