Don't be discouraged by the rather heavily played "Oriental" theme at this restaurant just off Liteyniy Prospekt. Despite the occasional belly dancing shows and the over-priced souvenirs lining the walls, Caravan-Saray serves up some of the best Uzbek food in St. Petersburg, and provides a great opportunity to explore this rich cuisine little-known outside the former Soviet Union. In fact, the stylized interiors and costumed staff provide atmosphere without offending good taste. There's an English menu available with detailed descriptions of the exotic fare on offer. Moreover, although the wait staff may be a little stony-faced, they not only provide very efficient service, but are also refreshingly well-versed in the contents of the menu, and can provide genuinely useful assistance in planning a meal. There's also a competently translated English menu available with detailed descriptions of the exotic fare on offer.
At Caravan-Saray, staples like grilled meat and vegetables, hearty plov and noodles, thick spicy broths, and home-baked sweet and savoury pastries such as mutton samosas are all made using fresh, high-quality ingredients. As a word of warning, horsemeat is an important part of Uzbek cuisine, and can be found in a few dishes at Caravan-Saray. Also, some of the spicy sauces are genuinely (and unusually) fiery.
