MOSCOW, Dec. 4  -- Managers of upscale restaurants in Russia say they have begun adapting their menus to healthier and creative dishes in response to the economic crisis.

Dmitry Ivanov, the manager of Moscow's Riva restaurant, said his eatery has adopted an "Anti-Crisis Menu" oriented toward good food that helps maintain the spirit of the general population, The Moscow Times said Thursday.

"Our aim is to provide a fillip to the flagging Russian spirit in this uneasy period," Ivanov said. "We want our customers to eat well and to continue to feel good about themselves despite the economic crisis."

Tiflis restaurant manager Koba Morokhua said the economic crisis hasn't sparred the Russian restaurant industry, which is struggling to draw customers.

"The crisis has made a bad situation worse for restaurants," he told the newspaper. "Fewer and fewer diners are stopping by, especially since August. They are not altering their menu choice; they are simply disappearing."

The Times said the Federation of Restaurateurs reported that more than 70 percent of December corporate events at eateries have been canceled. (UPI)