Dining in Budapest

I recently ate at several suggested restaurants in the book and enjoyed all of them. Are you sure you will only be eating on the Buda side? Most of the attractions are on the Pest side, so you'll probably be eating there as well. We ate twice at Menza in Linz Square (in the book). We also really enjoyed Paprika (not in the book, recommended to us locally), which is on Dozsa Gyorgy and Peredy near City Park. It is a little kitschy and popular with the Hungarian tourists as well. The food is very good and traditional. On the Buda side, don't miss Nagyi Palacsintazoja in Batthyany Ter (in the book). The staff doesn't really speak English, but they understand your order so read the English language menu before approaching the counter.

We just returned from Budapest, staying at Bellevue on Buda side. We ate at Pater Marcus, Szent Jupat and Bratwursthausle/Kolbaszda on Buda side. We enjoyed them all. If you don't drink with dinner you can easily be out for under $35 US for 2. If you get to Szent Jupat, make sure you order a "House Salad" with your dish. Not what you would expect, it's a bowl of very crisp and tasty pickled hot peppers, cucumbers and tomato sections! We were also sent the first night by our hosts to Hunyadi Etterem, Hunyadi Janos 17, great food, location, interior, and lives up to its perfect 10 on Trip Adviser. The recommended Menza near the Octagon was also excellent. Incidentally, there does not seem to be the European aversion here to serving plain old tap water on request.

We ate at Menza too, and found it both innovative and very interesting, and quite good. Highly recommend. For a "Commie-stalgia" experience, look for Marxim Pizza on the Pest side close to the north end of Castle Hill (not on the hill but 6-7 blocks N). All the pizzas are "commie-themed". Decent pizza, fun experience.

I believe RS book listed a big market selling local food and wine. it's one of the largest in the city by the river. Upstairs in the market they sell local food pretty cheap, and it's also a good place to buy meat products.

Try Koleves, near the synagogue (visit koleves.com) good goulash, very nice experience. It's in the ruin pub district, too, if that interests you. We had a very nice time there.