- Title: LATVIA: Hospital food redefined in Latvian restaurant
- Date: 11th October 2008
- Summary: (CEEF) RIGA, LATVIA (RECENT, 2008) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF RESTAURANT "HOSPITAL" INTERIOR OF RESTAURANT, RED CROSS ON FLOOR INTERIOR DETAILS - BICYCLE TRAINER AND MEDICINAL MUD BATH OPERATING ROOM'S LAMP TABLE WITH LEG BOLSTERS FROM GYNAECOLOGIST CONSULTING CABINET SYRINGE IN TRAY WAITRESS DRESSED AS NURSE SERVING CUSTOMER MEDICINAL MUD BATH FISH IN BATH TUB WAITRESS DRESSED AS NURSE BRINGING FOOD OUT WAITRESS DRESSED AS NURSE SERVING FOOD TO CUSTOMER SYRINGES IN TRAY (SOUNDBITE) (Latvian) RESTAURANT VISITOR, IVO BANIS SAYING: "I could imagine coming here with friends, but I would not bring my mother here to have dinner. But by all means it is cool for young people or artists. I don't think it will suit the average Latvian." WAITRESS DRESSED AS NURSE WALKING IN/ OUT OF KITCHEN DISPLAY SHOWING SHOTS REGARDING MEDICINE, SHELF FOR MEDICAMENTS AT THE WALL MICROSCOPE BOTTLES WITH INSCRIPTIONS FOR MEDICINES RESTAURANT VISITOR HELENA STEINA HAVING LUNCH STEINA CUTTING FOOD STEINA HAVING LUNCH DISH FOR BREAD (SOUNDBITE) (Latvian) RESTAURANT VISITOR, HELENA STEINA, SAYING: "I do not know how it is for foreigners, but for local people it is very interesting - it's lingering down memory lane. There are elements from Soviet times. It is a spice from every day routine. And the food is very good." DOCTOR'S PORTRAITS ON THE WALLS WAITRESS DRESSED AS NURSE OPERATING ROOM TABLE OPERATING TABLE AND DENTAL SURGEON'S CHAIR TABLE WITH LEG BOLSTERS FROM GYNAECOLOGIST CONSULTING CABINET LEG BOLSTERS FROM GYNAECOLOGIST CONSULTING CABINET LAMPS FROM OPERATING ROOM POLYTHENE SCREEN AND CHAIR-COACH WAITRESS DRESSED AS NURSE AND BARTENDER AT COUNTER WAITRESS DRESSED AS NURSE (SOUNDBITE) (Latvian) DIRECTOR OF RESTAURANT, MARITA BUNDULE SAYING: "Waitresses are often complimented with men following them with their eyes for a long time. They also talk with them more than is normal in other restaurants, trying to intercommunicate. It is interesting both for our girls and clients." BARTENDER TEA BAGS IN GLASSES WITH INSCRIPTION OF CONTENTS SYRINGE FILLED WITH DARK LIQUID SHELF MINIATURE STATUE OF DOCTOR ON SHELF BIG BOTTLES TO STORE MEDICAMENTS SHELF SKULL ON SHELF RESTAURANT INTERIOR
- Embargoed: 26th October 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Latvia
- Country: Latvia
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA81X6W7AVV2341JPO8Q28D0ZV3
- Story Text: Amidst medical books, needles and skulls a newly opened restaurant in Latvia serves food on tables resembling gynaecological consultation beds, and allows visitors to spend happy hour sitting in a dental surgeon's chair.
The restaurant in Riga, appropriately named "Hospital", is the brainchild of three doctors.
The menu is traditionally European, with some dishes for the extra brave, given Latin names like "debilitas demento hysterica universalis gravis".
Guests can also request a special treatment of being fed while tied up in a straightjacket.
"I could imagine coming here with friends, but I would not bring my mother here to have dinner. But by all means it is cool for young people or artists. I don't think it will suit the average Latvian," restaurant visitor, Ivo Banis said.
Another visitor, Helena Steina said Latvia's Soviet past made the restaurant fascinating to local resident.
"I do not know how it is for foreigners, but for local people it is very interesting - it's lingering down memory lane. There are elements from Soviet times," she said.
"It is a spice from every day routine. And the food is very good," Steina added.
Restaurant manager, Marita Bundule said the waitresses do receive some long glances from male customers.
"Waitresses are often complimented with men following them with their eyes for a long time. They also talk more with them than is normal in other restaurants, trying to intercommunicate. It is interesting both for our girls and clients," she said.
Visitors receive the check in envelopes -- a reference to the Soviet era unofficial custom of thanking doctors for the treatment by handing them an envelope with money. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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