Even with a detailed map of Budapest, it’s still somewhat of a chore to find Castro’s Serbian restaurant, hidden away in a corner of Madách Tér, near Deák Tér. But once you do find it, it’s well worth the hassle of peering in shop windows to see if you’re in the right place.After Castro’s had moved to its present location from Ráday utca, I asked someone on Madách Tér where it was and she just shook her head and walked away. Turned out I was only two doors away. It really is hard to find, when the front door looks like a non-stop or élelmiszer entrance. But, once you’re there, you’ll be in for some of the best Serbian food in Budapest.
My all-time favorite dish, which I first had at the castle in Novi Said, Serbia, is the shopska salad with an accompanying dish of cevapcici (pronounced ‘che-vap-chee-chee’), which are medium-sized sausage-shaped, spicy meats. Mmmm, too good to pass up.
The service is certainly adequate and Castro is definitely a student hangout, as the prices are still reasonable. The only drawback, especially in the winter, is the lack of ventilation; the entire restaurant is filled with cigarette smoke, and is a most unpleasant atmosphere.
I’ve gone there to eat dinner a couple of times only to leave when I found I couldn’t see through the smoky haze or breathe the air. Too bad, if the management could get some better air filtration they’d probably have more diners lining up at the front door during the cold months.
But summertime meals are always great at this local institution, since one can sit outside and not worry about being asphyxiated. I personally can’t wait for spring so I can go back and sit outside and have my shopska and cepvapcici – I can taste them already.
By Gary Lukatch for XpatLoop.com
Photo for illustration purposes only
Castro’s Serbian Restaurant
Address: 1075 Budapest, Madách tér 3.
Telefon: 215-0184
26.03.2009