Guest table, home restaurant – hidden rural gastronomic gems

Although the name of the restaurant is misleading, it is far from a small wine bar. The Öreg Harang Borozó is located in the oldest part of Hévíz, in Egregy, once inhabited by the Romans, not far from the Árpád-era church. The quiet, intimate setting, the rustic wood furnishings, the unique ceramic accessories all evoke the tranquillity of the past. In good weather from the terrace you can enjoy a fantastic view of Hévíz and the slopes of the Keszthely Hills, so this part of town is also interesting for excursions, if you are not focused on classic spa-wellness programmes, as you can explore Roman monuments in addition to the church and hiking trails.

The restaurant pays particular attention to its unique menu, sourcing most of its ingredients from local farmers and producers. They are also famous for their dishes made with Hungarian specialities, including goat, grey cattle, water buffalo, donkey, guinea fowl, rabbit and mangalica pigs, washed down with local vintners’ wines, home-made syrup, lemonade, soda or mineral water. Don’t even look for a menu, as they always recommend dishes made from the ingredients they have just bought, literally from a big blackboard, which is usually presented by the owner Gabca (Gábor Fisli), spiced up with his own sense of humour, so the service is a special experience.

Vast forests as far as the eye can see, interspersed with countless small lakes: hiking enthusiasts will be easily charmed by the Őrség region. In autumn and spring, this area is a favourite with mushroom hunters. In addition to the fairytale nature, the gastronomic traditions of the region make this magical part of the country worth a visit. If, in addition to the typical restaurant environment, you are looking for a special, yet quality catering, you should definitely visit the Őrségi Ízek Portája in Szalafő!

In 2014, the Horváth family decided to start a small-scale production business as well as a residential restaurant. They open their doors at weekends for those who want to go on a gastronomic journey, and prepare home-style dishes with old regional characteristics, such as dödölle from the Őrség, cep soup with buckwheat and sour cream, cabbage with beans, paprika cutlets in Vas county style, wheat-, corn- and buckwheat malt, and strudel with pumpkin and poppy seeds or round carrots. So during your stay in the Őrség, you will not only discover this unique landscape, but also the traditional gastronomy of the region, based on folk traditions.

About 20 kilometres from Miskolc, in the heart of the Bükk National Park, in a tiny, wild and romantic village in the heart of the vast forests, you will find a family restaurant, where it is a real refreshment to stop after a long hike. But it is recommended to book a table in advance, as they are only open on weekends and are often full. Their story is like a fairy tale: “Once upon a time... there was a family business. Dad, Mum and the two siblings. Dad was stuffing sausages, Mum ran a greengrocer’s, the older sister made her guests’ eyelashes beautiful, and the younger sister learned the profession of caterineg.” - they write about themselves.

The Telkes family transformed the restaurant from a two-room family house, and guests can enjoy home-style meals on the quiet courtyard terrace and under the veranda, in good weather, in addition to the indoor dining area. If you want to find out what a real Sunday soup, pork pie, Strapachka or handmade strudel is like, you have come to the right place. Here, the heart and soul of the family is in the dishes, and you can feel it in the atmosphere. All the members of the small team do their part of the work, so you get a really cosy, friendly service. The family farm’s backyard pork products are also available for home purchase, and the current restaurant and takeaway offerings can also be found on their website.