The Master and Margarita, Huntington Beach

The first clue that Master and Margarita’s ambiance leans toward the relaxed and lighthearted is found in the restaurant’s name, taken from Mikhail Bulgakov’s 1960s satirical novel lampooning Soviet bureaucracy. The second sign of the restaurant’s playful attitude spills forth from the bustling kitchen where chefs remain faithful to traditional Russian recipes while also whipping up fusion fare that, like John Wayne wearing a Catherine the Great costume, combines American favorites with Eastern European classics. Amid the wood-floored dining room, low lighting and well-spaced tables afford romantic meals while flat-screen TVs remain ablaze during sporting events. Master and Margarita also welcomes area artists for live musical performances on select evenings to fill the restaurant with jazz and acoustic tunes.