Every building in Budapest seems to have a rich and interesting history; visually the Four Seasons Gresham Palace Hotel is perhaps one of the most spectacular, with views of the Danube and Chain Bridge. Built in 1906 for Gresham Life Insurance Company, this Art Nouveau edifice has now been transformed into a magnificent, luxurious place to stay.
The Four Seasons Restaurant, The Gresham, has a very good reputation as a stand alone destination as well as a bonus for staying guests. When we visited on a Saturday lunchtime, the place was perfectly organised and smart but silent… and for a long time we appeared to be the only guests for lunch that day.
Our waiter was lovely and very friendly despite the slight language barrier. We were treated to two glasses of Champagne while we perused the carte. Split into various sections, the menu offers some continental choices, traditional Hungarian dishes and an Italian list (the Head Chef is from Italy). We chose a selection, to start Pumpkin soup with homemade raviolini stuffed with cremona mustard and mascarpone cheese and the Proscuitto with fresh tomato bruschetta. For mains: Risotto with crumbly Luganica sausage and the Gresham Burger.
The food was brought to us very promptly, beautifully presented and smelling good. Though the Gresham use top quality ingredients, the food they offer is relaxed and casual, so if you are after ultra-smart fine dining, best to look elsewhere. The pumpkin soup was the star of the meal, thick and flavoursome, it was the perfect winter warmer, filling but healthy. The additional raviolini suited the dish well, and oozed luxurious creamy mascarpone through the soup, it was utterly delicious. The Proscuitto came in a giant portion, too much we thought for a starter, more of a sharing board for a group. I found the meat slightly tough but the cute mini bruschettas were very tasty.
The burgers had been recommended so I felt I had to opt for that, and although it was a nice assortment of flavours with melted cheddar, sauteed onions and mushrooms, the meat was not quite juicy enough for me, even cooked to ‘medium’. The Risotto was a simple dish with small sausage pieces and a creamy parmesan sauce. We were disappointed to find it a bit bland, extra seasoning was needed and the risotto rice was a little too al dente for my preference.
We declined desserts (temptingly on display in the fridges) but did accept a speciality Hungarian dessert cocktail to share… a creamy alcoholic drink which mimics a popular traditional sweet. The Gresham Bar is renowned for its contemporary and quirky cocktails and I was impressed with the variety on offer.
The Gresham Palace is a beautiful building worth visiting even if you can only stay for a quick drink; with incredible surroundings, immaculate service and a lovely vibe, it is indulgent and relaxing.
More information here.