In the story "Alice in Wonderland", to get into a fairyland, you had to follow the white rabbit. But in Moscow, instead of a rabbit hole, you need to go deeper into the building and use the elevator to go up to the very top floor of the Passage, where White Rabbit is located - a restaurant whose address is known to almost every metropolitan.
About the institution
For the past 4 years, White Rabbit, located on the 16th floor of the Smolensky Passage shopping center, has been delighting visitors not only with its magnificent panorama, but also with its excellent cuisine and the best cocktails in the capital. Throughout its existence, the White Rabbit restaurant (Moscow) has not left the front pages of popular gastronomic magazines. And all because he is the best, amazing and unique!
The main actors of the institution are Boris Zarkov (restaurateur) and Vladimir Mukhin (chef). 2 years ago, the institution was 71 in the list of 100 best restaurants in the world.
As for Vladimir Mukhin, he is a multiple champion of culinary contests and has repeatedly represented our country in the world gastronomic arena. And in order to really appreciate the skill and uniqueness of the chef, you need to visit White Rabbit.
Thanks to the creativity of Vladimir, each new season begins with a specially designed set, in the creation of which domestic ingredients are involved. As it turned out, even from Russian products you can cook culinary masterpieces. The main thing is to know how to successfully combine textures, tastes and heat treatment.
The tale begins
But most of the visitors are struck by the weekly gastronomic festival, created based on "Alice in Wonderland". It all starts with a bottle that says Drink me, and then there is a jump into the rabbit hole.
The performance takes place every Thursday on the first floor of White Rabbit. The restaurant is developing a special program consisting of 12 cards, 12 courses and 12 chapters. Each of them tells about the harmonious combination of cocktails, food, tells about tastes and aromas and reveals secrets regarding the properties of edible materials.
Those who are not ready to experience new gastronomic tastes are allowed to order ordinary dishes.
Assortment of dishes
"White Rabbit" is a restaurant, the menu of which presents various dishes, only they are all executed in the original Mukhinsky version and differ from others in their uniqueness.
For example, bread is baked from birch bast, meat has a sweet aftertaste, crucian carp swim in borsch, for the chips they use the skin of a bellied pig, milk is obtained from corn. Only here you can try ice cream from pine needles, to say nothing about the uniqueness of the assortment of dishes, if in the kitchen institutions from truffle can squeeze juice!
And this is just the beginning, because White Rabbit is a restaurant in which one study of a cocktail card causes a storm of indescribable emotions, let alone their taste.
Interior Design
Everything in this institution is so Chekhov's beautiful that sometimes you forget where you are. The view from the windows is especially distinguished, and it is not without reason that visitors consider it a White Rabbit landmark. The restaurant at first glance seems a little crazy in Carol's style. Panoramic windows add a special charm to the interior, and, notably, they do not hide the huge prospects of the capital, but, on the contrary, bring it closer.
True, such a variety makes it difficult to focus on a particular detail, everything seems a bit unsteady: quilted ceiling, sofas of different colors with interesting curly backs are placed throughout the restaurant.
Special attention is drawn to the center of the room. Do not make out what is here: either a chest of drawers, or a fireplace, or a buffet. In any case, this piece of furniture is very beautifully and mysteriously illuminated by purple illumination.
However, this is exactly what the institution with the name "White Rabbit" should be. The restaurant is like a fabulous country where all the magic begins in the kitchen.
Excerpts from the menu
The final touch in the integrity of the institution, as always, remains with his chef. In the possessions of Vladimir Mukhin, traditional Russian cuisine is in harmony with modern cooking technology and serving dishes.
Of course, many metropolitan chefs are trying to combine similar opposites. But, as the result shows, no one, like Vladimir, has yet succeeded.
Here is the result of the magic happening in White Rabbit. The restaurant offers the following dishes:
- rabbit paste with fig bread toast;
- mutton side (stewed);
- capercaillie soup with aromatic tarragon;
- goat breeder root with foie gras foam.
For drink lovers
Special attention should be paid to the bar at White Rabbit. The restaurant, according to visitors, gathered exclusively professionals in their field, so remember the name Oleg Reshetnikov.
So, the bar counter is located in the center of the hall and, as you may have guessed, plays an important role in the establishment. The chief bartender of the “White Rabbit” is the same wizard and inventor. The combination of components that make up his cocktails truly creates incredible tastes. One thing is sad ... Alcoholic cocktails have the property of intoxicating - which means you won’t abuse them, and you won’t be able to try all the masterpieces in one evening. Although, on the other hand, this is an excellent occasion to return here again.
A couple of cocktails from the bar menu:
- Schisandra with vanilla and raspberries.
- Pineapple with rosemary.
- Red currant with grappa.
Follow the white rabbit
If in 2014 the institution occupied 71 lines in the world ranking, then a year later, White Rabbit (restaurant, Moscow) was among the 50 best restaurants on the planet. This means that he is now not only under the scrutiny of professionals, but also has become the so-called metropolitan mecca for tourists and critics from all countries.
And so, in the British capital, in the building of the town hall, built in the 15th century, world-famous chefs are present and announce that Moscow's White Rabbit restaurant occupies 23rd position. Is this not a success? In one year, rise from 71 places to 23!
This is the main merit of the chef - Vladimir Mukhin. His authorial style and innovative approach to work have repeatedly demonstrated to the world that he is one of the best.
Positive reviews
"White Rabbit" - a restaurant, reviews of which are found not only good, but also bad. However, let's start with the pleasant. Muscovites, residents and guests of the capital unanimously reiterate the successful location of the institution. It is difficult to disagree with this, since for many years the Live Journal office was located on the 16th floor of the Smolensky Passage shopping and business center. And only a couple of years ago, the room turned into one of the expensive and imposing restaurants in the country. And, judging by the numerous comments on the thematic forums, the gorgeous panoramic view (especially the evening one) is more captivating than the culinary delights served.
The kitchen has received special attention. Visitors were amazed at the chef’s ability to successfully combine seemingly incompatible products. All visitors agreed that with the arrival of Chef Vladimir Mukhin at the White Rabbit restaurant (Moscow), the food became much tastier, more refined and interesting.
Negative reviews
“Follow the Rabbit, but be careful” - this is how you can characterize the essence of all the negative comments about this institution. Perhaps there is no restaurant in the world that every visitor will be satisfied with, and White Rabbit is no exception.
The first thing that the disgruntled guests of the institution note is the boorish attitude of the staff towards their visitors. There have been cases where the manager took responsibility to decide whether you will have dinner at the White Rabbit today or not. And this despite the fact that you booked a table in advance.
The second is slow waiters who may forget about your order. Many reviews were written that after a long wait for the order, many visitors simply turned around and went to dinner in another place. From this moment it is necessary to return to the first point: no apologies from the manager about the delay in order and banal farewell were received.
And the third, which caused dissatisfaction of the restaurant guests, was small portions, high prices.
In conclusion, I want to say that many people, having read negative comments and reviews, nevertheless came and spent a wonderful evening, admiring the beauties of the capital from a bird's flight and enjoying the exquisite taste of dishes. And if you want to see first-hand the professionalism of the bartender and the chef, be sure to visit the institution at the address: Smolenskaya sq., 3, TC "Smolensky Passage", 16th floor.