I am a middle-aged male Brit who is visiting Budapest for a week, staying at a Hungarian friend's in Obuda. He wanted to show me a good local restaurant for our last meal together before my departure the next day on Wednesday Semi-Final night.
I...arrive at 20:25 before my friend to find an empty cosy restaurant with farm implements on the wall and three busy staff who all greeted me as I entered as if I were a local! I asked if there was a courtyard (my friend had told me there was) and was directed to the left where the scene opened out to a long covered garden, more of an open air hall with benches lined up along it. A dozen people were dining in the large relaxed space with no music thankfully.
I was presented with a menu and I confirmed it was in English (Russian and German too was the answer!).
I took a four person table and was offered a drink, I asked for a Hungarian beer but only a Cherry beer was on offer so I declined saying I would wait for my Hungarian friend (who had been once before). I scanned the huge menu and took thirteen photos of the English sections.
My friend arrived a little flustered as he usually eats earlier and goes to bed early for an early rise to work. He was presented with the Hungarian menu and we were asked what to drink. It was clarified the only Hungarian beer they had was Cherry Beer which I was not keen on but it was 'traditional', let's say, and preferable to a Czech or any other beer (when in Rome). Unfortunately the price for a half litre was 850 but I gritted my teeth and ordered one. My friend had his usual white wine spritze (620).
It became apparent too that the Hungarian Menu was broader than the English version and included a vegetarian section that I was unaware of and thought I would concentrate on (being a lax pescatarian and having had fish twice so far, once ON the river - unlisted resaurant Zöldhagyló Úszóház just 200m upstream of the also good unlisted floating retro bar/ferry Ebihal Büfé at 47.42N, 19.25E). The veggie choices were not too appealing, there were no Hortobagy Pancakes (my friend confirmed with the waiter) so I actually chose a Bean Goulash which was quite meaty in the description! He chose breaded turkey stuffed with chicken livers which was quite appealing! I expected (judging from reviews) that he might not finish it so I would for him.
We ordered, the waiter left, and after perusing the menu side dishes further I noticed potato balls with shredded potatoes (400). I imagined this to be potato pancakes like my mum might have made so I left the table to find the waiter, mistook the waiter but my friend ordered it with our waiter from the table.
In good time a basket of a whole small sliced brown bread loaf was presented with the beer. Yes the beer was a bit too sickly sweet for me so it went down slowly. I deliberately did not touch the bread as I expected big portions and bread would just spoil my appetite.
In good time too our dishes arrived and yes they were generous! My friend's turkey was very tasty (I did have a third of it after he could not manage more (worried about overeating before bed) although we both thought it could have done with a sauce or gravy of some kind as it was quite dry. A bowl of hot chilli/paprika paste accompanied his dish but that did not help. It was very good though ultimately and obviously dry is the style.
My goulash was tremendous! It was accompanied by slices of hotish green paprika which my friend said were an optional addition into the goulash, so in they went. Nice very well, succulent chunks of beef in the rich hot 'borschty' type broth (it has that overwhelming feeling) and I took my time eating it and drinking the beer (too sweet as an accompaniment) and picking at the half a dozen big potato balls (as did my friend). Not what I expected as shredded potato pancakes, my misinterpretation of the menu. They were fine though, albeit a bit dry again so they needed dunking in the soup. By now I would be on my second half litre of normal beer but the cherry beer was going down very slowly. The bread remained untouched by both of us. My friend ate two-thirds of his turkey and offered me to finish the rest and i also ate about three more balls. Between us we left nothing! I was definitely sated! My friend had noticed the waiters taking left over food and packaging them for customers to take home. No such necessity here as I was really very hungry! I had read about this anyway in TA reviews. Maybe if I had had some bread and a second beer I might have struggled with the 'real' food.
I eventually finished and my friend was agitating to order the bill and leave for an early night. We were the last two 'couples' left and unfortunately a delivery was being handled and checked as we finished so it took a few attempts to catch our waiter's eye but we managed it. A quick reckoning of the bill of on my part was 7000, my friend thought higher. The actual bill was a very pleasant 6050. I only had 4500 in cash on me so my friend made up the difference and added a generous 1000 tip too as he was impressed.
Overall the restaurant was as expected, the only problem being the lack of ordinary Hungarian beer (a dark one either) to accompany the excellent food and very good service. Maybe they had a run on beer earlier in the World Cup (no TV spotted though) or Budapest is also suffering from a Carbon Dioxide shortage as is back in England (underestimation of consumption due to World Cup and heat wave to blame apparently). They could easily have sold me two big beers and made more profit although I would have been totally stuffed!! The lack of a veggie sections in in English was also a problem, lucky I had a native as a friend. Pity there was no Hortbagy Pancake although if you like fifty shades of knuckles then this is your place!
I'm back in London nw about to post my review above and on reflection have decided to award 5/5 as they obviously have a heritage, try hard in an out of town environment and deliver special food at good prices. Just make sure you have enough good Hungarian beer (dark especially, although maybe too heavy) in Stock, guys and gals!
If you are in the area you could choose the more touristy places in Old Obuda or make the effort to come here or another local restaurant close by also listed - HME....look good it up as I reviewed it too!More
