Address: Tzarigrad Shosse 7th Kilometre (see map)
Phone: 974 62 60
Reservations only
Cuisine: International
Price category: Medium

When opened two years ago by the owner of BBB fruit juices as a luxury club for his friends and associates, no expense was spared to create the lavish interior of the club's restaurant. The owner's passion for all things oceanic is unmistakably rendered with the decor of nautical instruments, bottled ships, ancient maps, and eight incredible aquariums filled with tropical fish and exotic living coral, which are well worth a visit in themselves.

The club, adjacent to the BBB factory and close to the International Exhibition Centre, boasts tennis courts, a fitness centre, and a rooftop terrace and barbeque, and is reached by turning off the road to Sofia Airport. Tables must be booked in advance, as without a reservation the security guards will not let you in.

Service is as faultless as in any high-class establishment, waiting staff meet diners at the entrance of the restaurant, show them to their tables, pour them glasses of mineral water as they sit down, and bring a small appetiser of anchovies with olive paste and caviar. Tables are laid with fresh flowers and silver candlesticks with fish motifs.

Fish, of course, are the restaurant's big attraction and a colour addition to the menu illustrates the impressive range available. From the Black Sea, Turbot, Sea Bass, Monkfish and Flat fish are among those listed, the latter two both priced at 34 leva. The Marmaris Sea offers King Prawns, Red Snapper, Sword Fish, and Groper among others - all around 30 leva, and Silver Bream from the Adriatic is listed at 17 leva. The fish are imported fresh from Turkey each week, and are then gutted and shock-frozen to retain their freshness.

Those dining on fish will find their bill a great deal higher than those opting for any of the other dishes from the reasonably priced menu. I started with the excellent Creamy broccoli and sorrel soup priced at 2.10 leva and accompanied by a large basket of toasted brown bread. Two companions shared a Caesar salad with octopus, prawns, and Parmesan cheese. They were both ecstatic about its dressing, which is apparently the secret of this particular salad, and greatly enjoyed it. Another companion chose a Shopska salad to accompany her glass of rakia, and was also suitably impressed.

Turbot rolls with Hollandaise sauce, priced at 6.50 leva from the starter menu, were described as incredible. Served on a bed of lettuce, they were declared the best dish from all those sampled. Also from the starter menu, I chose rice with vegetables as one of the few vegetarian options. It was served steaming hot with freshly cooked vegetables, but lacked flavour and was disappointingly greasy - the only unpraiseworthy dish that was tried.

Two chicken options were approved by my companions: Chicken breast Saltimboca stuffed with Spanish ham and covered with yellow cheese was found to be excellent, and the artistic presentation of sliced courgettes, baked peppers, and mushrooms was appreciated. Chicken bonfillet with orange and goose liver, priced at 6.10 leva was presented similarly and served with a delicious sweet sauce.

Apart from the chicken options, starters, and salads, there are several pasta options on the relatively brief menu. They also have a fishy theme - Linguine with squid and octopus for 4.90 leva, and Ravioli with smoked trout for 3.90 leva are among the offerings.

The adequate wine list covers bottles from Bulgaria, Italy, California, Chile and France for up to 17 leva, with special collection wines priced at up to 39 leva.

Service throughout from the black waistcoated waiters was impeccable, and our bill for four, without any exotic fish dishes, came to 42.50 leva.