Mandragóra has been an asset at the border of the 1st and 2nd districts, on Kacsa Street, for 19 years. By the time it reached young adulthood, the restaurant had evolved from a café to a sophisticated bistro, with a Hungarian character but French and international touches. In 2020, the menu, kitchen technology, and identity were refreshed, and chic ceramics were added, but the friendly, family atmosphere and unpretentious hospitality remained unchanged.
Creative Hungarian and international cuisine
Just as the natural habitat of the eponymous herb stretches from the Mediterranean coast to Asia Minor, the restaurant also offers transnational cuisine. In addition to the classic Hungarian breaded chicken breast or traditional Mangalitza, the menu includes dishes from countries such as Japan (beef gyoza), Spain (asparagus cream soup, serrano ham, quail egg), Turkey (BBQ cauliflower served with pomegranate, sweet potato, and peanuts) and China (duck consommé, glass noodles, duck breast, pak choi). And this exciting, Babel-like diversity can easily bring out the gourmet in anyone.
Seasonal dishes
However, the dishes listed above are mostly just a teaser. In fact, the Mandragóra places so much emphasis on seasonal (and local) ingredients that the chef’s offer changes weekly and the evening menu every 1-2 months. And that’s not even mentioning the weekday lunch menu, which also changes weekly, giving us plenty of reasons to return from time to time.
The chef's creativity is reflected in dishes (and again, we are just listing examples) such as Hortobágyi pancakes (a savoury Hungarian crêpe dish filled with meat) with bergamot or breaded chicken with jalapeno aioli. You can enjoy the varied dishes in a laid-back bistro atmosphere in the evenings or on the romantic terrace.
A generous drinks menu
It’s worth choosing a drink to go with the meal, which is no easy task at Mandragóra. The drinks list is very extensive and includes specialities, the new wine list offers more than 100 items alone. Two-thirds of them are Hungarian, but a few exciting bottles cross national borders (such as the Argentinian Escorihuela Gascon Malbec Pequeñas Producciones 2019 Mendoza, the New Zealand Greywake Sauvignon Blanc 2021 Marlborough, the Italian Azienda Fidora Prosecco, or the Drappier Cuvée Charles de Gaulle from the Champagne wine region). The range of spirits is just as extensive, with 80 different kinds to choose from, including some that can only be found at Mandragóra.
These drinks are also featured in signature cocktails, such as a gin and tonic with English Cotswolds Dry gin. For something new, order a new-wave Vermouth-based spritzer or tonic, predicted to be this year’s summer hit. If you’re not sure what best suits your artfully composed dish, feel free to ask the helpful and knowledgeable staff for help. Everyone can find a dish to their liking here, making Mandragóra the ideal setting for high-class lunches, romantic dates, dinners with friends, summer evening wines, cocktail parties, or family celebrations.
