What were the capital's cafes and restaurants in Soviet times? Few people refuse to take a fascinating journey into the past and look into Moscow catering enterprises. Someone will be pleased to refresh their memories, and someone will see an unfamiliar world for the first time. One of the most popular establishments with a very turbulent history is the Astoria restaurant, which has gained fame in Moscow and beyond thanks to the spectacular episode of the sensational film that was shot here.
"What is your face?"
We can say with confidence that in the territory of the former CIS there will be no person who does not know the contents of this dialogue by heart. "In" Astoria had dinner! " - such is the answer of his second participant. This conversation perfectly conveys the vibrant spirit of the history of this institution, full of fascinating adventures and unusually interesting meetings.
History
The Astoria restaurant in Moscow is a place where they filmed the episode of the legendary series Stanislav Govorukhin, which has become a favorite for many viewers. It was here, according to the script, that the MUR officers were waiting for the Fox gangster. The address of the restaurant "Astoria": Moscow, st. Tverskaya, 10. The building of the Central Hotel in which it is located, experts call it amazing, historical. His brief history is as follows.
At the end of the 19th century, there was a factory of famous Russian grain traders Filippov. During the Patriotic War of 1812, Stendhal stayed at the hotel located here.
Yesenin lived here at the beginning of the 20th century. Later, Dimitrov, Maurice Thorez, and other figures of the Comintern visited here. In the period 1905-1907. a coffee shop was opened at the bakery. In 1911, on the left side of the building, where the bakery was located, a small hotel “Lux” was launched.
After the October Revolution, the factory and coffee house were nationalized. During the NEP period, the luxurious hall, which was pretty much “spent” during the time of war communism, was restored by the new owner, trimmed with gold leaf and magnificent stucco molding. In 1919, the hotel was converted into a hostel of the NKVD. In the 1930s, the dormitory of the Comintern was already located here, the leaders of the European Communist parties stayed in it. The bakery was in the same building all the time.
After some restructuring, the dormitory of the Comintern eventually turned into a Tsentralnaya hotel, while the coffee house was converted into a Tsentralny restaurant. In post-Soviet times, the Sbarro-Pizza restaurant was established at the place where the Astoria restaurant was located in Moscow. Then again there was a coffee shop.
Former Astoria Restaurant in Moscow
The famous series provides us with a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the interiors of the Central restaurant. Connoisseurs claim that here details of the interior decoration of a still Philippine coffee house flash.
Although in the 40s about which films were shot, the restaurant was already called "Central", in the film it is still - "Astoria". What is known about him?
Astoria Restaurant (Moscow): 40s
With the outbreak of war, the restaurant on the corner of ul. Gorky (now Tverskaya) and Glinischevsky lane was closed. However, then all such establishments in Moscow were closed, with the exception of those that were located at hotels of the highest level: the Grand Hotel, the National, and the Moscow Hotel.
In Astoria, a canteen was organized for workers of various important institutions: the Moscow City Council, the district party committee, etc. According to information, there were no special excesses there. The menu consisted of vinaigrette, fish soup and porridge with a slice of boiled meat. But visitors to the dining room were given special books with vouchers, allowing food cards to be left untouched. In those days, it was an invaluable help. Therefore, according to eyewitnesses, there was no end to those who wished: the residents of the capital and guests were ready to stand in line for hours in the frost for food.
In January 1944, many commercial restaurants started operating in Moscow, including Astoria. In the same year, in April, another twenty night-time restaurants appeared in the capital. The institutions received guests until five in the morning, orchestras played all night here, and popular artists performed. And although, according to the testimonies, they were just monstrous prices, from that moment the bustling Moscow life began again.
It is known that visitors came to Astoria not only to drink and have a snack - many were attracted here by the opportunity to hear the beautiful Beata Kochur, singing in Russian and Polish. At Astoria, front-line soldiers who found themselves in the capital were constantly drinking, who drowned the fear of the unknown in vodka and wine. The restaurant was also chosen by respectable thieves, "generals" of the thieves' world of the capital. This contingent has always had money.
Also among the regular visitors to Astoria were the French military, Poles from the military mission, and British journalists from the British Ally newspaper that was leaving in Moscow. And, of course, where there were a lot of foreigners, there were always gallant NKGB fighters with imaginary journalistic certificates, whose duties were to “patronize” cheerful foreign guests.
In the postwar years
No matter what they write about the “horrors” of Soviet reality in the first post-war years, it is reliably known that taverns in the capital in those days were bursting with an abundance of visitors. A visit to a restaurant or cafe in Soviet times was relatively affordable entertainment. Ordinary Soviet people could afford it with a salary of 150-200 rubles: teachers, engineers, doctors, etc.
The assortment, according to eyewitnesses, was quite wide, consisting of meat and fish dishes, julienne, caviar, cakes. But as many of the products migrated to the category of scarce ones, the menu of establishments also became impoverished. People gradually stopped going to restaurants and cafes "just like that." More often visited these institutions for memorable or significant occasions. Each such campaign turned into a real event.
But even with the availability of money, there was no guarantee that everyone would get into the restaurant at any time. Mostly the doors of the establishments were decorated with signs notifying that there were no empty seats in the institution or that special service was being carried out in it. Often, long lines would gather under the doors of restaurants. Those who wanted to get here were waiting for the table to be vacated. Particularly assertive was able, knocking on the door, to push the “treshka” peeping into the doorman and get the cherished place. But this far from always worked: if important guests were expected in the establishment, the doormans indifferently turned away from such offerings.
According to eyewitnesses, in “Astoria”, in the 50-70s it was possible to get relatively freely.
