N28 Wine and Kitchen — Restaurant in Budapest

I'll preface this review by saying that although I'm new to dining in Budapest, I've dined in plenty of 3* Michelin restaurants all over Europe and internationally, as well as street food carts in Asia and everything in between. I also dined at a few Michelin restaurants in Budapest prior to N28.

Food is subjective so I won't go into it, but quality was on par for what you would expect for the price. Not mindblowing, but not bad either. But service was quite disappointing, especially for the price. The male host/waiter tried to be funny and acted like an assertive alpha male. When entering, he asked whether we'd like to go upstairs or downstairs for our reservation, I said upstairs, thinking there was a basement. When he told us to go up the stairs, I said no, I meant the ground floor, and he gave me an odd look and made a joke. When a female waitress asked us for still or sparkling water, I said no water (since we were drinking wine and didn't want to pay for bottled water that night). That same male then later came back with a bottle of still and sparkling water in his hand, asked us which one, and when we said no water, he commented "no water? that's odd" and walked away. Felt like a cash grab.

We then ordered food along with two glasses of wine at the same time, but the amuse bouche came, and then the appetizer came, and it wasn't until halfway through out appetizer that the wine finally arrived (upon asking the waitress). Most restaurants communicate and ensure your wine arrives before the food.

Once our wine glasses were empty for a long time, it also took forever to wave someone down to order a second glass of wine. Where I'm from, leaving an empty wine glass is a big no-no, not only for service, but because that's the main revenue driver.

The same male waiter also tried to be funny during the meal, but just came off as condescending. When my main course arrived (a pork dish), he just pointed to the meat, said it was a cheeseburger, and then pointed to the veggies and said it was fries. Then just left. No actual explanation of my dish.

Lastly, upon asking for the check (and waiting a long time), they included a 15% service charge automatically (fine), but also included a tip option on the card machine. Again felt like a cash grab. The other restaurants I've dined at pointed out the service charge, or asked what percentage I wanted, or just skipped to the payment screen. I felt like this place was hoping tourists wouldn't notice, and add tip on top of the 15%. Overall, I left feeling disappointed for the money I spent and the level of quality received.

It wasn't just me either, the table beside us was commenting and joking in their own language about the service and how that same male waiter wouldn't allow them to select the doneness of their meat. This is normally fine because things are cooked sous vide and there isn't much flexibility, but the waiter came off as brash and dismissive, at least from where I...

This meal was a very weird experience. Not bad, or at least not all bad, but odd.

The start with the positives - the food is good and pretty fairly priced all things considered. It was very seasonal and makes effective use of quality Hungarian ingredients, though it's not very vegetarian friendly and don't even bother if you're vegan. The wine list is chosen well, though with an emphasis on more traditional winemakers, techniques and grapes. They offer an option of 50ml pours, which is great (in theory) for sampling a good range.

So far, a picture of a relatively ordinary, quite successful high-end Budapest restaurant. But the details tended to be off . For one, whatever they say about Basque-Hungarian fusion on the website, don't believe them - this was pretty standard French-inspired modern Hungarian with no obvious Iberian notes. In fairness, there was a large, impressive looking charcuterie cabinet in the middle of the room... but literally none of it was on the menu, not even a cheese plate for dessert. I don't know what they do with it beyond decoration. Maybe they rent it from a deli each evening.

The service was initially polite, but faded away across the evening, to the point that they stopped asking if we wanted more wine after two 50ml tastes, before the mains had even arrived. It took two goes at distracting staff from their phones to order another. Similar story with the water - it was finished after the shared starter, and they cleared the glasses rather than offer more, and dessert, which was simply never offered at all. I've been racking my brain to think if we did something to annoy the staff (the best I could come up with was an unerring instinct for asking for wine they'd run out of - 3/4 choices they didn't have, to the point where I had decided that the wine list was maybe more of a vibe than a document). It wasn't unfriendly, just more that it felt like they were intensely bored by our existence, which is maybe understandable given that I'm clearly someone willing to write an analytical account of a nice dinner on Google maps. But in any case, it goes against the golden rule of Hungarian hospitality that you only ignore guests once they decided they want the bill.

I'll reiterate - the end result wasn't bad, it can't be if the people in the kitchen can cook and whoever stocks the wine has taste. I suspect that maybe the restaurant is shifting concepts and that they happened to be understaffed, which together would explain most of the weirdness. Not going to hold it against them, but can't unequivocally...

N28 Bar and Wine in Budapest in addition to the exceptional service and ambiance, offers a culinary experience that is truly extraordinary.

The platters at N28 Bar and Wine are not only superb, but also meticulously balanced and beautifully presented. The cheese platter, is carefully paired with dried figs, fresh grapes, and roasted walnuts, creating a harmonious combination. The pan-fried salmon, accompanied by fresh asparagus and a touch of garlic butter, was a delightful combination of flavours. And the Catalan Chocolate Ganache, infused with sea salt and Arbequina olive oil, provided a burst of exceptional flavours showcased the chef's culinary finesse.

The wine selection at N28 Bar and Wine is outstanding. We started with lighter but exceptional white wines from Barta Pince, Tokaj, Somló kincse kéknyelű, von Beöthy Riesling, and Steigler Premium Zöld Veltelini. These choices set the tone for the evening, allowing us to savour each sip. Following with the Bukoly Marcell Grand Superior Bikavér, Nagy-Eged, 2019 proved to be outstanding for the dishes. But the exploration didn't stop there. We also had the pleasure of experiencing the extraordinary, rustic, lightweight Thuray PetNat Rosé, bursting with berry notes that put the Ganache into perspective. The Bodrog Borműhely Mesés Late Harvest and the Öreg Király Dűlő Tokaji Szamorodni from 2015, honoured at the 2020 Vinagora International Wine Competition, were exceptional additions to the journey. And to our surprise, we were treated to a truly unique wine, the last bottle of Black Muscat, 2021, from Szentesi Pince, which added a special touch to the evening. The professionally presented wines, coupled with Zsolt Mihaly's expertise, elevate the visit to a whole new level.

Overall, N28 Bar and Wine in Budapest deliver a remarkable dining experience. The exceptional wine selection, including both renowned and unique choices, showcases the commitment to quality. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or simply appreciate fine dining, N28 Bar and Wine is a must-visit destination that will leave a...