Baraka Restaurant & Lounge
The 2 course set lunch at Baraka for 3500 HUF + 12% service charge is very good value. Our meal started well with fresh home made bread. The first course fish spring rolls (actually they were fish sausages rather than spring rolls) were full of fresh fish pieces, nicely balanced with Asian herbs. The beef carpaccio drizzled with melted Gorgonzola was beautifully assembled, but we were disappointed as the carpaccio was not very fresh, and the sweetened apple cubes were way too sweet. The caramelised walnuts were very delicious though, with a hint of butter. We were satisfied with the Salmon “Giant” Wonton served on a bed of ruccola with a dash of balsamic vinegar and mashed potato, except that the ruccola was actually cooked, because it was sandwiched between the wonton and the hot mashed potato. The pork medallion was only OK, because it was first grilled, then cooked in the microwave! (We figured this because when the pork came to our table it was still pink and after a few minutes the pink colour was gone - it must have been a mirowave effect.) The vegetables sauce that came with the pork was very nice though.
Location: Pest VI, Andrássy út 111. Phone: +36 1 4831355. Open: Mon-Sat 12-15, 18-23. Transport: M1, Bajza utca. Web: www.barakarestaurant.hu
Csalogány 26
Tucked in between somewhat depressing socialist housing blocks on a side street about 5 minutes walk from Batthyány tér, Csalogány 26 is not a restaurant you would come across during an evening stroll. You simply wouldn't want to go to that area, unless you know the place, which is probably why the owners decided to name the restaurant Csalogány 26: the restaurant’s name is actually the restaurant's address.
Considering the quality of food, Csalogány 26 is well worth a visit. We had roast lamb with delicious polenta (first cooked, then grilled), ruccolla and cream of pumpkin on the side and grilled pork medallions with mushrooms and crunchy vegetables. Both dishes were skilfully prepared and tasty. For dessert we had a cheese mouse with gnocchi, caramelized walnuts, strawberries and sprinkled with fresh herbs. As weird as it sounds, it was delicious. We also had a nice creme caramel, although the caramel was slightly too burnt.
The atmsphere at Csalogány 26 is unpretentious and the service was very professional. One of the waiters took time to explain to us the preparation of dishes in great detail. A rarity in Budapest's restaurants indeed.
Location: Buda I, Csalogány utca 26. Phone: +36 1 201 7892. Transport: M2, Batthyány tér. Web: www.csalogany26.hu
Gerlóczy Kávéház
Located on a quiet square with a beautiful tree providing pleasant shade, Gerlóczy Kávéház is an ideal place to unwind during afternoon heat or on a warm summer evening. Moreover, it is also the place in Budapest for spending a morning over a cup of nice coffee. It’s not easy to find a proper espresso or cappuccino in Budapest after all.
Service at Gerlóczy Kávéház tends to be inconsistent. Some staffs are always friendly, attentive and smiling, while others take time to warm up, meaning that you need to visit the place regularly enough (leaving a generous tip) for them to remember your face. Of course it shouldn't have been like that and if the service was poor, why should anyone tip anyway but then again, Budapest is a bit special when it comes to service.
Apart from our regular coffees, we also tried a number of desserts at Gerlóczy Kávéház. The texture of the chocolate soufflé we had was more like a cake rather than soufflé. Delicious crème brulee with perfectly burnt glace at only 500 HUF was a steal, while our favourite dessert at Gerlóczy Kávéház is cheese cake with red currant.
Location: Pest V, Gerlóczy utca 1. Phone: +36 1 2350953. Open: Mon-Fri 7:00-23:00; Sat-Sun 8:00-23:00. Transport: M1, M2, M3, Deák Ferenc tér. Web: www.gerloczy.hu
Papageno
Hidden behind Károly Körut, this small restaurant serves home made Tartufo Ravioli bursting with beautiful flavour of truffle. The beef medallion however was a bit too dry. The Caramel Flan (actually it was Crème caramel rather than flan) was good, but overpriced. We find it rather strange that instead of serving complimentary bread before our ordered dishes, we were served half a cherry tomato, topped with herbed cottage cheese (túró) and sprouts for each person. It was delicious except that we could have had a little bit more of it. If you feel like splurging for good food, then this is the right place to go to.
Location: Pest V, Semmelweis utca 19. (5 minutes walk from Deák Ferenc tér metro station). Phone: +36 1 4850161. Open: Mon-Sat 18:30-24:00.