The Gay Hussar

Four of us went to the Gay Hussar yesterday evening just as they were opening at 6pm. The boss made a small amount of fuss when we said we hadn't booked but found us a table as long as we left by 8pm. Not a good start but we had two hours. The Beef Goulash starters was a bit thin but very tasty. The Venison Goulash main course was even better but in all honesty, something I could have cooked equally as well at home. We bought a couple of carafes of red and a couple of white and the wine was pretty good. Unfortunately no cheese board. The bill came to about £130 and we were surpised to find that the service charge had already been added. The numerous framed charicatures of politicians were interesting and the place seemed popular. I'm not sure I'd return though. There are better restaurants.
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Paul Narramore - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Saturday, July 26, 2008

My second visit to The Gay Hussar and I enjoyed myself once again. It's an unusual, interesting venue which offers something a little different from other restaurants in the area. The food is good, solid fare, which I found to be quite representative of the food I ate while travelling Eastern Europe last year. My starter of fish dumplings with a mushroom and dill sauce was notable, as well as the walnut pancakes for pudding. More vegetarian choice would be desirable, though.

Service was friendly and efficient and I like the restaurant's décor and ambience. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and wouldn't hesitate to return to The Gay Hussar - particularly with the 50% discount offered, which gave us excellent value.
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dawnage - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, July 25, 2008

I visited the Gay Hussar with a group of friends on Thursday night and it was truly the most revolting meal i have ever had the misfortune to eat. My starter of mushrooms with tartare sauce was okay but it was very "mum's been to Iceland", but the main course of crispy duck was horrific. The duck was dry and stringy, the potatoes were boiled down to a thick yellow glutinous mush and the 'red' cabbage was actually grey and greasy. We decided to skip pudding and go straight for coffee. That was a waste of time too, our 'decaff' coffee was instant and the cups were so dirty we had to ask them to be changed. To be honest, i'm still reeling from the shock - i can't believe this place manages to fill the tables. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Friday, July 11, 2008

My girlfriend ( hungarian ) and i went to gay hussar last night. I had the liver and she had another dish. This food was seriously disgusting, not bland, disgusting. the only thing good in this restaurant was the wine and my dessert. the service was alright but without conviction, no smile, nothing special, no atmosphere at all and its really a shame to be served by indian people in an hungarian restaurant.
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caroline
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Friday, May 16, 2008

I tend to agree with the review below. Really bland food. All I could think about when eating their house speciality of crispy duck was how much better it would taste if there were some pancakes, spring onions and plum sauce to go with it rather than some rather boring potatoes and some good, but not excellent, red cabbage. Perhaps I just ordered badly but no one else seemed to be that impressed with their choices either.

The service was quite jolly, especially from the rather humorous and monotoned waiter/manager but otherwise the atmosphere was dead. It may have just been because it was a Monday night but I doubt it.

Perhaps I was missing the point of this place, but overall I was not impressed and would not go back.
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Rick Brown
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Bland food, indifferent service, why this place survives is beyond me. The goulash I had was fine, but it's the kind of dish you'd be pleased to get in the canteen at work, not in a restaurant in Soho.
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Wilkoman - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Saturday, March 01, 2008

I am Hungarian and was very disappointed with this restaurant. The food is bland and does not resemble real Hungarian food.

I would not recommend this restaurant and think that its reputation as a 'real Hungarian restaurant' is very misplaced.

The staff are also unfriendly and the waitor rude.
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Anita
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Friday, February 22, 2008

I am Hungarian and went to celebrate my birthday with my boyfriend in the Gay Hussair. The food was bland and it did not resemble real Hungarian food. The male waiter was very rude and appeared to lack a customer focused approach and brain cells. He made no effort to make us welcome, but the waitress compensated for his. An overrated restaurant that lives on its past reputation and does real Hungarian cousine a tremendous diservice. Since my experience a friend of mine wanted to book a table - she also had the same sloppy service and the waiter she spoke with did not appear to show any interest so she did not book a table.
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Kriszti
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Friday, November 09, 2007

Had a great time here with a number of new and old friends cuisine superb and very to my taste!

The cost was very reasonable and the waiters were very polite and accomodating

So often you read bad reviews i thought that it was worth the time to say something positive.

I did like the touch of a free drink after we paid the bill too. Price was about £35 per head
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Adrian from Wimbledon
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, November 08, 2007

It is the first time I have really enjoyed a restaurant in London. As a French I have always been disappointed. I don't know anything about Hungarian food but I was very pleased with the duck, the wine was ok (keeping in mind we are in the UK, not France) and desert very good.

Above all I really liked the atmosphere, old pooks, the picture, pretty nice and not too much expensive all considered.

I strongly recommend this restaurant with no reserve
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Fred
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, August 24, 2007