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| - We wanted to find some good ethnic food on an art-centered visit to Cleveland, and we were not disappointed in Balaton. I'm not of Hungarian extraction, so I can't speak to how "authentic" the food is, but it's really good--not haute cuisine, but like a really talented home cook would make. I had the pork goulash, which was flavorful and satisfying. The pieces of pork fell apart at the touch of the fork, and were well-trimmed (So many restaurants are careless about serving fatty, gristley meat.) Cabbage, onions and sauerkraut gave the dish a rounded, earthy element, and the sauce was redolent of paprika. (The paprika tasted toasted, but not burned--another mistake I often find in paprikash preparations.) The dumplings soaked up the gravy, and had a proper bit of tooth to them.
A (good) warning: I am a big eater, and I was starving when we clocked in at Balaton after 1:00. I ordered the small portion, and left 1/3 on my plate. I can't even imagine who could eat their "large" portions.
The restaurant was super clean, comfortable, and the service was efficient and friendly. I will return to Balaton for my next Hungarian food fix.
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