The well-loved Jelen Bistro near Blaha Lujza tér has opened a second location, this one on Ráday utca. With a tasty menu and full drinks options, Jelenke has high hopes of living up to its stablemate’s reputation.
Despite the name implying something cute and small (the -ke ending in Hungarian is a diminutive), Jelenke is actually not tiny at all. Okay, it’s not as big as the original Jelen, but you still find a comfortably spacious interior, complemented by outdoor seating complete with awnings for shade.
Before you've even sat down, you’re drawn in by the music and interior decoration. A giant framed poster of The Cure hangs opposite the front door, along with other retro advertising. The walls and ceiling are a cool blue, and the tables each flicker with a small candle. The result is a comfortable, homely atmosphere.
When you open the menu, you don’t find anything extraordinary – but this is hardly a criticism. You immediately find all your favourite drinks, beers such as Borsodi Mester and Staropramen, and a wide assortment of wine. Among the main courses, you can choose between rosemary grilled chicken breast, pork schnitzel and red lentil dahl with pita bread. Even a student on a tight weekly budget can afford to relax here and partake of quality.
This is the kind of place where you can linger, the wait staff are attentive and friendly, the crowd so far, for obvious reasons, local.
Jelenke
Facebook via Jelen
District XI. Ráday utca 11-13
