Barack & Szilva Étterem in Budapest, Hungary

It was a cold and rainy night in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, Hungary, one of the city’s most vibrant, lively, and historic neighborhoods. Though it was a Friday night, the streets were empty as most people had retreated indoors to restaurants or bars to escape the harsh weather. After enjoying a few drinks at one of the nearby ruin pubs, I decided it was time to find dinner.

I had no plans or made any reservations that night, which was unusual for me. I always plan and do research, but not this night. As it was getting late, I wandered from restaurant to restaurant, hoping to find an open table.

However, I grew disheartened as I could not find any available restaurant. Walking around in circles, I noticed a brightly lit restaurant with a few open tables. I decided to take a chance at this place without researching it or reading any reviews. I had stumbled upon Barack & Szilva Étterem.

Barack & Szilva Étterem is a Hungarian restaurant in the heart of the historic Jewish Quarter in Budapest, Hungary. The restaurant is popular for its menu, featuring modern and traditional Hungarian dishes and dishes inspired by French, Italian, and Jewish cuisine.

Interior

On my visit, it was a cold and rainy night. Despite the dreary weather outside, the restaurant was warm and cozy, making it an inviting and welcoming place to escape the rain.

The atmosphere inside was lively and boisterous. The small dining room was filled with diners’ voices and the kitchen staff working in the open kitchen. Adding to the ambiance was a musician playing his guitar by the front door. The music and lively conversation excited me to try the food.

The décor of the space was a perfect blend of rustic and modern elements with wooden tables and floors, distressed concrete walls, and brick pillars. Thanks to tall ceilings and hanging lights, the space felt open and bright even at night. The homey décor and the open kitchen made me feel like I was in someone’s home.

Bread

A friendly server brought a basket of complimentary bread and herb butter when I sat down. While simple, the bread was still warm, while the butter was soft, creamy, and flavorful. What a great start to the meal.

Sautéed Foie Gras

The colorful Sauteed Foie Gras, Barack & Szilva Étterem, Budapest, Hungary — The colorful Sauteed Foie Gras

Although I don’t often eat Sautéed Foie Gras (5800 Ft or about $15.99), when I saw it on the menu, I knew I had to order it. This luxurious and flavorful dish, consisting of duck liver, lamb’s lettuce, toasted hazelnuts, grapes, and a Tokaji wine vinaigrette, was too tempting to pass up. And when I saw the colorful plate in front of me, I knew I had made the right choice.

The star of the dish, the foie gras, was as fatty and rich as always. The melt-in-your-mouth texture was divine, almost indescribable if you have never had it before. My only critique of the foie gras was that I wished it had a harder sear for added texture.

Under the foie gras was a bed of lamb’s lettuce, also known as cornsalad or mâche. This leafy green vegetable, native to Europe, reminded me of spinach. It had tiny, tender, buttery leaves with a delicate, nutty flavor. Lightly coating the greens was a Tokaji wine vinaigrette, which was sweet and tart but never overpowering.

Mixed in were toasted hazelnuts, grapes, and cherry tomatoes. Each ingredient was simple, but all played an important role in complementing the rich and fatty foie gras. The grapes added a touch of sweetness, the cherry tomatoes added a hint of tartness, and the toasted hazelnuts added a crunchy, nutty flavor.

All of these ingredients were crucial to the success of this dish. In the end, the combination of textures and flavors made this dish truly great.

Paprika Chicken

For the main course, I went for the Paprika Chicken (5800 Ft or about $15.99) made with homemade spaetzle (dumplings). Also known as chicken paprikash or paprikás csirke, paprika chicken is a popular traditional Hungarian dish of chicken simmered in paprika and sour cream. The plate was one of the most beautiful dishes on my two-week Eastern Europe trip.

The first thing that caught my attention was the bright color of the sauce, a mixture of red and orange. Its flavor was as bright and bold as its color. It was a little smoky, a little sweet, a little rich, a little oily, and a little creamy from the sour cream. I found its texture thick, like gravy, but not too thick.

Hidden under the sauce was a boneless chicken breast with the drumette attached. I believe this is called airline or Statler chicken. The chicken was tender and moist, almost to the point where it wanted to shred, but it still maintained its texture.

What I enjoyed about the chicken was how I could taste all the flavors of the meat without any of the seasonings or sauces overpowering its flavor. More so, the paprika sauce complemented and enhanced the texture and flavors of the chicken.

A generous portion of homemade spaetzle covered in chopped parsley was served along with the chicken. Spaetzle, a type of egg noodle, is common in Hungary. The spaetzle was tender, spongy, and creamy in texture, with a fresh and delicious flavor that could only have resulted from being handmade.

I also enjoyed the combination of the spaetzle and the rich, smoky sauce. While simple, the care and attention put into making these dumplings was evident in every bite.

Service

Eastern European service can often be slow and indifferent, but that was not true at Barack & Szilva Étterem. The service here was on point and very attentive, with our server taking and giving out plates and cutlery with each course.

He also made sure to clean up quickly after each course. Despite being a busy night without reservation, I appreciated the staff and servers’ attention to each guest.

Conclusion

I am glad I stumbled upon Barack & Szilva Étterem, a Hungarian restaurant in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter. On a cold and rainy night, the cozy and warm dining room and its lively atmosphere were the perfect choice for me.

While not the most affordable option in Budapest, the restaurant stood out from the rest with its bright and bold flavors. And the service was fantastic, with a keen attention to detail. While there are many great dining options in Budapest, I would not hesitate to return to Barack & Szilva Étterem.