Queues

As Mitza was telling me again and again that it is NOT okay to spend my weekends in front of the TV playing Xbox (And because it is the last weekend this exhibition is on), I decided to go out and visit the Royal Academy of Arts, to see Building the Revolution: Soviet Art and Architecture 1915-1935. Checked the price and opening hours before I left and completely ignored the button "Order your tickets here" - Fail!

The Academy is located between Green Park and Picadilly station, so even on weekends quite busy. So when I entered I saw first the model of a tower that was planned to build in St. Petersburg (The original would have been 400m high and would have moved!), but also the queue in front of the ticket desk.

So as a man of quick decisions, I jumped on the 88 to have a look at Westminster Abbey - but they were already closed... So I just took a picture for Mitza as a proof that I really have been there and that I am not just making up a story to get her off my back...

Then I remembered that I read the day before that there is a new restaurant opening in Canary Wharf that sounded promising. (Sorry folks, in the end I am always stuck with food...) Quick check on my mobile (How could mankind survive 40.000 years without mobile internet - and sorry Chris that I ever made fun of you in regards this topic) revealed that they have already two restaurants in London, one in the City (closed on Saturdays) and one in Marylbone, Westminster. I know, you are already courious to find out why I am making such a fuzz about it, I am talking about the Relais de Venise - anyone a clue what this means? It was founded 1959 in Paris and has branches in London and NewYork now. Their concept is to provide you with no choice - or as I called it "With Sven's dream when he is going out with Mitza" - Sorry Honey! You get a fixed menue for £21 consisting of a starter salad with walnuts (and a dressing that was a little bit mustardy for my taste - if that word even exists) and a few slices of baguette, which I hope it was not transported in some French guy's armpit. The main dish then is a steak with their secret sauce (delivered in two tranches to get  it to the table hot) and french fries that are imported from France, so logistical valuable food. But this approach must be procurement's dream!

So back on the 88, a short walked and I was there at 18:10 (Official opening hour 18:30). But lucky for me I had something to do: I could go into the queue that was already around the corner. But luckily I got in with the first group of guests. I do not want to bore you, so if you want to see how it looks like just have a look at their page. The meat was great, really soft, also the fries were good.

Reasons it will not go there again:

• As the Guardian stated too: I am feeling to old to queue to get some food
• When I want to eat a steak I want a big piece of meat and not twice several thin slices
• I want to have the sauce separate and not poured over my meat, even if it is some secret recipe from France - although the guys beside almost licked their plates clean...
• I don't want to feel pressured to leave because the next customers are already waiting in the door

Below a picture of the queue when I left. Obviously I could not take one before, because I would have lost my place in it!

Some more observations: Londoner seem to go to restaurants regardless the age of their kids (The suckling beside me seemed to be still moist...) and there is nothing better to keep a toddler quiet than an electronic device like an tablet or Nintendo DS. It seems I am getting old...