Restaurant Review: Particularly Persian
For insiders, Pars is old news. It’s long been the go-to place for Persian expats. When he began working at his parents’ small establishment in the upper Lerchenfelderstraße in 1998, owner Shahram Marandi says it was already established as the spot where Iranian students went to hang out. What started as a Persian snack joint [...]
Geeky Gourmet: A Tasting Menu by Tablet
Perching on a white-upholstered bench in a low ceilinged and cosily lit modern eatery, I was tucking hungrily into a dish of crocodile wrapped in bacon. Yet the exotic dishes on offer are not the oddest aspect of eating at Viereck on Johannesgasse in Vienna’s 1st District. More unusual was the fact that, bravely resisting [...]
Die Burgermacher: Gourmet Enough for a Knife and Fork
One problem facing newcomers to any city is finding a set of restaurants you enjoy. You may have to try four or more Chinese places before you settle on one that merits your becoming a regular. The same goes for pizza, sushi and the local Beisl. In the case of hamburgers, the search is a [...]
Noosh – A Sensual Introduction to Afghanistan
Noosh looks like nowhere else in Vienna. Large, bulbous, coloured lampshades hang down to different depths from the ceiling. The manager, Khaled Khushdel, who designed the décor himself, calls them “Afghan tears”. The inner walls are lined with thickly plastered brown clay that gives the large single room a cosy feeling. “My partner was against [...]
Ma Crêperie: Warm End to a Cold Night
It was the first night that was noticeably colder in Vienna, a nip in the air and a sting to the wind. On Grünangergasse in the 1st District, we found Ma Crêperie, a family-owned, Lebanese-French restaurant, where a fireplace lit in the corner of the dining room and the choice of music – Bon Iver, [...]
Bangkok: Authentic Thai With a Loyal Following
From the outside it doesn’t look like much – just another Asian take-away eatery. Actually, it almost blends into the building on Joanelligasse in the 6th District. But once you decide to try it out, any previous reservations are left at the door. Bangkok-Vienna is anything but ordinary. On your second or third visit, owner [...]
Georgian-Oriental: The Perfect Marriage of Cuisine and Style
A barrage of photos from a friend’s iPhone had been interrupting me the entire day. “Where on earth are you?” I wrote. “In a car,” he answered. Out the car window, the countryside was gorgeous. I couldn’t figure it out. Ireland? Chile? Suddenly he sent his flight details: Berlin-Tbilisi. Ah! Georgia. I’d never been there, [...]
O’Connor’s: Pub Grub For the Refined Palate
What are the things you associate with a typical Irish bar? A selection of quality beers on tap, including Murphy’s and London Pride? Check. A range of single malt whiskies behind the bar? Check. A friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere? Check. But when you’ve also got a kitchen turning out restaurant-grade food, you know [...]
Dining on the Wienfluss
For a restaurant, being number 11 in the world must be tough. For starters, you’re not in the top 10 club, and people are obsessed with top 10s. Top 10 songs, top 10 travel destinations, top 10 funny cat videos. Nobody cares about the 11th of anything. Except, perhaps, restaurants. Particularly when it’s an 11-place [...]
