Romania - Eastern Europe - page 557

substandard accommodations); to find out whether these have finally been completed
(and how these have affected rates) call & 0232/14-3330.
Little Texas An oasis in a desert of drab hotel options, this American-run place
overlooking Ia @ i offers the most pleasant accommodations anywhere in the region,
with a genuinely warm design aesthetic, and more in-room comfort than you'll find
elsewhere in the city. Although it's themed on Wild West iconography (framed images
of John Wayne, saddlebags, six-shooters, and Texan paraphernalia), and country tunes
form a perpetual backdrop to the public areas, the blend of American kitsch and
Romanian staff somehow works. Set in beautifully tended grounds with a rock-built
waterfall, fountain, cherry trees, and an old ox-wagon (no escaping the Western fron-
tier theme), this small hotel is a short cab ride from the city, which it overlooks; reserve
a room with a view of Ia @ i, which also includes a panorama of the surrounding hills
from your small private porch (if you don't mind the stairs, ask for room no. 43).
Rooms on the lower floor open directly onto the lawn. Breakfasts are strictly Ameri-
can, and the restaurant serves up Tex-Mex dishes with a Romanian twist; locals flock
here for the food, so in summer the dining terrace is often abuzz, and the saloon-style
indoor area is ideal for winter.
Moara de Vânt 31-33, Ia@i. & 0232/21-6995. Fax [phone]. www.littletexas.org. 31 units. L270-L290 ($97-
$104/£52-£56) double; L310 ($112/£59) suite. Rates include breakfast. Amenities: Restaurant; outdoor terrace; bar;
room service; laundry; travel assistance. In room:A/C, TV, minibar, hair dryer.
WHERE TO DINE
Casa Pogor ROMANIAN Fringing the gardens of Pogor House Literary Museum,
the summer terrace at this historic venue is always abuzz. It's so popular in fact, that
getting the attention of one of the overworked waiters can by frustrating; nevertheless,
if you've got patience and fancy a fairly wide-ranging selection of traditional fish and
meat dishes, it's not half bad. The menu is strictly in Romanian, but you can't go
wrong if you order trout (or p â str â v ) which—like everything on the menu—is pre-
pared to order, and served on plates featuring quotes by Eminescu, who would meet
here to debate fellow writers. In cooler months, the musty cellar becomes the most
atmospheric space in town.
Str Vasile Pagov 4. & 0232/24-3006. Main courses L3.50-L21 ($1.25-$7.40/£70-£6.95). MC, V. Daily 10am-2am.
GinGer Ale INTERNATIONAL Odd though the name may be, the food and
service here are wonderful in equal measure; in summer, sit on the upstairs terrace,
where grape vines and a guava tree shelter you from the heat. Strangely, the Irish dishes
are specialties of the house; there's a delicious mutton hot pot (prepared with pulpa de
batal, sos rosu ciuperci, and cartofi ), but you could as easily have Irish ragout or leg of
mutton in ginger sauce. Steaks can be ordered with a rich Gorgonzola sauce, and fish
recommendations run the gamut from grilled pike to carp or salmon. New dishes
appear regularly; successful experiments include Thai salad with roasted veal, salmon
and spinach salad, and an excellent risotto with chicken livers and mushrooms. Note
that GinGer Ale offers great discounts for daytime diners; weekdays between 11am
and 4pm, they take 20% off your food bill; on weekends up to 50%.
Str. Sâulescu 23. & 0232/27-6017. www.gingerale.ro. Main courses L5-L29 ($1.80-$10/£1-£5.60). AE, DC, MC, V.
Daily 11am-1am.