Volga Cuisine

Nizhny Novgorod’s cuisine flourished in the 19th century, when the city was one of the richest in Russia. Merchants from all over gathered here — and all needed to be well-fed and entertained. Before closing a deal, the buyer was generously treated, and once sealed, the agreement was "celebrated" — sometimes for days. The hallmark of local cuisine is river fish dishes. Try pies, fish soup, or grilled fish steaks. Some of the most popular restaurants specializing in Volga cuisine include "Samovarnaya (Самоварная)" at the Nizhny Novgorod Fair, and "Pyatkin (Пяткинъ)" and "Bezuhov (Безуховъ)", located on the city’s main foodie street — Rozhdestvenskaya.