Bolshaya Nikitskaya, 23/9
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  • Ivan Kukarskikh and Bogdan Panchenko

    Founders of Lucky Group
    Having traveled around Europe and gained experience, Bogdan and Ivan consciously moved towards the restaurant industry. Ivan opened the first BB Burgers project in 2013. Bogdan, helping his partner and close friend, was simultaneously engaged in supplying vegetables and fruits from Russian cities to large companies in the capital.
    In the fall of 2017, together with brand chef Glen Ballis, was opened a joint project Margarita Bistro on the corner of Malaya Bronnaya street.
    There are now 22 restaurants in the Lucky Group, which are united by values, attention to detail and most importantly – hospitality. In addition to restaurants, Lucky Group develops the areas of events, catering, training services and merch.
  • Vasiliy Zaitsev

    Brand chef
    Started his career 15 years ago. Learned the art of cooking in Hong Kong and Beijing. As a chef he took part in the opening of such projects as Zodiac, Chicha, Sakhalin. He was the head of the Tinto Mediterranean restaurant. Likes to travel to the countries of Southeast Asia and the Pink Floyd group.
  • Dmitry Kipelkin

    Chef Sommelier
    Sommelier since 2007. Took courses in Germany and Burgundy (Ecole de Bourgogne). Worked as a chef sommelier at the Selfie restaurant of the WRF group. He is engaged in compiling wine lists of all segments, as well as navigating through them. Loves wine at all stages - from the vine to the glass in hand. Appreciates the opportunity to touch the art of talented winemakers.
  • Maxim Gorelik

    Chef Bartender

    Has been in the industry for 10 years. He started his career in Krasnoyarsk (2011-2012), then worked in bars in St. Petersburg (2013) with the future founders of the Imbibe bar. In 2014 he moved to Moscow and worked at one of the first Speak Easy in Russia - Jack Rose, then joined the team of Bruce Lee Bar (former Belka Bar), where six months later he became a bar manager at the age of 22. In 2016, he had experience in bar consulting, and at the beginning of 2017 he joined the team of opening the Cevicheria restaurant. In mid-2017, he received an offer to open a new project Margarita Bistro as a bar manager. A year later, he opened Lucky Izakaya Bar, afterwards - Eva and Loro, thereafter he became the chief bartender of the new restaurant group Lucky Group.

    Since 2017 he is also part of the Bacardi - Martini family. Since September 2017, he was the trade ambassador of Bacardi - Martini in Moscow. Since January 1, 2022, he has been the Patron tequila brand ambassador in Russia and Eastern Europe.

    Included in the Top 10 Russian bar managers according to Barproof 2017-2018 and the Top 3 Russian bar managers according to Barproof 2019-2021.

    Now he is a speaker at various restaurant and bar venues in Russia, such as the Roman Toroschin Training Center, Gastreet Show, Moscow Food Academy.

    The ideologist of the educational bar community at Lucky Group - Lucky Bar Skills.

  • Dina Ergeshova

    Chef
    Started her career in 2008, and since then the love for cuisine has become an integral part of life.
    Also tried to find herself in other directions – she worked at the bar, was a waiter, but the love for the product was stronger.
    “I've always been drawn to Asian cuisine, and in 2019 I found my place at Lucky Restaurant”.
  • Georgy Elizarov

    Chef sommelier
    He began his journey in 2011 at the Art Academy restaurant as a waiter, where he got acquainted with the world of wine and sommelier Maria Milovidova. Later, in 2013, he ended up at FF Bar under the guidance of Fedor Fomin and the Simachëv Shop&Bar team. Three years later, he joined to the 15 kitchen + bar team, where he worked with chefs from Michelin restaurants. There he went from head waiter to sommelier, studying at the Enotria wine school, and met Tom Halpin, with whom he continued to work as a sommelier at Foreigners. Having successfully proved himself, he received an invitation from the chef sommelier of Lucky Group to become part of the company. In 2021, he became a sommelier at Lucky Izakaya Bar, and two years later, at Koji Restaurant.
  • Alexey Shentsov

    Bar Manager

    Began his career in hospitality in 2012 in Rostov-on-Don, working across some of the city’s key projects.

    Built a strong professional foundation at Fahrenheit restaurant (Maison Dellos). Two years later, he launched his own project, Shanghai 12 Bar, which was recognized as Ethnic Bar of the Year by Barproof Russia in 2019.

    Completed an internship at one of the world’s leading bars — The Clumsies (Athens, Greece). Worked as a bartender at Koji and took part in the opening of Jun as a Senior Bartender.

    In 2022, joined the FolkTeam as Head Bartender.

    In 2026, rejoined Lucky Group as Bar Manager at Lucky Izakaya.

© Lucky Izakaya Bar, Bolshaya Nikitskaya 23/9