Tinkoff's Brewery Restaurant

In distinct contrast to their sister brewpub in Moscow, this Tinkoff's is completely true to old Soviet architecture, housed within an average non-descript façade. Almost easily missed (as we walked right on past the first time out), one must look carefully for the small 16 inch sign on the dank exterior. Once inside the cavernous vaulted interior, you can't help but be impressed that they pack so much inside. Three large rooms feature plenty of room to hang out and drink, eat and listen to the bands that they host on weekend nights. The food selection is rather extensive and of good quality; even featuring a complete sushi station with floating sushi-boat bar.

Their beer selection is their standard eight taps, with an occasional seasonal featured as was the case in summer with their "white nights" Belgian. All in all, a solid place to discover.

This is the flagship in the Tinkoff's chain, and it differs in several respects from the others. Located in an old building about a block off the main drag in the heart of St. Pete, the entrance has a marble threshold engraved with the "Tinkoff's private brewery." There is no other signage to identify the place. I almost missed it.

Inside, the place is cavernous, with the same modern furniture and decorations of the chain's other locations, but inside a series of old style rooms with vaulted ceilings and massive stone walls. The seating area is dark, but the bar is well lit. Not much decoration.

The menu included the standard Tinkoff line-up, totaling about eight varieties, from wheat to pale to dark. Nothing truly adventurous, but the several I had were solid. Served in logo glassware, reasonably quickly and in good condition, the beers were certainly enjoyable. Service was better here than at the other establishments in the chain, but that ain't saying much. The business lunch was good enough, but not very cheap. Until I find another brewpub in the center of St. Pete, I'll keep coming back here; but only until then.