When I'd like to impress my friends that Budapest has restaurants as hip as those in New York's East Village, I take them out to Dobrumba. With a chic crowd, effortlessly cool design, and a Middle Eastern menu, Dobrumba is a wildly popular place inside Budapest's buzzing Jewish Quarter. It's especially enjoyable in the warmer months when the oversized windows swing open and the ear-catching electronic music wafts into the street.
Unfortunately, the food can fall short. I've had a couple of unremarkable meals here, but most of the hot and cold mezze and the tender chicken tagine are unlikely to disappoint. The basbousa is also good, a rich and sugary semolina cake blanketed in a tangy yogurt.
Also here: a deep drinks menu with cocktails and local wines, and breakfast service Thursday to Sunday. Reservations are an absolute must. The owners have another popular restaurant on the Buda side of the Danube, Pingrumba, run in a similar vein.
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