Platán Gourmet Restaurant

István Pesti, one of Hungary’s most renowned and revered culinary talents, is a true believer in fine dining, and one of the rare few capable of such wizardry in the kitchen. Dinner is an extended affair in the best possible sense – every moment worth savouring, every course an invitation to slow down and be present. The restaurant itself is a maze of intrigue, eclectic in style, with dining spread across several distinct spaces. Guests move from the elegant hall to the waterside terrace, then to the open-plan main dining room beside the show kitchen, before concluding their journey in the Green Salon. This enclosed space allows diners to immerse themselves fully in the culinary experience, free from distraction. Though it was our first visit, we were greeted by name. A glass of Henri Giraud Fût de Chêne MV18 private label eased us into the mood, the Platán name printed on the bottle. The trio of appetisers that followed was a veritable festival of flavours. There’s just one tasting menu: eight courses, plus amuse-bouches and petits fours. With each dish, guests choose between a wine pairing or a set of in-house juice cocktails. It’s no easy decision – both are sublime. The kitchen pulls out all the stops when it comes to premium ingredients: truffle, langoustine, various caviars, venison tenderloin, monkfish liver, and sturgeon all grace the menu. But the real magic lies in the interplay of luxury and simplicity with a simple potato or chicken liver given equal reverence. Surprises abound: we inhale truffle smoke from a device resembling a shamanic drum, and watch as consommé is re-aromatised tableside in a percolator, a kind of samovar that sends broth-scented steam through a cluster of herbs and vegetables in a spectacular siphon system. By Hungarian standards, this is a dinner with a serious price tag, yet never once did we question its value. For those in a position to afford the splurge, Platán Gourmet offers a transcendent journey – one that delights the senses, engages the mind, and lingers long in the memory after the final bite.