Pest-Buda Bistro

Someone from this business manages this listing.

2,136 reviews

#321 of 3,876 Restaurants in Budapest$$ - $$$, Hungarian, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options

+36 1 225 0377+ Add website

Hours

Sun

7:30 am - 10:00 pm

Mon

7:30 am - 10:00 pm

Tue

7:30 am - 10:00 pm

Wed

7:30 am - 10:00 pm

Thu

7:30 am - 10:00 pm

Fri

7:30 am - 10:00 pm

Sat

7:30 am - 10:00 pm

Improve this listing

Ratings and reviews

4.0

2,136 reviews

#321 of 3,876 Restaurants in Budapest

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

Learn More

CUISINES

Hungarian

Special Diets

Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours

features

Location and contact

Fortuna Utca 3, Budapest 1014 Hungary

Várkerület

+36 1 225 0377

Improve this listing

Details

Manage this business?

About

Pest-Buda doubles with Grandma’s homestyle Hungarian kitchen, using the best ingredients with love and care from our talented chef, Lajos Lutz. Pest-Buda Bistro is on the ground floor of Pest-Buda Hotel, the oldest hotel in Hungary, originally opened in 1696. Pest-Buda is an important gastronomic institution honoring Grandma’s Hungarian kitchen for several decades. We have worked for months to rediscover several Hungarian recipies and master the art of baking the perfect artisanal flamed pie. The combination of top-notch gastronomy and beautiful wines is both fresh and traditional without succumbing to typical Hungarian restaurant cliches. The whole experience is, of course, amplified by the Buda Castle’s stunning medieval setting. We only carry Hungarian wines and only those with a distinctive personality, reflective of a distinctive wine region. We feature several rare selections often not found anywhere else, and our extensive list is constantly changing.

CUISINES

Hungarian

Special Diets

Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours

FEATURES

Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music

Contribute

Write a review Upload a photo Ask a question

We perform checks on reviews.

Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews

Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.

When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.

Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.

Learn more about our review moderation.

4.0

2,136 reviews

Excellent

1,003

Very good

721

Average

244

Poor

Terrible

fromFehmarn

Frankfurt342 contributions

Wonderful atmosphere great lunch, and Adam, the nicest waiter!

Feb 2020 • none

A friend brought us here, and we had the nicest lunch after a morning of sight seeing. The amosphere is cozy and intimate, and our waiter Adam went out of his way to make our stay memorable. The Goulash Soup was perfect and it came with freshly baked bread and delicious homemade Erös Pista, the famous hungarian chili-pepper paste. Adam recommended a wine which our friends so liked, that they even bought a few bottles to take home with them. And I was very happy about Adams suggestion to give the "Foti Zwickl", a local unfiltered lager a try, as it is really a nice brew. We can recommend the Pest Buda Bistro and will definitely return here.

Written 16 February 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

COZ1984

Bolzano51 contributions

Lunch

Feb 2020 • family

We came here by chance without booking even if we were 8 people. Luckily in less than 10 minutes the waiter prepared a nice table for us and he was super super friendly and helpful during the whole lunch. I took an offer of the day made of spinach pottage with buttered shrimps and was amazing. Also tried the pike and was delicious. Price was fair for the quality of the food, the location and the friendly staff.

Written 8 February 2020

Michał M

31 contributions

Great ambience and supeb food!

Feb 2020 • couples

Really delicious! Soups were great (gulash and mushroom) and then mains were even better. Stuffed cabbage and wild boar stew. It is a little bit more expensive, but we paid 70 eur for a good meal for 2 with some beer and wine. Tips are complimentary - 13,5%, so do not be surprised. Anyway it is worth the price!

Written 15 February 2020

John A

Canterbury193 contributions

One of the better tourist restaurants in the area.

Oct 2022 • none

This restaurant is, like most in the area, primarily visited by tourists. It has pretty much the same menu as the others, but at least the food is served hot and in reasonable quantity. The service is somewhat off-hand but I would have given a higher rating if the manager had not asked us to leave a tip on top of the 14% service charge already added to the bill.

Written 13 October 2022

JGC83

Chicago62 contributions

A real taste of Budapest

June 2022 • couples

Intimate restaurant with excellent service and nice menu. Waiter was helpful in selecting wine from their decent selections, predominately if not all Hungarian. The food was good. Cucumber salad was very nice and perfectly balanced. I enjoyed the duck breast and my husband enjoyed a rib eye steak. The tart cherry pie was very good but would have been even better if slightly warmed.

Written 8 July 2022

sberry20

125 contributions

Good option for dinner in Buda

Feb 2020 • none

We had a nice dinner here after a wine tasting. We enjoyed the chicken paprikash and wild boar stew, also the bistro plate appetizer. The service was efficient and helpful, overall a good experience since we were staying nearby.

Written 18 February 2020

phat_dawg_21

Alpharetta16947 contributions

Great food and service

July 2022 • none

We had visited this restaurant for dinner in 2013 and were not that impressed. We looked at the menu in the afternoon and after speaking with the staff, learned that it was now under different ownership. We made a reservation for that evening. We had a table next to the window which provided a view of the street. Service was attentive and efficient. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and wine list which was helpful. We ordered the house made Duck Liver Pate’ as our starter and it was large enough to share. For entrees we selected the Grilled “Perch” which is not like the yellow perch we are familiar with. It was more like what we from the mid-west call Walleye. It came with oven roasted potatoes and carrots. We also ordered the Crispy Duck Leg with a local pasta dressed with a walnut sauce. Both entrees were excellent. We felt the quality of the food and service were much better than what we experienced when we first visited. All three plates went well with a local Rose’ suggested by our server. The had several interesting dessert options, including the Apple Strudel which was very tempting, but we passed on dessert. We felt it was an excellent value.

Written 15 September 2022

The Non Flying Scotsman

Glasgow1069 contributions

Lovely little bistro near the bastion in Budapest

Nov 2022 • solo

After a lovely walk around Buda I stared to feel peckish so decided to stop off for lunch and found this delightful little bistro . Overall very pleased with the experience. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable . I loved the decor and the coziness of the place. The food was very tasty. I went for the chicken paprikash and cucumber salad and it was delicious. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the sauce was very tasty . The noodles were a great accompany to the chicken. The only issue I have is with the 14 percent service charge as I would given a tip anyway. Apart from that I really enjoyed my experience and recommend it .

Written 19 November 2022

Janis R

Orange County385 contributions

Not cheap or great but good

July 2024 • family

I popped in for a respite from the 95 degree heat and had a large beer, tomato salad and chicken supreme. The waiter was attentive to my food allergy and service was good, low pressure and polite. Lunch was not inexpensive - for one person it was $11220 florint plus they add a 14.5% service. That was fine, although I didn’t see that printed on the menu, but at the time to pay, the machine asked for additional tip. When asked my sever, he said the service fee shown was for the restaurant and the rest was for staff… I left an additional 6% but I’m not sure about that . Nevertheless the total bill for a lunch on a Thursday afternoon was $13618 or $37 US! This is with no water, one 40ml beer and no cappuccino after. So, it was expensive but I will say the food was good.

Written 10 July 2024

wheretonext123

Lake Havasu City156 contributions

Beautiful schnitzel and apple strudel

Aug 2022 • family

Quaint place to eat. Good atmosphere and excellent service. The schnitzel was tender and crispy and served with potato salad. Dessert was the best Apple strudel we’ve ever had! We’ve had it in many places around the world and it was fabulous!

Written 30 August 2022

L H

Marlow10 contributions

All Show No Go

June 2022 • couples

Looks The Part, but staff were completely loathe some. Firstly no one greets you, your hunting for staff to to ask permission to sit yourself at the well dressed table. No Complaints about quality of Food/pricing. It was just okay. However - 14% Gratuity Service Fee for WHAT SERVICE!?! Waiter only appeared to bring out food and drink only, no checking on the tables, top ups and no courtesy when spoken to aka Basic Manners. Had to get the cheque myself and do the waiters job, and made myself look impatient - restaurant is just a trap preying on agreeable tourists in Buda Castle. Don’t accept bad service as a visitor. Will Never Return Nor Recommend.

Written 21 June 2022

Abby F

3 contributions

Lunch at Pest Buda Bistro!

Mar 2020 • friends

The Pest Buda is AMAZING! The restaurant is very nice, thoughtful decor. We got the chicken paprikash and it was the best meal we have eaten in a long time. If you are ever in Budapest looking for good, casual, Hungarian food please come here. We loved our meals so much we even got dessert and they were to die for. Our waitress Kitti was very helpful and attentive! Great food, great service, great vibes

Written 1 March 2020

Shing W

1 contribution

pink chicken & overpriced

June 2024 • friends

Pretty restaurant, unfortunately the food and prices do not meet expectations. We had the chicken paprikash, salad and chicken supreme. The chicken paprikash and salad were fine, nothing special. The chicken supreme was pink, when asked it was removed from the bill and returned to the kitchen. Elderflower cordial was not particularly elderflowery or sweet, it wasn’t to my personal taste. Aperol spritz was fine. We asked for tap water and were charged for water. The service was fine, the waiter was polite and they dealt with the raw chicken rather well. There was a 14.5% service charge added to an already expensive meal. In all fairness, it is in the castle district, the location is nice, even if the prices aren’t. The prices are average for the area but the food did not meet our expectations. Overall, would not recommend going out of your way to visit.

Written 3 June 2024

Adele S

Tirana1 contribution

Worst experience in Budapest

July 2023 • friends

Green salad was contaminated, not properly washed. the impolite and rude conduct of the waiter at Pest Buda Bistro overshadowed any positive aspects of the snack experience. I would strongly advise against dining at this establishment if you value courteous service and a pleasant atmosphere.

Written 1 July 2023

Group Zsidai

Dear Adele We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us. We are sorry to hear that you were dissatisfied with the conduct of our waiter and perceived the green salad as contaminated. We would like to address your concerns. Upon investigating the matter, we can assure you that the green salad was thoroughly washed and prepared according to our strict hygiene standards. However, we acknowledge that there may have been a misunderstanding during your visit. Regarding the issue with eating snacks brought from outside the restaurant, we kindly request our guests to refrain from consuming outside food at our tables as it goes against our house rules. Our waiter politely approached you to remind you of this policy and asked you to put away the snacks, which you did, at least temporarily. We apologize if the subsequent encounter with our waiter appeared impolite or rude. Our intention was to ensure a pleasant and fair dining experience for all our guests. We regret that our polite request did not meet your expectations. We genuinely value your feedback and will use it as an opportunity to improve our service and communication. We strive to provide courteous service and a pleasant atmosphere to all our patrons. If you would consider giving us another chance, we would be delighted to welcome you back and provide you with a more positive experience. Should you have any further concerns or if there's anything else we can assist you with, please feel free to reach out to us directly. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future. Best regards, Pest-Buda Team

Written 10 July 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

John M

Tralee457 contributions

disappointing last meal in Budapest

Sept 2023 • couples

Arrived at restaurant and told we had to order within 20 mins as chef was finishing. Against our better judgement we stayed. As we started looking at menu waiter came to us and said he would help us choose. Not sure in hindsight if he was helpful or rushing us . I had chicken soup . To me it was hot water with chicken strips and some carrot with no flavour . Would have been better with a stock cube. Partner had pate which she did not like but said it may have been the texture of local produce. Main course I had duck which was excellent but ruined with too much sauce. Should have asked for it on the side. Partner had pork which she enjoyed but found it difficult to cut through dumplings which seemed to be reheated but definitely tough. Very disappointing on our last night in Budapest where we had many enjoyable dinner during our stay .

Written 4 September 2023

Group Zsidai

Dear Sean, Thank you for sharing your dining experience with us. We appreciate your feedback and are sorry to hear that your visit did not meet your expectations. We sincerely apologize for the initial inconvenience you faced with the time constraint. We understand how this might have made your dining experience feel rushed, and we appreciate your patience in this regard. Regarding the assistance from our waiter in choosing your dishes, we always aim to provide guidance and recommendations to enhance our guests' experience. However, it is important that this is done in a way that ensures our guests feel comfortable and not rushed. We will take your comments into consideration as we continually strive to improve. We regret to hear that the chicken soup did not meet your expectations in terms of flavor. We take your feedback seriously and will review our culinary preparations to ensure our dishes are consistently flavorful and well-balanced. On a brighter note, we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the duck. However, we are sorry to learn that the sauce was too generous. We will certainly make a note to provide sauce on the side in the future to better accommodate your preferences. Similarly, we appreciate your feedback about the pork dish, and we will work to ensure that dumplings are perfectly tender in the future. It is disappointing to hear that this experience was not on par with your other enjoyable dinners during your stay in Budapest. We apologize for not meeting your expectations on your last night. We take your feedback as an opportunity to learn and improve, and we are committed to delivering exceptional dining experiences for our guests. We sincerely hope you will consider dining with us again in the future so that we can provide you with the outstanding culinary experience you deserve. If you decide to return, please feel free to reach out to us directly, and we will ensure a more memorable dining experience. Thank you once again for your valuable feedback. Warm regards, Pest-Buda Team

Written 7 September 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

…

Showing results 1-15 of 1,418