Romanian cuisine is very much related to and influenced by the cuisines of neighboring countries. Turkish, Hungarian, Austrian and Bulgarian influences are present in dishes around the country and have been assimilated, enhanced and reinterpreted to shape what is now considered typical Romanian food.
Usually, Romanian cuisine, like most Eastern European cuisines, is characterized by huge amounts of meat (pork, lamb, veal and chicken). Stews is king and ciorba (sour soup with vegetables and / or meat) is queen. Along with meat dishes, salads, polenta, pickled vegetables and potatoes are the main ingredients of traditional Romanian food.
Eating in Bucharest is very cheap when compared to Western Europe. A meal in a midrange city restaurant can cost a fraction of what it would cost in the UK. Similarly, luxury establishments are much cheaper than their Western counterparts even in the most central and fancy areas of the capital.
Here are three examples of good, nice and cheap restaurants in Bucharest:
La Copac
Terrace, beer and friendly prices
Str. Pitar Mos 23, Bucuresti
021.319.27.57
La Copac is a terrace restaurant located in a central area of the city, just steps away from Pl Universitate.
It is a place to enjoy good weather on the terrace while drinking a cold beer. The atmosphere at this bar-restaurant is young and somewhat alternative.
The service at La Copac tends to be painfully slow, so it is best to come unhurried.
The food: We ordered a chicken ciorba, hummus and a combo platter of meats. The quality of the food is good, ciorba soup is good any time of the year and is a great way to replenish much needed energy. As for drink, we had 6 beers (I know, I know!).
The price: Total amounted to 147 RON (€34) for 3 people, some 11 euro per person.
The best part: The terrace and the price.
The worst: The service was painfully slow.
Crama Domnaesca
Romanian Traditional Food
Str. Selari nr. 13-15 sector 3, Bucuresti
0722.291.195
Crama Domnaesca is a traditional restaurant located in the historic center of Bucharest.
It’s a steakhouse, with medieval decor and a menu that includes all the main dishes in Romanian cuisine.
The service at this restaurant is surprisingly poor, especially considering there were about 16 waiters for fewer diners during my visit.
The food: The banquet began with a white beans and meat ciorba served in a bread loaf.
After the soup, we had some chicken salad and a platter of assorted meats; beef steak, sausage, mititei (long meatballs) and pork steaks. All the food was to die for (and I also mean for the effect they had on my arteries).
We chugged down the cholesterol feast with a Transilvanian Silva beer.
The price: After the huge amounts of meat, the check only came up to € 15 per person.
The best: The quality of the food and the restaurant location in the heart of Bucharest.
The worst: The horrible service.
Sole Restaurant
“High” cuisine
B-dul Iancu de Hunedoara, 48, 15th floor
021.313.74.74
Sole Restaurant is a buffet-style restaurant located on the 15th floor of an office building within walking distance of pl Victoriei Metro station.
It is a modern establishment located in a privileged area of the city with great views of the north of Bucharest. The cuisine is international.
The service is very good (keeping in mind that this is a buffet restaurant, so the only contact you have with the staff is for ordering food and paying); the waitresses did not speak much English (we got around with Spanish and Italian) but she always had a smile on her face and was very eager to help.
It is a relatively little known restaurant in a city without tourists, so diners are primarily employees of the office building in which it is housed and locals who come to enjoy the views.
The food: at Sole, the specialty is simple, homely food. Nothing really memorable, but it’s good and you cannot top the views over the Bucharest from their terrace. The menu here is constantly changing as it is a buffet, in my case I ordered the sausage with potatoes, goulash and some broccoli.
The price: a bargain, only € 5 per person!
The best: The views.
The worst: You can really feel the office-like feel.