PINGRUMBA — Restaurant in Budapest

Tried it for the first time with 4 friends. Disappointing. The food was good, but not exceptional, small portions, high-ish prices for what you get and the service was very slow. For an appetizer I ordered the hummus tahini which had no hummus that I could see... just whole chick peas with tahini sauce and a small square of pita. Also ordered the marinated olives which were okay but nothing special. My friend ordered an appetizer of a beet paste with pomegranite and he said it was very good. I didn't try it but he gave it a 10 out of 10. For an entree I ordered the chicken shawarma which was very good. My friends all like their entrees as well but as I mentioned, the portions were a bit small. Also a strange thing happened during the service. There were five of us at the table. The waitress brought one entree and that was it. Then about 10 or 12 minutes later, two more entrees showed up. At this point 3 of the 5 people at the table had their food. We must have waited an additional 15 minutes before the final two entrees showed up. Of course the people who got their food first didn't want to start eating until everybody had their entrees, but this meant they had to wait so long that their food got cold. It was very odd. I don't ever recall being at a restaurant where serving of the entrees for the entire table was staggered over a period of 25 minutes or so. Nice decor and atmosphere, but nobody at the table was able to read the menu with the ambient light. We all had to use the flashlight on our phones to read the menu. Tuesday night and the place was packed, so it must be very popular but after experiencing the place for myself, I was a bit...

We visited Pingruba in Budapest, nestled on the scenic Buda side of town. This restaurant is a green oasis, offering a refreshing break from the bustling city life. From the moment we stepped in, the atmosphere radiated good vibes, making our dining experience incredibly enjoyable.

We were a group of five, and the staff handled our booking with utmost professionalism, ensuring our comfort throughout the evening. The staff's friendliness and attentiveness added a personal touch to our meal, making us feel truly welcomed.

The food was nothing short of spectacular. Each dish was a delightful blend of flavors, beautifully presented, and perfectly cooked. The menu offered a variety of choices, catering to different tastes and preferences, which was ideal for our diverse group.

What stood out the most was the family-friendly environment, making it a perfect spot for gatherings, be it with family or friends. The ambience of the restaurant, combined with the top-notch service and culinary excellence, makes Pingruba a must-visit spot in Budapest.

I highly recommend Pingruba to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience in Budapest. It's a place where great food, a fantastic atmosphere, and friendly staff come together to create a truly exceptional dining experience. Definitely looking forward to...

Upon arrival we were informed that even with a valid reservation, we are welcome to stay for 2 hours only. This is very uncharacteristic of any Hungarian restaurant, yet alone one that is supposedly a ‘Mezze’-style, Balkan / Middle-Eastern restaurant (Mezze-style dinner usually lasts for many hours, ordering mezze plates and drinks continuously)

The waiters were kind, yet very inexperienced, could not answer the menu related questions, yet were not forthcoming enough to offer to go and consult the kitchen.

The bio vine by Páger was incredibly disappointing, the worst I’ve ever had, apple vinegar basically, almost inconsumable

The menu looked pricey from the get go, and just got even pricey-er when the main dishes were served, but turned out to be just a another mezze plate, instead of a proper meal, as the menu suggested. ‘more than mezze’, IF you order extra side-dishes for a surcharge, again, not explained by the waiters.

The meals were though tasty, except one, the beetroot lentil salad, that was served without any seasoning, and the beetroots intentionally uncooked, completely raw, that again came as an unexpected, unpleasant surprise.

The kitchen would deserve a better rating, but everything around it brings it down. Unfortunately I can not recommend and will look for another...