Fehér Hajó Étterem — Restaurant in Budapest

We spent quite a while looking for a place to eat, and after seeing positive reviews of restaurant N - and being already very hungry - we decided to give it a try.

The first thing that caught our eye were the dirty tablecloths, but we decided to overlook that, attributing it to “Hungarian authenticity” and our growing hunger. Seeing quite a few guests inside, we sat down anyway.

We ordered two soups, a schnitzel, mushroom dumplings, and tea (I asked for two cups to go with the teapot).

First, Ernest - I assume that was him, as I later recognized the name from other reviews - brought one tea bag and a huge mug of boiling water. Generous, perhaps, but unnecessary. The water had a metallic taste and the tea was practically undrinkable.

Next came the fish soup - not particularly tasty, with just two tiny pieces of fish floating inside.

Then came the mushroom dumplings, which were completely bland. The schnitzel that followed was giant but bad - it was obvious it had been fried in old oil that should’ve been thrown out long ago. The only generous part was the fries. It felt like all the schnitzels had been pre-cooked in advance and reheated in a microwave.

We didn’t order bread, but they brought a huge basket anyway - and, of course, added it to the bill.

Finally, the check arrived, with an automatic 15% service charge already included.

The place is clearly tourist-oriented, and the high prices were expected, but they were absolutely not justified. On top of that, seeing a 15% tip automatically added for such tasteless food felt like being tricked. We’re always happy to pay for good food - but this was simply bad.

We took the experience with a bitter smile, and from now on, our family has a new unit of value - the “Ernest,” equal...

Decent Local Spot for a Quick Break — But Don’t Expect Too Much

After a long walk through downtown Budapest, we were hot and hungry and decided to stop by this local restaurant offering Hungarian specialties. The large food posters at the entrance caught our attention, so we stepped in hoping for a nice local lunch.

As we waited to be seated, the waiter approached us and immediately asked whether we were going to eat or just have drinks. This opening felt a bit unwelcoming — as if guests only having drinks are less valued. It left a slightly negative first impression, though we proceeded to order lunch.

We chose the Hungarian goulash and langosh. The waiter tried to create a personal connection by asking each table where they were from and throwing in a few words in their native language. It was a sweet gesture and showed an effort to engage with guests.

However, the food itself was average at best. The goulash lacked depth of flavor and the beef had chewy tendons, which made it less enjoyable. The langosh was very heavy, overloaded with sour cream and cheese, and missed the light crispiness we hoped for.

Overall, this place is okay if you're tired and want to take a quick break with some traditional food — but don’t expect culinary highlights. It's an average stop with average food, more about convenience...

I had the worst experience in Budapest at this restaurant. In addition to the inattention of the waiter, the order not respected and the huge amount for what I served. I had ordered something from the menu that included potatoes and instead of that they brought something else on the grounds that there were no more potatoes. it would have been nice to have been notified before my order was served, I woke up with the plate on the table and thought they made a mistake, when I tell the waiter he dryly replies that they didn't have potatoes but it's the same thing. anyway unfriendly .. maybe because we were strangers and they didn't really show interest .. and the drinks we had initially asked for were served to us only when I drew their attention that they weren't brought and we almost had to leave. speaking of drinks, I ordered a cola and my husband a glass of wine that was on the menu but combined with juice or water (it tasted like wine-flavored water, something horrible). and the extra fees for serving time I really don't understand... I wait for you, not the other way around, and if I liked the service, let me reward you with as much as I want. I do...