Through Four Seasons' Eyes Budapest - IMEX America

Restaurants
Gourmet & Progressive
130
Gourmet
Costes
(IX. Ráday utca 4; www.costes.hu)
When it comes to fine dining,
few can match the quality of
Costes and that is perhaps why
they were the first in Budapest
to be awarded a Michelin Star.
Portuguese chef Miguel Rocha
Vieira prepares dishes with a
touch of El Bulli innovation:
roasted tail of blue lobster and
claw in ginger-scented tempura
with green apple and celeriac
remoulade, for example. The
formal dining room is decorated
in shades of bronze and cream
with intimate booth seating,
and accented with fresh-cut
flowers. Several hundred wines
and a knowledgeable sommelier
complete the picture.
Fausto’s
(VI. Székely Mihály utca 2;
www.fausto.hu)
After nearly 20 years in business,
Fausto’s has maintained its
position as the best Italian
restaurant in Budapest. This has
as much to do with owner Fausto
Di Vora’s hands-on approach
as it does with the beautifully
presented and outstanding meals:
Italian and more continentally
inspired fare such as ravioli filled
with duck liver in pumpkinand-sage
sauce or loin of deer
served with white polenta and
radicchio cream. Not to mention
the attention to detail and level of
service far outshine most of the
city’s restaurants.
Onyx
(V. Vörösmarty tér 7-8;
www.onyxrestaurant.hu)
Sharing the same address as the
renowned Gerbeaud cake shop
on Vörösmarty tér, Onyx offers a
rare culinary experience. Their
aim from the outset has been
to update Hungarian cuisine
and they’ve done a fine job; even
garnered themselves a Michelin
Star. Chef Szabina Szulló’s use of
innovative culinary technology
combined with fresh ideas,
has seen to their rapid climb
to the top. To sample inventive
renditions of regional cuisine,
we recommend the ‘Hungarian
Evolution’ menu, which features
five mouth-watering courses and
a few extras thrown in for good
measure. Over 200 different
wines to choose from.
Philippe a Belga
(XIII. Balzac utca 35; www.philippe.hu)
This under-appreciated gem,
tucked away in the residential
neighborhood of District XIII,
has developed a loyal following
of locals and expats in the know.
Proprietor Philippe Del Mestre
takes great care in sourcing
the finest ingredients from his
homeland to prepare exquisite
dishes inspired by Belgian
and French cuisine. As is to
be expected, fish and seafood
feature prominently on the
menu and this is one of the few
places in the city where you can
enjoy fresh lobster. Opt for the
fixed menu of either lobster,
seafood or Philippe’s personal
recommendations to experience
the best range of what’s on offer.
Attentive and non-obtrusive
service, and a strong selection of
local and imported vintages.