The Coronavirus quarantine really makes me miss travelling. Hence, my past travel photos come to the rescue! The further the country is, the better it is mending my travel bug bites.
Some foods are better eaten on the spot than be delivered, really… this inspired me to write about Палкинъ (Palkin), an amazing restaurant in St. Petersburg, Russia, where you can find the best beef stroganoff.
Beef stroganoff is one of the Russian traditional dishes, made of strips of beef and mushroom in a creamy sauce.
The dish is served with potato, rice or noodles. If you’re a fan of carbonara or creamy dishes, it’s a must-try when in Russia!
Actually, the beef stroganoff in Palkin is the only beef stroganoff I’ve ever eaten in my 2-day Russia trip. However, the food was superb and I had a wonderful dining experience there!
So, I (and some travellers) declared it the best place in St. Petersburg to satisfy your stroganoff craving.
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Wonderful Dining Experience in Palkin, Tchaikovsky’s Favourite Restaurant in Russia
The day before, I spent an 8 hours returning on a bullet train to Moscow only to find the day was stormy. I didn’t have a chance to enjoy Moscow to the fullest, especially to taste the traditional dishes.
So, the next day when I had almost one full day to explore St. Petersburg on my own, I made up my mind. I had to find Palkin and eat beef stroganoff!
I found out about the restaurant on the internet. It received a lot of positive reviews and recommendations from travellers around the world and credible travel websites for its beef stroganoff.
BUT.
The thing that got me excited the most was knowing that the famous composer, Tchaikovsky, was a regular visitor to the restaurant. Oh yesss!! #sold
With a paper map and help from the locals, finally, I managed to find Palkin. Once you enter, you’ll see red carpets, big staircases and a desk that looks like a hotel reception.
Leave your coat/jacket at the reception, they will give you a card (or something) to collect your belongings when you’re done.
Palkin was opened on 8 September 1874 and had undergone a few renovations.
Originally, the fashionable restaurant had 25 dining halls, a billiard room, private cabinets and a majestic staircase (this one remains, I guess).
Through the years, Palkin was converted into a theatre, a casino then back to a restaurant again in 2002.
It is one of the oldest restaurants in St. Petersburg and maintains its original interior design.
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Beef Stroganoff Fine Dining in St. Petersburg
If there’s one thing that makes me a little bit sad when travelling solo, it’s because I have no one to share the food with! Surely, the portion of the beef stroganoff in Palkin, St. Petersburg is too large for me.
Not forget to mention that the restaurant manager and chef were really kind for giving me complimentary selections of bread and homemade butter, appetizer and dessert.
The bread and butter selections were SUPERB. Warm bread with butter… I tried really hard to control myself by not eating too much bread while waiting for my main course.
By the time I had my first bite of Beef Stroganoff a la Palkin, I was in heaven. The beef was so tender, cut in thin slices with mushroom.
The sauce was so creamy and nice. Even the mashed potato was beautiful and nice too.
I wanted to cry. #satisfied
After a very long walk around St. Petersburg, with the price of RM93 (original: RUB 1690), I feel the portion and quality of the food serve the price well.
I surprised myself by almost clearing the plate as the dish was really delicious!
So, the next time you visit St. Petersburg, Russia, remember to spare an extra budget for a wonderful dining experience in Palkin. Beef stroganoff is a traditional dish that you shouldn’t miss!
Палкинъ – Palkin
Nevsky prospekt, 47, St. Petersburg, Russia
palkin.ru/en/
