Its roots go back to the St. Petersburg restaurateurs, the Palkin family, the first mention of whom dates back to 1785. Initially, the popularity of the family's taverns, and then later the "Palkin" restaurants was extraordinary. The most fashionable - restaurant "K.P. Palkin" - was situated on the corner of the Nevsky and the Vladimirsky Prospekts, house number 47. The building was purchased by Konstantin Palkin in 1871, after he inherited the business of his father, Pavel Palkin. A professor of architecture, the great A.K. Keizer himself, was invited to attend to the renovation of the house, and on September 8, 1874, came the grand opening of a restaurant with 25 dining halls, a billiard room, private cabinets, and a majestic staircase that was adorned with exotic plants and a gorgeous, sparkling fountain.