2/2/22 - Bud - Frici Papa
We three middle aged British pescatarian guys had just arrived in Budapest the day before and wanted to have our first real Hungarian meal. We were with our local friend in the evening before and had spotted this but...he could not eat here as he had a dietary condition unfortunately. We vowed to return the next day as it was closer to our apartment e we were staying at for a week.
We arrived on a Wednesday at 13:30 to find a Palladian cube of a restaurant with a mezzanine area. The place was buzzing with a mix of locals including students. Luckily there was a table by the side door so we grabbed it. An attentive waiter was soon with us and delivered the menus and cutlery. He addressed us in Hungarian and was surprised we did not understand, he thought we were locals!
We ordered two draught Hungarian Soproni and a bottle of Soproni Demon dark wheat beer (only 5.2%). He returned with the beers and took our orders.
We ordered from the reasonably extensive menu (no fish that day, only squid on the day menu). Being pescatarians we were a little put out but chose the bean soup, mushroom goulash, squid rings, rice and peas and beetroot.
The bean soup came alone first, it was generous and had smoked bacon in and was delicious! I am not a strict vegetarian (more a flexitarian depending on the company, host and venue) so it was fine. I misinterpreted the ‘clod’ although has told the waiter I didn’t eat meat. He didn’t put two and two together but he was very busy! I shared my soup round and we all agreed it was delicious.
The mushroom goulashes with rice and peas were generous too and tasty.
By 2pm we were tucking into delicious hearty food. More students arrived, only some could be accommodated though. A bolt delivery driver arrived with a box.
This was not fine dining but the generous and hearty portions in a buzzing atmosphere was just right.
We rounded off at 14:30 with two shots of Szilva and a dry rose wine, so all good!
Our second visit was for Friday lunch arriving at 1. Once again it was busy. As we arrived a group of (obviously) builders were leaving. A large group of Jewish youth were taking up the corner where we were before, not drinking alcohol. This is a very mixed place. Once again throughout lunch a lot of groups of youngsters dined.
We took a central table and ordered mostly from the day’s printed menu. Two dark beers and a rose wine were ordered first and came quickly although two weissebeers were delivered unopened so we corrected the tall middle aged waiter (possibly an owner) and he came back quickly with the two dark beers. Looking at the main menu they are on the same line at Hf699 so despite my pointing at them saying ‘dark’ we got the wrong one. No problem, he was very busy! Just as well the bottles were opened at the table.
The liver dumpling soup was very tasty my friend said, I sampled it and agreed.
The mushroom soup was not very mushroomy and had mini gnocchi balls, a bit disappointing.
Fried fish was two breaded deep fried fillets of fish only with no sauce but they were proper fish and the rest of the food accompanied it well.
The potato dish was mix of potato, chorizo (definitely not veggie!), boiled egg - almost a tortilla! My friend had to give me his meat. Nevertheless he found it very tasty especially with extra paprika and seasoning! I had some too and found it included small pieces of fried bacon (clod)
My ‘Caesar salad’ was a plate of lettuce, sauce, croutons and a whole sliced up grilled chicken breast sliced up. There were no anchovies, capers or Parmesan cheese. Once again a non vegetarian Caesar salads with chicken (technically chicken is not an ingredient and the salad is vegetarian but this is Hungary!
Our overly keen middle aged waiter tried to take away unfinished soup twice but he was a busy guy!
Our friend ordered the cabbage salad which was actually a sauerkraut with extra pickled veg like gherkins, red peppers. He had one of my fish fillets.
It became very busy at around 1:45 with big groups of youngsters. The waiters were too busy to notice our requests for an extra glass of rose, he got it eventually.
At 14:24 it was still busy and new people were being turned away. We decided to have deserts and a couple of szilvas again.
The Floating Island was a delicious isles flotant! A generous portion of Crème Anglais and soft meringue floating on top.
My Mákos guba (‘dumps’ with poppy seeds) was a large plate of warm moist profiterole type things! Very delicious! We shared everything! A really nice end to a tasty (albeit not entirely veggie) meal!
We paid by card at the till (as is required, cash at the table, gave our tall waiter his 1000 tip and left very happy again at 15:00hrs as more people were arriving!More