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Restaurants in Bucharest


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Burebista

This restaurant is located a stone's throw away from University Square, opposite the US Embassy. Named after the great Dacian ruler, Burebista serves good Romanian food with an emphasis on game and meat dishes. The theme of the restaurant is hunting so be prepared to see an interior decoration made of stuffed birds and animal skins plus the usual "Romanian restaurant ornaments", the carved wooden spoons, masks and ceramics. I can recommend "ciorba de burta" (tripe soup) and "sarmale" (cabbage stuffed with rice, meat, and herbs) they were really good. I didn't try anything excentric, but on the menu you can find things like "roast boar meatballs". You can spend a little or very much depending on what you order. Don't forget that in Romania meat is priced by 100g while the portions that they bring to the table are usually bigger (200 - 300g) so expect to pay double the sum that is written on the menu. But still I believe this restaurant is a good value. Service is courteous and efficient. They usually have live music, either a traditional band or, as I seen recently when I went there for lunch, a pianist tinkling away an international repertoire. I've only eaten here at lunch time and I didn't need a reservation. You might need one for dinner, better call the restaurant and ask. There is another Burebista restaurant in Bucharest, on Calea Mosilor 195. Address: Str Batistei 14. Price: Moderate.
 

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Vatra

Vatra is a small restaurant with distinct charm and relaxed atmosphere located close to Cismigiu Gardens which offers good value traditional dining. We had lunch here and this place seems to fill up quickly at lunchtime; we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table but it was worth it. I tried the ciorba the burta (tripe soup) and "sarmale" (cabbage stuffed with rice, meat, and herbs); they were both very good. They don't have live music (unlike most of the traditional themed restaurants in Bucharest) so the restaurant is quiet and you can carry on with your conversation. Service is courteous and efficient. It's open every day for lunch and dinner. Address: Str. Ion Brezoianu 23 - 25. Price: Inexpensive
 

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La Mama

La Mama is one of the most popular restaurants in Bucharest, serving Romanian food. The name (if you didn't guess already) means Mamma's and it tries to suggest that the dishes are intended to be what a Romanian mom would cook. The food is good, nothing out of the ordinary, the regular menu that one can find in a restaurant with Romanian cuisine. But what makes this one so popular is the fact that the prices are low and the portions are big so no matter what you order it's likely you'll have a fulfilling meal :-) Because it is so popular, reservations are strongly recommended. There are four "La Mama"s spread around the city :

1. Barbu Vacarescu 3 (junction with Stefan cel Mare Blvd) Tel: 021 212 40 86 or 0723 292 863

2. Delea Veche 51 (junction with Calea Calarasi) Tel: 021 320 52 13 or 0723 292 846

3. Episcopiei 9 (close to Romanian Atheneum) Tel 021 312 97 97 or 0721 LA MAMA (52 62 62)

4. Splaiul Independentei 210 (inside Galeria Orhideea comercial center) Tel: 021 220 33 95 and 0724 505 605

I tried the Barbu Delavrancea location and the one in Episcopiei. They both had non-smoking sections, a rare occurrence in Bucharest. Price: Inexpensive.
 

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Bistro Ateneu

This restaurant was listed as "International cuisine" in the Sapte Seri city guide. My impression was that they served mostly Romanian food but it's true that they had some international dishes on the menu. The restaurant is located right across the street from the Romanian Atheneum. The inside decoration tries to recall the 1930's (we dined in a back room that looked like a rich grandma's living room complete with pictures of all the past kings of Romania). We had to pick from a standard range of options listed on a blackboard which the waiter brought to our table. The food was good and we had fun. They also have live music, and it sounded good but we didn't get to hear much from the back room. I recommend that you try this restaurant if you happen to be in Bucharest. Address: Str. Episcopiei 3 Price: Moderate
 

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Locanta Jaristea

Locanta Jaristea has been going since 1991 and has made quite a reputation along the years. Their intention is to be the "quintessence of old Bucharest restaurants" and such the whole concept is based around historical Bucharest, with black and white photos covering the walls, dark wood furniture and traditional woven pieces. The menu was enormous and fun to read; most dishes are accompanied by a commentary (I don't remember if these were translated into English, I think they were). The dishes were perfectly executed and I liked everything I ate. As appetizers we ordered eggplant salad and mashed beans with caramelized onions; the best I've had in a Romanian restaurant so far. Same for the sarmale (cabbage stuffed with rice, meat, and herbs), they were really good. Then of course there is the entertainment, on every night. Since we dined early we didn't benefit of the live music, but I heard good things about it. The service was fast. You do need a reservation to dine here, the place fills up every night. It's more expensive than other traditional restaurants in town but how much you can spend depends a lot on what you order. Address: Str Georgescu 50-52. Price: Moderate.
 

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Terasa Doamnei

Terasa Doamnei has a great location in downtown Bucharest right across the National Bank. They have a huge terrace, a nice place to eat outside during the summer time. I guess their idea is to have to place resemble a country inn and that's why they have live birds running around the tables (they seemed to be taken good care of). We ate here at lunch they had no music then but they have live traditional music for dinner (in the photo you can see the stage). Expect the place to be noisy if you've come here for dinner. The food was good, the prices about average.

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