Went for Breakfast at the St. Petersburg Joli Grand Bistrot

A project by the italy&co team — Mikhail Sokolov, Timur Dmitriev, and Glen Ballis. The latter also serves as the restaurant's brand chef, and the menu offers Mediterranean cuisine heavy on seafood: sea bass with vongole, Carabineros shrimp, salmon tartare with black caviar. The breakfast section has straightforward, familiar dishes: avocado toast with a poached egg, curd casserole with fresh berries, zucchini draniki with stracciatella and red caviar. They're served daily until 12:00. 

Interior 

I'm still in awe of the interior design by Evgenia Uzhegova (Eva, Juan Cantina Espanola, Muse) — it definitely fits the lavish architecture of the Myasnikov mansion. At the entrance: a flower shop, a display case with desserts and pastries; further in, a bright main dining room under a glass dome, with unusually shaped chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and live plants adding color and building the atmosphere of a greenhouse.

In the morning, the impression of the space is even stronger, and you can see Joli turning into one of my favorite restaurants in St. Petersburg. There's real attention to detail: the choice of tableware, the table settings, the staff uniforms — everything works together to build a unified image and a sense of home. From little jam bowls in a grandmotherly style to the vibe of the veranda, where you soak up the light beneath enormous ceilings. 

What did I try?

— Cappuccino with almond milk, 350₽ — good beans, the coffee came out lightning fast, and they didn't forget the weightless foam. 
— Classic croissant, 190₽, with extra raspberry jam, 180₽ — a good, fresh base, though not perfect. 
— Green breakfast with salmon, tomatoes, and a poached egg, 990₽ — more like a bowl with lettuce leaves, broccoli, zucchini slices, and guacamole. Served on a beautiful plate with a pattern reminiscent of gzhel. The sauce sits alongside on purpose, so you can decide for yourself whether to mix it in or not. A poached egg hides beneath the sauce, but the excellent product quality can't be hidden — it's obvious as it is. A first-class selection of every ingredient and a cohesive combination overall. The taste buds are thrilled.

— Curd cheese with fig and almond, 550₽ — slightly salty grain curd with thick sour cream. Made especially for those who don't like sweets. For everyone else, a spoonful of jam might come in handy. I'll admit, I added one myself.

Overall impression

A fine dining restaurant free of excess pretension — instead, it's memorable for its bright, airy space, straightforward food with quality ingredients taking the lead role, and attention to detail. 
The speed of service and quality only reinforce the sense that breakfast here, and the atmosphere, deserve top marks. And a clear place in the restaurant guide, in the breakfast category.