Café Vian Liszt Ferenc tér — Restaurant in Budapest

I’m honestly not sure where to begin. Our first few visits were exceptional, no complaints whatsoever. The food, drinks, and service were all spot on, and we left very satisfied each time.

Unfortunately, our most recent visit, which will be our last, was a completely different experience.

We were greeted and seated by András, who initially came across as friendly and attentive. He informed us that there would be a 30 to 45 minute wait for food, which we understood given it was a busy Saturday night. However, 30 minutes into the wait, András returned to inform us that one of the dishes we had ordered was no longer available. He handed my friend a menu and repeatedly said “fast, fast,” clearly rushing him to choose a replacement dish. This came off as rude and unnecessarily pushy, and unfortunately, his service noticeably declined after this point. It also highlighted a clear lack of communication and coordination between the kitchen and front-of-house, something that should absolutely be checked and sorted before service begins.

Later in the evening, at 11:30pm, we were told by András that the terrace was closing and we had to move inside. On a previous visit, when we were told there would be a longer wait for food, we were proactively asked to sit inside instead which we accepted and appreciated as a thoughtful solution. This time, however, that same consideration wasn’t given. We weren’t offered an indoor table ahead of time, and the way we were ushered in felt abrupt and impolite.

Our food finally arrived at 11:45pm. The bread we had requested which should be offered as standard, was brought out alongside our main course, showing a clear lack of attention to detail. My dish arrived slightly cold and, quite honestly, was disappointing. We've had enjoyable experiences with other menu items like the burger, pastas, csirkepaprikás, and lasagna in the past, but it seems the chicken-based dishes consistently fall short.

When our waiter eventually checked in, I offered honest but respectful feedback, something I never do, explaining that we were disappointed with the overall experience. The response we received was simply, “our apologies,” with no effort made to actually address or resolve anything. It felt like the staff were just waiting for us to leave.

When we asked for the bill, the waiter stood at our table and directly asked for a service charge. We’ve happily paid it in the past when the service was up to standard, but this time we questioned what the charge was actually for. He couldn’t give us an answer. When I tried once more to explain our frustration, he cut me off mid-sentence with a dismissive “Have a good night, bye.” It came across as unprofessional and genuinely inconsiderate, as if the only concern was collecting the service charge / tips rather than ensuring a good guest experience.

With all due respect. as someone who has worked in hospitality for a considerably long time, I would strongly advise the staff here to rethink their approach to service. Guests should be the priority, not an afterthought. Professionalism and attention go a long way, and standing around chatting like it’s a youth club doesn’t reflect well on the venue or the team.

It genuinely felt like the difference in service stemmed from the absence of the senior manager who was present during our previous visit. When he was there, everything ran smoothly — his passion for hospitality was clear, and he ensured every detail was taken care of. Credit where it’s due: he truly goes above and beyond, and it showed in the...

Café Vian, average food and uncomfortable tipping pressure

We had a mixed experience at Café Vian. The location is nice and the setting is pleasant, but the overall visit left us disappointed.

Service started off fine. Most of our drinks arrived on time, but one aperitif was significantly delayed. When our food arrived and the drink still hadn’t come, we told the waiter it was no longer needed. He replied that it was already made and on its way, but another staff member later stepped in and agreed to cancel it, which we appreciated.

The food itself was average at best. I had the goulash, which was just okay. Portions were fine, but the flavours were flat and nothing really stood out. The meal was not bad, just entirely forgettable.

When it came time to pay, things took a turn. The waiter brought the card terminal and immediately pointed at two options: 12% or 15%, saying we had to “choose one.” We asked if he could set the terminal to our native language. He was hesitant but eventually translated it for us. The whole situation felt pushy, especially since the menu clearly stated that tipping was optional, with no mention of fixed percentages. We ultimately chose not to leave a tip.

The entire interaction felt awkward and unnecessarily pressured. Ironically, if the waiter had simply left us to decide on our own, we likely would have tipped.

Café Vian looks the part, but delivers an average meal and uncomfortable service. The tipping pressure at the end left a sour impression. We won’t...

Started fine, got served. Waiter (Soma) overstayed his welcome and tried to upsell us on almost everything (its his job I know) but we didnt mind. When it came time to paying the whole establishment switched tone, they become cold and just want money, and will do everything they can to get the most. They input the wrong orders for drinks to increase the price (by 2,400Huf on just mine alone) offering things on the house and trying to get me to pay for it. Very slimey and fake people that work here. When I called Soma out on what he had done, he began swearing at me and others in the group and became very hostile. Nothing like the fake nice person persona he put on before. And when he discovered he couldn't swindle me for more money, he got mad. Very silly from Soma, no wonder he doesn't get tips. The store manager was actually very nice and helped us settle the debate, she looked through and took time to listen and understand what had happened and what Soma tried. She handled the situation very well and respectable, she was a great help in this and I thank her for this as Soma just looked to escalate the situation for unknown reasons (that he couldn't scam us). They also try to say multiple times that "it isn't a tourist trap", which is strange for a place to constantly tell people while dining. Beers looked watered down and Rum was weakened with ice and Pepsi. Strange place, don't recommend. Unless you want to go to point and laugh at Soma (he is funnily stupid) then go...