Published on: 2026-08-18
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
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At the “Meeting of Friends” restaurant, operating within the capital’s colleges, the results of the first summer season were summed up. The most popular menu items were green salad with avocado, okroshka with kvass and kefir, as well as grilled cod with spinach in cream. Over three months, the venue was visited by more than 13 thousand people. Since opening in December 2025, the total number of guests has exceeded 70 thousand. This was reported by Moscow Department of Education and Science.
“The restaurant employs 22 students from four Moscow colleges: the Moscow Educational Complex ‘Zapad,’ the Moscow College of Management, Hospitality and Information Technologies ‘Tsaritsyno,’ the Moscow Educational Complex named after Viktor Talalikhin, and Technological College No. 34. The young people work as cooks, bakers, pastry chefs, baristas, waiters, administrators, and hostesses. They gain practical experience, improve professional skills, and learn to collaborate in a team. By the summer season, under the guidance of experienced mentors, the students developed 18 new menu items,” the agency’s press service reported.
In the summer menu of the restaurant, the absolute leader among desserts was the pistachio biscuit “Alley of Youth” with strawberry-cherry marmalade and green tea mousse. Among drinks, visitors more often chose the signature iced mojito and jasmine with blackcurrant teas, as well as classic coffee.
One striking example of career growth in a restaurant is Maya Kalitina, a second-year student at the Moscow Educational Complex named after Viktor Talalikhin. She joined the project as a pizzaiolo, mastered working in both the cold and hot sections, learned to cook on the grill, create sauces, and plate dishes. Today, Maya is a sous chef: she develops recipe cards with the head chef, assigns tasks, and supervises the team’s work.
“For the summer season, we created a signature presentation of okroshka — with a neat ring-shaped arrangement of ingredients. While preserving the classic dish’s flavor, we made it visually memorable. Guests often note the unusual design, share their impressions, and leave warm reviews. For me, participating in the creation of this new dish and having the opportunity to see it on the restaurant menu is valuable professional experience and a reason to take pride in my work,” shared Maia Kalitina.
In summer, the restaurant offers a cozy terrace for guests, where on weekends there are musical evenings, creative and culinary workshops, open-air film screenings, board game tournaments, and lectures on the history of dishes.
On August 29, an entertainment program “Farewell, Summer” will take place on the veranda. Visitors can expect performances by students from capital city colleges featuring an acoustic chamber set, a themed photo exhibition, and a raffle of sweet gifts.
The restaurant operates on the territory of the Moscow Palace of Pioneers on Vorobyovy Gory at the address: Kosygina Street, building 17, block 2. It is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00. Guests can book a table in advance at official website establishments.
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Practical classes for students of the capital’s colleges take place in modern workshops and laboratories. This contributes to the formation and development of professional skills among students and aligns with the objectives of the “Professionalism” national project. “Youth and Children”. More about Russia’s national projects and the capital’s contribution can be found at special page.
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