Budget
St. Petersburg
Good and cheap food in the very centre next to the "Saviour on the Spilled Blood" church. Pay attention, there are two restaurants called St. Petersburg next to each other and the second one is more expensive.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, tastes better than hot Russian crepes with caviar, mushrooms, caramel, berries, or what have you with a cup of tea on a cold winter street.
Teremok (ТеÑемок)
This blini chain began with street-corner kiosks throughout the city many are quite easy to find, and they have expanded to include counter-service restaurants serving not only blini, but also kasha, salads, and other quick, inexpensive fare. Some central locations are Bolshaya Morskaya Ul. 11, Nevsky Pr. 60, and Nevsky Pr. 106. The restaurants have menus in English if you ask. Taste like paperboard.
Chainaya Lozhka (Ð§Ð°Ð¹Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð»Ð¾Ð¶ÐºÐ°)
These fast-food restaurants serve blini Russian crepes with a variety of fillings - you choose your own at the counter. They also have a wide selection of teas. Some restaurants have wifi. Not actualy cheap for full lunch and not tasty at all.
Samovar (СамоваÑ)
This neighborhood blini shop makes blini as good as homemade so says a native Russian blini-maker. Choose from a wide range of fillings and have your tasty blini made fresh; also has a decent selection of tea. Better lunch than any of the chains. No English; but you can just point at the toppings on the counter if you don't want to bother translating the menu with your guide book.
Midrange
Tepló
Still TripAdvisor #1, it's currently loosing its charm and excellent service. Still, quite charming good value for money, although drinks are quite expensive. Fireplace in winter and courtyard with umbrellas and flowers in summer. Most staff speak English, those who don't are still helpful at navigating the English menu. Lunch set menu from 1pm. Equally good for breakfast from 9am, Mon-Fri only with omlets, pancakes, a weekly rotation of porridges and fritters. Free wifi ask waiter for instructions; childrens playroom; separate non/smokers; outdoor terrace open until at least 5ths of Oct but no gas heaters. Same owners as a nearby Zoom Cafe.
Zoom
Same owners as Tepló, but much more intimate;not a victim of top TripAdvisor positions.
The Idiot
Named after the Dostoevsky novel, and offering a wide variety of very tasty vegan, vegetarian, and seafood dishes at prices higher than what you'd expect. All served in a very cozy and attractive cellar stocked with books, ex-pats, and intellectuals.
Gastronom
Excellent desserts tiramisu is really great; good reviews for dinner. Wide selection of international fare: Thai, Italian, Russian, steaks. Rare place with 5 varieties of Caesar salad. Outdoor terrace is comfortable for a baby stroller, but closes before late Sept.
1,001 Nights
This would be but an ordinary undistinguished Uzbek restaurant, were it not within one block of the Winter Palace. Given location, the place is spectacular in that it maintains decent service and very good food.
Kafe Ket
Kafe Kat is a tucked into a rather unassuming location, just off Nevsky. This little restaurant serves what might be the best Georgian food in St. Petersburg. There is an English menu and the staff is friendly. 1500 rubles for 2, 3 courses + beer
Oriental Express (restaurant/buffet)
Tourists-oriented and doesn't hide it, the place has a good selection of traditional Russian dishes. Buffet and restaurant share the same building and kitchen and have few common dishes, but are otherwise very distant from each other at least in prices. Free wifi ask waiter for instructions.
Kafe Tbilisi
Georgian food. The dishes prepared in pots are excellent.
Giuseppe Park
Excellent Italian food in a white nearly-luxury setting. In peak hours, choose easier-to-cook dishes to minimize risk of mistake. Great gaspacho, "quatro formagio" pizza. Good for a late breakfast as well although no breakfast-time menu: only omlets, 170 rubles. Heated outdoor terrace open until at least end of Sep. No wifi, for a reason: it's a place to eat.
Vostochny Ugolok
Good-quality Caucasian cuisine in a vivid interior. Excellent shahlyki and manty.
Montana Saloon
American cuisine, wonderful steaks best in S-Petersburg, good wine and pleasant atmosphere. A bit expensive the best steak costs 850 rubles, but it is worth it.
Fasol na Gorokhovoy
Artictic minimalism interior; creative fusion cuisine.
Oliva
Greek restaurant with a genuine Greek chef; popular with expats.
Mama Roma
A chain of Italian restaurants; free wifi. Malaya Konyushennaya, 4/2: outdoor terrace is open heated until at least end of Sep; terrace perfect with toddler: spacious enough for baby strollers; has children-safe wide couches.
Cafe Old Tbilisi
You'll probably be the only foreign visitor to this small unassuming place on Vasilievsky Island, but the great Georgian food is absolutely worth the short metro trip. The quality for the price here is just outstanding.
Jean Jacques
Decent lower-end French cuisine. Nothing-special breakfasts: either omlet or croissant or porridge.
Zazhigalka
Located just opposite McDonald's the one near ul. Rubinshteyna, this restobar is open 24 hours a day. They serve business lunch from 12-5 PM with 3 options. Choose the 250 rubles one, it includes salad, soup, main meal, garnish a.k.a side dish, berry drink, and bread. The 200 rubles option include no soup and the 150 rubles includes no course/garnish. Food was very good. Looked classy and tasted great. Very great cool, lounge feel atmosphere. Menus have English translation and several staffs can speak English. Great service too.
Traveling Sack for a Pregnant Spy
A very fun Russian restaurant, that would be worth visiting as a gallery of weird spy-kitsch, but the food is also decent. No wifi.
Acquarel
Right on the water, this restaurant offers Italian food alongside a French/Asian fusion menu. Friendly people, delightful atmosphere, and a wonderful view, Acquarel is a wonderful and delicious dinner option or even a great place to relax and get a drink in their lounge chairs.
Top end
Grand Hotel Europe Restaurant
The sunday jazz brunch here is a "not to miss" if you are looking for a real splurge. about $90 usd per person includes a full caviar spread and sushi bar in addition to the normal brunch fare carving station, omelette station, salads, fruit, baked goods, desserts, the options are nearly endless. there is also bottomless champagne glasses and the champagne is quite good and a huge frozen ice sculpture that is tapped where you can refill your glass with iced vodka as many times as you'd like. the jazz is very good and the pace is relaxed and enjoyable. the only caveat: as with most russian eateries, there is no non-smoking section, so if you are not a smoker, ask for table away from the majority or risk having to inhale cigarette smoke while you dine.
Na Zdorovye!
This is the kitschiest kitchen in town, but it's no tourist trap, not by a long stretch. Its way off on the Petrograd Side north of the stadium, and is frequented mostly just by Russians, who come to enjoy the fun over-the-top decor, and the delightful "tastes just like babushka makes it" cooking. Sending the kitsch even further over that top are the performances of Russian/Gypsy folk music and singing 19:00-23:00 daily. Come here for a full meal or the vodka shots + zakuski, and you'll have a memorable night.
Terrassa
Offers magnificent view to Kazansky cathedral from terrace. Pastries are well worth the price.