Page 273 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

WHERE T O EA T AND DRINK  271

loose change is perfectly
acceptable in cafés. Credit cards
are accepted in the majority
of restaurants, though you’d
do well to check in more rural
establishments before ordering
your meal.

Recommended
Restaurants
The restaurants listed here cover
a range of cuisine styles and are
Centrál Kávéház café (see p277), one of Budapest’s historic coffeehouses the best of their kind in Hungary.
Traditional Hungarian cooking
Reservations
opportunity to sample local remains the dominant theme
A prior reservation is really food and mingle with locals. throughout the country, parti-
only necessary in the best cularly in the country side, where
restaurants, especially in the archetypal goulash and
Budapest. In Hungary, it is Prices, Tipping paprika-based dishes still form
and Payment
customary to join other guests the mainstay of most restaurant
at a table, especially during Like most countries, the cost menus. That said, many newer
the busy lunchtime. To secure of a meal in Hungary varies establishments are now offering
a private table in advance, it is according to the location a fresh, modern take on age-old
advisable to reserve it. and type of establishment. recipes, and we’ve listed a
Notwithstanding the fact number of restaurants that
that Budapest now has some reflect the changing, and more
Children
incredibly upmarket restaurants, innovative, trends in Magyar
Children are welcomed in the cost of eating out here is, cooking. Although a fairly loose
all restaurants almost without anyway, higher than elsewhere term, international cuisine is
exception. Most places in the country, while you may increasingly popular in many
can provide a highchair for also find prices slightly higher restaurants – especially in
toddlers, while there will around Lake Balaton. Budapest – and here you’ll find
often be a children’s (or a The prices should also be a number of outstanding places
light) portion on the menu; displayed, but if they are not, each offering a menu of diverse
if not, then the chef will go elsewhere. The introduction dishes inspired by national
prepare a suitable dish usually of printed and itemized bills has cuisines from across the globe.
at a slightly cheaper price. made it increasingly difficult Ethnic eateries are almost
The only exception might be for hidden extras to be added exclusively confined to the
dessert, but the desserts in to the final bill, as in days of capital, where there are some
Hungarian restaurants are yore, but remain wary and first-class Italian, French and
so delicious (and sweet) that always check the bill assiduously. Asian restaurants, in particular.
most children will happily eat In some restaurants, a service The specially recommended
a whole portion. charge is included in the final restaurants, marked as DK
bill, but this is not common choice, have been chosen
practice; if such a charge has because they offer a unique
Menus not been levied, it is customary experience – typically a com-
By law, all Hungarian restaurants to leave your waiter a tip of bination of superb cuisine and
must display a menu with around 10 per cent, while a truly special atmosphere.
prices, and while many will have
English translation, this is less
common outside the capital:
a staff member or fellow diner
may be able to help out. The
name of the dish is usually
followed by a brief description.
Remember that for many
Hungarians lunch is the
main meal of the day. Many
restaurants and cafés therefore
offer a two- or three- course
set menu, consisting of a soup,
a main course and often a
dessert. This can be a good The refined dinning room at Tigris (see p283), Budapest

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