If you haven’t yet had the chance to visit, add Babel Budapest as a must-try dining destination in the Hungarian capital. Bestowing this culinary hotspot with the honor of being International Restaurant of the Year 2017, discerning global wine publication Decanter lavishes extensive praise on this potential Michelin-star winner. According to contributing editor Fiona Beckett, who dined here a few months ago: “Babel was undoubtedly one of the most exciting restaurants I ate in last year and a worthy winner of the 2017 Decanter/Hine International of the Year”.
The award-winning journalist gives a special mention to Babel chef István Veres and his take on egg galuska (noodles) that she describes as “a decadently indulgent dish of spätzle topped with an airy cloud of truffle-infused foam”. Beckett also had the chance to speak with entrepreneur and Babel founder Hubert Hlatky-Schlichter, who reveals that the success they now enjoy was far from guaranteed. At one point, he even had to close the restaurant for three months, because he felt they had lost their way. With the help of his loyal staff, Hlatky-Schlichter went back to Babel's roots and remodeled the concept to return to Budapest's dining scene anew.
Beckett also applauds Babel’s unique wine selection. Sommelier Péter Blazsovszky has managed to assemble more than 200 Hungarian labels, most of them from small-batch producers and only available within the country’s borders. Blazsovszky works in close tandem with the kitchen, which results in the kind of immaculate pairings the article is quick to point out, highlighting indigenous whites of the Hárslevelű and Juhfark varieties.
This welcome international praise should elevate Babel onto the world stage, many forecasting another award in the not too distant future: a Michelin star in 2018.
