Every weekday, many Budapest eateries offer cheap “napi menü” lunches, which usually include soup, a main course, and dessert or a drink for as little as 850 forints (less than three euros) – but the midday specials of these four fine-dining destinations all provide amazing value for money. At La Perle Noire, Márga, TÁBLA, and ZONA, most of the dishes of their lunch-special menus are also offered on their à la carte menu, providing an affordable way to savor each restaurant’s top-quality cuisine, while the most expensive lunch in this list costs only 3,900 forints (less than 13 euros).
This restaurant on Andrássy Avenue is not only popular because of its delightful garden: the kitchen of László Koncz elegantly combines Hungarian flavors and ingredients with French gastronomy. This is a truly tasteful union, which already has been recognized by the Michelin Guide and the Gault & Millau guide. About half a year ago they decided, partly due to their downtown location, that they will start offering business lunches, as regular guests were looking for more sophisticated lunch offers that change every week. Before the menu even arrives, they serve a bread selection with luscious French butter – but we have to be careful not to spoil our appetite, because here they serve one of the most abundant lunches of our list. We had the avocado-salmon ceviche for a starter, with crispy salad on the side. Goulash was also on the weekly menu – this course was traditional in its flavors, yet it was innovative. From the three possible main courses, our two favorites were the pork with mustard, grilled eggplant, and braised cabbage, and the swordfish steak with “paprikás krumpli” (traditional potato stew) and cornichon. Although the serving was much simpler than the courses from the à la carte offers, we still received special plates. The chocolate cake served with cognac and cherry sauce was a dessert built around sweet and sour flavors, while the chestnut soufflé with crème fraiche ice cream was a real autumn treat.
When: on weekdays from noon to 3pm How much: 2 courses for 2,900 forints, 3 courses for 3,900 forints
Why: for the hearty portions and quality courses
Extras included: bread selection, a glass of lemonade
Gábor Fehér’s Esca in District VII has become a favorite among foodies citywide, and we constantly keep an eye on it. Although they had a lunch offer when they opened, it was replaced by dinners at Esca, so the studio restaurant on Dohány Street wasn’t an option during lunchtime. However, they opened their sister eatery called TÁBLA in September, to continue the popular midday-meal concept. The name, which means “board”, refers to the surface that displays the current lunch courses each day. The interior is cozily Scandinavian as it builds on the white-black-wood trio. During lunchtime, there are three to four appetizers, three main courses, and two desserts to choose from; they change these regularly depending on the ingredients. One of our favorites during our first lunch at TÁBLA was the mackerel paté, but the pumpkin cream soup also impressed us. Their risotto also has a perfect flavor and consistency, and their Thai pork chop is also noteworthy. Everything is great dessert-wise: the ice creams and various pies all taste great at TÁBLA. Their daily offers are usually posted on their Facebook page.
When: on weekdays from 11:30am to 3pm How much: 2 courses from 1,200 forints, 3 courses for 3,000 forints
Why: for a youthful atmosphere and exciting flavors
