Arseny R.
Yelp
This is the big kahuna of the Russian restaurants of Philadelphia. Don't be deceived by the restaurant designation, the place, like most bigger Russian restaurants, is more of a dance hall with lots of tables to serve patrons with tons of mass produced food from mostly prix-fixe menu.
I will start with the good that encompasses my reason for going there regularly (several times each year) for over 10 years.
The place is very big, it will seat hundreds of patrons in relative comfort, it has a big stage, powerful sound system, large dance floor, resident band, BYOB, and a good overall layout. This makes it great for weddings, birthday parties and other major events.
Since Golden Gate has been around for a longer time and has had more or less stable ownership and workforce, the waiters tend to know their duties, restaurant at full capacity will generate handsome tips. There are very few walk-ins, most business is done by reservations for larger groups with menu setup well in advance.
I have not scheduled parties there, but many of my friends have, so I am somewhat of a regular guest who never gets to actually order as prix-fixe "banquet" decision has been made for me well in advance.
Now the bad, or the reason why I don't like to schedule events in GG.
It is too big. Just too many people at the same time for an enjoyable dining experience. There is next to no intimacy within the table, only few obstructions to view for most of the dining area, some parts are raised up in order for patrons to be better seen. Moreover some tables are mere inches away from large dance floor that does fill up to its gills at times.
Band is way too loud and somewhat obnoxious. Talking to person 3 feet away from you is often problematic. If you want to talk in between dishes, best bets are either to go into hallway or even outside. 99% of the songs played are repeating every night, sometimes several times each night. Most of songs are covers and remixes of Russian, European and Italian pop music, mixed in with something slow sang by request, so don't be surprised to hear singing in three or four different languages within mere 10 minutes. And to make it all stand out, few things are sang in a way that would want to make you hear that performance again.
Food is mass produced. Menu will have some of the greatest delicacies of European food, seafood, sushi, caviar, foie gras, etc., but don't expect that it will be prepared by several chefs trained in France for many years, for all purposes GG cooks are nameless creatures hidden deep within the kitchen. So if you want to spend big money on foie gras, lobster or sushi, lookup a specialty restaurant in center city or in well off suburbs, GG is not the place for it.
Last concern is the regular patrons. You will see all kinds of people on almost every night. Every age group from teens and sweet 16s to elderly celebrating quadruple bypasses and 50th wedding anniversaries. One thing for sure, everyone dresses to impress and everyone dresses about the same. While elderly are a problem only on dance floor and sometimes with long addresses to birthday boys and girls (including self-made poetry), the under-aged crowd is a different problem. There is no drinking control there, its 100% BYOB, so expect wildly drunk teenagers. There is no dress code there either, so expect very slutty looking girls. When there are lots of booze, teenagers and slutty girls... there are fights, but they end fast. Lastly dress code for most others. Men in suits, women in black dresses, other colors make it look like a reenactment of Pleasantville.
End result, its doable, it is still a great place for a huge party, but for majority of dining out with handful of friends, this is just not the spot.
