After a tiring traveling day, what more do you want than a great dinner in a nice restaurant with friendly service. VakVarju got it all. Located in Paulay Ede Street, VakVarju Etterem Pest is the first restaurant of VakVarju group with 6 more branches around Budapest. It serves the best Hungarian food, being not only favourite place to the locals but to the tourists from all over the world too.
VakVarju intended to create the homely ambiance in Bohemian style with live piano music every single night. Once you step inside, you will see that the restaurant is mostly decorated with wooden furniture, highlighting the dark brown colour and the warm-white light to make you feel comfortable like you are at home. There are tables on the ground floor with kids' corner and more tables upstairs. With significantly friendly service would make you feel even cozier and more relaxed. Here you will feel the most of Hungarian ambiance and flavours than any other places.
You can request for an English menu from the waiter. Inside it consisted of Chef Attila's offer menu (varied depends on the season), Appetizer & Soup, Main courses & Oven-Baked Bread Dough, Salads & Pickles, Menu for Kids, Desserts, and Drinks. The most special one is Chef Attila's menu that he has created each menu for each season. Whether it is Halloween, Saint Martin's Day, Christmas or New Year's Eve, there will always be Chef Attila's special menu exclusively created for VakVarju.
2 appetizers served first. Starting from the first one. A goat cheese Panna Cotta surrounded by fresh salad mixed with balsamic vinegar and white & green Asparagus. Soft white Asparagus coming along with crispy green Asparagus and walnut. gives you several textures in one plate.
Do not miss the famous Goulash Soup originating from medieval Hungary that is being popular among Central and Eastern European countries. Goulash Soup is the stew of meat served in a middle size pot as an appetizer with a thin sheet of bread covering the pot as a lid. The beef was stewed until it is soft and tender, eat it along with the bread, makes it the best appetizer you can have.
The main dish served right after the appetizers are gone. The Pork Knuckle comes in a big plate with crispy skin and tender meat inside, it was perfectly cooked. Served along with Bavarian Cabbage and roasted Potato dumpling. The Potato dumplings are quite special that it is a little bit chewy, goes along very well with the Pork Knuckle.
This beef cheek has been cooking slowly until it is very soft, served along with the egg Barley and Bacon. The beef cheek topped with sauce.
"Vakvarju" is actually the name of an oven-baked flatbread with crusty edges. As the name of the restaurant, VakVarju, it is sure that they bake the best in town! The one appeared in the picture above was VakVarju original version consisted of ham, sausage, bacon, red onion, and cheese with the sour cream base. There are different toppings to choose from with the sour cream and tomato sauce base. You can also order it with the whole grain dough too!
After finishing the main dishes, then it's time for dessert! The rhubarb-strawberry tart comes along with Stracciatella ice-cream and chocolate flakes, adding some sweetness to the sour but refreshing tart.
The warm Cottage cheese comes in a form of dumpling floating onto the cold Macaroon flavoured cream with fresh Strawberry on the side. Soft but a little crispy from the crumble outside the cheese, giving out some chewy texture. Not too sweet, not too sour, makes this a perfect dessert to end the meal with.
VakVarju has 7 branches in total scattering around Budapest, visit their official website at www.vakvarju.com to see which one is the closest and the most convenient for you. However, every single branch has a different decoration and atmosphere. If you want to choose the atmosphere beforehand, check out the picture on the website and go to the one that you like the most and enjoy a great atmosphere, an excellent meal, and a nice service. Better to do the reservation in advance, even though they have lots of tables but trust us, you might not want to wait for too long with an empty belly.
Words and Photographs by Aphinya Kasemsukphaisan
VAKVARJÚ ÉTTEREM PEST
Address : 1061 Budapest, Paulay Ede u. 7.
Transportation : Metro Line M1 Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út Station
Opening Hours : Opens daily 12:00-00:00
Website : www.vakvarju.com