Dining at Michelin-starred restaurants could cost somewhere between $300 to a thousand dollars. Kaya when we travel, I never bother to go to one. I am not at all excited to spend all my pocket money for one single meal. In New York, it could cost around $400. In Paris, be ready to part with at least 300 Euro for one person, more if you want to pair it with the best wine.
In Budapest, you can wine and dine without melting your American Express card. The prices are cheap. It’s just like going to an ordinary restaurant in Manila.
The second restaurant in Budapest to receive a Michelin star is Onyx, (2011). The first was Costes in 2010.
My children went to Onyx for lunch last April. I didn’t go with them because my sister and I just wanted to do some leisurely walking and last minute shopping for souvenirs. Now, it’s Edmund and I’s turn to experience what stuff this restaurant is made off.
The concierge got us a table for 12:30 pm lunch.
Onyx is conveniently located in Vorosmarty Square on the ground floor of Gerbeaud building, just a short walk from our hotel.
The place is cozy, decors elegant. The ambiance is regal but not stiff.
The pre-fixed menu offer made our life easier by not having to decide on what dish is best.
I went for the Hokkaido Pumpkin Variation while Edmund picked the Goose Liver with grape loaf for an additional upgrade of 4,000 forint.
We were given a basketful of different kinds of bread. The rectangular thin ones were my favorite.
Here comes my appetizer. The lowly kalabasa was made gourmet by a brilliant chef. It looked and tasted great. The texture was different from our very own kalabasa. I couldn’t even tell it’s a pumpkin.
Every time Edmund takes a bite, meron pa syang facial expression just like the tv host of Bizarre Foods America, Andrew Zimmern. “Oooh, that’s good”.
For our main course we both chose the Squid, shrimp, homemade pasta.
I was expecting to see some macaroni or fettuccine or tagliatalle kasi ang nakalagay ay pasta. But where’s the pasta?
Omb—-“Tart, walang pasta, seafood lang”.
E——–“Ganyan na”.
The dish looked appetizing, clean, devoid of thick sauces. And look how vibrant the colors are.
There’s red from the cherry tomatoes and different shades of green from the vegetables. There’s yellow, light pink from the shrimps, white from the squid, brown from the mushrooms.
Wait, what’s that dark yellow thing? That’s the pasta. Kaya naman pala hindi ko makita. Yun pala it’s at the bottom and it’s not shaped like the ordinary elongated or ribbon pasta.
For my dessert, I chose the one with ice cream. Brillat- Savarin Cheese with toasted loaf and salted almond ice cream. This is an upgrade by 1,500 forint.
I wished there were more frozen ice cream. It went very well with the toasted loaf which was really delicious. I gave the brie cheese to Edmund. He said I have to eat the cheese with the loaf and the ice cream all together. Oo nga, super sarap pag pinagsabay-sabay ng kain.
Cranberry Chestnut Chocolate (3Cs).
E—–“Merong gold”.
A—– “That’s edible. Pwedeng kainin”.
After a very satisfying meal at Budapest’s top two best Michelin Star restaurant, it’s time for coffee.
Parang hostia. Eto na lang ang akin, para sa makasalanang tulad ko.
Yung mahilig lang kumain pero ayaw magbayad, pupunta sa powder room pagkatapos kumain at oras na ng bayaran.
Omb—-“You paid na?” “Thank you tart”.
Looks delicious. That’s so inexpensive for a Michelin starred meal (even with the upgrades). I love going to Michelin starred restaurants but, I faint at the prices of dinner + wine pairings. So I usually go for lunch so I can go more often.
Dear Tania,
The restaurants in Budapest are generally inexpensive that’s why we took advantage of going to fine dining restaurants. Where in the world can we find a Michelin for less than a hundred dollars for two? In Budapest.
Ma’am Annie isnt it more expensive to be charged in peso kesa in their currency then bank in pinas na lang mag coconvert?
Dear Mick Soe,
It is more expensive to be charged in pesos because the conversion rate is at least 2 pesos more to a dollar or Euro. Some Philippine -issued cards automatically convert the purchases or charges to pesos that’s why we have no choice. In some instances, we can choose to pay in US dollars but either way, we lose some in the conversion. The best way is actually to pay in cash. Look for CAMBIO that does not charge any commission and gives the highest conversion rate.