With its adjacent wine bar and grill, the Baltazár Hotel is the newest member of the Zsidai gastro family. And as with their Spíler and Shanghai Spíler, the Baltazár is a hip place to be. The Zsidais understand how to combine the highest quality and a modern image. In addition to a sleek, warm ambience, the Baltazár has a well-equipped kitchen where one of the city’s top chefs cooks only with the best ingredients. All this and their large selection of wines are under the constant watch of the winged elephant, the patron saint of Baltazár.
At first glance, the interior of Baltazár is a colourful mix: red leather colonial sofas combined with dark chairs and tables made of high-quality wood as well as walls and drainage pipes similar to those found in factories. It’s as if the décor ideas were stolen from grandma’s kitchen: old household scales, bowls and enamel dishes.
Interestingly though, this eclectic ambience and the freedom of various styles is what provides a one-of-a-kind atmosphere at Baltazár. The colorful graphics on the walls could come from the album cover of an in rock band, and the creativity of the entire room makes Baltazár the perfect place to discuss business plans over lunch or to forge ideas for that exciting evening in the city.
The smoky flavour of Argentinian charcoal
Similarly to its interior the Baltazár menu is about the fusion of different influences: Hungarian classics meet American burger tradition, but the delicacies offered here have nothing to do with the simple meat-bun combination that you would receive at a fast-food chain. Here classic street food is enhanced to the level of a gourmet item.
Part of the reason for this is the quality charcoal grilling. The device by the Catalonian manufacturer Josper not only grills at an extremely high temperature – which shortens the cooking time and avoids overdoing the roast – but the Argentinian barbecue charcoal gives the meat an aromatic smoking and a unique spicy note. Thanks to the Baltazár open kitchen diners can witness the process first-hand while their food is prepared.
A star in the kitchen
Besides the Josper gem, the kitchen of the grill bar is the home of Zsolt Litauszki, one of the most creative chefs of the Hungarian capital. The former master of kitchen ceremonies of 21 – another Zsidai restaurant – Litauszki is responsible not only for shaping the menu of Baltazár but for the gastronomic concept and new creations of all restaurants owned by the Zsidai family. His strength is the ever-surprising combinations of the exquisite and the ordinary. Thus, for example, with the addition of some truffle shavings, a simple side dish such as French fries is quickly turned into a gourmet offering.
The maestro of the kitchen especially recommends the dishes of the restaurant’s seasonal menu. The creative chef loves to work with fresh, local produce. The advent menu, for example – available until Christmas Eve – features duck and fish, which are the holiday season’s custom dishes, but the eye-catcher of the selection is the game sirloin steak with a special celery selection. Apart from being healthy, this dish without any carbohydrates demonstrates how diverse this vegetable can be.
More than 300 wines
The specialties landing on your plate from the grill are complemented with the impressive selection in the wine bar. The cellar stores some 300 different wines. Enthusiasts should not be fooled by the smaller selection of the bar and should ask directly for the full wine list or the assistance of Baltazár’s sommelier. A special highlight is the Chardonnay from the Eger region. This exclusive tipple from the Attila winery is made without any additives and is matured for a long time before being sold. Currently, bottles from 2009 are being offered.
In summary, the food is a treat for both the eyes and the mouth. Regardless of whether you are sharing the experience with friends, family or business partners, or if you are treating yourself to one of the excellent wines or a selection from the charcoal grill, the ambience of Baltazár will make you feel completely at ease.
Baltazár – Bar, Wine Bar, Grill and Hotel
Address: Országház utca 31, District I
Open: 7.30am-11.45pm
Tel.: (+36-1) 300-7050
Price points:
Soups and starters: HUF 1,240-2,860
Main courses: HUF 2,680-8,960
Desserts: HUF 1,180-2,680
Wine by the glass: HUF 820-3,120
Wine from the cellar: HUF 3,200-22,900
