Gundel Restaurant was built in 1894 and right up to 1910 it was named Wampetics Restaurant. Károly Gundel took over the Wampetics lease 1910 and turned it into the best place for fine dining in Budapest. His son Janos Gundel took over the restaurant’s management and refined the restaurant luxurious style and created an international reputation for it.
In 1949 Gundel Restaurant was nationalised and all that the restaurant stood for was demolished by the socialist government. In 1991, George Lang and Ronald S. Lauder bought the restaurant and renovated it to be just as luxurious as it originally was, and reopened it in 1992.
Gundel Restaurant greeted its one-millionth guest in 2000 so the restaurant has certainly been a strong survivor over its more than 100 years as one of Budapest’s finest.
You can either dine in the lavishly decorated interior rooms or on the patio. The bar area works as well, but we recommend the main dining room even if it can be chilly if you sit close to the walls due to far too ambitious AC. In addition to the Hungarian and international cuisine served, you can also choose from a wide selection of Hungarian wines that can be ordered by the glass as well.
Kálmán Kalla was appointed Executive Chef 1991 and he took on the task of refining the classic Hungarian dishes that had been served for a century. The Executive Chef developed light versions of the original not always so healthy Hungarian cuisine, but you will still find all the classics like the goose liver, breast of pheasant and the Gundel palacsinta that was originally created by Károly Gundel. The century-old Gundel palacsinta is a pancake with filling enriched with rum, raisin, lemon rind and walnuts, served with a chocolate sauce. It is slightly fried in the oven and can be flambéed upon request.
Gundel Restaurant is not the best Hungarian restaurant, but it is probably the most famous restaurant in Budapest and that alone can be a reason for many to have a dinner there. Gundel Restaurant always manages to charm you with its rustic and straightforward style. Everyone from the pope to F1 stars have dined at Gundel Restaurant so you should consider a visit as well if you are in Budapest.
Written by John
