House of Jade opened at the end of December at 37 Nekrasova Street, in the company of familiar Saint Petersburg addresses and with no attempt whatsoever to seem like a special place. Behind the project are Alexander Grokhovsky, Polina Marinesco, Timur Dmitriev, and Mikhail Sokolov — the teams behind two already-running venues. Chef Alexey Trofimov runs the kitchen, Artem Gutko put together the bar, and floor service is overseen by manager Vitaly Dmitrash. The design is by Snob Architects: two floors, warm wood of several species, steel, German bent-plywood chairs, a Cassina sofa, and chairs by Swiss designer Bruno Rey. Ceiling fan blades turn overhead, and the music runs through a vintage Pioneer system and contemporary Bowers & Wilkins acoustics — details you don't notice right away, but ones that set the tone for the whole space.
“We're building this project largely for ourselves. Inside us there was a real pent-up need for a place that's not bohemian, not high-society, but that still doesn't compromise on the quality of its key components” — Alexander Grokhovsky.
The menu is East Asian cuisine, with no attempt to cover the whole map of the world: no roti flatbreads, no poke, no pho. Alexey Trofimov deliberately keeps the geographic frame tight — Canton, Sichuan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan. Wok, robata, wonton and dim sum dough, rice — it all works within one logic. The bar is compact: sake, baijiu, Taiwanese whisky, Asian liqueurs, three highballs on draft, and select teas instead of lemonades. The average check is around 1,600 rubles.
Salad with fennel root, cucumber, and shrimp — 590 ₽. A light, refreshing start: good shrimp, crisp cucumber, a dressing with a distinct character. Exactly what's needed for a starter — no unnecessary work with the fork.
Mushroom broth with chicken wontons — 590 ₽. A rich broth with plenty of herbs — no questions about depth of flavor. The wontons had lost a bit of shape by the time they were served, and there was slightly more salt than one would like. A solid dish, but not without its notes.
Smashed cucumbers — 490 ₽. Crunchy, with a light spiciness, soy sauce, sesame, cilantro, red onion, and cashews. A tasty starter, but it took about fifteen minutes to arrive — we were warned in advance, though why it took so long remained unclear.
Taipei rice with charcoal-grilled beef steak — 850 ₽. Fluffy rice with good seasoning, the egg yolk on top feels natural. We ordered the steak medium rare; it arrived closer to medium — a small discrepancy, but at this price point the dish still works.
House of Jade is a place that isn't trying to make an impression, and that's exactly why it does. Service here is unfussy: the staff know the menu, water is free, and they come to the table with a purpose. A QR code with dish descriptions is a small thing, but a handy one. There's a nuance with the kitchen: it's small, so most dishes go out as they're ready rather than strictly by course. They warn you about this upfront — which is honest, though it does throw off the pacing of a lunch a little. We were only asked for feedback about the steak — a bit more attention to the table overall wouldn't hurt.
Even so, the takeaway is clear. Four dishes came in at a reasonable bill, the food is made with understanding, and the space is pleasant without feeling heavy. This Asian bistro on Nekrasova answers a specific need: lunch without fuss, dinner with beer and music, or a party of six that doesn't have to think about logistics. The two floors seat more than a hundred guests, but it never gets loud — the layout lets several parties exist in parallel. A place with its own atmosphere and a clear concept — we're adding it to the guide with confidence.
Nekrasova St., 37/20
