Bistros where you can find acceptable burgers are common. There are also some bistros where the sound of the bass isn't shaking the walls, that serve quite good burgers. However, bistros where the music is soft, where the burgers are fine and where there is a family-friendly are somehow rare. Somehow, many places in the city centre are not prepared for somebody who might arrive with children. But Sophie & Ben Bistro, formerly known as Varieté, did think about this. The name does not come from a film - it has a much lovelier story. As it happened, the friendship of the two proprietors began in the delivery room when their wives gave birth to their children, Sophie & Ben, at the same hospital, just one hour apart. It was clear that their business would get be named after their children, and hoped it would become famous as a "child-friendly" place. In the rear of the restaurant there's even a playing area .
Sophie & Ben is still in "test-mode", which means that the interior design will definitely have some modifications in the future. The kitchen, however, is in full swing so we really wanted to check this place out. Although the interior is not just complete yet, it is pleasant and we did not feel at all that we were having lunch in a half-finished environment. The modern accessories will be replaced with more eclectic furniture, some have already arrived from artKRAFT. The bar is currently covered with the doodles of past guests. This will also change in the future, but until then you can find some funny comments written on the bar - and a few drawings that were probably made under the influence of some alcohol.
The business policy is sympathetic, they want to sell quality food for a reasonable price. There's a daily menu offer (2 courses 1490 HUF, 3 courses 1790 HUF) plus a gigantic burger (from 1290 HUF to 2790 HUF). There's a real focus on hospitality and have engaged a friendly team. The weekly menu is always changing with a focus on burgers and the "pulled pork" sandwiches (the pork is baked for 12 hours!). These delicious sandwiches as well as the chef from the former Varieté have remained. There are plans to offer steaks in the future with plans for top quality Australian, Uruguayan and Argentine meats.
Sophie & Ben offer a wide range of hamburgers and of course we chose something more special than the classic cheeseburger. We chose "Juicy Lucy" (2090 HUF or 2590 HUF with a garnish), which is a 220 gram patty filled with cheddar cheese in a homemade bun with relish, salad, tomato, pickles, onion, mayonnaise and cheddar cheese. Yes, the beef is filled with melting cheese, and it tastes as good as it sounds. However, don't try to eat it in a sophisticated manner - the sauce gets everywhere - as it turns out Lucy really is juicy. But the pulled pork sandwich - of which we chose the Philadelphia version (1590 HUF or 2090 HUF with a garnish) - left a greater impression. We had potatoes, and coleslaw salad as a garnish but you can choose to have just the burger without these sides. The burgers and sandwiches are definitely filling enough as is.
We also tried two types of dessert: the British bread pudding (890 HUF) and the brownie with caramel and pecan nuts (890 HUF).They were not overcomplicated, we did not get a sugar overdose, it was just simply a nice end to our meal. We are going to return as soon as possible.
