Fodor's Expert Review Bellevue

Michelin-commended Bellevue, at the foot of the onion-domed Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, was founded in 1917, the same year that Finland clutched independence from Russia. It claims to be the oldest still-operating restaurant not only in Finland but in Europe and the oldest Russian restaurant in the world outside of Russia itself. Since that time it has been serving dishes inspired by Russian and Finnish cuisine. Set menus range from reindeer to salmon, from stroganoff to chicken Kiev, and from fish shashlik to pickled cucumber and cheesecake. The plush interior of this elegant town house has a distinctively Russian ambience, and each table has lighted candles.