Did you know that Estonia was once part of the fallen USSR? For those who are born before the USSR days, it stands for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, in other words Russia during the Iron Curtain aka The Cold War.
Restaurant Tchaikovsky
Website: Restaurant Tchaikovsky
So while googling for the best restaurant in Tallinn, my search led me to Russia, er I mean Russian Cuisine. Estonia being an ex-Soviet Union republic clearly has some Russian taste left in the capital city. Now this particular restaurant, lauded as the best restaurant in Tallinn is serving a symphony of Russian food. When I looked at the website and saw the pictures of the interior, I fell in love with the skylight ceiling and elegant silverware. I can be shallow sometimes.
When I am travelling alone, I sometimes like to indulge myself, and most of the times I indulge in my dining-in-a-nice-ambiance-restaurant craving. So on the day that I arrived in Tallinn I quickly made a visit to the restaurant to inspect it, and when the ambiance met my expectation, I then made a reservation.
Restaurant Tchaikovsky is the restaurant of Hotel Telegraaf. I would have loved to stay at this hotel as well but unfortunately I do not have money flowing like water in my pockets. I did remember the hotel not really being that super expensive but I have been travelling/holidaying every month, and this May TWICE, and moreover, I do not have a sponsor to spoil me rotten (I wish!!!). Helaas, I am my own sponsor so I have to make smart budgetary decisions. So I stayed at the Meriton Old Town Garden Hotel and treated myself to dinner at Restaurant Tchaikovsky. Still a win-win =)
A Symphony of Russian Cuisine
I ordered the menu degustation. This menu I believe is being updated every month. Tchaikovsky’s Chef de Cuisine is Vladislav Djatšuk.
I have a good view of everyone =)
Very nice crackers with poppy and sesame seeds. The creme and pistachio dips were equally lovely as well.
I chose a Spanish wine, Blume Verdejo from the Rueda region. It has some citrussy notes which will be a good pair for my light seafood choice for tonight’s dinner.
The chef sends his greetings this way.
My lovely scallop salad starter.
While I was enjoying my food, the view in front of me and the lovely skylight ceiling, I was serenaded by a live classical trio just behind me. The act is called the Salon Trio. I made a short video to capture the ambiance and the music played, see below:
And I took this picture below of the Salon Trio performing at the restaurant from the restaurant’s Facebook page:
At times I do wish the Dutchman is joining me in my travels, enjoying the food as we dine, the lovely music and the ambiance as well, but I know darn right that the Dutchman will just think of this as nothing but a silly theatrical act of commercialisation, and he really means it by the way.
As for me, I plead guilty for being artistic =)
Something fresh for the palate to prepare myself for the main course.
The main course is pike fish sitting on a bed of lentils and surrounded with all pretty garnishings including a standing proudly mini pechay =)
Coffee (espresso) and dessert, a very spring fruity creme brulee.
Chocolate bonbons and candy jelly to sum up this dinner.
My restaurant, service and food rating of Restaurant Tchaikovsky: 4.5 stars out of 5.
I highly recommend this restaurant for a romantic, luxurious and elegant dinner in Tallinn. Tallinn does not have any Michelin starred restaurant and Restaurant Tchaikovsky is the nearest you can get to experiencing a similar culinary indulgence. In order to become one of the celebrated starred restaurants, I personally think the restaurant needs just a little brush up on the service (its quality, but next step is professional A standard level) and a play on the food flavours to become a starred restaurant. Overall, it was a lovely evening at Tchaikovsky.
The restaurant is also the no. 1 restaurant in Tallinn as per TripAdvisor.
Travel Period: May 2013
Destination: Tallinn, Estonia
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