If you're one of those people who says they'll never set foot in the CITA, you should put away your prejudices and head for the first floor.
Just behind Café Wien, you'll find the new home of Ola, which was a much-loved restaurant in the Yumbo for many years. The Yumbo location changed hands in the early part of this year, and for various reasons, under its new management, it didn't prosper and has now closed. But the original owners kept the rights to the name, and have now opened their new venue.
The new Ola is bigger than before, and much more comfortable. And if you ever used to eat at the restaurant in its Yumbo heyday, you won't be disappointed. The whole team from the original restaurant is back in place, and it's as good as it ever was. Ola has always been hugely popular with gay diners.
The food is a mixture of German and Hungarian influenced dishes, with excellent meat and fish. Highlights include a home-made goulash soup (which we're reliably informed by Hungarian friends is absolutely authentic - and we like it), huge steaks and some inventive fish dishes. Wines, desserts and coffee are all as good as you'd expect.
As always used to be the case, the restaurant has service in the style of a grand hotel, discreet but attentive, with nice china and proper napkins. And for the quality of the food and the overall atmosphere, it's very good value and cheaper than some other very well-known restaurants popular with the gay community.
This corner of the CITA is much more attractive at night than you might expect, and if you want a special meal out, this is a good place to go. It's closed on Thursdays, and in busy periods you should book, as it's already popular.
|