Archive for the ‘Bucharest’ Category
Fox’ Bar and Restaurant Review: White Horse
September 30th, 2010 | 
Author: Address: Str. George Calinescu 4A-Dorobanti area
Phone: 021 231 27 95
Web: www.whitehorse.ro
The White Horse is a very traditional style British pub in Dorobanti which started in 1997, one of the originals on the night life scene in Bucharest. As you walk in off the street past the red telephone box you enter the ground floor bar area which has a very solid dark wooden, island bar design in the middle of the floor. This is surrounded by bar stools, so suits those, perhaps especially Brits, who like to do their drinking and chatting at the bar, and with a dart board in the corner this pub is arguably the closest thing you will find to a British pub in town. They have a large pull down projector scene in the back area behind the bar which is used to show sports, mainly football. On the first floor there is an 80 seats-restaurant split into 2 separate sections for smokers and non smokers. The menu offers a wide selection of grilled meats, seafood and salads, no pizza/pasta, a refreshing change!
The prawns were excellent. Another floor above the restaurant on the top of the building is a terrace, which at the moment is closed but which should reopen soon.The part of the White Horse I like best though has to be the ground floor bar, it feels very familiar, they offer Guinness, Leffe, Carlsberg, Tuborg, Becks and Stella on draught. You would say to yourself nothing exceptional in that, and you would be right, but you have to meet Nicolete Tanasie. Nicolete is a bartender of 3 years with the White Horse and this week won a prize awarded by Stella Artois as ‘Stella Draught Master’ for Romania and is going to compete in the grand final in London at the end of October. There is a lot more to pouring a Stella than most of us have imagined. The ’9 steps’, google it to find out more! After I learnt that, I have to say the beer somehow tasted better. Pay Nicolete a visit and try yourself. All in all I do like the White Horse and it comes into its own as a night time venue as it gives that cosy pub feel ing. Of which I’m sure many still miss and go in search of. Open daily from 11am until late.
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Hint
If you are in for sweets and Moldovan wine, you should try out the Clipe and Bucuria store on Calea Dorobantilor 107, opposite of La Perla.
It opened 8 months ago and their offers include Moldovan red and white wines, sparkling wine and ice wine. Most of the wines are from the famous Cricova estates, famous for their immense underground wine cellars.They also offer some great pralines and Moldovan Chocolates! E-mail contact: asoimaru@yahoo.com.
Fox’ Bar and Restaurant Review: Legere Cafe Bar
Address: Piata Rosetti Nr 5
Phone: 0730 534 373
Web: www.legere.ro
Legere is a Cafe bar situated in Piata Rosetti just 2 minutes walk from Piata Universitatii, opened in May of this year by 4 local photographers in the fantastic old building which is connected to the Hotel Banat. The bar occupies a section of the ground floor with the old frontage still in tact.
The interior of the bar has a feel of the arts with posters on the walls and bouchers advertising theatre and events. During the week they have themed evenings, anything from a gathering of photographers to 70′s rock nights, check out their Facebook page Legere Cafe to see what’s coming up. They are also very open to requests so if you want a night taylor-made to your needs give a call as this is an ideal venue for a party. The floor space is good for numbers up to around 60.
The bar interior was created by Valeriu Virlan, who designed the now very well known Van Gogh Bar and cafe. The unique feature in the design at Legere is the long extension to the bar top, extending well beyond the needs of the bar tender and becoming a place for the drinker to sit or lean whilst enjoying the atmosphere.
The offering at the moment is drinks only but they are developing a food menu which will be coming soon. The drinks list consists of draught and bottled beers, a range of cocktails, and home made wines which have to be tried!
The bar is open from 9am week days and from midday on Saturday and Sunday, until the last man standing every night. Great place for a coffee during the day as the bar offers free WiFi and power points to plug in at every table.
In summary, Legere has a very open and friendly environment, a good place to stop for a coffee during the day or party at night. Do check out the events page as they offer events not found elsewhere.
Hint
Some have been knowing it for a long time, some discover it now upon their arrival- but almost everybody falls in love with this delicious Italian food offered at GRANO-ITALIAN FINE FOOD.
The friendly (and always busy) owner Giulio can help you find your favorite cheese, salami, burrata or homemade pasta! More info HERE!
Fox’ Bar and Restaurant Review: Gradina Verona
(behind Carturesti Bookshop)
Address: Str. Pictor Arthur nr. 13-15
Phone: 021 317 34 59
E-mail: ionescu.stelian@gmail.com
Gradina Verona is a garden cafe bar situated at the back the Carturesti Book Store, 2 minutes walk from Piata Romana in the direction of Piata Universitatii. The entrance is on Pictor Arthur Verona.
The garden bar is a total escape from the busy surrounding streets of down town Bucharest . The large outdoor area has mature trees with overhanging branches, giving shade from the sun. It is decked out with a mixture of different wooden furnishings.
This a great place to have lunch or a drink on a warm afternoon and read a few chapters of the book bought from next door. There is also a small play area for children to enjoy.
The food offering is a simple selection of salads, sandwiches, pasta, casserole with deserts of very high quality. The presentation is attractive. There are two beers, Becks and Leffe Blonde, available on tap, served well chilled, in addition to a large selection of bottled beer.
There is a good selection of Romanian and imported wines, and an interesting range of cocktails both alcoholic and non alcoholic.
This garden bar can be the perfect place to spend an afternoon or evening on a hot day. It is open from April until the end of October from 10am until midnight daily.
Hint
With great help of our friend Claudia we restructured and updated our restaurant list in the Online Survival Guide! We list some restaurants which are our favorites in town – divided by cuisines.
POFTA BUNA!
. Enjoy the August and scroll down Fox’ Bar and Restaurant Review: The Gang Cafe and Lounge
ADDRESS: Calea Floreasca 111-113
PHONE: 0 733975277
E-Mail: mirela.thegang@yahoo.com
Always on the look out for something new and different on the local bar scene, I found The Gang Cafe and Lounge. Situated directly behind Floreasca fruit market on Calea Floreasca, it is perhaps not the best location for passing foot traffic, but if you are in the area, it is certainly worth looking for.As you enter the premises there is a very neatly presented terrace, the edges of which are surrounded by pots of freshly growing flowers. It is set back a good 30 meters from the busy road to create the impression that you are not sharing your glass of wine with the people in their cars. Look for the Peroni beer logo as all chairs and umbrellas were obviously supplied by the aforementioned beer brand.
Going into the interior space you enter a totally glass fronted bar area. This works well in summer when you may want to sit in an air conditioned environment but still enjoy the summer sunshine. It could also work well as a feature in winter time.
In the facing glass fronted area there is a showcase of green apples! Different!
The inside floor space is laid with solid wood parquet, and in the rear area of the bar this continues right through, up the walls and along the ceiling, to great effect. The furnishings are made up of very funky white padded sofas and stainless tables all with a small bouquet of fresh flowers in keeping with the flowers on the terrace which shows good attention to detail.
The food menu has a simple range of hot and cold food, and based on personal experience, it is of very good quality. An uncomplicated drinks list of beers, cocktails and wines, offers top local wine at very reasonable prices. The walls are decorated with random pictures of old American cars which, interestingly fills the blank wall space.
This is a place to go for a quiet lunch or a drink with friends during the day, but maybe it is as its best as a destination for a group of friends, meeting for a night out.
Overall, I like the Gang Cafe very much, with its comfortable and friendly environment, and uncomplicated good quality offering.
Car Towing
IMPORTANT: The information given in this chapter is from December 2009; regularly check the Online Survival Guide for updates!
Parking is one of the biggest infrastructure issues in the city. Because there are insufficient parking meters, cars are parked everywhere including on sidewalks, in cross walks, at bus stops and where ‘No Parking’ signs are clearly posted! To make things worse, there is a lot of confusion about towing. Since new regulations were recently announced, a lot more cars are being towed. To help you (and us) make some sense of the whole issue, we called the police directly; below you will find what we learned.
There are several fees you will have to pay for a violation: the lifting, towing and storage fees (listed below by sector) are different in each sector! But in addition to these fees, the police will fine you personally for the violation and will give you penalty points on your licence: Personal violation fee: RON 216 (or RON 108 if paid within 24 hours) + 3 Penalty Points.
You will need several documents to retrieve your vehicle: the vehicle registration, personal identification (passport, visa card, or national ID), and the driver’s license of the person responsible for the violation.
Sector 1
Storage Facility
Address: Aleea Matelotilor Nr. 31-43
Phone: +40 021 95 40 or +40 021 66 76 772; +40 021 66 76 772
Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00-22:00; Sunday 8:00-1400
For violations in Sector 1, here are the fines:
Lifting fee: RON 200 + VAT;
Transport fee: RON 200 + VAT;
Storage fee for vehicles less than 3.5 metric tons: RON 300 + VAT;
Storage fee for vehicles more than 3.5 metric tons: RON 400 + VAT.
The lifting, transport and storage of vehicles happens 24/7. After a period of 30 days, unclaimed vehicles will be declared abandoned and therefore property of the sector, and are likely to be sold for revenue.
Sector 2
Storage Facility
Address: Fabricii St. Nr. 2
Phone: +40 021 310 45 90; +40 021 310 45 90
Schedule: None Given
At the gate you will have to present your identification (residency permit, passport, national ID) and they will take down your data. Then you can enter the storage house, and retrieve your vehicle. The fines are as follow:
Lifting fee: RON 130 + VAT
Transport fee: RON 130 + VAT
Storage fee: RON 180 + VAT
Sector 3
Storage Facility
Address: Sos. Dudesti, Pantelimon Nr. 2– 6
Phone: +40 021 95 43; +40 021 96 40; or +40 0761 118 976; +40 0761 118 976
Schedule: None Given
The fines are as follow:
Lifting fee: RON 200 + VAT
Transport fee: RON 150 + VAT
Storage fee: RON 150 + VAT
Sectors 4 and 5
At the time of publication, these sectors did not have a parking violation system implemented, but you can check the Online Survival Guide for updates! Just search for ‘Towing’.
Sector 6
Storage Facility
Address: Drumul Mânăstirea Văratec, Nr. 14-16
Phone: +40 021 95 46
Schedule: None Given
The fines are as follow:
Lifting fee: RON 150 + VAT
Transport fee: RON 150 + VAT
Storage fee: RON 200 + VAT per day
If you’ve paid for a parking space and someone parked there, call the institution, company, or person that gave you the parking space first. There is a parking office in the jurisdiction of every sector. Or, you can use the Romanian method: stop your car next to the vehicle in your spot and simply honk your horn until they come and move their car. It is surprisingly effective. If they don’t come, or it happens more than once, lift up their windshield wipers: this will let them know they are in the wrong spot!
You can also call the police in your sector to report the violation: they probably won’t tow the car (because they tow cars based on a pre-determined plan), but they may fine them.
And remember, always call the police in your sector if your car is missing; if it wasn’t towed, it is probably stolen!
HINT: You can find the numbers for Police Stations in each sector in the Emergency Telephone Numbers Section!
All About Money Magazine Article from City Compass
Originally published in All About Money Magazine March 1, 2010
Tom Sawyer in Romania
By Mateo Urquijo
In a recent conversation, I asked a Romanian colleague of mine what he thought about hierarchy in business. He told me that business hierarchy in Romania was culturally traditional, although in his companies, he has adopted a much more progressive view. When I asked him exactly what he meant, he explained that oftentimes, an employer is seen not only as a superior within the company, but also as a kind of social superior: a life-mentor who guides an employee’s personal career development. Slightly confused, I asked him exactly what do you mean? He said, “I’ll give you an example. If a boss told an employee ‘today you are not going to do your normal job; you are going to my house to paint my fence,’ they would do it.” Astonished, I said, “Ok, but your employees are all accountants and consultants.” He explained again that he was more progressive, that he expected his people to take on a great deal of personal responsibility for their work and he personally wouldn’t ask them to do something like this. But, theoretically, they would. He was quick to add that not every employer asks their employees to do things like this, but still, it was possible.
I really thought about this. In my work experience, I’ve had only one employer whose fence I would’ve painted had he told me to: the owner of a construction company I worked for during college. Had any other employer told me to paint their fence, I would’ve thought that they were crazy. I would have thought, that’s not in my job description. I still might have done it, but I would have asked, “How much extra you are going to pay me?” If they had said it was part of my career development, and that I wasn’t getting paid extra, I would have instantly thought they were trying to scam me. And anyhow, did I really trust any of my employers to develop my career?
What is of particular interest to me is the idea (I am genuinely intrigued) that there is something like an even remotely universal understanding of this topic in Romania. I can say that with the possible exception of certain parts of the government, American businesses and organisations are pretty much autonomous in their approaches to internal structures. Go into a bookstore and you will find an endless supply of books on the topic: from Management for Dummies, to Models, Methods, Concepts & Applications of the Analytic Hierarchy Process, everyone seems to have the new ‘best’ idea for how to organise a company’s internal hierarchical structures. In fact, companies themselves sometimes use their internal structures to lure employees. Google cleverly refers to their internal hierarchical structure as ‘culture’ rather than a systematised organisation process. But then, maybe I am wrong; I never worked for Google. Better, here are a couple examples of what I mean from personal experience:
I worked for a time (also in college) for Starbucks. Their general philosophy was that they had no hierarchy; every employee was a ‘partner’ in the company. This meant that instead of an employee ID number, you got a Partner Number. Instead of employee meeting, it was a Partner’s Meeting, and so on. I was sceptical of all of this because we still had a manger after all, as well as a regional manager etc., all the way up. But the more I learned, the more convinced I became. For example, in addition to truly terrific benefits like full health coverage options even for part-time employees (this is truly incredible in America), I learned that all employees can buy stock in the company at reduced rates. So someone at a lower-level could become vested in the company and while a shareholder is something different from a ‘partner,’ it is a better deal than a mere stakeholder.
And it worked. People I worked with, after becoming owners of shares, suddenly worked harder, were quicker to point out their colleagues’ mistakes, and generally provided better customer service. The epiphany of direct profit returns encouraged the behaviour of the company’s lowest-level employees to change, oftentimes, radically. That is not to say they were bad workers beforehand, but when their interest was direct, so was their motivation.
Still, being a lowest-level employee myself, I can say that even with stock, it wasn’t all direct profits and corporate adulation. There were daily reminders of your place in the actual hierarchy. Like the time an angry customer demanded that I “do something” about an expired coupon he wanted Starbucks to honour. What could I say? “Sir, I make $7 per hour. They pay me to follow policy, not to make it.”
Another example is hierarchy in the airline industry. When I worked for a mid-sized airline for several years, I learned exactly what the word ‘hierarchy’ means. Of course the flight crews have a hierarchical system that is completely and militaristically rigid. The captain is in total command of the aircraft while it is underway (also legally responsible). The first officer (and subsequent officers on larger planes) is under the captain’s command, as well as the rest of the flight crew (flight attendants etc.). They wear stripes to indicate rank, and the whole thing resembles military hierarchy, because, well that’s where it comes from. Ok, but the airline’s internal corporate structures are also quite interesting.
I worked as a flight coordinator, managing ground crews. Every so often we would get new ‘internal crew members’ from the corporate office. At first, I was confused. Why would someone in the corporate office come out to work on a ground crew, tossing bags, fuelling, and dumping the plane’s toilets? I learned that in the corporate office there is a glass ceiling; you can only climb so high on the corporate ladder if you don’t have grunt-work experience. So you would see a mid-level financial analyst with an MBA come down after work, take his $400 shoes off, and learn how to drive a bag train or clean toilets from a sweaty 20 year-old. It was a terrific system because everyone had to do grunt-level work for at least six months in order to advance in the company. In this way, when people at the top made decisions about people at the bottom, they could think in very real experiential terms, what this meant (as well as having a more well-rounded idea of company operations).
Hierarchy also manifested itself in the airline through its benefits. There was health insurance option, but far more glamorous were the flight benefits. You could fly for free anywhere with our airline, depending on how many empty seats there were. We could also fly for free, or very cheaply (normally just paying taxes), with nearly every other airline in the world (e.g. Chinese airlines were notably excepted). But there were rules about how this worked. Pilots and flight crews oftentimes live in different cities and commute, so their priority was among the highest. They could also jump-seat, which means they could sit in flight crew-only seats: in the cockpit, there are seats for an additional pilot, for example. Next, it was corporate officers, and then down the line. But what if you have two people with the same job who want to get on the same flight and there is only one seat available? Seniority by time with the company rules here. So if I have worked longer for the company than my colleague, I get to fly.
Of course this system is terrific for maintaining employee loyalty as well. My airline didn’t have a very high turnover rate at the lowest levels compared to other industries, which was great for the airline since the training process was extremely expensive. Instead, even people that were discontent with their jobs would continue to work because of the benefits their increasing seniority offered. On the other hand, to watch that financial officer you just trained waltz onto the plane ahead of you, while you waited six hours for the next flight, wasn’t very inspiring.
In the end, many different internal hierarchical structures seem to work well. Still, I can’t seem to shake this idea of the Romanian boss and the fence. But then, today I thought I might have understood. Having thought about this question a lot, I woke up this morning having dreamt about Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer. In one story, Tom must paint a fence instead of going out to play. But when his friends come by and laugh at him, he slyly pretends that painting the fence is a special honour. His friends are naturally intrigued and ask him if they too can try. After he pretends to consider the issue, he lets them, but only in return for something: some marbles, an apple, etc. In the end, the friends end up painting the whole fence for him, and Tom gets rich from the deal.
Or maybe I missed the point entirely: Am I just too American to understand this particular Romanian traditional virtue?