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I. Országház utca 2, Tel: 356 0851, E-mail: info@alabardos.hu,
Website: www.alabardos.hu, Open: noon-4pm and
7pm-11pm Mon-Sat, Sun closed, Metro: M2 Moszkva tér then
Várbusz to Castle Hill
Transylvanian specialities abound at this 400 year old gothic restaurant. The largely
meat oriented menu is well-balanced, although a meal for two doesn't come cheap thanks to
the restaurant's fine reputation and Castle Hill location. The outdoor terrace is
particularly nice during the summer.
V. Kossuth Lajos tér 18, Tel: 302 3945, E-mail: bgy@biarritz.hu, Website: www.biarritz.hu, Open: 9am-11pm daily, All major credit cards, Metro: M2 Kossuth tér
Just a stone's throw away from the Hungarian Parliament, Biarritz is, at the moment, one
of the nicest restaurants in Pest. Intimate candlelit surroundings, coupled with some
adventurous Hungarian cooking make for a great evening out. Starters such as Surumi fish
with shrimp sticks, followed by more recognisable, well-prepared Hungarian main courses
are very good. Perhaps, a table too many squeezed in, but a fave nonetheless.
V. Váci u. 67, Tel: 266 2607, Open: 11:30am-2am daily, No credit cards, Metro: M1
Vörösmarty tér
Although it may seem strange to have a country-style restaurant just off Váci utca, Fatâl
is a decent enough place, serving up rural sized portions of traditional food at average
prices.
In Hungarian, the restaurant's name actually means 'wooden platter',
which unsurprisingly is how most dishes are presented to a mainly tourist clientele. Not
that you'd guess from the building's faceless façade though (which gives few clues as to
the type of cuisine on offer here). Service has been reported as ropey in the past, but
was okay when we visited. Essential to book ahead.
For Sale Pub
V. Vámház krt. 2, Tel: 267 0276, Mobile: +36/70 389 8318, Website: www.forsalepub.hu,
Metro: M3 Kálvin tér, Tram 2, 47 or 49
Despite a somewhat foreboding interior, the For Sale Pub is actually a good value eatery
with a relaxed, cosy atmosphere. It's mainly drinkers who frequent the downstairs part,
while upstairs the dozen or so tables are found within a rustic style dining room,
complete with a straw floor, horse bridles and a bear skin on the staircase wall!
Food comes in plentiful portions, with the Cordon Bleu and turkey in Roquefort sauce being two of the best choices on an extensive, well-balanced menu. Just don't choose the pickle tray though (usually it's offered to punters
when ordering) as, not only is it overpriced, but far too big for even a hungry party of
four to consume!
V. Ferenciek tere 7-8, Tel, 317 3596, Fax: 318 0591, E-mail: restaurant@karpatia.hu, Website: www.karpatia.hu, Open: 11am-11pm daily,
Metro: M3 Ferenciek tere
Although the sudden lunch-time downpour that led us in the direction of the Kárpátia
was rapidly ruining our day, 1½ hours and three courses later, we emerged from this
traditional downtown eatery feeling suitably satisfied following an excellent, reasonably
priced meal*. Our starters of Caesar's salad and Mozzarella with tomato and basil were
attractively presented, hinting at even better things to come.
Main courses of Flekken (belly pork) served with onion potatoes and a
mixed salad, together with batter coated Turkey breasts in a rich tomato and Jasmine sauce
were succulent and well-prepared. The best, however was still to come. The glorious
vaulted ceilings of the Kárpátia were fitting surroundings for our first-rate puddings
of cherry/poppy seed/apple rétes (strudel) along with a mouthwatering apple and custard
pastry served with vanilla ice-cream and a hot Morello cherry sauce. Although most guide
books on Budapest seem to have forgotten about the Kárpátia, you'll be hard pressed to
find a better alternative in the neighbourhood.
Update 14/6/2005* In the last year or so, prices at the Kárpátia
have risen substantially, turning this once good value restaurant into somewhat of an
overpriced tourist haunt. Moreover, the summer terrace, which should provide diners with a
pleasant environment in which to take lunch/dinner, is a rather dated and depressing
affair. Such a pity, considering the restaurant's interior is still a marvel to behold.
I. Táncsics Mihály u. 25, Tel: 212 9891, Fax: 212 8566, Website:
www.kiralyrestaurant.hu,
Open: noon-midnight daily, All major credit cards, Metro: M2
Moszkva tér then Várbusz to Castle Hill
As one of the Castle District's most established restaurants, the Király serves mainly
Hungarian fare in relaxed, elegant surroundings. Starters such as roast goose liver in
Tokaji jelly and Hortobágy palacsinta (stuffed meat pancakes) are both nicely balanced,
while steaks and game dishes are also well-prepared. Puddings are a strong point too, with
a selection that includes plum pie with cinnamon almond sauce and Belgian chocolate
mousse.
That said, even the simplest local dishes are hideously overpriced,
while the cost of a round of cocktails, spirits or a single bottle of Californian, French
or vintage Tokaji dessert wine may be enough to give you palpitations.
Kis Buda Gyöngye
III. Kenyeres u. 34, Tel: 368 6402, 368 9246, Fax: 368 9227, E-mail: gyongye@drotposta.hu, Website: www.remiz.hu, Open: noon-midnight daily, All major credit cards, Tram
17 from Margit híd
Charming restaurant in Óbuda which roughly translated means 'small pearl of Buda'.
Elegant setting, with a warm atmosphere and turn-of-the-20th-century feel. Well-cooked
traditional Hungarian specialities with a decent piano/violin duo to round things off
nicely.
Náncsi Néni
II. Őrdögárok útca 80, Tel: 397 2742, E-mail: info@nancsineni.hu, Website: www.nancsineni.hu, Open: noon-midnight
daily, All major credit cards, Tram 56, Bus 56
Set in the leafy suburb of Huvösvölgy, the name of this restaurant literally means
Auntie Náncsi. Although a favourite with locals, our most recent visit (February 2007)
resulted in the waiter service being variously described as "shabby" and
"catastrophic". And rightly too. Just how five or six waiters can be so
inattentive is beyond us.
Aside from that, Náncsi Néni offers a decent array of Hungarian
dishes, including an excellent battered and fried turkey breast stuffed with apple, peach,
mushrooms, cheese and sour cream. Side salads and desserts are wildly overpriced though,
which is surprising given that main courses are relatively inexpensive for Budapest.
All in all a mixed bag then, leading to us to conclude that, unless
things improve, Náncsi Néni isn't worth the long hike from centre of town.
V. Október 6. u. 5. Tel: 317 2987, 318 9000, Website: www.nosztalgiaetterem.hu, Open:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 1am, Sat-Sun 6 pm - 1 am, Metro: M1 Bajcsy-Zs.
Út
With décor inspired by the many Viennese style cafés and restaurants that sprung up in
Budapest at the turn-of-the-20th-century, Nosztalgia offers a first-rate ambience and fine
quality fare, albeit at a cost. Obviously, any restaurant opening - especially one that
has involved significant investment - has to be recoup costs fairly quickly. So, what you
get is Hungarian cuisine (with a contemporary twist) in elegant surroundings with prices,
for Budapest at least, that are comparable with The Gundel. And let's just say the wine
(and Champagne) list is not for the feint hearted either...
Vörös Postakocsi Étterem
IX. Radáy utca 15, Tel: 217 6756, Website: www.vpk.webzona.hu, Open daily 11am-midnight, Metro: M3
Kálvin tér
Once a favoured local haunt of ours, though the Vörös Postakocsi's otherwise
good-quality cuisine is marred by warm dishes being served luke-warm or, on one occasion
(our last visit) practically stone cold.
Certainly, there's nothing wrong with the actual cooking here, as
mains of grilled lamb saddle fillet seasoned with rosemary layered on Dijon sauce
(accompanied by French beans and potato tart) or chicken breast fillet stuffed with goat
cheese and paprika (with basil sauce and vegetable risotto) are well-executed and full of
flavour. But why take such care in their preparation, only for each dish to be spoilt by
being left - for a prolonged period - before reaching the table? Quality should get a 7
score (6.5 overall) though, until management address this issue, we can (unfortunately)
give no more than 4.
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