Klassz on Andrassy

There are plenty of nice-looking restaurants on Andrassy, but Klassz catches your eye first because the wallpaper is more Laura Ashley living room than restaurant, and then because you can barely make out the sign (written not very classily, it must be said, on the windows). It also doesn't have a phone, and (or because) they don't accept reservations. I don't really know what to make of that - the only other restaurant I can think of like that is Fatty Crab, because there are always reams of people sitting on plastic stools on the street waiting. Not exactly the case in Klassz, though it was almost full when we got there at 8pm.

I had high expectations because of reviews I'd read and recommendations from friends, and it didn't disappoint. There were six of us, and a 3 course meal including wine came up to 38,000 Forints. A bargain, really, considering the quality of the food. I had ruinously rich foie gras and lamb roasted on the bone; it was tender with no sauces to distract from its flavour. Others in the party had consomme that tasted like bak kut teh (I'm going back!!), a gigantic salmon steak so fresh we wondered if it was bred nearby, chocolate and passion fruit pudding and a raspberry cheese tart - all winners.

The service, however, was typical of Hungary. She did the job, but sighed and rolled her eyes now and again to express her disapproval of the injustice forced upon her to be a waitress at a fancy restaurant.

It's cool again in Budapest - rainy and jumper weather. And I'm listening to Cold War Kids, Editors and Spoon. And I'm on holidaaaaaaaaaaay!