Budapest's historic confectionery and more and other Budapest, Hungary Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Gerbeaud House

Gerbeaud House is probably THE legendary place for a drink or a meal in Budapest. It was founded in 1848 and has evidently been in operation continuously since then. They claim to have hosted “the cream of Budpest society and every famous person who has visited the city for even a short while” so of course it was mandatory that we visit as well. Don’t want to ruin their reputation.

The ‘house’ is a huge affair as it includes the Confectionery and Cafe, the Lion’s Fountain Restaurant, the Gerbeaud Pub as well as an area where you can buy mementos and presents or just something for your own sweet tooth later.

We stopped here twice, once for a mid-morning pastry and coffee break and once for lunch. We were very pleased with both visits.

Favorite Dish: For our morning snack my wife had ‘Sisi’ coffee which had apricot liquer and cream to accompany her apple strudel and I had regular coffee with a ‘Pogacsa’ which was a nice crackly brioche with cottage cheese. We left nothing on our plates or in our cups.

For lunch we had very nice tuna sandwiches on delicious toasted whole grain bread and butter. The salad was colorful as well as tasty with greens, tomato, cucumber and chunks of peppers. Of course you can’t go to someplace called a confectionery and not have dessert. My wife went for the ‘Black Forest ice’ which was three kinds of ice cream with cherries, whipped cream and chocolate pirouettes. I had ‘Kugler Migon’ which are a sort of petite fours. Of this meal the only thing we were left with was a smile.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +36 1 429 9000
Address: 1052 Budapest, Vorosmarty ter 7.
Directions: In the heart of Pest, on Voromarty ter. Accessible by metro M1 (Vorosmarty ter terminal), metros M2, M3 (Deak Ferenc ter), trams 47 49, buses 4 9 15 105 City (Deak F. ter/Erzsebet ter).
Website: http://www.gerbeaud.hu

Restaurant Name: Belvarosi-Lugas

This place was recommended to us by VT friend Bonso who loved it so much she ate there 3 times. How can you not try such a place. She also thought the waiter was really cute, but that is another story. I should add that my wife agreed about both the food and the waiter. Lugas is not large but the tastes are. There is a nice terrace area on the street but it was a little cool so we went inside.

Favorite Dish: Our theme for the evening seemed to be chicken and pears. My wife had chicken breast with pears and camembert cheese accompanied by a potato croquette. I had chicken salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and of course pears. All was delicous so our friendship with Bonso is intact.

We had a small pitcher of their house wine which was quite good and very inexpensive. A delicious dinner with wine for EUR 15.73 is a pretty good bargain in my book.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 302-5393
Address: Bajcsy-Zsilinszky ut 15
Directions: Just up the street from Deak Ferenc ter behind St. Stephen's Basilica

Restaurant Name: Anna Cafe

Anna Cafe is on the lovely pedestrian Vacu ut where most visitors at least stroll if not shop. It is hard to miss and has a nice terrace where you can have a bite or drink and watch the other gawkers meandering by.

Favorite Dish: We stopped as we frequently do for a light meal and were well pleased. My wife had ‘toasts’, toasted bread (naturally) with a tasty cheese and tomato topping. I had a savory Hungarian omelette with sausage and we both had a glass of wine

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 266 90 80
Address: Vaci ut 5

Restaurant Name: Barna Gabor Carevec Etterem

This cafe is at the hotel where we stayed, the Hotel Rila, and has a nice enclosed but well covered terrace area. The walls keep out the noise of traffic and it is a very pleasant atmosphere. There is some seating inside but we never ventured in preferring ambience of the outside. We stopped here twice, once for a meal and once just for dessert and were well pleased both times.

Favorite Dish: I loved the pork stew and dumplings which had a mushroom sauce with of course paprika. My wife had goulash which was also very good. We decided goulash is what we call beef stew and has as many variations as there are people preparing it. At any rate it was all very good and well washed down with a couple of Drehers.

The desserts we sampled were equally good - sponge cake and creme caramel - very yummy.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 36 1 32 32 999
Address: Feher Hollo utca 2 Budapest IX
Directions: On the front of Hotel Rila
Website: www.hotelrila.com