Jamie Oliver's Restaurant in St. Petersburg (Jamie's Italian): address, menu, reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Since 2013, the Russian audience had the honor to get acquainted with Jamie's Italian. This is an international chain of restaurants from the maestro of modern cuisine.

Who is Jamie Oliver

This is a brilliant chef, restaurateur, author of books on cooking, and even part-time showman. He promotes simple and he althy food.

Although he is British by nationality, it was Italian cuisine that always served as a source of inspiration for him, which is why he put it as a cornerstone in the pyramid of his culinary achievements. Many Russians also became his fans thanks to the TV projects in which Jamie took part. But it's one thing to watch how a particular dish is prepared, and another thing to try it.

Some visited one of his establishments abroad, and when they learned about the opening of this brainchild in the cultural capital of Russia, they applauded with delight. Did Jamie Oliver's restaurant in St. Petersburg live up to their expectations? Doesn't seem quite right.

Concept

Oliver does not need advertising, his name is already a well-publicized brand. Like firefliesinto the light, customers go to the restaurant, seeing only a sign. That's what it's designed for.

But it must be said right away that Jamie Oliver is not the owner of the establishment. Moreover, he never visited it. It was opened by the restoholding "Ginza Project" under a franchise. But the feature of the establishment is that all the dishes are invented exclusively by this eminent chef and are strictly sustained in the recipe to the smallest detail. Compliance with the grammar and the technological component is monitored by the British colleagues of the Ginza Project. And the link between the holding and the Jamie Oliver Group is Matteo Lai, their official brand chef in Russia. He is now partnering with two restaurants since the second opened in Moscow.

All menus and bar menu reflect Oliver's author's view of Italian cuisine. It's openly stated, and the whole concept is based around this idea, so you'll want to come here with a gastronomic tuning fork properly tuned, expecting a British take on Mediterranean food.

Interior

Petersburgers prefer a more intimate atmosphere, and Jamie Oliver's restaurant in St. Petersburg is built in the spirit of a trattoria. This format implies a very close arrangement of tables.

It's always noisy and it feels like you're sitting side by side with other patrons, even though the restaurant itself is big. But it also creates a certain comfort. Those who like to retire will feel uncomfortable there, but there are comfortable tables for large companies. But there is plenty of headroom:high arched vaults and masonry give an amazing feeling of freedom. The red color of the chairs stands out against the background of the terracotta walls. The tables are not covered with tablecloths, this is somehow not in a restaurant style, but, obviously, such an idea. There is no unnecessary pathos and glamor here.

All sorts of sausages, hams and other smoked meats hanging over the bar counter not only create the image of a pantry, but also make you really hungry.

Target Audience

Italian cuisine is the receptacle of many cultures, it has accumulated the traditions of different ethnic groups and generations. And here all this is presented through the prism of the author's reading of the famous British restaurateur. If you do not expect the impossible, then there will be no disappointments from unfulfilled anticipations. So those who want to try Italian dishes for the first time and make an impression about them have the wrong door. But for those who are delighted with Oliver's creativity, you are always welcome.

Jamis Italian is the perfect family brunch. Also, a whole army of regular customers has already formed, who while away their lunch break here for a business lunch. As for romantic dates, it’s not very cozy here, but for gatherings with a noisy group of friends, that’s it. Many people choose this place for some celebrations.

Jamie Oliver (restaurant): menu

So, what will they serve here? As befits an institution with an Italian bias, the emphasis here is on cheeses, smoked meats, seafood in different interpretations. For those who first came to such a restaurant, a large selection of dishes withunfamiliar names can lead to a stupor. Fortunately, the waiters here are competent and always ready to help.

Salads (for example, salmon with fennel, orange, celery and yogurt dressing, bresaola with arugula, parmesan and radicchio, prosciutto with pears and pine nuts), bruschettas (with mushrooms, with eggplant and pine nuts) can be offered as appetizers nuts, with sun-dried tomatoes and ricotta), nachos and arancini. Separately, it is necessary to highlight branded polenta chips.

Taste the true spirit of Italy with grilled seasonal vegetables or your choice of deli meats (speck and koppa) served with red pepper jam, mozzarella, pecorino, capers, lemon, olives and mint.

First courses here include Tuscan village soup with sweet tomatoes, garlic, basil, bread and olive oil, mushroom cream soup with cream and croutons, pumpkin-apple soup with bacon, sage and tortano.

Well, the classics of the genre - risotto, pasta and pizza - are present in different guises. As for the first, there is an option with mushrooms (porcini, champignons and oyster mushrooms) or cheeses (parmesan, gorgonzola, scamorza and asiago). Among the pasta, there are interesting positions: linguine with shrimp, homemade tagliolini with smoked trout and mascarpone cream or spaghetti with scallops and cuttlefish ink.

You can treat yourself to pizza. The menu includes "Margarita" with traditional ingredients, "Fiorentina" with mozzarella, spinach andbaked eggs, "Parma" with prosciutto and grana padano and "Putanesca" with black olives and capers. Each one is worth a taste.

Main dishes include baked cod and salmon, rib-eye steak with oyster mushrooms and radicchio, seafood kebab, grilled chicken and beef, and Jamie's Italian burger.

Dedicated sweet tooth will love Blackberry Cheesecake, Almond Raspberry and Lemon Cakes.

As an aperitif, they will offer cocktails based on Aperol, Campari, Prosecco.

As for alcoholic beverages, there is a wide variety: from vodka, gin, whiskey to vermouth and liquor.

Address

The place was chosen rather pretentious: Konyushennaya Square, building 2. The nearest metro stations are Nevsky Prospekt and Gostiny Dvor. This is the very heart of the gastronomic mecca of St. Petersburg. The competition between institutions, of which there are for every taste and color, just rolls over. So to open another one there, even the most extraordinary, is a rather bold step.

Jamie Oliver's restaurant in St. Petersburg: opening hours

On weekdays, the establishment opens its doors at 9:30, and on Saturday and Sunday - at noon. But the restaurant is open by default until 00:00, but in fact - until the last client. So no one will drive night owls to the exit. Very democratic.

Reviews of dissatisfied

Skeptics say that Oliver does not smell here. Very often you can meet criticism about technologycooking. Particularly dissatisfied are those who have visited a similar institution Jamie's Italian in London or elsewhere, and who have something to compare. They complain that no culinary revelations were found, the taste of the dishes barely reaches the "four" on a five-point scale. Although here, rather, the problem of high expectations. It's amazing, but even those who praise the institution say that they would hardly go a second time on purpose. Cause? Again, the mediocre level and ordinary dishes. Very often, in the reviews, words flash that the food is delicious, but there is no zest, and they expected more from Jamis Italian. The prices here are too high even for St. Petersburg.

Dignity of a restaurant

Not every decent establishment can boast of having a children's room with a nanny, but here it is. And no wonder, because the restaurant preaches not only Italian cuisine, but also values, and there the family comes first, so it is customary to relax with the children. A special menu has also been developed for them.

Also, there are plasmas with cooking lessons from the kitchen maestro hanging on the walls, and books with his recipes are on the shelves. It inspires experimentation. Arriving home, I want to immediately realize what I saw or read.

Jamie Oliver's restaurant in St. Petersburg is just good and varied Italian food. Yes, you may not call it divine, and it will not bring the effect of boundless delight, but it's delicious!

I wonder what Jamie Oliver himself would say about this restaurant using his name as a brand? I would like to believe thatif this happens, then the institution will correct its shortcomings by then and will not fall face down in front of an experienced chef.