Crossfield – Exotic restaurants

Kitchen: Australian

You’ll often get ‘Aussies’ (that’s Australian for short for those wondering) walking into this place stating there’s nothing Australian about it. And they’ll definitely cry ‘WTF?!!’ when they find kangaroo meat and grasshoppers on the menu (even though grasshoppers were part of some indigenous tribes diet). However, whether this outback pub behind the Vienna Staatsoper, Crossfield, resembles an Australian pub or not, it certainly is an exotic experience for Vienna. If you’ve never eaten grasshoppers, you’ll have to overcome some serious psychological tests to put one of these crunchy fried things in your mouth. All those skinny insect legs, and the beady eyes on the head with feelers. But once you close your eyes and conquer the gross factor,. grasshoppers taste rather plain, almost nutty and a little bit like popcorn. Served on a bed of smashed potatoes with a small side salad, the grilled grasshoppers have become a well integrated dish in the kitchen (don’t forget that all kinds of creepy crawly insects are part of many culture’s cuisines around the world).
Meanwhile, the crocodile steak served with garlic butter is probably something you’ve never tried before, and if so, probably only for the novelty of eating a prehistoric creature. And as for the kangaroo steak – well, if you can bear to eat these cute mammals, kangaroo has increasingly become the meat of choice in recent years for Australians as it is seen as a more eco-friendly and healthy alternative to beef. With very little fat on it, kangaroo has a intense taste with some comparing it to venison.
The pub is actually based on an Australian outback pub (of course, an exaggerated version of it) that the owners encountered on their travels. And the atmosphere is genuinely Australian – casual, laid-back and friendly. If you’re looking for a new experience in the drinks menu, try the Australian invention called the Snakebite, a popular drink amongst those with a sweet tooth which involves beer, cider and red syrup being mixed together.