Budapest #273

Budapest
30th of August 1994 was the last time we ate in an Hungarian restaurant.  It was a hot, hungarian night, my first and only ever birthday that I have celebrated in a summer dress.  Birthdays before and after have always been in the chilly Melbourne / Ballarat winter.

So, given that that was 20 years ago, we really couldn't remember what Hungarian food was all about.  The first thing we did when we sat down in the bustling, full restaurant was to check out the menu. 

Goulash
Crumbed mushrooms
Schnitzels
Cabbage Rolls

in huge servings is the order of the day.

Families were eating with great gusto schnitzels that were larger than the plates, elderly men with their middle aged sons were enjoying a beer and goulash and the young crowd were sipping (not gulping as it was a Sunday night) big pitchers full of Palinka; the legendary fruit and herb spirit.

I was staring with envy at the pressed metal ceilings (I am getting a real thing about restaurant ceilings and lights in these blogs).

I then had an attack of food envy as my cabbage roll was too salty but Mark's goulash was yummy, tender and slow cooked.  I ate all the creamed spinach though; soul nourishing food.

The waiters and waitresses were all blonde gods speaking Hungarian (I assume), the hard wooden chairs did not treat my bike- saddle- sore bum with any favour.

We left at 8pm, along with all the oldies and fellow Block addicts as the blonde gods were opening up the front wall to transform the restaurant into a "Palinka Bar".  Kind off cool for suburban Elsternwick.  We paid $114 for the two of us so not the cheapest out there.  However, it you want to treat the family to the "best schnitzels" (as the back of the Hungarian Gods/Waiters tshirts state) this would be the place to go.