Showing posts with label International. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International. Show all posts
For any gyros connoisseur, proper preparation of a gyros is nothing short of culinary art, and Budapest is by no means short on options for sampling. But where to? Maybe you've tried your hand at a Star Kebab, asked for extra napkins at Titiz, or even braved one by the metro at Nyugati. But for those gyros enthusiasts with a discerning palate, an eye for ambiance, and no qualms with what's inside, look no further.
Wikinger (Gyros rating: 9.5/10)
Móricz Zsigmord körtér [map]
Buda, XI, (4/6 tram), 1 min
More popular with the Buda crowd, Wikinger, located at the heart of Móricz Zsigmond körtér, offers the most lavish dining options of the three. The inside breathes efficiency, and if you've got your Gyros Ordering Script memorized - Csirke vagy birkahűs? Csirke. Hagyma, csipős? Minden. Give me everything you've got! - you're whisked off to the checkout where you have the option of Soproni on tap: a real rarity when you're eating Turkish.
What's inside? I would label the finished product in the aromatic vain, doused with particularly strong sauces and complemented well with generous portions of lettuce and tomatoes. They're a bit frugal with the "meat", but enjoying your gyros out on their tent-covered patio overlooking the square more than makes up for it. Perhaps not the best option for staving off a hangover, Wikinger is much better suited for an early evening stop and more than worth the trip across the river.
What's inside? I would label the finished product in the aromatic vain, doused with particularly strong sauces and complemented well with generous portions of lettuce and tomatoes. They're a bit frugal with the "meat", but enjoying your gyros out on their tent-covered patio overlooking the square more than makes up for it. Perhaps not the best option for staving off a hangover, Wikinger is much better suited for an early evening stop and more than worth the trip across the river.
Fufu és Fau Gyros Büfé (Gyros rating: 9.5/10)
Tompa u. 2, [map]
Pest, IX, (4/6 tram, Mester utca), 1 min
Though tucked away on Tompa utca, in between the körút and cafe/bar laden Raday utca, the comically large 'GYROS' sign that adorns the facade makes Fufu és Fau's hard to miss. Inside, the owners are inviting and more than willing to strike up a conversation. Space on the ground floor is a bit cramped, so once you've got your gyros, grab some extra napkins and head upstairs to the more spacious seating area. Dim lighting and a view of the church at Bakáts tér make it one of the more romantic gyros hideouts. "Yeah, you've got sauce all over your cheek. Let me get that for you."What's inside? A real carnivore's delight, chock-full of the most tender gyros meat I've come across in the city. The sauce is both lighter and less spicy than commonly found, though perhaps it serves as a better complement to the meat. The whole oily mess is served in the ever-classy gyros cup. For the true gyros lover, Fufu és Fau's is a must.
Szultán Büfé (Gyros rating: 9.0/10)
Boráros tér, [map]
Pest, IX, (4/6 tram, Boráros tér), 0 min
Szultán büfé is one of the more unassuming gyros haunts in Budapest. Located in the underpass beneath the 4/6 tram at Boráros tér, it's a quality option for those looking to dine on the move. The "meat" is "fresh", the owners are friendly, and for the more health conscious, the falafel is vegetarian fast-food bliss. It's also one of the few places in the city where you can still find a falafel for under 500 forint.
What's inside? Szultán Büfé's gyros are packed with greens and drenched in a notably flavorful sauce. The owner never forgets to give the sliced pita tip a little flourish by running it through the flame before handing it over, almost making up for the fact that you'll be eating, dripping and dabbing your face as you walk to other night time destinations. Hop off the 4/6 for a quick bite if you're in the area.
What's inside? Szultán Büfé's gyros are packed with greens and drenched in a notably flavorful sauce. The owner never forgets to give the sliced pita tip a little flourish by running it through the flame before handing it over, almost making up for the fact that you'll be eating, dripping and dabbing your face as you walk to other night time destinations. Hop off the 4/6 for a quick bite if you're in the area.
AZL
Vámház körút 8 [map]
Pest, V, Kálvin tér (M3, T47/49), 3 min
Cuisine > International
Rating: 7.0/10
Hankering for pizza? On a psychedelic trip to the moon? Have a hard-to-please group of friends all wanting to agree on someplace to eat? You’ve found your spot (but only if it's all three)!
The unassuming sign and facade that boasts of 990Ft (4€) pizza, leaves you ill-prepared for the world you're about to step into. You’re approaching another dimension. What lies within these walls is stupefying!
Unicornis appears to be the result of what happens when a few friends from opposite ends of the spectrum get together to run a restaurant. Probably their only bond is a penchant for LSD or magic mushrooms, which leaves them in no position to agree on anything!
The décor is analogous to what a 14-year-old fan of Dungeons and Dragons might do for their school art project. Styrofoam pockmarks the perimeter and is meant to look like a crumbling façade, in between white 'pillars' that stop mid-wall. A fire-breathing dragon and yes, of course, a unicorn, gallivant amidst a psychedelic space-scape beyond. The Neverending Story meets Flash Gordon but with zero budget and traditional Hungarian table booths.
Oh, and it’s not unlikely that you’ll hear 1990’s hit “Ice Ice Baby” followed by Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time” to complete the oddest restaurant atmosphere in town.
What got me through the door of Unicornis in the first place was the cheap pizza, and it’s certainly the way to go if you're short on cash. You might assume that 990Ft only gets you a margarita, but you'd be mistaken, my friend. There are about two full pages of speciality pizzas, all a full 32 centimeters, all included in that same great price.
In keeping with the surroundings, there are some odd toppings too. The Barbecue pizza includes BBQ sauce, bacon, gyros(!), corn, onion, and peppers. It gets better. How about spicy sauce, Vienna sausage (hot dogs), bacon, corn, hot peppers, and fried eggs? While certainly not the most authentic pizza I’ve had in Budapest, it certainly wasn't the worst either. And psychedelic space beggars can't be choosers!
The rest of the menu is haphazard, to say the least. Yogurt, pickles and turkey legs make their way into various loose translations of the “burrito”. There’s a “wok” section, some Indian options, salads, and of course Hungarian specialities. They also have a vegetarian selection which goes beyond fried cheese and salad, with heartier options such as the veggie risotto.
Unicornis is absolutely not the place to impress on a first, second, third or any date! Likewise, bring your parents here, and it'll only confirm their suspicions that you're not eating properly. But if you're hungry at that end of town, with 1000Ft in your pocket, and in need of a giggle, Unicornis delivers. It delivers you into a mythological world where a boy who needs some food can find a restaurant that needs a hero.
Food: 6.5/10 The unassuming sign and facade that boasts of 990Ft (4€) pizza, leaves you ill-prepared for the world you're about to step into. You’re approaching another dimension. What lies within these walls is stupefying!
Unicornis appears to be the result of what happens when a few friends from opposite ends of the spectrum get together to run a restaurant. Probably their only bond is a penchant for LSD or magic mushrooms, which leaves them in no position to agree on anything!
The décor is analogous to what a 14-year-old fan of Dungeons and Dragons might do for their school art project. Styrofoam pockmarks the perimeter and is meant to look like a crumbling façade, in between white 'pillars' that stop mid-wall. A fire-breathing dragon and yes, of course, a unicorn, gallivant amidst a psychedelic space-scape beyond. The Neverending Story meets Flash Gordon but with zero budget and traditional Hungarian table booths.Oh, and it’s not unlikely that you’ll hear 1990’s hit “Ice Ice Baby” followed by Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time” to complete the oddest restaurant atmosphere in town.
What got me through the door of Unicornis in the first place was the cheap pizza, and it’s certainly the way to go if you're short on cash. You might assume that 990Ft only gets you a margarita, but you'd be mistaken, my friend. There are about two full pages of speciality pizzas, all a full 32 centimeters, all included in that same great price.
In keeping with the surroundings, there are some odd toppings too. The Barbecue pizza includes BBQ sauce, bacon, gyros(!), corn, onion, and peppers. It gets better. How about spicy sauce, Vienna sausage (hot dogs), bacon, corn, hot peppers, and fried eggs? While certainly not the most authentic pizza I’ve had in Budapest, it certainly wasn't the worst either. And psychedelic space beggars can't be choosers!
The rest of the menu is haphazard, to say the least. Yogurt, pickles and turkey legs make their way into various loose translations of the “burrito”. There’s a “wok” section, some Indian options, salads, and of course Hungarian specialities. They also have a vegetarian selection which goes beyond fried cheese and salad, with heartier options such as the veggie risotto.
Unicornis is absolutely not the place to impress on a first, second, third or any date! Likewise, bring your parents here, and it'll only confirm their suspicions that you're not eating properly. But if you're hungry at that end of town, with 1000Ft in your pocket, and in need of a giggle, Unicornis delivers. It delivers you into a mythological world where a boy who needs some food can find a restaurant that needs a hero.
Service: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7.5/10
Value for money: 8/10
Unicornis Étterem is between Kálvin tér and Fóvám tér (Great Market Hall) tram stops on the #47/49 line and is within easy walking distance of either.
Ariba; Aribba; Areeba; Arribba
Jacob P.
Pest South, IX, Kalvin ter (M3), 5 min
Cuisine > Italian American
Tel. 216-1412; 218-9382
Rating: 6.0/10
“...we dont have to drive it honey, we can park it out in back, and have a party in your pink cadillac.” (Bruce Springsteen). If you do have a party in Pink Cadillac, it’ll probably be a pizza party, or a pasta party, but it’s unlikely to be that memorable, not for the food anyway.
Table after table; parasol after parasol; menu after menu... woe betide the hapless tourist who returns from Budapest with nothing but memories of Váci utca, Liszt Ferenc tér and Ráday utca. There’s a holiday atmosphere, certainly, but the city’s tourist spots come with an obvious catch: you get watered-down Budapest at pumped-up prices.
Pink Cadillac has plenty of outdoor seating and the interior is fairly airy too, with much of the facade opening up for the summer. We took a table by the wall. After a few waiterless minutes, we thought we’d hit the button on the little box next to the table. (Note to manager - please change the text to read: “Hit the button if you want to piss the waiters off!”)
But I was briefly prepared to forgive the underwhelming service. A couple of strips of pizza bread with garlic butter were a pleasant enough, free appetizer while the pizza itself looked pretty appealing: no skimping on the olives and a fair amount of chicken too. However, the fusion of toppings didn’t add up to very much, getting through the doughy base became a war of attrition and no one offered me any pepper either.
The Spaghetti Frutti di Mari was distinctly lacking in great shakes too: two very small prawns left the twirls of processed seafood to dominate. Tiring of my pizza, I swapped it for the pasta for a while. Then I swapped back.
So, what of the venue? It’s ok. Modern, cleanish, with all the character of a modern, cleanish non-Italian pizza joint. The bonnet of a Cadillac coming through the wall doesn't do a lot for me, apart from giving some credence to the name. (Personally, I think they missed a trick in failing to involve Elvis, Springsteen, or Clint Eastwood.)
If this doesn't sound like your bag of mild Americana or there are no tables that take your fancy, you could always go next door to Paris, Texas, where you'll find exactly the same menu at exactly the same price, and another slightly cosier variant of mild Americana. Either way, if you’re on Ráday and you want a pizza, you could do worse and you could pay more. On the other hand, if you're looking for above-average cuisine, take a drive in a different neighbourhood.
Food: 6/10
Service: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 6/10
Walk up Ráday utca from Kalvin tér and Pink Cadillac is on the left. They also do take-away. Raday, Caddilac, Cadilac, Cadillack, Caddilack
Andy Sz.
Table after table; parasol after parasol; menu after menu... woe betide the hapless tourist who returns from Budapest with nothing but memories of Váci utca, Liszt Ferenc tér and Ráday utca. There’s a holiday atmosphere, certainly, but the city’s tourist spots come with an obvious catch: you get watered-down Budapest at pumped-up prices.
Pink Cadillac has plenty of outdoor seating and the interior is fairly airy too, with much of the facade opening up for the summer. We took a table by the wall. After a few waiterless minutes, we thought we’d hit the button on the little box next to the table. (Note to manager - please change the text to read: “Hit the button if you want to piss the waiters off!”)
But I was briefly prepared to forgive the underwhelming service. A couple of strips of pizza bread with garlic butter were a pleasant enough, free appetizer while the pizza itself looked pretty appealing: no skimping on the olives and a fair amount of chicken too. However, the fusion of toppings didn’t add up to very much, getting through the doughy base became a war of attrition and no one offered me any pepper either.
The Spaghetti Frutti di Mari was distinctly lacking in great shakes too: two very small prawns left the twirls of processed seafood to dominate. Tiring of my pizza, I swapped it for the pasta for a while. Then I swapped back.
So, what of the venue? It’s ok. Modern, cleanish, with all the character of a modern, cleanish non-Italian pizza joint. The bonnet of a Cadillac coming through the wall doesn't do a lot for me, apart from giving some credence to the name. (Personally, I think they missed a trick in failing to involve Elvis, Springsteen, or Clint Eastwood.)
If this doesn't sound like your bag of mild Americana or there are no tables that take your fancy, you could always go next door to Paris, Texas, where you'll find exactly the same menu at exactly the same price, and another slightly cosier variant of mild Americana. Either way, if you’re on Ráday and you want a pizza, you could do worse and you could pay more. On the other hand, if you're looking for above-average cuisine, take a drive in a different neighbourhood.
Food: 6/10
Service: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 6/10
Walk up Ráday utca from Kalvin tér and Pink Cadillac is on the left. They also do take-away. Raday, Caddilac, Cadilac, Cadillack, Caddilack
Andy Sz.
Gyorskocsi utca 6 [map]
Buda, I, Batthyány tér (M2), 1 min
Cuisine>Bavarian
Rating: 7.5/10
The sausage is a complex animal. From Kolbász to Haggis; Cumberland to Toulouse, the variation is broad and the boast of many a national cuisine. And then there is Germany...
“....there are more different sausages in Germany than there are breakfast foods in America, and if there is a bad one among them then I have never heard of it. " [H.L. Mencken]
Buda's Bratwursthäusle will bring out the Bavarian in you or, at least, it tries its unconventional best. Picture an eighties office block, ground floor, mostly windows, and through those windows, the sides of a shed. Yes, with little chequered curtains in the shed windows. From the rows of benches outside, the effect is rather odd, but from the tables inside it feels as natural as sitting in a shed eating sausages. You might not believe that you’re in Germany but some form of disorientation is highly probable.
Bavarian soup with a liver dumpling is one of the more unusual starters I’ve experienced in Budapest. The fat sausage-like dumpling floats around the bowl like it’s fallen in by mistake. Appetising? Not exactly and less-so once you attack it. My sausage choice is Rost Bratwurste. Grilled sausages in a country with no grills are quite a treat and akin to English chipolata. The menu gave a choice of 6, 8, 10 or 12, obviously anticipating the arrival of chain sausage-eaters.
I also braved the leberkäse (literally liver-cheese) which was something like a thick slice of fried meatloaf. The unusual texture wasn’t really to my taste but certainly an option to any home-sick Bavarian. The Nűrnberger potato salad on the other hand was the perfect side to any meat-fest.
Notably, the beer is Bavarian too, and there’s a good selection: wheat beer, white or brown; pilsner; dark beer; Rigoletto – half pilsner, half brown – if you’re open to experimentation. Drinks prices are high, about 700 for a korso, but it’s easier to swallow when you’re paying for something that you won’t find elsewhere in the city.
The place is advertised as both Bierstube and Bratwursthäusle so it's as much a bar as a restaurant. But unless you're vegetarian, failing to try the food must be seen as a wasted opportunity. And it's relatively kind on the wallet, if not the waistline.
Food: 7/10
Service: 7.5/10
Atmosphere: 7.5/10
Value for money: 8/10
Bayerische Bierstube Bratwursthausle Bratwursthause Bratwursthaus
Look for the long benches just behind the market building on Batthyány tér.Buda, I, Batthyány tér (M2), 1 min
Cuisine>Bavarian
Rating: 7.5/10
The sausage is a complex animal. From Kolbász to Haggis; Cumberland to Toulouse, the variation is broad and the boast of many a national cuisine. And then there is Germany...
“....there are more different sausages in Germany than there are breakfast foods in America, and if there is a bad one among them then I have never heard of it. " [H.L. Mencken]
Buda's Bratwursthäusle will bring out the Bavarian in you or, at least, it tries its unconventional best. Picture an eighties office block, ground floor, mostly windows, and through those windows, the sides of a shed. Yes, with little chequered curtains in the shed windows. From the rows of benches outside, the effect is rather odd, but from the tables inside it feels as natural as sitting in a shed eating sausages. You might not believe that you’re in Germany but some form of disorientation is highly probable.
Bavarian soup with a liver dumpling is one of the more unusual starters I’ve experienced in Budapest. The fat sausage-like dumpling floats around the bowl like it’s fallen in by mistake. Appetising? Not exactly and less-so once you attack it. My sausage choice is Rost Bratwurste. Grilled sausages in a country with no grills are quite a treat and akin to English chipolata. The menu gave a choice of 6, 8, 10 or 12, obviously anticipating the arrival of chain sausage-eaters.
I also braved the leberkäse (literally liver-cheese) which was something like a thick slice of fried meatloaf. The unusual texture wasn’t really to my taste but certainly an option to any home-sick Bavarian. The Nűrnberger potato salad on the other hand was the perfect side to any meat-fest.
Notably, the beer is Bavarian too, and there’s a good selection: wheat beer, white or brown; pilsner; dark beer; Rigoletto – half pilsner, half brown – if you’re open to experimentation. Drinks prices are high, about 700 for a korso, but it’s easier to swallow when you’re paying for something that you won’t find elsewhere in the city.
The place is advertised as both Bierstube and Bratwursthäusle so it's as much a bar as a restaurant. But unless you're vegetarian, failing to try the food must be seen as a wasted opportunity. And it's relatively kind on the wallet, if not the waistline.
Food: 7/10
Service: 7.5/10
Atmosphere: 7.5/10
Value for money: 8/10
Bayerische Bierstube Bratwursthausle Bratwursthause Bratwursthaus
Kolbászda Kolbaszda Bajor Söröző Sorozo
Andy Sz.
Pest Centre, VI, Deák tér (M1/2/3), 3 min
Cuisine > International
Rating: 8.5/10
When used together, the words 'travel' and 'restaurant', invoke in me a perverse nostalgia for the Little Chef phenomenon: a series of bog-standard restaurants at the side of British motorways. Now, although not a travel restaurant in that sense - Vista is, in fact, a travel agent - I remained skeptical. My expectations, however, were easily surpassed.
Duck with asparagus wrapped in bacon; pike-perch stuffed with spinach; beef steak, Budapest-style... the food doesn’t disappoint, with enough variation to satisfy both the “I want to try something Hungarian” and the “I’m sick of Hungarian cuisine” camps. A main course can cost under 2000 Ft or over 4000 Ft, while an extensive wine-list also varies from the affordable to the ridiculous. Actually, you can check out the menu yourself, if you have the patience, at VistaCafé's fantastically annoying website.
Face to face, Vista is far more helpful. They seem to have imported an attitude alien to Budapest: the customer comes first. Waiters are polite, friendly and enthusiastic about the food and wine... and they smile! Paper place mats ask politely for your comments, so someone is taking customer service very seriously indeed.
Most importantly, Vista feels nothing like a travel restaurant. The main part is open, airy, with plenty of window-tables and a strange ‘evocative’ tableau above the bar: I leave you to judge. The smoking area is more intimate. Altogether, it's pretty sizeable, making it an ideal choice for large groups or last minute decisions.
Food: 8.5/10
Service: 9/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Value for money: 8.5/10
Walk from Deák tér, along Bajcsy-Zsilinszky towards the Basilica, on the opposite side to the park. There's a Vista office on the corner of Paulay Ede utca and the restaurant is further down, on the right.
Viszta, Vissta, Vister, hub choice
Andy Sz.
No matter how long you're in Budapest for, there are a few places we think you should really check out. So we've created:
Click on the logo above, or in the right-hand menu in any of the sections: bars & cafes; eating out; or sightseeing, to find our list of unmissables. Or just keep your eyes peeled for the tag.
If there's anywhere you think we've overlooked, please let us know.
Andy T.
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