A legendary Moscow restaurant that became a symbol of gastronomic chic in the mid-1990s.
Facts
- Address: Zubovsky Boulevard, 4
- Chef: Michel Balbarani
- Specialty: live fish and flambé dishes
- Awards: "Restaurant of the Year 1995" per Kommersant
Concept
«Three Gudgeons» was Moscow's first premium restaurant with live fish tanks, where guests could pick their own fish to be cooked. Its signature feature was interactive preparation: the chef would cook the chosen fish right in front of the guests, using the flambé technique (searing with open flame).
Interior and atmosphere
The restaurant had an elegant nautical-themed interior with Art Deco touches. A huge freshwater fish tank took center stage. Special attention was paid to table settings — the cutlery was arranged strictly to international protocol, underscoring the establishment's status.
About the name
The name references a well-known Russian folk tale, but carries a double meaning. Promotional materials emphasized that "three gudgeons" stood for three points of support: the head (quality of the dishes), the heart (the atmosphere), and the legs (a stable footing in the restaurant business). The last was especially important — the stability of the "legs" symbolized the establishment's stability.
Cuisine
The menu was built around fresh fish and seafood. Its signature dishes included:
- Marseille bouillabaisse (prepared with anise liqueur right in front of guests)
- "Golden consommé" with edible gold leaf
- Stuffed rainbow trout
- Flambéed foie gras with grapes
Service features
The restaurant introduced several innovations for Moscow:
- Staff trained under French sommeliers
- The wine list featured exclusively original bottled wines
- It was the first in Russia to introduce a seasonal (every 3 months) menu refresh
Famous guests
Guests included politicians, businessmen, and celebrities. A particularly memorable visit was that of Claudia Schiffer and Anatoly Sobchak — the future mayor of St. Petersburg personally caught a sterlet from the tank for the model.
Advertising campaign
A memorable TV commercial with the line "I want fish, real fish, river fish..." became a cultural phenomenon of 1995. The ad was filmed using a cherry-red Volvo — the only car of that color in Moscow at the time.