Russian cuisine is hearty, there's very little sublty in the preparation, but do be aware that the cuisine is not one of the country's attractions

Russians like meat and potatoes, and they seem to eat for nourishment rather than enjoyment. Their breads and ice creams, however, are excellent, and pastries taste similar to those found in other parts of Europe

The recent past has brought a restaurant boom to the bigger cities. Choices range from "cooperative" restaurants, which serve decent food, to a whole slew of hard-currency restaurants (very expensive and often credit-card only), which cater mostly to foreign businesspeople