USUS am Wasser

Review

Krieau, Floridsdorf

It's not as if there aren't people who have ideas. About other social models, about other economic models. They are just pushed to the margins. But sometimes they come together on this fringe, organize themselves and get something going. Like in Christiania in Copenhagen and three years ago, you could also experience this a little in the Prater when a collective called USUS formed to temporarily use an area of former stables in the Krieau for two years until the diggers came to build urgently needed luxury apartments there. And what the USUS people did there for two years was wonderful: art, events, crafts, music, a fun bar and a food stall of dramatic deliciousness. The collective then ran a few more workshops and, since last year, the restaurant in the Schauspielhaus, but then focused on a single major project in 2019: the former waterslide and disco, which was planted next to the Brigittenau Bridge on the New Danube in the 1980s; the underworld king "Roter Heinzi" is said to have once laid the foundation stone. USUS bought the run-down site. The craftsmen among them repaired and renovated it, communard and cooking philosopher Patrick Müller came up with a culinary concept, friends and cabaret curators provided cabaret programs, and everything is managed by the almost 30-year-old Sebastian Malz, who is actually a shoemaker. And it's great. The nearest subway is not really close, which means that people come here who really want to be here. The old exposed aggregate concrete terraces with the white steel grilles look a bit labyrinthine, but never mind. Down there on the stage terrace under the tent, the beach looks like paradise, the sun sets over the New Danube and the Latisberg almost as beautifully as on the Peloponnese and the young people behind this strange beach club bar serve Prosecco from the barrel. Unfortunately, Müller doesn't cook himself, but his signature is clearly recognizable. For example, the cool blueberry cream soup with basil oil and croutons is as delicious as it is purple (€ 6.80). Sandwiches and French fries with a side dish were best on the beach, says Sebastian Malz, but you should eat them quickly, as they soften quite quickly in the version with goulash (€ 8.50). The wild herb salad with flowers and oranges is huge and well marinated; you can also get it with strips of steak, Viennese catfish and grilled cheese (€ 7.90 plus € 6.-). If you order more, everything comes at once, by the way, but nobody really orders two courses here, says Malz. Great thing, hopefully the summer will last. Summary: A nice concept, a nice place with a quirky history, good food and a fantastic sunset to boot. USUS am Wasser, 21st, An der Neuen Donau 1, tel. 0660/342 01 69, Mon-Wed 14-22, Thu, Sun 11.30-23, Fri, Sat 11.30-1am,

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