Rosenstein

Rosenstein is a family-run restaurant near Keleti railway station known for generous Hungarian and Hungarian-Jewish cooking. The Rosenstein family runs it together, and their food draws on Hungarian-Jewish roots, a family connection to Tuscany and broader Mediterranean influences. The setting is comfortable rather than fashionable, with two floors, air conditioning and six private rooms that seat from six to 55 people, which makes it useful for celebrations.

The menu is long and covers both Hungarian classics and dishes from the Jewish kitchen of Budapest. Matzo ball soup, sólet (a slow-cooked bean stew, often served with smoked meat or egg) and a sampler of goose liver are good starting points. Heavier mains include roast goose leg with braised cabbage and paprika catfish served with túrós csusza, pasta with curd cheese and bacon. For dessert, flódni, a layered pastry of apple, walnut, poppy seed and plum jam, is a speciality of the city's Jewish bakeries. The wine and beer selection is wide, and the menu is available in several languages.

The cooking is homely, so it suits hungry travellers, families and groups who want to try several dishes and share. It is also a good choice if you want to taste traditional Budapest cooking outside the busy tourist streets of the centre.

Booking is advisable for dinner. The online form on the official website sends a request that the restaurant confirms by email, so allow some time, or phone for short-notice bookings. Groups of more than ten should get in touch by email, and the restaurant also caters for private events. Weekday lunchtimes are usually calmer than evenings, and the large menu means it is worth asking staff for advice if you are new to Hungarian-Jewish dishes. The restaurant is open from Monday to Saturday, from midday to 23:00; check before planning a Sunday visit.

Rosenstein is on Mosonyi utca, a short walk from Keleti pályaudvar, which is served by metro lines M2 and M4, so it is convenient before or after a train journey. The area itself is mainly residential, but the Jewish Quarter and the Grand Boulevard are a short tram or metro ride away.