Run by Russian husband and wife team Sergey and Nina. Sergey is an expert martial artist and even in the restaurant he occasionally shows off a fraction of his strength by bending spoons or lifting chairs one-handed.
The interior of the restaurant is packed with Russian handicrafts, but amongst them you might also spot photos of some of the famous people who have stopped by for a meal, such as Hawks baseball player Nobuhiko Matsunaka and singer Tokiko Kato. The food is no-nonsense home-cooking. The Siberian-style Borsch soup (¥950), made with striking red beets, is a feast for both the eyes and the stomach. The painstakingly prepared Pirozhki (baked bread buns, ¥200) are stuffed full of ground meat flavored with salt and pepper. The Georgian wine is worth a special mention too. Georgia is considered to be the birthplace of wine, which was first produced there more than 5,000 years ago. Even Cleopatra is said to have loved a glass of Georgian wine, and at Nina you can choose from 8 different varieties including Alazani and Pirosmani.
Featured in Issue #140
