Also about food: food is plentiful enough but, especially for Americans, the portions may seem small. Be prepared to order what seems like extra and may end up being just enough - it is especially true in small cafes and canteens. On the subject of ordering in low-end restaurants, you should also be aware that a menu is more of an opening point for negotiations than a list of what's really available. So when you find something that looks good and point at it, be prepared to be told that it isn't available today, or the cook doesn't want to make it, or something like that. Of course if you speak Russian, or have a Russian-speaking friend or associate with you, that will make this process much easier.

 

Restaurants

 

Probably the best restaurants in the city are Ellinikon and Richard. Barge and Pint are also good.

 

Ellinikon is a restaurant and bar on the premises of the Greek Cultural Centre. Food is exceptional, and the service is really good and fast, you won't wait for your steak for very long. Average dinner is around 400 Rubles per person (14 dollars), not including drinks. The bar is not expensive, but a bit limited in choice of drinks.  A pint of Baltica beer will cost 35 Rubles.

 

Richard is also a very good restaurant with some pretension. It is located at intersecton of Lenin prospect and Chkalov street. Food and drinks are very good, an average dinner is around 400 Rubles ($14.00), a Bloody Mary is 80 Rubles. English menu is available.

 

Barge is an Irish bar, that speaks for itself.  It is located at the intersection of Lenin prospect and Michurin street. You will easily notice it, there are always BMW and Landcruisers parked near the place. Along with the regular customers are "tough guys" and their girlfriends, you are highly unlikely to encounter any problems with them, the atmosphere is not tense. Barge has duel language (Russian and English) menus, so foreigners will feel much comfortable here rather than in most other places. Average dinner is about 300 Rubles (about $10.00) plus drinks; a Bloody Mary is around 50 Rubles (less than $2.00). Both food and drinks are of very good quality, which cannot be said about the service - sometimes it'll take an eternity to wait for your order. Guinness is available here.

 

Pint is another Irish pub in town. The food is good, but nothing special. Service is not that good, and you have to wait a long time for your orders to come. Prices are at Barge's level - dinner is 300 Rubles ($10.00) not including drinks.

 

Cafes

 

Nord - nice little cafe in the middle of the city. Specializes on confectionery products, though also offers pizzas and alcohol. A lunch for one will be around 60 Rubles ($2.00).

 

Corsair - despite calling itself a café, it's more like a restaurant. Very comfortable, with nice food. Average dinner is about 300 Rubles per person ($5.00).

 

Canteens

 

There are quite a few of them in the city. Nearly every large enterprise or organization has a canteen where anybody, not just their employees can have a lunch. We would, however, like to note a couple of the better ones.

 

Canteen in GorProject - it is located on Soviet Square. Though relatively expensive for a canteen, 40-50 Rubles (around a $1.60) for a good lunch, the food is of excellent quality, and also the choice is wide.

 

Canteen in Arbiter Court - acceptable food for acceptable price, 30-40 Rubles per lunch ($1.30).

 

Fast-food

 

One of the advantages in Kemerovo is that they don't have a McDonalds. Still there are some fast-food places that are very good for a quick lunch or for budget-friendly meal with friends.

 

World Pizza - located on the interesection of Sovietskiy prospect and Vesennyaya Street, right in the heart of the city. Average lunch will cost around 60 Rubles ($2.00). Alcoholic drinks and smoking are banned here, so that's a good place to come with children. It is around the corner and down the street from the Kuzbass Hotel. I was told by our interpreter that it was opened by an American entrepreneur. Pizza is sold by the slice and it can be very different then you might expect at home, but it is always good.

 

Zolotoy Tsyplenok (Golden Chicken) - located on Vesennyaya Street, near Kuzbass Hotel. Obviously from its name, it specializes in chicken, other options are also available. Lunch will cost around 60 Rubles ($2.00). There is a no smoking area, but they sell beer. They are immediately across the street from the Kuzbass Hotel, and along with a Russian version of fried chicken, they sell fast chicken cordon bleu!

 

Silver-Pizza - pizzeria network, one is located at intersection of Krasnoarmeyskaya and Kirova Street, another one is at Stroiteley Blvd. and one more is recently opened at Lenina prospect. Though being part of the same network, they are very different. Those at Krasnoarmeyskaya and at Lenina have rooms for kids, so those are good places to come with your family. The other one, at Stroiteley is nearly full every evening with people drinking beer, so that's the last place you'll bring your family to. Average lunch is also around 60 Rubles ($2.00).

 

Podorozhnik - network of small pavilions offering different sandwiches (kind of like of McDonalds). You'll get fed for about 30 Rubles ($1.00).