Cloak room tackle at the Albertina Passage, Vienna, Austria

Malcontent:   Albertina Passage, Dinner Club/Live Jazz venue, Vienna 1010, Austria

Open mindedness is a prerequisite to a successful evening out at a new restaurant.   Sometimes it is gloriously rewarded, and at others, it is sorely tested! On a lovely, crisp Saturday night in October, that I chose to visit the Albertina Passage, a popular Viennese dinner club featuring live jazz music, with a group of friends, I was genuinely excited to be visiting this much hyped venue.

The immediate first impression, upon our entrance, was to face a rather substantial cloakroom, manned by a seriously dictatorial attendant. It was made obvious to our party, in a rather abrupt manner, that, leaving our coats was non-negotiable! As first impressions go, this was definitely not love at first sight! Once we shed our warm winter coats, we were further left shivering in front of a maitre d’, whose overly slick attitude was as annoying, as it was unprofessional. Yet, in true spirit of open mindedness, we brushed all of this minor irritation aside, and soldiered on, determined to enjoy our evening.

A few hours of delicious food, and entertaining, albeit distractingly loud, musical jazz entertainment followed, accompanied by a very attentive waiter service.  The food was typically Viennese yet imaginative, our waiter was exceptionally friendly, and all of these pluses seemed to beautifully distract us from the subway station feel of the interior, and erase our initial irritation.  Summa summarum, we were ready to head home open mindedly satisfied!

Once back at the proverbial ‘ship’s deck’, our initial irritation was speedily revived, and quickly reached volcanic intensity! We were tired and ready to swiftly collect our coats and exit the garishly bright and rather cold restaurant lobby.  Still, it was obvious that we were in for a rather lengthy wait, as we encountered, a nightclub like throng of a queue, in front of the ‘obligatory’ coat check area. We waited, we tackled, we pushed, we swore we would never be back at this establishment, and finally, we were awarded with out coats and allowed to go home! Unless you enjoy pushing and shoving, following an expensive meal, or enjoy having you better half do the same, while you’re shifting from foot to foot in your suddenly, rather uncomfortable Louboutins, give this establishment a miss. Until, that is, the management decides to rethink, redesign or scrap its ‘front deck’! Miracles do happen! Sometimes!