One thing is for sure ~ you will never go hungry in Hungary!! Following a predominantly vegetarian diet, with the occasional fillet of fish, I was a bit concerned about what I would be able to eat in Budapest as Hungarian dishes are meat-focused. Much to my pleasant surprise, I had an incredible vegetarian meal and a scrumptious seafood dish while visiting the city. And the coffee and pancake at Gundel Cafe were absolutely heavenly!
I was in Budapest for about three and a half days; two and a half of those were with the Rick Steves’ Best of Prague and Budapest tour and the final day was solo. The tour covered two dinners, one lunch, and a stop at Gundel Cafe on the last day. The lunch was actually prepared by the tour group! We had the opportunity to participate in a Hungarian cooking class which was quite the experience. Breakfasts were provided by the hotel so the only meals I had to cover were two lunches and two dinners.
Unlike the United States, tipping is not “strongly suggested” in Budapest. I noticed that in some restaurants, when paying via credit card, there was no option given to leave a tip. I do like tipping, especially when I am provided great service, so I would just give my waiter cash at the end of my meal.
Note: Prices listed are what I paid in USD based on the exchange between May 30th and June 2nd. Tips are not included in the cost.
Gerlóczy Kávéház
The dinner at Gerlóczy Kávéház was the group’s “Welcome to Budapest” meal and it included a drink, salad, entree, and dessert. For my drink, I opted for an elderflower lemonade, an interesting flavor combination but refreshing nevertheless. The caesar salad was great: crisp romaine, freshly grated parmesan, and seasoned croutons. As for the entree, it consisted of roasted eggplant, barley topped with pomegranate seeds and roasted vegetables, and a side of tahini. The dish was absolutely delicious and one of the best vegetarian meals I’ve ever eaten!! And the dessert was a chocolate Lúdláb with sour cherries. It was great in that it was not too sweet. I ordered coffee at the end of the meal but forgot to get a picture of it (I was too focused on the chocolate cake).
Located in a quiet corner of downtown Budapest, Gerlóczy Kávéház is a cafe and restaurant that offers patrons great food and a wonderful dining atmosphere. Our dining experience was enhanced by a pianist who treated the group to lovely classical music throughout our meal. Overall, service was great even though there was a bit of a wait for the entrees. But then again, one cannot rush perfection and our dishes were artistically presented and masterfully prepared!
Cost: Dinner was part of the tour. The coffee was an extra charge and cost $5.51.
Best Brisket & Burger at Basilica
My tourmate and I discovered Best Brisket & Burger at Basilica (B4) by chance while walking around looking for a place to get a quick bite before the next tour activity. Located next to St. Stephen’s Basilica, hence the name, B4 specializes in burgers, steak sandwiches, and quesadillas. I ordered the classic quesadilla box which comes with loaded fries (fries topped with pickled red onion, parmesan, and parsley with a side of the house sauce). Wow!! The quesadilla was superb; European cheeses definitely are of better quality than what one finds in the States. The french fries were also great and I enjoyed the pickled red onions.
I recommend this restaurant if you are in the area and looking for a quick, inexpensive meal.
Cost: $11.06 (quesadilla box plus bottle of water)
Gundel Cafe
I will admit that the visit to Gundel Cafe was one of the highlights of my trip. Not only was the pancake dish heavenly, but the interior of the cafe was astonishingly beautiful. This 130-year-old establishment is decorated with intricate woodwork, beautiful murals, and elegant stained glass and mirrors. The group was treated to the famous Gundel pancake which is filled with ground walnuts flavored with orange peel and topped with chocolate sauce and toasted nuts. For my coffee, I selected a latte.
I also give Gundel Cafe bonus points because elephants, one of my favorite animals, are part of their theme!
Gundel Cafe, located in Budapest’s Városliget (City Park), is definitely worth a visit whether you just want to try the Gundel pancake or you wish to enjoy one of their many other dishes.
Cost: Coffee and dessert were part of the tour.
Vígvarjú Étterem
The dinner at Vígvarjú Étterem was bittersweet because it was not only the “Farewell to Budapest” meal but also the final meal of the tour. This meal consisted of bread, an appetizer, an entree, and dessert plus a drink and coffee. The appetizer was a selection of three dips – tuna cream, smoky aubergine (eggplant) cream, and feta cheese – with greens. The dips were delicious and definitely sufficient to share with others. My entree was a fillet of fish (not sure what fish), barley, and pureed and roasted vegetables. That dish was scrumptious!! Everything was very flavorful and the fish was cooked properly. As for dessert, it was a mini chocolate cake with sauce, crushed nuts, and fruit. The cake was good but a bit too sweet for my taste. I’m still not sure how I managed to eat all that food!
Vígvarjú Étterem is a restaurant located in the Pesti Vigadó building that dates to 1833 and is designed in a Greek Revival style. The Vigadó is situated in the Danube promenade on the Pest side of the city. A notable thing about the Vígvarjú Étterem is its “Crowfarmers Pantry Program“, a program where the restaurant contracts with Hungarian farmers affording them the opportunity to have a reliable, long-term business partner. The restaurant’s menu highlights dishes that are part of the program with a little crow icon. The menu also uses variations of the crow icon to indicate dishes that do not contain dairy and/or gluten.
Cost: Dinner was part of the tour.
Callas Cafe and Restaurant
My meal at Callas Cafe and Restaurant marked the end of my great 2024 European journey. I stayed an extra day in Budapest, as did a few of my tourmates, so we all decided to meet one last time for dinner. We chose this restaurant given its proximity to our hotel and the Hungarian Opera House, where two tourmates had tickets for a performance that evening. For my meal, I ordered a glass of red wine, a fillet of fish, and a side of vegetables (the fish did not include any sides). The ends of the fillet were cooked well but the center was pretty raw. The vegetables, on the other hand, were delicious and well-seasoned. Even though my food was not the best, my tourmates, who ordered beef and chicken dishes, enjoyed their meals. I will note that this restaurant provides good customer service and our server was great at accommodating special requests.
Callas Cafe and Restaurant is located on Andrassy Ut, right next to the Hungarian Opera House. The restaurant has a beautiful, elegant interior which makes it a great place for a romantic dinner or a place to celebrate a special occasion.
Cost: $37.07 (includes a 15% service fee)
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