St. Petersburg Nights, St. Pete Beach

With brilliant red curtains behind them, a trio of string players takes the stage and begins to flood St. Petersburg Nights' dining room with festive music. Before them on the wood-paneled dance floor, a woman flutters scarves into the air as she gracefully twirls. This is a standard scene on Friday and Saturday nights, offering entertainment to diners as they enjoy classic Russian and Ukrainian fare such as steamed pierogi, beef stroganoff, and crêpes stuffed with red caviar or chicken. Free burlesque shows are also available on Thursday nights. The kitchen crew crafts these dishes by following recipes passed down for two centuries, making the meals older than Rip Van Winkle's teddy bear. Patrons can take in the show while comfortably seated in padded wicker armchairs, or retreat to the hookah lounge to practice sending smoke signals that request martini refills.