Ristorante Krizia

Opened in 1997 by owner-chef Graziano Cattaneo, a native from Lombardy, Krizia comes closest in Budapest to offering a true-to-Italy ristorante experience. The place is located inside an elegant below-ground space on a quiet street in Budapest's District 6, near the city center. The snug restaurant has less than a dozen tables — all of them covered in white linen — and adorably ceremonial servers, especially the older of the two long-time waiters.

The menu features typical northern Italian fare like lasagne and tortelloni, the latter also available with a foie gras-filling in case you'd like a special treat. I also enjoy Krizia's creamy risotto — to be eaten with a spoon — and the sliced filet mignon with porcini mushrooms and a side of stracchino cheese-infused polenta. The wine list comprises everything from Lambruscos to Chiantis and Brunellos, and you can round out your meal in Italian style with a splash of Fernet or some other amaro. Mains are €15-20. Note that Krizia serves a wallet-friendly, though less elaborate, lunch prix-fixe on weekdays.

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