We are somewhat creatures of habit. Most Saturday evenings when in Budapest, unless invited out or at a concert, the opera, the ballet or, occasionally, the theatre (we have to know a play really well to see a performance given in Hungarian), we find ourselves in Rosenstein, a long established and highly regarded family-run restaurant close to Keleti pályaudvar, the Eastern Railway Station.
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| The welcoming lights of Rosenstein |
This has, over several years, become a routine - eagerly anticipated throughout the week - and where we are welcomed by the exceptional staff, greeted by the owner and given the same table which is large enough to accommodate up to two others on the occasions when we invite friends to join us.
The menu is wide and varied with dishes to tempt the most discerning palate. In addition, a ‘Specials’ board, which changes every few weeks, is a further temptation. But now, in November, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Martin which, traditionally, includes the cooking of geese. For this, each year, the restaurant has, over and above the normal menu, its specialty Saint Martin dishes (we apologise to those who prefer not to eat meat - there are always excellent vegetarian options).
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| The Feast of Saint Martin at Rosenstein |
In all the years of dining at Rosenstein we have never been disappointed, nor were we this last Saturday when after a first course (one of us goose confit, the other a mixed salad) we both opted for the roast goose breast which could not have been more delicious.
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| Roast goose breast cooked to perfection served with a Tokaji sauce |
Normally we resist a pudding. But on this occasion we were intrigued by the description, roughly translated, as chocolate goose leg. Any resemblance to any part of a goose was, perhaps happily, not immediately recognisable but the taste, of the lightest chocolate enveloping sour black cherries, was out of this world. Utter perfection!
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| The chocolate pudding, we shared, with additional ice cream |
Rosenstein rightly deserves its reputation, built up over more than a quarter of a century and during which time it has received numerous awards. Everyone, from the celebrities whose pictures line one wall, to the traveller coming from the train station in search of dinner, is afforded the warmest of welcomes. It is, in our view, a Nemzeti Kincs (National Treasure) and long may it thrive.
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| Rosenstein continues to win many awards |
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| The celebrities gallery in a corner of the restaurant |
