Tapassio — Restaurant in Budapest

I wish I could give this place more than five stars. Tapassio Restaurant in Budapest offers an unforgettable dining experience that combines warmth, sophistication, and a delightful exploration of flavors. From the moment you walk through the door, the cozy, inviting atmosphere makes you feel right at home. The décor is stylish yet comfortable, creating the perfect setting for an intimate meal or a relaxed evening with friends.

The service at Tapassio is nothing short of excellent. Every member of the staff goes above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience. They are knowledgeable about the menu and the wines, and their recommendations are spot on. The chef’s careful attention to the presentation and flavors of each dish elevates the meal into something truly special. Each bite is a journey of unique and balanced flavors, showcasing the passion and creativity that goes into every plate.

One of the standout features of Tapassio is its wine selection, which pairs wonderfully with the tapas-style dishes. The wines are carefully curated to complement the menu, and the staff is always ready to guide you to the perfect pairing.

To top it all off, the friendliness of the manager added a personal touch to our evening. In a generous and unexpected gesture, he treated us to an additional dish and even offered a bottle of wine on the house, making our experience feel truly special.

On to the dishes, we got the following:

Melitzanosalata - Cyprus eggplant salad: this dish was the only one that disappointed me as it lacked eggplant and flavor.

Muhammara- Pepper spread, walnuts and pomegranate: very rich in flavor and I liked it a lot.

Croquetas de jamón - Croquettes with ham: perfect starter, crispy on the outside and soft in the inside.

Hortobágy paprika chicken crepes: the sauce was very flavorful and perfect for dipping some bread.

Gnocchi with gorgonzola, serrano and walnuts: one of my favorites. The gnocchi were soft and pillowy and the sauce tasty without being too heavy.

Grilled halloumi with balsamic vinegar reduction: This was the top dish for me because the savory and soft halllumi cheese was paired perfectly with the balsamic vinegar reduction.

Grilled lamb chops with pistachios: they were cooked to perfection and the quality of the meat was top.

Steak Diana: another showstopper! The meat was again cooked perfectly and the diana sauce was delicious.

Beef cheek stew in red wine: tender meat and rich yummy sauce.

Fried polenta with parmesan and truffle oil. I absolutely loved this dish. The potatoes were crunchy and the truffle flavor was not overpowering.

From the desserts my favorite was the Floating Island with fior di latte ice cream and pistachio.

Tapassio is a must-visit for anyone in Budapest looking for exquisite food, a cozy atmosphere, and impeccable service with a personal touch. Is the perfect place if you like trying a variety of different dishes when visiting...

Tapassio is very well located very close to St. Stephen’s Cathedral and it looks sensational, and the interior design and ambience teleport you almost instantly to Spain. We were greeted by one of the hosts – I’m really sorry I didn’t ask his name – a sensational guy with some good years spent in the hospitality industry in Cyprus – who had left a strong mark on the way of approach, service. In short, the man knew what he was doing! He recommended „I Trust The Chef” – a surprise specialty of the location – but we had come so determined and had done our homework so well (or at least so I imagined) that we completely refused the offer and ordered what we had on hand the list almost from the moment I decided to make the reservation: Melitzanosalata – Ciprusi padlizsánsaláta (Melitzanosalata – Cyprus eggplant salad), Muhammara-Paprikakrém dióval és gránátalmával (Muhammara- Pepper spread, walnuts and pomegranate), Mini lángos sajttal, tejföllel, lilahalmaval (Mini „langosh” with cheese, sour cream and red onion). We continued with Gnocchi gorgonzolával, serranóval és dióval (Gnocchi with gorgonzola, serrano and walnuts), Chipirones – Sült bébi-tintahal (Chipirones – Deep fried calamari), Gambas al ajillo – Fokhalumgas tigrisrák (Gambas al ajillo – Prawns with garlic and olive oil ), Csípős, vörösboros bébi-pol (Spicy baby octopus in red wine), Parmezános sült polenta szarvasgomba olajjal (Fried polenta with parmesan and truffle oil). Everything great! I was so satisfied with the dishes and especially with the choices made that I missed even the most successful dish… Sensing our stubbornness, the host brought us from the house what we had refused from the very beginning, namely: Vörösboros marhapofa (Beef cheek stew in red wine) – a variant of the Hungarian goulash deconstructed into an authentic tapas....

I visited Tapassio two times: Sunday lunch and Sunday dinner. The first time I went was an amazing experience: croquetas de jamon were so beautiful and crunchy, it beats some of the croquetas that I've had back in Spain. The seafood was the most surprising part of it all: it was very fresh. I've doubted the freshness of seafood in Hungary since it's an inland country, but when I tasted the gambas, they were amazing. The carpaccio is definitely something you cannot miss, as they've blended the sauce with the dish so beautifully, it makes you crave for some more.

Somehow, the second experience at Tapassio was even better: the mejillones were incredible and the marisco selection was to die for: everything was perfectly cooked and tender. While tasting the fish, I could smell the ocean. I couldn't believe I could find Spanish food like this in Hungary. The service was perfect that night, with a very kind and polite waitress. We got a complimentary snack (bread bites with a smooth gazpacho sauce) and a shot on the house which really enhanced the wonderful experience we were having.

One of the things to note was the sangría: the first time I tried it, it was a typical soda taste, which was alright. But when I came back to Tapassio for the second time and tried it again, you could tell that it was homemade; I could taste the fruitiness of the drink and all of the flavours. We had a bit of a miss with the patatas bravas (slightly undersalted) and the pulpo a la gallega (potatoes were a bit undercooked), but that did not ruin the experience at all, since every other dish we tried was just excellent.

The bill might be a bit high (for Hungary standards) if you come to the restaurant very hungry, but it's...