American Restaurants
Harry J. Bean's Bar & Grill (formerly the Chicago Rib Shack)
V. Szt. István krt. 13, Tel/Fax: 302 3101, E-mail: hjb@corinthia.hu, Website: www.hjb.hu, Open: Sun-Fri noon-midnight, Sat noon-2am, Metro: M3 Nyugati pu.
Okay, so naming a main course 'Pamela Anderson's Turkey breast' isn't perhaps the
smartest move (especially as Pammy's boobs were once silicon enhanced), but then again, if you're
after a cheap but plentiful dish then perhaps it's an apt description. Prices are extremely
reasonable, with a good selection of cocktails, whisky and tequila. Live salsa and blues music in
the evenings.
New Orleans Music Club & Restaurant
VI. Lovag u. 5, Tel: 268 0801, 268 0802, E-mail: juliska@neworleans.hu, Website:
www.neworleans.hu, Open: 6pm-2am daily (for
gig details Tel: 451 7525), Metro: Metro: M3 Arany János u./M3 Nyugati pu.
Large restaurant/club venue that not only draws top-notch music acts from the US (and around
the world) but also offers a tempting array of Louisiana signature dishes - such as chicken
jambalaya - together with Tex-Mex style hamburgers, steaks and burritos (including vegetarian
options). Lots of cocktails and spirits, with Budweiser on tap too.
TGI Friday's
VI. Vaci út 1-3, WestEnd City Centre, Tel: 238 7001, Website: www.tgifridays.com, Open: Mon-Fri
11.30am-11pm, Sat 11.30am-12am, All major credit cards, Metro: M3
Nyugati pu.
The ubiquitous TGI's has gone down a storm in Eastern Europe despite there being far better dining
options in both Budapest and Prague. That said, food quality is consistent, the cocktails fun and
service above average. Be warned though, this WestEnd City Centre restaurant suffers from being both
noisy and crowded.
Argentinean Restaurants
V. Vámház krt. 6, Tel: 411 1750, E-mail: info@steak.hu,
Website: www.steak.hu, Open daily midday-2am, Metro: M3 Kálvin tér, Tram 2, 47 or 49
A recent opening in Pest's fifth district which, as well as providing the area with some
much needed panache, offers good quality steaks, fish and chicken dishes. House
specialties include pieces of skewered tenderloin cooked with onion paprika and garlic,
grilled crayfish and saddle of New Zealand lamb cooked on a lava stone. What's more,
prices are
reasonable for both food and drinks.
Bavarian Restaurants
VI. Király u. 100, Tel: 351 6793, Website: www.haxen.hu,
Open: Mon-Fri 12pm-12am, Sat
12pm-1.30am, All major credit cards, Metro: M1 Vörösmarty
u.
Authentic German cuisine in a suitably lively (and enjoyable) setting. While the live folk music
and rustic furnishings may be off putting to some, the quality of food (and beer) served here is
very good. What's more, the sweet cheese dumplings - served with a strawberry sauce - are
the best we've tasted in Budapest.
Belgian Restaurants
I. Bem rakpart 12, Tel: 201 5082, Open: noon-12am daily, No credit cards,
Metro: M2 Batthyány tér, Tram 19
With draught Hoegaarden and bottled Chimay on offer, fans of Belgian beer will have reason enough
to visit this likeable restaurant in Buda. Of course, the food here is none too bad either, with
traditional Belgian staples (such as moules marinière) cooked with some aplomb. Not too
pricey and well-worth considering if you're in the vicinity of Batthyány Square.
Mosselen - Belgian Beer Café
XIII. Pannónia u. 14, Tel: 452 0535, Website: www.mosseien.hu,
Open daily from midday-12am, All major credit cards, Metro: M3 Nyugati
pu.
As frequent visitors to this beer café near Szent István krt, we've long
been impressed by the wide-range of brews on offer, including the delectable Hoegaarden
Forbidden Fruit and our all-time favourite, gourmet Kwak - a beer with life-enhancing,
albeit vision diminishing properties (being 9% by volume) and a fabulous honey-toffee finish.
Mosselen's attentive service and good-quality - albeit expensive - fare provide a suitable accompaniment to the beer's star billing status. Silly
names aside, dishes on the restaurant's extensive menu comprising of fish, pork, beef and
lamb choices, while for vegetarians, the usual range of fried cheese in breadcrumbs (yawn
yawn) is made more interesting by combining each dish with fresh fruits, chutneys or
grilled vegetables.
British Restaurants
Wins Café & Bar
VI. Jókai u.3, Tel: 331 1955, Website: www.wins.hu,
Open noon-12am daily. All major
credit cards, Metro: M3 Nyugati pu.
Once oriented towards to ex-pats in
search of traditional English staples such as pie and chips, the menu nowadays is mostly a
mix of Hungarian and international dishes.
And, along with a decision to shorten its name - from
Winston's to Wins - other cuts appear to have been made, namely in the kitchen, with mains (such as
Beef Stroganoff with croquettes) being overloaded with potato, whilst showing very little
by way of meat. Pasta dishes were a better option though, with the salmon penne being
both well-prepared and presented.
Wins does offer an agreeable atmosphere, with a good selection of
beers (being a mix of British, Irish, Czech and other European brews), although a little
bit more generosity meatwise would go a long way towards raising its popularity with the
locals.
Chinese Restaurants
[Section Currently Being Updated:
18nd June 2008]
Dutch Restaurants
V. Párisi u. 6, Tel: 266 4334, Open: 11am-12pm daily, All major credit
cards, Metro: M1 Vörösmarty tér
Popular gay-friendly meeting place which, along with decent (and reasonably priced) food offers,
yes, you've guessed it, Amstel on tap. In the summer, service can be laboured, especially at
lunch times.
French restaurants
I. Fő u. 20, Tel: 201 0047, Open: noon-midnight daily, Metro: M2 Batthyány tér
Located near to the French Institute in Buda, the Jardin de Paris has a warm, friendly atmosphere
in which the feel of a quiet, leafy Parisian restaurant has been successfully captured.
With a wide-ranging menu - including some adventurous game dishes - time spent
here shows that real pride is taken by the kitchen to produce well-priced, quality cuisine. The
entree of homemade pâté was a treat, while puddings including their signature Jardin
de Paris pancake are excellent.
German Restaurants
See Hax'n Király
above.
Kaltenberg Bajor Kiralyi Brewery and Restaurant
IX. Kinizsi u. 30-36, Tel: 215 9792, 218 1063 (Reservations Tel: 218 1099),
Fax: 215 8528, E-mail: info@kaltenberg.hu, Website: www.kaltenberg.hu, Open: noon-midnight daily,
Metro: M3 Ferenc Krt.
Traditional Bavarian meat dishes (including crispy roast knuckle with horse-radish and shank of
pork with bacon) feature alongside beer-friendly Hungarian food in a cavernous venue close
to Üllöi út. A fun, enjoyable atmosphere, coupled with live music (and
decent draft
Kaltenberg beer) make it a local favourite. That said, foodwise it's nothing special,
while in summer, the chances of a (comparatively) quiet meal being spoilt by a coach load
of tourists turning up are high.
XII. Alkotás u. 53. Mom Park, Tel: 224 2020, 248 1000, Fax: 225 3723,
E-mail: info@paulanerbudapest.hu, Website: www.paulaneretterem.hu, Open: 11am-1am
daily, with live music at 7pm, Tram 59, 61, Bus 8, 139
Boasting a couple of large boiling coppers (which produce the in-house beer), the Paulaner
Brauhaus is a pleasant, traditional style Germany eatery found within the modern confines of the
Mom Park shopping mall. Nürnberger potato soup makes for an excellent starter, while a main of
white sausages with mustard serves as a perfect compliment to a nice pint. All in all, a
very safe bet for a decent meal out.
Greek Restaurants
V. Belgrád rakpart 16, Tel: 318 1222, Website: www.dionysos.hu,Open: 12pm-midnight daily, Metro: M3 Ferenciek Tere or M3 Kálvin tér, Tram 2, 47 or 49
A popular Greek Taverna with famed cuisine and an infectious, lively atmosphere. Inside,
you'll find a large, Eastern Aegean style dining room, complete with thick, whitewashed
stone walls and colourful blue woodwork. Surprisingly cheap food, a good wine selection and terraced dining
during the summer all go towards making Taverna Dionysos a winner.
Taverna Rembetiko PIREUS
V. Fővám tér 2-3, Tel: 266 0292, Website: www.pireus.hu,
Open: midday-midnight daily, except Sat/Sun midday-1am, Metro: M3 Kálvin tér, Tram 2, 47 or 49
Although we've never seen PIREUS chock-full to the gills (unlike the nearby Taverna
Dionysos), this likeable Taverna is well-located near to the city's great market hall,
making it a popular venue in summer. To begin, try the reasonably priced Calamari rings
with garlic, or the Greek mixed starter of stuffed vine leaves, cheese balls, tzatziki and
meat balls. Mains include Sztifado (stewed beef in red wine with parsley potatoes) along
with grilled salmon in lemon sauce with rösti potatoes.
VI. Podmaniczky utca 18. Tel/Fax: 332 7900, E-mail: zorbastaverna@hu.inter.net, Website: www.zorbastaverna.hu, Open: noon-midnight
daily, Metro: M3 Nyugati pu.
A popular downtown taverna with a good range of sea-food, poultry, lamb and pork dishes
(including Bifteki Gemisto - a stuffed meat loaf, plus Exohiko - a grilled turkey breast
stuffed with feta and paprika). A cut-price buffet is available during the week, whilst
Zorba's range of Greek wines includes the unbiqutous Retsina and Domestica, Zlaty Bazant
(Czech beer) on tap, along with a selection of local spirits.
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