A very memorable meal and other Budapest, Hungary Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Soul Café & Restaurant

This was one of the best restaurants I've been to on holiday. Not the least because it broke a trend we had of eating at crap touristy places on our first night in a new place because we couldn't be bother to find something better. The restaurant has a lovely warm, simple, rustic interior. The food was quite different, using unique combinations. I had chicken cooked in sweet chili sauce which lead me to start trying a similar recipe at home. I know Budapest can be cheap compared to what we are used to in Western Europe, but it was brilliant to get a bill for two courses and drinks that came out to about 25 eur, _for two_. A couple of friends went to Soul Cafe as well on my recommendation and came back so happy about it, it earned me a Toblerone. =) The only downside to my experience there was I remember the waiters not being very kind and taking forever to notice us flagging them down.

Favorite Dish: The ever memorable melted chocolate cake: perfectly baked and slightly crisp on the outside, molten chocolate oozing out of the middle. Heaven. Every chocolate cake I ever eat again will be compared to this.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +36 1 217 6989
Address: 1092 Budapest, Raday utca 11-13
Directions: On Raday utca, near Kalvin ter. Take metro M3, trams 47 49, buses 9 15 City or trolley-bus 83 to Kalvin ter.
Website: http://www.soulcafe.hu

Restaurant Name: Bagolyvár (Owl's Castle)

After a morning spent in the lovely Budapest zoo, we headed out and looked for a place for lunch. We went over to Gundel, which I heard was nice, plus it has a big terrace on the lake in Városliget. We weren't there long due to their poor service, so we went to Bagolyvár, which is very nearby. We were glad we left Gundel because Bagolyvár was a wonderful restaurant. It is all run by women, which gave me the impression at first that it was part of some sort of convent, heh (this idea was later killed when one of the waitresses was giving nightclub tips to a customer). The restaurant is meant to give you the feeling of being in a Hungarian home and it does this well. The food is traditional, delicious, the waitresses really made you feel welcome, and the interior has a homey warmth to it. It was a nice day when we were there though, so everyone was eating out back in a lovely area bordered by trees, on the other side of which was the zoo. If you are in the area, go here, it's like visiting the Hungarian relatives you never had.

Favorite Dish: Paprika Chicken filled Pancake, very traditional and so yummy

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (36-1) 468 3110
Address: 1146 Budapest , Állatkerti út 2.
Directions: Across the street from Városliget, along the border of the zoo.
Website: http://www.bagolyvar.com/

Restaurant Name: Gundel

We stopped by here for lunch after a morning spent at the zoo, but we weren't there for long. The servers pretty much completely ignored us (and the British couple at the table next to us who arrived just after we did) and after about 20-30 mins, we'd gotten as far as ordering drinks but had yet to see them. We managed to get a menu after the waiter set some menus on an empty table he was setting instead of giving them to two people who'd just sat down. The food was horribly expensive, but we never had any of it anyway. We walked out, since we'd gotten nothing so far, and had a wonderful lunch around the corner at Bagolyvár (The Owl's Castle).


Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: 1146 Budapest, Allatkerti ut 2
Directions: In City Park, near Heroes' Square, behind Museum of Fine Arts.