If you're into food and wine, let Carolyn be your guide. Carolyn Bánfalvi has written an incredibly comprehensive book on Hungarian gastronomy that clues you in to the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of the 'Magyar konyha'. It's really a 'must read' if you're planning on really digging in to Hungarian food and wine. Jó étvágyat!

Nefrit Kínai Étterem
Budapest XII.
Apor Vilmos tér 4.
Tel: 213-9039

Csarnok
Hold utca 11 at the corner of Nagysándor József utca

Whether you've just arrived as a tourist or are living here in Budapest as a newcomer like myself, you may be wondering where to find some traditional, heavy Hungarian style food for your taste buds.

Bécsi Söröző
1053 Budapest
Papnövelde u. 8
Tel: 268 0225

Hours
M-F 11-22
Sat/Sun 11-16

If you don't want to eat a pastry, it can be tough to find a quick breakfast on the streets of Budapest - especially around the increasingly ritzy Andrassy út.

Budacast says, "A little meat can be good to eat."

Prima Pék bakery

God, I hate that it's in a mall! But the Paulaner Brauhaus in the Mom shopping center is dependable when you've got a hankering for some beers and comfort food.

Paulaner Brauhaus
Mom Park
1123 Budapest
Alkotás u. 53.

I have a mixed relationship with the Nagykörút (Grand Boulevard) area around the 8th and 9th districts of Budapest. While the architecture in Józsefváros and Ferencváros is as interesting as any you'll find in the Hungarian capital (what's not being torn down...), the abundance of low life 'proli', alcoholics, and poor/homeless people can occasionally boil over to create an extremely oppressive atmosphere, especially in the dog days of summer when the tarmac heats up and the inner city scents intensify.

Kristály cukrászda
1085 Budapest
József krt. 53
Tel: 317-4516

Years ago it was quite a ritual. Masses of hungry drunk people would head over to Moszkva tér after the bars had closed to fill themselves with hearty, greasy fare to soak up some of the booze. The restaurant they headed to was Szent Jupát, because they knew it was cheap and they would get a bargeload of food.

Szent Jupát Étterem
II. Retek u 16, Tel: 212-2923
Open Mon-Sun, Noon-6am

In the first of our series 'Eats and Drinks' we present to you Giuliano Gasparini who has lived in Budapest for about a year now. As an Italian, Giuliano brings his expert taste buds to the task of finding the best things to eat and drink in Budapest.

Momotaro Ramen
Széchenyi utca 16.

Poszonyi Kisvendéglő
Poszonyi út at the corner of Radnoti Miklós
Phone: 329-2911

Székelykapu Étterem
VI Budapest
Podmaniczky u. 29
Tel: 269 4072

Opening hours: M-Th, 11-23; F-Su, 11-1

Két Szerecsen kávézó és étterem
1065 Budapest
Nagymező u. 14
Tel: 343 1984

In the midst of the fickle restaurant scene in Budapest, one Italian eatery in Buda has stayed afloat and for good reason.

Da Lello Pizzeria
1123 Budapest
Alkotás út 53.

After the thousandth "gyros plate" you're determined not to go into one of Budapest's Middle Eastern/Turkish joints to have lunch, even though there's not much cash in your pocket. More ethnic food has arrived to the capital's Grand Boulevard, the körút, in the form of the Arriba Taqueria.

Arriba Taqueria
1067 Budapest
Teréz krt. 25.

Frici Papa Kifőzdéje
7th district
Király u. 55.
Tel : 351 0197

Open daily: 11:00-21:00
Closed on Sundays

Bajai Halászcsárda
XII Budapest
Hollós u. 2
Tel: 275 5245

www.bajaihalaszcsarda.com

The terrace at the Angelika Kávéház & Étterem is a great place to have a coffee or a delicious lunch, but it doesn't come cheap.

Angelika Kávéház & Étterem
1011 Budapest
Batthyány tér 7.
Tel: 201-0668, 224-0046
Hours: 9am-midnight

Godot Kávéház
1075 Budapest, Madách I. út 8.
Opening hours: M-F 9-23; weekends 18-23
Reservations: 322-5274

The 'old lodge' atmosphere of the Normafa Síház is cozy, the food tasty, the prices easy on your wallet.

Normafa Síház
1121 Eötvös út 59.
Tel: 395-6508
Opening hours: 9:00 - 17:00

How fun it is to unearth a couple of classic Hungarian restaurants that we'd never even heard of until recently.

Kiskakukk étterem 1913
1137 Budapest,
Pozsonyi út 12
Tel: 450-0829
Opening hours 12-24.

Márványmenyasszony vendéglő
District I
Márvány u. 6
Tel: 487-3090