Souvla BiStro

Souvla BiStro stands in the heart of Balatonakarattya, by Route 71, on the Napfény pavilion row, a few minutes from the train station. From the outside it is a simple pavilion with a turquoise sign and a terrace, but inside it is a piece of Cyprus: charcoal skewers, oregano fries, homemade pita and baklava. There are few places in the eastern basin to eat such straightforward Mediterranean flavours, and after the beach it is one of the best stops around.

What is souvla?

The place is named after Cypriot souvla: similar to souvlaki, but with bigger chunks of meat threaded onto the skewer and slowly grilled over charcoal until crisp outside and juicy inside. Many compare it at first to the Hungarian rablóhús, only without vegetables: the meat is the star. It almost always comes with oregano fries, which bring a Mediterranean mood to the plate on their own.

The menu

Besides souvla there are gyros-style pita wraps, chicken strips, lángos with smoked pulled pork and coleslaw, and a 100 percent beef cheeseburger. Vegetarians should order the Taste of Cyprus platter: several dips with homemade pita, and non-vegetarians should not miss it either. There are salads and portions for children too. For dessert, the baklava is a must: baked on site with honey, pistachio, rose water and walnut, to the original Cypriot recipe.

Drinks

One of the most popular drinks is the Greek frappé, made without ice cream and available with lactose-free or plant milk. There is beer by the litre mug, spicy Greek gin with an olive and good coffee too.

The place

A relaxed terrace bistro on the pavilion row: you order at the counter and eat outside on the terrace. It has no car park of its own, but free parking is available within a few metres, and the train station and bus stop are about 500 metres away.

What do guests say?

Guests praise the juicy souvla, the homemade pita, the Cypriot baklava and the frappé, and many consider it one of the best Cypriot places in the country. The feedback is uniformly good and the service friendly.

Who we recommend it for

Anyone who wants something other than the usual lángos and fries after the beach. Fans of Greece and Cyprus who miss holiday flavours, families, and vegetarians too, who can choose the dip platter. It is not the place for an elegant dinner.

How much does it cost?

Mid-range: a souvla plate with fries and a drink usually come to a few thousand forints per person, and a pita wrap costs less.