Truffaldino

Truffaldino from Bergamo was a famous Soviet movie featuring an Italian clown, and the Truffaldino restaurant uses this to evoke the spirit of Italy, with a chef trained in Bergamo, harlequin-style tiles on the floor, and Bernardino Fungai prints along the walls. With smoking and non-smoking areas, a children's play area (and entertainer on Sundays), a bar, an enclosed verandah as well as an outdoor terrace, there are plenty of seating options. Large screens show local Zenit matches and other important fixtures, but the restaurant is large enough that you can always find an area to sit which doesn't get caught up in football fever.

Truffaldino distinguishes itself with one of the few wood-fired pizza ovens in the city, and you can really taste the difference in the quality of the thin-crust pizzas. We tried a couple and both were cooked to perfection with a crispy and lightly browned crust. The octopus salad was also a discovery. The carefully sourced ingredients and seasonal menu changes ensure there will always be something new to try, and the on-site pastry chef produces delicious tiramisu and other delicacies. This is a great option when you've finished exploring the contemporary art galleries and other interests of Vasilievsky ostrov.