Grand Cru

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

French Cuisine and a Serious Wine List in the Heart of Moscow

Grand Cru sits on Malaya Bronnaya, one of Moscow's most characterful streets, and the name says something about priorities from the start. The restaurant is built around the conviction that great French cooking and great wine belong together — a pairing that earned Grand Cru a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, one of the most respected recognitions in the world of restaurant wine programs.

Chef David Emmerlé

The kitchen is led by David Emmerlé, whose name appears prominently enough on the restaurant's own pages to signal that his role is central, not decorative. The menu he has shaped reads as a confident take on French cuisine — classical in its foundations, attentive in its detail. Dishes like onion soup with beef broth, gruyère-topped crouton, and a grilled beef fillet prepared Rossini-style with duck foie gras, celeriac millefeuille, chanterelles and red wine sauce speak to a kitchen that respects tradition without being rigid about it.

What's on the Plate

The current menu spans a wide register. Starters include Magadan prawn crudo with tomato water jelly, crunchy fennel and mango dressing, and stuffed morels with button mushroom duxelles, parsnip purée and a black truffle-flavoured sauce. The Pépite tasting format offers a trilogy of artichoke and green asparagus, moving through an egg in two textures with pike caviar, a stuffed violet artichoke with ricotta and espelette pepper, and artichoke ravioli with spinach cream sauce. A 45-day dry-aged Black Angus côte de boeuf and glazed duck breast in orange sauce with balsamic-caramelized pear round out the main courses. Desserts include a floating island with mascarpone and Madagascar vanilla, and a caramelized apple tart with cinnamon ice cream — French cuisine rendered without shortcuts.

The Space and the Wine

The interior was recently refreshed by architect Alina Kashirina, and the restaurant also operates a wine bar on the same premises, open from midday. The wine program — the heart of Grand Cru's identity — is supported by a by-the-glass list and a full bar. The restaurant accommodates private events and catering, and the kitchen has demonstrated it can scale without losing focus.