It is currently around 3:00 p.m on a Friday, which means that lots of local foodies are right now busy pondering where to go out for dinner over the weekend. But a smaller subset of these avid eaters will be thinking less about Friday or Saturday night than Sunday morning, and wondering where to go for brunch. I have a suggestion.
Being more of a dinner man than a brunch guy, I can’t say I’ve sought out every brunch option in Budapest. But after a visit a few Sundays back to Peppers! Mediterranean Grill, the main restaurant of the Budapest Marriott Hotel, I was left wondering if anywhere in town could possibly do it better.
Since the brunch menu at Peppers! probably changes on a regular basis, I won’t go into all the specifics of what was being offered on my visit. As the name of the place indicates, the emphasis is Mediterranean, meaning there are lots of beautiful antipasti, among other related treats.
In fact, pretty much everything I tried was at least decent, and a few things were downright killer, one being the little rounds of goose liver terrine in the foreground of the crowded plate above, and another the perfectly-cooked beef tenderloins pictured third from top. In addition to several ready-made dishes, the place also offers cooked-to-order dishes from the kitchen “window” where the guy in the red shirt is standing, including sea fish actually from the sea.
Desserts are also pretty good, except for the white chocolate fondue, which is as much of a pointless and irritating gimmick as the exclamation point in the name Peppers! There is a nice band, too, and the service was not memorably bad, which it usually is in Hungary when a restaurant is as crowded as this one was when I visited. (It was almost crowded enough to be unpleasant, and the “table” our party was seated at consisted of several round tables awkwardly pushed together.)
As with all such international hotel restaurants, it isn’t cheap. But given the raw materials that go into a spread like this, Ft 6,700 (€25) isn’t unreasonable at all, especially given that children from 6-14 get in half-price, and tots are free, even ones able to eat their own weight in lamb chops. So don’t eat too much tomorrow night.
Today we tested the brunch offer in this establishment. for a hotel restaurant surprising cool and stylish place with bouncing atmosphere. we where lucky enough to get a table right at the window, great view… exceptionally fresh and tasty food, my favourite was the shrimp cooked with garlic, chilli peppers and olive oil (I had to order a second portion)they have freshly baked bread too, they bring this to your table along with a couple of nice dips, good combination of buffet and small portions which you can order a la carte and the waiter brings them as well to your table! The desserts (today there was a dark chocolate fountain) where my partners favourite they even prepared some flambéed fruit compote with ice cream right in front of you. 100% worth the 6,700 forint!
Wow, well a *dark* chocolate fountain is a whole different thing. Anyway, glad to see someone else is digging this.
White chocolate is not really chocolate, it’s made of milk, sugar, some other stuff you don’t really want to know, and about 20% cocoa butter.
No cocoa powder in there.
Cocoa butter is mainly used for cosmetics, it just lacks the flavor and aroma of cocoa powder.
The place and the rest of the menu looks interesting, I’m going to check it out.
They were always really good, do they still have the free (included) orange juice and sparkling wine? Kempinski is also very good. But the selling point for me at the Marriott was always the terrace overlooking the Danube. You just can’t beat a view like that for a 3-hour Sunday brunch! If, after the renovation, they bring that back, I’ll go back.
just found this review. used to love their lunches prior to the renovation, i’ve not been in the ‘new’ restaurant yet.
just curious, can anyone compare it to the corinthia grand hotel on the korut? that is my favorite sunday brunch hang-out and wonder if i want to change. gipsy music in the atrium with sushi and sparkling wine is as close to heaven as you can get on a sunday.