Exercise 2. Answer the questions to the text.

1. Where is the restaurant situated?

2. Is it popular among the citizens?

3. Why is it so popular?

4. What exotic Mexican dishes are mentioned in this article?

5. Have you ever tried any of them?

6. What dishes did they order?

7. Did they like the food and atmosphere of the restaurant?

TEXT 5

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text with the help of a dictionary. Reality at Pinchos Fails the Inquisition

A t least we got a free bottle of wine out of it. However, that's probably the least we deserved after what we put up with. Having been ushered to a table at Pinchos (after pre-booking), we were moved after 15 minutes to accommodate a group reservation. Next, dying for a beer, I was told that none of the three advertised drafts were actually available. Unfair enough, our chosen bottle of wine – a dry 1999 Sangre de Toro ($20) – was then poured equally into our glasses and onto the tablecloth, forming a wet patch uncannily similar in shape to the Iberian peninsular. In addition, the spouse's choice of entrees, a spaghetti carbonara, was as absent as the ale.

What does this say about the stocked ingredient for the chef(s)? I mean, we're not talking about fresh oysters or fried ostrich in an asparagus, leek and passion-fruit sauce here. Anyway, to cut a short story shorter, Pinchos has recently redesigned its previous Spanish self as a Mediterranean and Russian restaurant. In terms of the decor, this has resulted in two comfortable underground halls where white is the predominant color. Sofas rest behind net curtains at the end of both rooms, giving customers the chance to sample the water pipes on offer. With regard to the food, Russian dishes outweigh their sunnier siblings, though we opted for food from warmer climes. After receiving complimentary mussels on toast, I began with a wonderful eggplant Imam Bayaldi ($5), a large Turkish starter served scalding hot in a clay bowl and featuring a superb combination of eggplant, tomatoes, cheese and spices. It was easily the best dish of the evening. The beloved had a chicken romaine salad ($8), advertised as being "the way Cleopatra used to like it". The information that Cleopatra fancied a bit of dry breast could possibly change history. For her main course, the wife eventually opted for a rack of lamb ($17), which was a little too rare, though compensated somewhat by a pleasant goat's cheese crust around the meat. I went for a fillet of gray snapper ($17) coated in an olive paste. It was rather tasteless and contained too many bones to equate to my definition of "fillet". In addition, my side order of ratatouille was a bit greasy.

As desserts, we shared an Ants' Nest cake ($4) of caramelized cream and sponge dotted with chocolate powder, and an apple comfit ($6) of stewed fruit in a glass of soft cheese mousse. Very strong (that's a plus) espressos ($1.60) put the lid on things. In conclusion, Pinchos really needs to overhaul its cooking and service. It has a prime location in the center of the city, and thus great potential – currently unfulfilled. The restaurant has the same ownership as the excellent Cru, reviewed in these pages a few months ago, and perhaps the French chef's move to a different kitchen has had a negative effect on Pinchos, while Cru has benefited. Whatever, a 2002 bottle of Casa De Fra did not really make amends?