Y Étterem by Rácz Jenő

Rácz Jenő’s Balaton restaurant opened in June 2025 at the yacht marina in Alsóörs – but this time, one of Hungary’s best-known chefs isn’t targeting the fine dining crowd. The marina includes a block of flats, and the restaurant clearly has residents in mind, but on our visit, all sailboats who dropped anchor in port, lunched here. It’s all still very new – freshly planted greenery and a residential-park feel that needs time to find itself. The staff, however, are warm, attentive, and already well-versed in the menu. The selection is tight and international in flavour, with playful nods to retro Hungarian favourites. Think deep-fried pickled cucumber, hortobágyi pancake, or the “Balaton ’80” ice cream sundae – pure nostalgia, complete with the inevitable scoops of vanilla and strawberry. We sampled the international line-up: a silky gazpacho with refined flavour, topped cleverly with goat cheese foam. Grilled green asparagus with nutty brown butter hollandaise came with a surprise sous-vide egg concealed. Another highlight was the Spanish-style Montenevado mangalica coppa ham – cured and dried to perfection – served with little fuss and top-quality ingredients. The wine list is succinct but well curated, with characterful selections from smaller Balaton and Hungarian producers. The sparkling range runs from Sauska to Pol Roger Brut Réserve, sketching out a stylish arc. We are confident this marina-side restaurant, bearing the hallmark of a celebrity chef, will find its audience – and identity – with time.