Klassz, Budapest

This extraordinary restaurant is found on Andrassy Avenue, the Budapest equivalent of the Champs Elysée in Paris, and it doesn’t suffer from the comparison.

It’s only a small place, the same size as a standard shopfront, and there are tables for just 25 or so diners at a time. As a result, the feeling is intimate and homely despite the contemporary interior design.

Choose from an extensive wine list that features plenty of Hungarian options, and then tuck into some gourmet takes on Hungarian favorites. The food menu is limited to a handful of plates for each course, so you won’t find it too hard to choose, and it’s a mark of the confidence of the chef that there are so few choices available.

At some places this can be a risky gambit, but at Klassz the confidence is well placed. For around $20 per dish you can chow down on some delicious food and wine, all served by well-trained and friendly staff. Finish off the meal with a digestif, such as the local favorite palinka, a fiery fruit brandy.

The bill came to $80 for two people, including two courses, wine and palinka. A real bargain for the quality and highly recommended.