Menza Étterem és Kávéház — Restaurant in Budapest

As usual I'm always looking at photos of plates before I walk into any restaurant to have a good idea of what I want before looking at the menu. But in this instance I could not do that because Hungary has such a catastrophic communication(s) wi-fi networks "everywhere" and that is in hotels, restos, public buildings, public transport and spaces, etc., etc. "everywhere" but sadly it does.

So not seeing the plate pics caused me to order the wrong dish based on the recommendations of the waitress saying it was her favorite dish on the menu.

What I had delivered were thin-disc, dried, pork medallions on a bed of sour cream and raw onions on a fried dough. That was basically it despite the menu description sounding better and more enticing.

I expected thick, rounded, lumps of juicy pork loin on a thick slice of Hungarian fried dough bread ...and a thicker, gravy-style, salted demi-glaze would substitute better than a sour cream which should be cupped on the side as an extra.

I was surprised by their interpretation of the dish and was immediately disappointed by its appearance. But I didn’t want to bother with sending it back so I figured I have to power through it out without enjoyment.

But the waitress came by early to ask me how it was and seeing my despair she offered me an out by telling me to send it back. So I gladly agreed to exit out of that dish and start over.

The manager Zsolt came by to talk about the plate and he understood the situation clearly and tried with an enormous effort to rectify the problem with different dish ideas, using his own phone to access plate photos, even talking to his I.T. techie to fix the resto's wi-fi which was impossible at the time.

I was impressed by Zsolt's determination to make good on the problem by making sure the next replacement dish was primo. But too much time had gone by and I was in a short time window before going back to the hotel and planning my logistics for the MotoGP Balaton the next day. So I was forced to bail out at that point and take a rain check on a long, fine dining experience.

To my surprise Zsolt told me that my soup was on the house, (which was a great soup actually). Hungarian wild mushroom, locally- sourced venison, Hungarian potato dödőlle dumplings and the broth had a nice balance of light salt with a soft sweetness to it.

Just some input on the soup; larger venison chunks would be an improvement. The meat was minced way to small. If its a weight-to-profit issue, it would be better to give 3 or 4 large meat chunks, instead of 10 little, minced morsels. And 3 or 4 dödőlles to match the meat count as I think I had only 2 of them. Center pile them all in the middle of the bowl (dödőlles on the bottom) for better visual presentation.

I would have happily paid for my soup, I thought it had great taste and potential, but Zsolt graciously passed it off as its not an issue. And that shows the measure of a true, professional restaurant manager that a $10.00 dollar soup is meaningless, its the integrity and reputation of the restaurant that is of the utmost importance.

Any high-end restaurant should think of itself as an institution of honor because their service role to the public is so grand and carries much responsibility. After all, you are feeding us so we put our trust in you, for instance in not to poison us.

I promised to make good back to Zsolt in a later revisit and try some different plates the following week, but that will now be the week after that.

This was my 2nd time at Menza, the first being in 2020 Covid times and I recall the food and the service being excellent back then. I usually talk to the resto managers when I go somewhere since we share the same passion for food so now I’m thinking it was Zsolt who I talked to 5 years ago after when he said he had been at Menza for 14 years. If it was him in 2020 then his service was superb back then and continues to be to this day. Zsolt is a valued asset to this Menza institution and a really nice guy, a motorider and anyone who rides motorcycles is a cool dude...

The food was good, I did enjoy that. But my score is based on the service I received. From the moment I step at the entrance was wrong. There was a young good looking female host long dark hair. I asked her if she had a table for one. She was the most unfriendly hostess I have ever encounter, not greeting, not welcoming, she literally rolled her eyes on me, she was very unpleasant. Funny they have a big sign that says “please wait to be seated and SMILE” the smile part should be facing the hostess to remind her to be friendly with the costumers because that is what she is getting paid for. I hold my thoughts, I just wanted to eat and then I get my waiter, another lost case, no manners and completely fretful. When he brought my beer. He dropped the glass on the table with such bad attitude. He did not placed the glass as a good waiter would do, he dropped it making a big noise in the table. No eye contact or words were said. He just walked away after that. The food I ordered was brought by different waiters they all were polite and placed the plate at the table in a correct way. Respecting the client. My waiter meanwhile never ever came back to my table. Another young waiter dark hair was extremely nice. He checked on me more than once, he offered me dessert, so he upsale (great job) and even gave me his suggestion saying the New York cheesecake was his favorite. And I asked for that. After finished my meal I tried to call my waiter’s attention. He ignored several times. He saw I was done never approached my table. Then the rude hostess came from inside wearing a different shirt I called her. She made bad faces again, I asked if she could please ask my waiter for my bill. Barely she said yes and she went back to her podium to chat with the blond hostess colleague ignoring my request completely. I tried to call my waiter again, nothing. I did no exist for them seems like. I could walk away without paying maybe. They couldn’t care less. Finally the nice young waiter came to the patio and I called him. promptly he approached my table. I asked for the bill and just then “my waiter” showed up to my table just to drop the check in the same way he did with the beer, no words were said. The nice waiter at the end took the payment because my waiter never came back after dropping the bill. Even when the food was good I would never go back to that place ever, I tried all those restaurants in that venue there are about 6 of them. Everyone was nice and respectful. I have never felt so unwelcome in a place. And those people work there because they need the money “we” costumers bring in. Such a shame. The hostess with that horrible attitude should be back of the house together with the waiter cleaning dishes. Poor service send costumers to the competition! they clearly don’t understand the business neither the main duty of their jobs. Thanks to the nice boy who helped me and made my stay less miserable. This score is not for him he deserves more than 5 stars. But not the restaurant for not training the people that have there to ensure costumers spend their money there not in the restaurant across the street. In one my pics I think u can spot the 2 waiters the good and the...

A Must-Visit Restaurant in Budapest – Amazing Food & Exceptional Service!

On our first night in Budapest, my fiancée and I had dinner at Menza. We had made a reservation in advance after searching for local Hungarian food to try. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed, and looking around, we could immediately tell this place was something special. The restaurant was buzzing with energy—locals gathered in large groups, laughing, chatting, and enjoying their time together. It was clear that this was a beloved spot, where friends and families came to meet up and share a great meal.

The menu was available in both Hungarian and English, with some dishes featuring a QR code to scan for more details. While that was helpful, I can be quite indecisive when it comes to food, so I asked our waiter for recommendations. He was fantastic—enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and passionate about the food. He suggested a traditional Hungarian dish, and we trusted his judgment. I’m so glad we did because the food was absolutely delicious—flavorful, well-prepared, and exactly as he had described.

The atmosphere in Menza was lively yet comfortable, with couples on dates, families dining together, and friends catching up over good food and drinks. After our meal, another waiter approached and asked if we’d like something else to drink—perhaps an espresso or a local liqueur. I told him I was open to trying something traditionally Hungarian. His face lit up, and he asked, “Do you like strong drinks?” I said, “Sure, I’m not driving!” He then asked if I liked ginger, and when I said yes, he told me he had just the thing for me.

What he brought out was unlike anything I had ever tasted—strong, bold, and with a unique kick. He smiled and said it was medicinal and would “open up my throat.” Well, he wasn’t kidding! It instantly cleared my nasal passages and gave me a warm feeling all the way down.

Beyond the great food and lively atmosphere, what stood out the most was the outstanding service. The staff were not only attentive and friendly but genuinely invested in making sure we had the best experience. At one point, they noticed I had a hotel map with recommendations for sightseeing in Budapest. One of the waiters took a look at it and personally suggested places we absolutely shouldn’t miss. That level of hospitality made our visit even more memorable.

If you’re in Budapest and looking for authentic local food, a vibrant atmosphere, and staff who go the extra mile, Menza is an absolute must. I highly recommend it and would return in a heartbeat!

A special thanks to our amazing waiters, Mika and Christian, for making our first night in Budapest so...