The increasing “tomgeorgification” of the Budapest dining scene continues to cause concern, so it was with some trepidation that we stepped into Callas, the latest trendy café-restaurant-bar to open in Budapest – as of yesterday. The opera themed name and location, on the side of the Operaház that is not the new Louis Vuitton, suggests a high swank and snob factor, so the interior was a refreshingly pleasant and laid-back surprise. Which left everyone to concentrate on the conversation, the cocktails and the cuisine.
But before we concentrate on that, the secret of the venue is in the low-level lighting and unintimidating atmosphere – rather than the decor, which takes advantage of the large windows and decorated ceiling to cultivating a deliberately used look. This restricts opportunities for intrusive “people watching” and instantly creates a welcoming arena for couples or groups large and small. Equally unintrusive is the music, which was selected according to the aural needs of the crowd rather than the preferences of the DJ. And now onto our own oral needs…
The cream of potato soup starter with wild garlic pesto served with a crispy duck spring roll (Ft 950) was delicately spiced and sublimely cheesy – without becoming a stringy goey mess – while the duck spring roll was much more than an aesthetic afterthought and offered an excellent crunchy foil. As a main course, the salmon filet with herbs and avocado and baked tomato salad was gone before we even saw it, let alone take a snap, but we can report that the outer layer of fish was slightly crispy and deftly seasoned, while the inside hadn’t been allowed to dry and was consistently soft and juicy. But it was the salad buried beneath that was really special about this dish: baked cocktail tomatoes with raw avocado and cucumber, simple but very effective, and altogether isteni.
We were more on the ball to document the dessert: walnut souffllé in brioche (actually “kürtős kalács” in the original Hungarian). Although fairly petite for Ft 950, it had plenty of crunch and even more rich flavour, thanks in no small part to the tangy infusion of pálinka in the apricot coulis drizzled on top.
But this was really just a late-night test run at Callas, which seamlessly caters to diners as well as the sophisticated drinking crowd. However, the menu is large and ambitious enough to spawn a hundred chew posts, and amazingly, no first-night teething problems were experienced, which bodes very well. Menu eyecatchers include an extensive selection of Japanese drinks and sushi varieties, a variety of spring rolls and other delicacies for the pick and mix crew, as well as some Hungarian classics, such as pörkölt and paprika chicken. Breakfast is also served and the atmosphere is much more hip than similar but more staid venues like Central Kávéház or Múzeum. In other words, we’ll be back morning, noon and night, even if we’re just dropping in for a coffee or a nightcap.
Not a good place to eat. The serving staff are weak and the place lacks feeling. Bit like eating in an aircraft hangar.
The food is mediocre and the decor extremely cheesy. The tables are very badly laid out. I much prefer the Belcanto across the road, slightly more expensive, but at least it has a soul.
What a timely comment.
… [Trackback]…
[...] Read More: chew.hu/callas_takes_break_from_opera/ [...]…
… [Trackback]…
[...] Read More Infos here: chew.hu/callas_takes_break_from_opera/ [...]…
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
Blogs ou should be reading…
[...]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find useful that we Encourage You to visit[...]……
Online Article……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available [...]……
Awesome website…
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
Sites we Like……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Links…
[...]Sites of interest we have a link to[...]……
Great website…
[...]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[...]……
Recommeneded websites…
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]……
Websites you should visit…
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Blogs ou should be reading…
[...]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[...]……
Informative and precise…
Its difficult to find informative and accurate info but here I noted…
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Recent Blogroll Additions……
[...]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]……
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Gems form the internet…
[...]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[...]……
Related……
[...]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[...]……
Superb website…
[...]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[...]……
Great website…
[...]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[...]……
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Related……
[...]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[...]……
Awesome website…
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
Recent Blogroll Additions……
[...]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]……
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
Links…
[...]Sites of interest we have a link to[...]……
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Looking around…
I like to look around the internet, regularly I will just go to Stumble Upon and read and check stuff out…
Sites we Like……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
Related……
[...]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[...]……
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
Links…
[...]Sites of interest we have a link to[...]……
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
Related……
[...]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[...]……
Blogs ou should be reading…
[...]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[...]……
Websites you should visit…
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
Gems form the internet…
[...]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[...]……
Recent Blogroll Additions……
[...]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]……
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Blogs ou should be reading…
[...]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[...]……
WordPress Freelance…
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
Internet sites really well worthy of visiting as they possess fantastic providers…
[...]here are a few links to a site that people connect to simply due to the fact we feel they may be value visiting, as is also an seo organization, so when we all use their particular program along together using success[...]……
Blogs ou should be reading…
[...]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[...]……
Superb website…
[...]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[...]……
Yahoo results…
While browsing Yahoo I found this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
Check this out…
[...] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[...]……
Links…
[...]Sites of interest we have a link to[...]……
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here today, so I just took to messing around on the internet and found…
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
Great website…
[...]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[...]……
… [Trackback]…
[...] Read More: chew.hu/callas_takes_break_from_opera/ [...]…
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really cool topic…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here yesterday, so I just took to piddeling around on the internet and realized…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here yesterday, so I just took to piddeling around on the internet and found…
Websites you should visit…
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here today, so I just took to messing around online and realized…
Recommeneded websites…
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]……
Related……
[...]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[...]……
Blogs ou should be reading…
[...]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[...]……
Check this out…
[...] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[...]……
Sites we Like……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here yesterday, so I just took to messing around online and realized…
Great website…
[...]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[...]……
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
advice. write it down. good blogs can…
be as short at 100 words — short bits of advice or commentary on an issue that shares your expertise and insight with your community (or a bunch of colleagues at starbuck’s, same thing).i don’t want to start something i can’t…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here today, so I just took to messing around on the internet and found…
Gems form the internet…
[...]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[...]……
Cool sites…
[...]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[...]……
Recommeneded websites…
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]……
Check this out…
[...] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[...]……
Sites we Like……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
Cool sites…
[...]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[...]……
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
Digg…
While checking out DIGG yesterday I found this…
Its hard to find good help…
I am regularly proclaiming that its hard to find good help, but here is…
Websites you should visit…
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
Online Article……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available [...]……
Recommeneded websites…
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]……
Superb website…
[...]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[...]……
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
Rhymiaz2…
Wonderful blog post, saw on…
Digg…
While checking out DIGG today I found this…
Digg…
While checking out DIGG today I found this…
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really interesting topic…
Recent Blogroll Additions……
[...]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]……
Websites you should visit…
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
Just looking…
obviously like your website however you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to tell the truth on the other hand I will certainly come back agai…
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
Just Browsing…
While I was browsing yesterday I noticed a great post concerning…
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Superb website…
[...]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[...]……
Great website…
[...]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[...]……
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really interesting info…
Just looking…
of course like your web-site however you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I to find it very troublesome to inform the reality nevertheless I will certainly come again again….
Online Article……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available [...]……
Wikia…
Wika linked to this site…
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
Yahoo News…
When checking out Yahoo News yesterday I noticed this…