Hungary trip, June 2009 - Gundel restaurant, Budapest

Gundel is a well-known restaurant located in the Budapest City Park by the Zoological Gardens. Although it is recommended by the Michelin guide as the best restaurant in Hungary, so far no stars have been give to it.

It is a posh restaurant. Male dinner guests are required to wear a jacket. We didn't bring any formal ware, but when we walked past it, the attendant said our clothes were OK. So we decided to try it.

The room is elegantly decorated and there is live classical and Hungarian music. I've especially enjoyed the music by the violinist and the cimbalomist.


So here is a photo summary of our dinner:

Appetiser: beef tartare

Quartette of Goose Livers: grilled Goose Liver on a Walnut-Apple Cake, Pâté with Hungarian Truffles, Cold Goose Liver in its Fat and Slice of Smoked Goose Liver. The grilled goose liver is very very good but the pâté and cold goose liver is only average.

A cup of Traditional Hungarian Goulash Soup made of Prime Cut Beef. The waiter came around with the "very hot" Hungarian peppers and "Hungarian" bread. It is more spicy and meaty than the other goulashs that we had around town. Very delicious.

A Cup of Gundel Fisherman's Soup of Carp, Catfish and Fogash with Vermicelli. I absolutely love this fish soup with the peppers. It is also quite filling.

Tournedos Franz Liszt topped with Goose Liver, Forest Mushroom Sauce seasoned with Gundel Bull’s Blood Wine. This dish is based on the French dish "Tournedos Rossini", purportedly created for the composer Gioacchino Rossini. Lizst and Rossini were collegues so this is a play on the name.

Crisp-baked Breast and Drumstick of Duck Mikszáth Style served with Parslied Mushroom Soufflé and Cherry Sauce. The skin of the duck is very crispy and the sauce goes really well with the meat. The mushroom souffle is a bit too doughy for me though.

We finished our meal with a glass of Tokaji Aszú 6 butts 2003 and Praline from their patisserie.

The waiter was very funny and helpful. We had a great time chatting to the old couple sitting next to us. Overall, the meal was very enjoyable.

For more information:

Gundel Etterem
Állatkerti út 2.
Budapest, 1146
Tel. +36-1 468 4040
info@gundel.hu

Getting here:

• metro (M1, the yellow underground line) at Hősök tere station
• trolley bus: number 72, get off at either Szondi utca or Állatkert stop (the restaurant is about halfway between the two stops)