Monk's Bistrot — Restaurant in Budapest

We came to Monks for a drink after finishing our wedding celebrations, because it was the place where we had our first date. It was not planned, so we did not have a reservation. Upon entering, we were not greeted and they did not ask if it was for drinks or dinner. They also didn't take our coats or show us where to leave them. They simply took us to a table. So far, no real issue, just a bit of a cold reception. When we ordered drinks only and indicated that we would not be eating, we were told "this is a restaurant, if you didn't want to eat, you should have told us up front." Our witnesses explained that we had just gotten married, and came here for nostalgia's sake, to which the waiter responded "if you wanted to celebrate your wedding, you should have made a reservation." At this point, I offered to move to the bar area, to which he (passive aggressively) responded that "it's fine for now, but if it gets busier, I will ask you to move." I can understand the man's frustration over the lack of a reservation, or coming to a restaurant for drinks only when they want to utilize all tables for diners, but the whole reception, the tone and just the overall way of handling this was awful and a missed opportunity. We had our drink and left (they forced a service charge on us when we didn't really want to tip for this experience) and left to the Marriott, which is close by. Here too, we had no reservation, and drinks only, but the staff were happy to welcome newly weds, and gave us a free round of champagne to celebrate. I'm sure it's possible to have a good experience at Monks Bistro, but despite the great kitchen, nice location and decent atmosphere, the attitude of the staff ruined this place for us. I'll be going to Liz and Chain at the Marriott instead next time I'm in the...

We started with the beef goulash soup, a Hungarian classic that was rich, perfectly spiced, and filled with tender chunks of beef. The seasonal soup (Corn Soup) was a delightful surprise—creamy and subtly sweet, highlighting the freshness of seasonal corn with a whisper of herbs and a hint of spice, as recommended by Bianka. Next, we enjoyed the slow-cooked pork shoulder, which was expertly prepared to perfection. It was served on a base of pan-fried potato dumplings, which were delightfully chewy with a crispy exterior. The orangish sauce on the dish was so memorable. The combination was comforting and flavorful. The beef tenderloin was a standout, impressively soft and tender, showcasing a precise cooking technique. The accompanying baked potatoes and grilled corn were equally enjoyable, adding a rustic charm to the dish. The spring garden salad was fresh and vibrant, loaded with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, quinoa, and dressed with a light vinaigrette that tied everything together beautifully. Finally, the pan-seared salmon artfully paired with smoked cantaloupe, salty swiss chard, and a ricotta strudel. The flavors were perfectly balanced and showcased a creative approach to seasonal ingredients. A special thank you to Bianka and Betti for their services and thoughtful recommendations. Their attentiveness and warmth truly enhanced our dining experience and made it...

The hasselback potato is a scam, be aware. The sallad had almost no dressing. Otherwise nice atmosphere and my family enjoys it and really liked their food so me and my bother maybe just had bad luck.

Update on respons: I’ve now read the restaurant’s response and, honestly, I’m even more disappointed.

It’s not just unacceptable to serve something completely different than what’s advertised, it’s misleading, plain and simple. Calling a lazily halved potato with some melted cheese a “Hasselback,” and mentioning parmesan that wasn’t even there, is actively deceiving your guests. What you served had nothing to do with what was described, and doubling down in the comments instead of owning up to it only makes it worse.

I told the waiter right away that it wasn’t a Hasselback potato, and he just shrugged and said, “That’s how we do it here.” No attempt to understand, no offer to fix it, just indifference. That says it all.

The salad had no dressing, and it was clear that feedback on the spot wasn’t taken seriously.

The worst part isn’t that something goes wrong, that happens. The worst part is being dismissed afterward, as if the customer is wrong for expecting to get what was promised.

Monk’s Bistrot should spend less time defending bad decisions in the comment section, and more time actually delivering what they...