Hachapuri — Restaurant in Budapest

Chef-prepared meals with an authentic Georgian flare. Serving staff speak Magyar and English. We did not have a reservation, yet we were seated immediately. I ordered the Veggie Dégustation Menu. Overall, I enjoyed the food, but also had some disappointments.

The eggplant salad was too soft and an unpleasant texture with a bad taste. The eggplant stew, however was earthy, hearty, and a great compliment to the meal. The mushroom stew was also well-prepared and tasted great paired with the steamed basmati rice.

The tomato and cucumber salad were dressed in a bland yogurt sauce. This could have really used some seasoning, maybe just a touch of salt. I expected this to be chilled as well, but it was served at room temperature which made it less appetizing for me.

The highlight for me were the red beans served with a marinated paprika. The menu also features the same preparation in a clay pot served with corn bread. I tasted the cornbread, which was very dense and moist. I really enjoyed the Tonis Puri (Georgian Bread) much better and would recommend the red beans clay pot with Tonis Puri instead of the corn bread.

The staff was generally pleasant, however our waiter did not leave the cork or label with us after presenting the wine. I observed another waiter instantly pouring another party's wine without waiting for the buyer to taste and confirm. It seems the staff could use a refresher on proper wine presentation.

There is a large wine list featuring domestic and imported wines with a variety that will satisfy most budgets including a full range of inexpensive and fine wines.

We waited quite a long time for the appetizers to arrive, which were an assortment of salads, one of which was a turkey salad. We asked the waiter which was the turkey salad, since I am a vegetarian, and he pointed to the eggplant salad instead. I'm not sure if he didn't understand the question or doesn't know the food he's serving. Either way it caused an unpleasant surprise, and could have been a more serious matter if there were food allergies.

The wait for appetizers and the confusion over ingredients definitely affected my opinion of the experience overall. We also ordered the dumplings as an appetizer which were not delivered until after the main course.

For the level of service we received and a few disappointing flavors, the pricing is quite high. The dumplings were priced individually at 400 Ft/db and we were charged 150 Ft for the accompanying Soya sauce. It's an absurd concept that an upscale restaurant would dare charge a fee for a condiment that is a part of the plating.

While I may return to try some of the clay pots and the Tonis Puri, I won't expect to order a full sampling or to spend as generously as we did on our...

We come to this restaurant every year when we go to Budapest, so far been 3-4 times. Food is great, although really expensive for what it is (probably about 30 EUR / 11,000 HUF per person). Keep in mind that there is a 15% service charge/tip already included in the bill - no need to tip additionally. At first, service is great - from meeting someone at the door to get your seat, throughout picking first meals/drinks and during it.

Problem comes when you're finished with the food and want to either pay or have something more. Each time we came, after finishing food and wine, nobody ever comes to check if we want anything more (and all these times we wanted at least another glass of house wine which is super tasty).

After waiting for quite a while we usually decide that we want to pay and get out anyway, but nobody comes still. Staff conveniently ignore us (as well as other customers). They see empty tables & glasses, and go around us, but never stop to ask. We decided to stand up and go to cash register to ask if we can pay after about 30 min of waiting and had to stand for another 10-15 min to wait for manager to deal with other customers who have same request. Guy always looks like he's running marathon and barely catching his breath while other staff just sit and joke around or do nothing. They cannot take payments - only that one manager, which is extremely strange as everyone looks adult.

It almost seems as if you could just stand up and leave without paying if you really wanted, and nobody would care. I wanted to throw my money but nobody wanted to take it.

My advice to anyone who comes here: once you're done eating/drinking, perhaps snap your fingers and call someone with gestures if you want more, or perhaps just stand up and go to cash register immediately after you decide to pay, nobody is going to...

. Disappointment

My recent dining experience at a supposedly upscale restaurant left me with a sour taste in more ways than one. Not only was the food disappointingly cold, but the exorbitant prices made the experience all the more difficult to swallow.

Upon entering the establishment, I was greeted with an air of sophistication that promised an elevated dining experience. However, as I perused the menu, my excitement quickly turned to apprehension. The prices were staggering, with dishes costing far more than what one would expect for the quality advertised.

Opting to indulge nonetheless, I selected a dish that sounded promising. However, when it arrived at the table, any hope for a satisfying meal quickly dissipated. The food was not just lukewarm but downright cold, as if it had been sitting out for far too long before making its way to my plate.

The flavors, or lack thereof, further compounded my disappointment. The dish lacked any depth or complexity, leaving me wondering if the chef had forgotten to season it altogether. Each bite felt like a chore, as I struggled to find any redeeming qualities in the uninspired concoction before me.

Ps. Amidst the disappointment of a lackluster dining experience, there was one shining beacon of excellence: our waitress. Despite the shortcomings of the restaurant, her exceptional service elevated the evening from mediocre to memorable.

From the moment we were seated, she exuded warmth and professionalism, greeting us with a genuine smile that immediately put us at ease. Throughout the meal, she was attentive without being intrusive, seamlessly anticipating our needs and ensuring that our dining experience was as pleasant as possible and aswell the...