One of Moscow’s most pleasant dining experiences is just a stone’s throw from the maddening crowd of Tverskaya. As the name suggests, Scandinavia is an expression of northern European simplicity with an accent on things modern. The decor is a modest mixture of expert carpentry painted in various shades of earthy green and off-white colors. The restaurant provides three different areas for meeting a business colleague or friends.

On the second floor there is a small cafe, which can be reserved upon request, with very large wood-framed windows. During the spring and summer, this area is perfect for presentations or informal business-strategy meetings. The second area is a small but quaint super-modern lounge, an ideal place to sit and enjoy a latte while waiting for a lunch companion, as I did. The bar adjoins the main dining area.

This reviewer visited Scandinavia on a Friday at 1 p.m. Business was brisk. My companion – a high-powered fellow American working in the high-tech sector as a CEO here in Moscow – and I were seated at a side table smartly adorned with large folded cloth napkins and a vase of fresh flowers. There is just enough space between each table to give the sense that the conversation during the meal will remain private.

Moments after we took our seats, a demure but attractively dressed waitress who spoke both Russian and English presented two sets of menus. The first was the restaurant’s menu of the day, and the second contained business lunch choices. We opted for the business lunch and both ordered mineral water.

For starters, my companion ordered a salad of mixed lettuce leaves with artichoke and cured pork. My choice was creamy soup with curry, tomato-pepper compote and pikeperch. With orders taken, a basket with three different kinds of freshly baked bread were delivered to our table with a large cube of creamy butter. Our first courses were prepared and brought to us after about 15 minutes. Both were excellent. Not only were both fresh and mouth-watering, both were pieces of art. Scandinavia does not only appeal to one’s taste buds, the offerings are visually entertaining as well.

Twenty minutes after our plates were removed from the table, the main courses arrived. As my co-national has an enhanced pallet for fish dishes, she ordered the fried fillet of char with salsa and salmon roe in lemon beurre blanc. I opted for the corn-fed rooster in saffron bouillon with cauliflower. Not unlike the starters, both dishes were a delight to see.

My pick from the menu arrived in a large bowl with two generous helpings of the fowl. The vegetables and rooster enticingly rested above the bouillon broth – which I did not let go to waste. Every drop was consumed using the fresh bread that arrived before the starters. I was informed the salmon was exquisite, tangy without being sour. Both servings were just the right size for a mid-day meal. Both were also low in calories, which was thoughtfully denoted on the menu.

With our main course finished, we ordered cappuccinos. At that point, the manager approached and politely informed us that Scandinavia also hosts what is called a "Weekday Happening" encompassing the work week. It is essentially a highbrow happy hour at a stunningly reasonable price. The week’s schedule is the following: Monday – wine and cheese, Tuesday – martinis and canapes, Wednesday – daiquiris and chocolate, Thursday – champagne and oysters, and Friday – beer and snacks. The price of one drink and a complimentary taster is only five dollars; it begins each night at 6 p.m.

The service at Scandinavia is so profoundly professional that one hardy notices it. My companion and I were so engaged in conversation that I hardly noticed our waitress’s comings and goings. Scandinavia is one of Moscow’s best eating establishments and it is not cheap. However, the business lunch is very reasonable. A starter costs 260 rubles and a main course is 660 rubles. A starter and main course ordered together come to 770 rubles.

Everything at Scandinavia is done with the highest standards of quality in mind. It may be the best value quality business lunch in town. If you start going there, it could easily turn into an addiction.