Michelin Guide Hungary 2022: the first country-wide selection and the ratings explained
Image via Stand Restaurant (Budapest) Facebook page
Hungarian restaurants have been featured in the Michelin Guide Budapest since 1992, but as the title shows, the recommendations were restricted to the capital of the country. This is not the case anymore since the first ever Michelin Guide Hungary was released in 2022. The inaugural country-specific guide features 62 establishments in 33 cities, towns, and villages.
In this article, apart from the list of restaurants featured with stars or awards in Michelin Guide Hungary 2022, we give you a short description to explain the different categories and the rating system.
2-Star Michelin restaurants in Hungary
2 new 2-Star restaurants were awarded to the guide of 2022, one is Platán Gourmet in the picturesque small town of Tata, and the other is Stand in the heart of Budapest.
According to the description, Platán Gourmet, led by Chef István Pesti, offers dishes that are both precise and creative, "delivering sophistication through the use of perfectly balanced flavors and textures".
Image via Platán Gourmet Restaurant (Tata) Facebook page
Tamás Széll and Szabina Szulló, chef-owners of Stand are praised for their attractive dishes that come with depth and sophistication, and whilst modern, echo the traditional tastes and textures of Hungarian cuisine.
1-Star Michelin restaurants in Hungary
The 2022 Guide features 7 Michelin 1-Star restaurants in Hungary. New awardees are 42 in Esztergom, and Rumour in Budapest. 5 other restaurants in the capital - Babel, Borkonyha Winekitchen, Costes, essência, and Salt - already had one Michelin Star.
Good Value Michelin Bib Gourmands
Country-wide 6 restaurants received the Michelin Bib Gourmand, an award recognizing great quality cooking at a great price. The 6 awardees are Anyukám Mondta in Encs, Casa Christa in Balatonszőlős, Kistücsök in Balatonszemes, Macok in Eger, and two restaurants in Balatonfüred: Mór24, and Sparhelt.
Michelin Green Stars Hungary
Image via SALT Budapest Facebook page
Michelin Green Stars are awarded to restaurants where extreme care is given to sustainable gastronomy. This can be accomplished in different ways, for example by reducing the restaurant's carbon footprint, or by sourcing not only local produce but local textiles, ceramics, etc. In 2022, 4 restaurants received the Michelin Green Star: Salt and Onyx Műhely in Budapest, Graefl Major Kétútköz near Lake Tisza, and Almalomb in Hosszúhetény.
Hungarian restaurants with the Michelin Plate distinction
In the Michelin Guide Hungary 2022, 47 restaurants received a Michelin Plate, which is not yet a star, or an award. Although some refer to this as the lowest-ranking or the least valuable category of the guide, it is still a distinction that the establishment and the chef can be proud of. Michelin Plate restaurants can be found all over Hungary, offering high-quality cooking, and the fact that Michelin's inspectors found them worthy to be mentioned in the guide. The detailed list of restaurants can be found online and in the free Michelin application.
Image via Alkimista Kulináris Műhely (Szeged) Facebook page
Special Awards in 2022
Apart from the culinary awards, that reflect the merits of the restaurant as a whole, Michelin hands out special awards, given to outstanding, passionate, and professional individuals who "can make a restaurant experience unforgettable". The winners in 2022 were:
Flóra and Ferenc Kvasznicza from restaurant Pajta in Őriszentpéter received the Welcome and Service Award, Tamás Langó received the Sommelier Award for his work at restaurant Clarisse in Tura, while János Mizsei, from restaurant Mák in Budapest, received the Young Chef Award.
Michelin ratings explained
There is a very frequent misconception, that the world's most significant gastronomy guide, established in 1900, is only about fine dining. On the contrary, from year to year, it features luxurious restaurants, as well as village pubs, trendy bistros, and even street food stands. The concept of the guide is to offer something for everyone so that readers can choose for every occasion and in every price bracket.
Let's take a look at the different ratings of the Michelin Guide, from Stars to Green Stars, Bibs, and Special Awards, all the way to Michelin Plates.
Image via Bistro Sparhelt (Balatonfüred) Facebook page
What is a Michelin Star?
A Michelin Star is a world-renowned sign of high-quality cuisine. Michelin Stars, ranging from one to three, are awarded to restaurants based on five criteria - the quality of the ingredients, harmony of flavors, mastery of techniques, personality of the chef expressed through the cuisine, and consistency both across the entire menu and over time.
One star means that the food is high quality in its category and the place is definitely worth a stop. Two-star restaurants offer excellent food from a very talented chef and the restaurant is considered worth a detour, while three stars mean that the kitchen, led by a world-renowned chef, is so exceptional, that it is worth organizing a separate trip for the restaurant alone.
Michelin Stars are annual awards, and although restaurants don't lose them automatically, the cooking standard is reassessed continually at all establishments featured in the guide. A restaurant will only lose its star if the inspectors find that the cooking standard is not as high as at the time of rating.
Michelin Awards explained
The newest award, the Green Star, was introduced first in the Michelin Guide France 2020 and is now featured in all countries where restaurants are rated. Restaurants that set an example by working hard towards sustainable gastronomy get honored with the Green Star.
The Bib Gourmand category - named after Bibendum, the Michelin Man - features great cooking for an affordable price. The price limit for Bib Gourmand varies from country to country, depending on the cost of living, but the same high quality is required nevertheless. According to Michelin's website, best value-for-money restaurants have been receiving this award since 1997, while other sources state that the category was established back in 1955.
Image via Macok Bisztró (Eger) Facebook page
What is a Michelin Plate?
The guidebook has been featuring the Michelin Plate symbol - an icon featuring a fork, a knife, and a plate - since 2018.
A Michelin Plate is given to restaurants that have been recognized by the inspectors for their quality, but which still have to work towards stars or a specific award. These establishments could be fairly new or have recently changed owners. Although this is the lowest-ranking category, it is a big achievement and indicates that the restaurant is in the process of being recognized on a wider scale.
Michelin inspectors and the process of rating
As the purpose of the guide is to spotlight the best cooking worldwide, any kind of restaurant with any style and cuisine type can qualify to get featured in it. Restaurants that receive stars can just as well be casual or formal, have a fixed menu, or offer à la carte dining, and the cooking can be traditional, or innovative.
Michelin inspectors are former restaurant and hospitality professionals who are full-time employees of the Michelin company. Inspectors can make multiple visits to a given restaurant and try different dishes on different occasions - on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime as well as in the evening. Once various inspectors have eaten at a restaurant, they work as a team to discuss their experiences and make the final decision collectively.
