The last time we checked in with Csalogány 26 we were worried that the very promising Hungarian/International restaurant would not stay long on the "Top 33" because of a lack of patrons. Now, however, there is a different concern. According to a long and scathing piece yesterday on Index.hu's consumer blog Tékozló Homár ("Prodigal Lobster"), a recent visit to Cs26 involved "punishing" service so bad they were left feeling "extremely uncomfortable" and wondering what they could have done to "deserve this kind of treatment." Hearing this, we did the only thing we could do, which was to go have some lunch.

Since Homár is actually kind of a big deal, you'd think that word of the smack-down would have immediately reached the management and filtered down to the wait-staff. So we walked in expecting to be welcomed like long-lost family members, and otherwise have our heinies kissed. Instead, our servers were polite but a bit distant, and overall slightly better than your average Hungarian pincérek.

More interesting was what was on our plates, namely some of the lunch specials that we've heard so much about, but never tried. Today's menu offered five appetizers, five entrees and three desserts, including a poultry liver pâté (above), a breast of young hen (jérce), butter fish with lentils, and a nice little vanilla torte. All were excellent, and with three courses costing a very, very modest Ft 1,400 (€5.50), frankly they could have cooked us for lunch and we would have been satisfied.