A Bummer at Gourman House: Where Taste and Service Fell Flat
add_circle Pros
- The interior is modern and clean, which is a definite plus.
- They've got a huge menu to choose from, which sounds great on paper.
- The location is super convenient, right on Izmailovo Highway.
- The staff is friendly, even if the service is a bit slow.
- They've got a 'Good Place 2025' award, which suggests they're doing something right.
- The atmosphere is nice, but it can't make up for the subpar food and service.
remove_circle Cons
- The food is a total disaster - everything I ordered was overcooked and tasteless.
- The service is terrible - our server seemed put off by our presence.
- The prices are way too high for the quality of food you get.
- The portion sizes are tiny, even for the prices they're charging.
- The value for money is basically nonexistent.
Gallery
Editor's Summary
I was super stoked to try Gourman House, but unfortunately, it was a total letdown. I ducked in on a freezing drizzly day, hoping for a warm meal and some decent service. But from the moment I walked in, I knew something was off. The atmosphere was modern and clean, which is a definite plus. But the food? Total disaster. Everything I ordered was overcooked and tasteless. And don't even get me started on the service - our server seemed put off by our presence. Needless to say, I won't be back.
Specifications
I was trudging through Izmailovo Park on a drizzly, windy day, and I was freezing my butt off. I ducked into the nearest café to grab a bite and warm up, and Gourman House was my choice. I'm still not sure why.
Gourman House Café in Moscow
I found it on my GPS, and it had a ton of positive reviews, a high rating, and even a 'Good Place 2025' award. I figured, why not give it a shot?
Gourman House on Yandex Maps - High Rating and AwardA Little Background.
Moscow, Izmailovo Highway, 69D, Building 2
+7 (977) 937-80-00
[link]
Gourman House is open daily from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM. That's a pretty standard schedule, but I was hoping for a bit more.
The Ambiance.
The interior is plain, but it's bright and modern, which is a plus. They've got comfy sofas and chairs, but the tables are a bit too close together for my taste. I mean, who wants to be elbow-to-elbow with strangers?
Gourman House Interior
I was happy to see they had power outlets for charging my phone, that's a nice touch!
Power Outlets - A Nice Little PerkBut the real highlight was the bathroom: it's spotless, modern, and has everything you need - soap, paper towels, hot water, and hooks for your bag. I'd give it five stars, no question!
Gourman House Bathroom
Gourman House BathroomThe Menu.
The menu is a booklet that looks a bit worn out and in need of an update. But the selection of dishes was impressive for a small café: salads, appetizers, hot meals, soups, and a variety of drinks. I was hoping to find something that caught my eye, but nothing really stood out.
Gourman House MenuThe Food and Drinks.
I ordered the Oblipiko-Apelsinovy tea, which had a nice color and aroma, but the taste was... off. There was a weird, stale aftertaste that put me off. I've had this tea combo at other cafes before, and it's usually much better.
Cost: 290 rubles for a 600ml tea infuser. That's a bit steep for a cup of tea, if you ask me.
I also ordered the salad with crispy aubergines, which was a total letdown. I've had this salad at other places, and they always add a bit of feta cheese to balance out the flavors. Here, there was none, just a bunch of sour, salty, and sweet flavors that were way too intense for my taste.
Cost: 400 rubles. That's a lot of money for a salad that didn't impress me.
Salad with Crispy AuberginesUnfortunately, I didn't enjoy my meal. The food was a letdown, and the service wasn't much better.
The Service.
The waiters were friendly, but not exactly welcoming. They didn't even bring me the menu until I asked them to. I mean, come on, that's basic service!
But when it came time to pay, they were lightning-fast, even though I hadn't finished my tea. In a decent café, they usually ask if you're ready to pay or wait a bit before bringing the bill. Here, it felt like they were rushing me out the door.
I found this attitude to be pretty unfriendly and dismissive.
My Overall Impression.
Despite some positive aspects (interior, selection of dishes, speedy service), my overall experience at Gourman House was pretty disappointing. We go to cafes for good food and a nice atmosphere, right? Gourman House failed on both counts. I won't be back, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Gourman House Café in Moscow
