598Where to Eat in Romania
Romanian restaurants rely heavily on the Italians for
culinary inspiration – almost every restaurant menu
features pizza and pasta. Bucharest has several inter-
national restaurants but the choice narrows outside the
capital. Specialities include ghiveci calugaresc (vegetable
stew) and tochitură ardelenească (Transylvanian stew).BUCHAREST
Caru Cu Bere Δ ) © ̊
Str Stavropoleos 5, 30081 Tel (021) 313 7560 Map E4
Built in 1899, the elegant Caru Cu Bere has retained much of its original style and features a high vaulted
ceiling, stained-glass windows, ornate wooden balustrades and intricate floral murals. The menu is extensive
and the wine list exhaustive.Isoletta f Δ ) ©
Şoseaua Nordului 7, 14102 Tel (021) 232 2177 Map F1
The Italian-owned Isoletta has gained a reputation for its high-quality fish dishes prepared by an Italian chef,
with fresh stock delivered from Italy twice a week. The restaurant is partly managed by a well-known
Romanian actress and model, which adds to its appeal.Trattoria Il Calcio ¤ Δ ) ©
Str B Franklin1–3, 10287 Tel (0732) 528 140 Map E3
Housed in a delightful 19th-century building opposite the Royal Palace (see p576), the Trattoria Il Calcio offers
an excellent choice of well-prepared pizza and pasta dishes. Comfortable chairs and shaded outdoor seating
make for a relaxing environment.FURTHER AFIELD Rossetya ¤ Δ © ̊
Str Dimitrie Bolintineanu No. 9, 21061 Tel (031) 805 9199
The inviting interior of the Rossetya recreates a classic 19th-century Romanian restaurant. It specializes in
the preparation of intricate traditional Romanian dishes and has a broad-ranging menu that covers vegetarian
broths as well as duck, pork and mutton recipes.REST OF ROMANIA
BRAŞOV Panoramic ¤ Δ ) ©
Tampa Mountain Tel (0268) 475 349
The 955-m (3,133-ft) high Tampa Mountain looms over Braşov’s sprawling streets. The best place to enjoy the
view is from the Panoramic restaurant, which exploits its position with enormous glass windows, although it
offers no more than a standard range of Romanian dishes. It can be reached by road or cable car.BRAŞOV Casa Hirscher Δ © ̊
Piața Sfatului Nr. 12–14, 500025 Tel (0268) 410 502
Originally built in the mid-16th century as a residence for Apollonia Hirscher, the city judge’s wife, the Casa
Hirscher restaurant offers an imaginative choice of dishes served by polite staff in elegant surroundings. The interior
is decorated with copies of ancient frescoes. The soups are particularly good and the wine list is excellent.CLUJ-NAPOCA Ethno ¤ Δ ) ©
Str Memorandum 21, 400114 Tel (0264) 590 501
The restaurant’s shaded outdoor seating fills the Ethnographic Museum’s pleasant courtyard, while its superb
medieval-style interior consists of a series of vaulted cellar rooms furnished with solid wooden tables. Grilled
meat and pizza feature heavily on the menu.CLUJ-NAPOCA Baracca 7 Δ ) © ̊
Str Napoca 8A, 400009 Tel (0732) 155 177
This funky restaurant features exposed brick walls, stripped wooden floors and enormous white shell-shaped
lampshades. The atmosphere is pleasant and the clientele smart. The menu offers a good range of inter -
national cuisine as well as Italian staples.PRICE CATEGORIES
Based on the price per person of a
three-course meal with half a bottle of
wine, including cover charge, service
and tax.ROMANIAMap References see map of Bucharest pp570–71
Under 60 lei
60–70 lei
70–80 lei
80–90 lei
Over 90 lei