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| - I decided on Josza's corner for a big family dinner to celebrate my grandmother's birthday. She does not like going out to fancy/expensive places so, after reading the reviews and finding out that after some research on ancestry.com she may be at least 50% Hungarian, I called Alex to make reservations for a Sunday, 12 people.
When I read the reviews, I thought that I had a good idea of what it would be like but, to be honest, I was taken aback when we arrived. To say that building was old would be the understatement of the century. My family was surprised and a little worried after seeing the outside of the building. This is not your typical chain restaurant set up. This is what I would consider authentic. If you went to visit your long lost relatives in Hungary and great grandma welcomed you to her home to serve you a big meal, this is probably what her house would look like. The fact that the restaurant shows its age and its use made it more real for me. But don't expect frills and thrills. That's the food's job.
You have to walk through the small kitchen to get to the back room where three long tables are set up. The tables are covered in plastic table cloths and there are plastic utensils and styrofoam plates in the middle. The room is filled with pictures, knick knacks and other memorabilia. Alex also turned on some authentic music for ambience.
We opened the wine we brought and loosened our belts. Then the food started. Served family style. Appetizers were first. Amazing flat bread, cabbage salad and a tomato/pepper soupy concoction that blew me away. Next course: peasant soup. Think the warm, flavorful chicken soup grandma would make you from scratch when you were sick. Warms the soul. Next up: cabbage and noodles. My favorite with a few spices for a little kick on the classic. Then the entrees came. Transylvanian pork with cabbage and served with bread. Then a chicken dish with noodles. After all of the food was served, Alex came out with a plate of dessert-crepe/tortilla type bread with chocolate chips and dates. Alex then answered our questions about history and culture. All of this for 20$ a person. We added a little extra for an extra tip. All in all, my family embraced the experience and had a wonderful time leaving full, happy and with an appreciation for all the wonderful things we have today.
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