IKI

Review

Mucho Mochi

Photo: Heribert Corn Prologue: Power and food. Since people in Central Europe and especially in Eastern Austria tend to be a little envious, those who are known to have money and power are very reluctant to show themselves enjoying good food. This applies to politicians as well as bankers. Because the Austrian little man can put up with a lot: company cars, pensions, bonuses and contacts with the private sector, but going to restaurants - that's going too far. Which is why banks often provide their employees with their own restaurants - the canteen at Schoellerbank, for example, was legendary, and Erste was no slouch with its terrace restaurant on Graben. Prologue end: After Erste Bank had consolidated all its departments in the so-called Erste Campus and thus created something like its own neighborhood in the new central station district, it was decided to leave the catering to outside providers (such as Campus Bräu) on the one hand, and to make the self-operated canteens open to the public on the other. This was the case, for example, with Iki, which opened last week: They hired the currently most successful restaurant in the Viennese universe, Mochi, as a consulting company, which apparently explained to the people from EB Restaurantbetriebe Ges.m.b.H. what makes a restaurant not only good, but also a bit awesome. In other words, the chefs in the huge open kitchen have really great Japanese headbands on, the service is extra friendly and personable and the menu is full of things that you would like to eat right now. The corporate design was entrusted to Bureau F, the design of this - extremely! - The menu is small, there are two bento boxes every week and a few standards. Greens such as edamame (fresh soybeans in shells) with horseradish and sea salt, pimientos del padrón, spinach salad with sesame dressing or ponzu wakame, a really delicious mixture of seaweed, cucumber, avocado and miso marinade - nutty, creamy, spicy, green (€ 6.50). The green papaya salad with a lime and chilli dressing may not be as authentic as the one with fish sauce and fermented prawns - but it's no worse (€ 6.50). Surf & Turf Roll sounds awful and doesn't look good either, but the rice roll with carpaccio on top and crispy softshell crab, avocado and cucumber inside tastes really good (€ 13), miso ramen with cauliflower, pea pods, onions, sweet and sour mushrooms and soft-boiled egg tastes great (€ 9.50). It's easy to imagine wanting to work at the Erste. Summary: The bank that took advice from Mochi to make an Asian canteen - which is fortunately open to us all. Iki 10th, Am Belvedere 1 Tel. 050100-13600 Mon-Fri 11-22.30 (reserve during soft opening)

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