Stepping into Buyan Russian Haute Cuisine and Caviar Bar is like stepping into a Russian banquet hall, with rich wood paneling and luxurious artwork. Buyan in Russia refers to a mythical island, or ever-elusive dream, and in Singapore, this dream is realized in Buyan Russian Haute Cuisine's decadent menu and surroundings. Attention to detail is apparent from their choice of food, drinks, cigars, and even the titanium cutlery!

Occupying over three floors in two shophouses on Duxton Hill, Buyan serves traditional Russian food, ordered off of untraditional menus: iPads. Start out with caviar, farmed with a conscience, then move onto a main course of beef stroganoff or chicken Kiev, and end with one of their excellent desserts which are simply flavorful.

For the adventurous, there are many imported vodkas and beers to chose from. There is even a beer made specially for them! And while basking in old world Russian charm, you can finish off your day with one of their regular, prestige, or rare cigars. Owner, Julia Sherstyuk, created Buyan hoping to inspire local to develop an appreciation for Russian cuisine and we certainly were charmed and inspired. Even those with a discerning palate will not be disappointed. (Dec 2011)

"Buyan's wine collection, a good part of which is spread out through the restaurant in floor-to-ceiling wine fridges. Worth a mind-blowing S$3.5 million, this collection is one of the most valuable in town and has a number of rare bottles of wine and champagnes. The best part? All the wines stocked are available by the glass. And if it is your birthday, you'll receive a free glass of Armagnac from your birth year." -CNNGo.com

"Our crock of piping hot, deep red borscht ($12) was another worthy highlight. The balance of sweet and savory flavors was spot on, the bits of beef and julienned beetroot gave it texture, and it almost didn't need the sour cream. Even the chicken kiev ($18), which we expected to be heavy and bland, turned out to be a triumph. It was surprisingly light, despite being breaded then fried to a golden crisp, and the meat inside was not the least bit dry or rubbery." -I-S Asia-City

"Gourmet dining with a difference – not only does Buyan Russian Haute Cuisine & Caviar Bar serve exquisite Russian fare and premium vodkas, they also do it with a conscience, such as using farmed meats and humane methods of extracting caviar." -Lifestyle Asia

The casual dining side of Buyan Russian Haute Cuisine is a perfect place for lunch with friends or to hang out at the end of the day. The Chope team was spoilt for choice whether it came to food or drinks. Start out with the Solyanka, a thick, spicy-sour stew, with a perfect accompaniment of cream on the side. Popular mains include the Chicken Kiev, Beef Stroganoff, and Sturgeon Romanov.

For non-alcoholic drinks, mors, a drink that dates back to 11th century Russia, is simply sublime. Mors is a thirst quencher made from mashed and strained berries and fruits diluted with water and sweetened with sugar. For those needing something stronger, you will be pleased to know that Buyan boasts an immense wine cellar with some extremely rare vintages. Do not fret if you cannot decide and enlist the help of Sommelier Indra Kumar, who will make your meal a perfect one. Buyan also boasts of at least one hundred different beers, including one created especially for the restaurant made from cereals and dried rye bread. The Chope team couldn't decide, so we did what we do best: order more than one!

Of course no meal is perfect without dessert, and the Chope team cannot recommend the various desserts enough. Vodka drinkers can cheer to the multitude of vodka choices that Russia is famous for, and to top it off, one can finish your meal with a cigar or two. Buyan has something for everyone, and we guarantee everyone will leave happy, satisfied, and planning to return for more. (Dec 2011)

"No longer merely the mythological disappearing island in Russian folklore, Buyan has manifested itself tangibly in this Duxton Hill space that spans two shophouses and three floors. Vodka and caviar bars on the ground level serve over 50 premium voddies; terrace and courtyard settings on the second are for fine dining; and a casual dining space up top holds a service bar. This luxurious – and ambitious – Russian restaurant plates up a traditional menu that includes Kamchatka crabs, blinchaty pirog (blinis stuffed with minced beef), vegetarian golubsty (stuffed cabbage leaves), and Napoleon cake (French layered cake adopted by the Russians) with lingonberry compôte. If you're feeling ecoconscious, the caviar, 'wild' boar and geese are taken from the farmed varieties. Oh, and of course, there are iPad menus." -Time Out Singapore