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    Balaton Restaurant

    4.4 (56 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

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    BALATON RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Balaton Restaurant

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    Ukrainian Lager
    Ron S.

    First experience at Balaton. Visited on a Thursday evening....had reservations. Seated immediately. This is a very small (maybe 10-12 tables) and reservations are a must. They have a very loyal and strong following so just walking in and getting a table is not likely. Had the Wiener schnitzel (small portion) and it was more than enough. Came with nice dinner salad, a choice of side and applesauce. I am no expert on Hungarian food but this was excellent. Light, crispy and tender. Also has a couple of Hungarian wines and Beer available. I had a Ukrainian beer that was very good. Service was good, seems like a family business that took good care of all the patrons. If there is one issue...because the restaurant is so small, table are really close together so just be aware. All in all a solid experience that satisfies on all counts.

    Chestnut Puree
    Keith M.

    I guess it's time to give you an update on "Balaton's" Hungarian restaurant. We were all in the mood for some fantastic Hungarian comfort food, and what better place than "Balaton's"? Well the answer is easy. There is no better place than "Balaton's". We made our reservation well in advance, as is always recommended. This is a small restaurant with a giant following. You will never get in without one. We were greeted by a pleasant young lady and provided a comfortable table where we were immediately met by another wonderful young lady that was our server for the evening. She was very attentive throughout our visit even though she had many other customers to take care of at the same time. Everything on the menu is exceptional. We started with an appetizer of "Stuffed Cabbage" rolls made of fresh ground beef, pork and rice, over sauerkraut. They were extraordinary! I do not hesitate when I say these are absolutely the best I have ever tasted made by anyone, anywhere in my life. And they were just the opening salvo of a fantastic evening. We also ordered the "Homemade Potato Pancake" which were to die for. Every dinner is accompanied by a simple but wonderful fresh salad. I optioned for the cucumber salad. It was great. Two of our group ordered "Wiener Schnitzel" as their main course. They are famous for this dish. A generous veal-cutlet for a hearty appetite, in traditional batter and fried to a golden brown, served with applesauce, and spaetzles. The other two chose the "Hungarian Platter". A combination of stuffed cabbage, chicken or veal paprikash, and wiener schnitzel, it comes with choice of side dish. I chose the veal paprikash option and spaetzles as my side dish. There are no words to describe how fantastic every forkful of this meal was. The servings are so generous you will be amazed when you see the picture of the leftovers we took home. The following days meals were just as wonderful. We followed dinner with a nice cup of coffee but it was just impossible to order any dessert... we were stuffed. I will tell you, I saw the desserts as they went by to other tables. They looked just as phenomenal as everything else. You will not believe how great this food is until you try it for yourself.

    Strawberry wine
    Michelle O.

    First off. You have to make reservations way ahead of time. You can't just show up and eat. It doesn't work that way. I called a few weeks ago to get the reservation for tonite. I was slightly put off by this whole procedure but it's a very small place and they try snd make the most of the space they have. We arrived and sat right away. Server brought homemade bread and whipped butter with herbs. Very good. We ordered the 2 drink specials. Strawberry wine and a warm mulled wine. Both were very good. The menu is all Eastern Europe. We heard about the chicken paprikash and that's what we wanted. Though many other items on the menu sounded delicious. Next time we will try something different. We ordered the paprikash and got a salad with it. Dressing was really light and good. We opted for no appetizer so we could get a dessert. The paprikash arrived and it looked incredible! And it tasted even better. Chicken was moist and falling apart. The spatzels were light and perfect. The gravy was very good as well to tie it all together. I've had chicken paprikash around town. Clubhouse was the best and now these guys are. As we were sitting we kept seeing other dishes coming out and drooling. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their meals. We noticed the desserts. And opted for the napoleon. It came more than enough to share. And it was hands down one of the best desserts I've ever had. Filo, vanilla custard, whipped cream, strawberries and a heart macaron. So good. We did take the rest of the paprikash home. Could eat that and the Giant dessert even if we weee splitting it. Staff was nice. Space is small so be ready to sit close with other people. But it's so good that we don't care and we will be back!

    Tossed salad. Still have their delicious dressing
    Renee B.

    Perhaps our memories are faded but when compared to their Shaker Square location we were hugely disappointed. We both order weiner schnitzel platters. The schnitzel breading wasn't as light and bubbly as we recall and our portions of potatoes and dumplings were meager. For dessert we ordered palacsinta and it was very good, but we wanted to enjoy it was espresso and learned their espresso machine wasn't working. It has lost its charm in the new location. For us it's just not worth the drive.

    Mike D.

    Service...top notch Food...Incredible Atmosphere..sooo friendly/family oriented. Would recommend highly !!!

    Hungarian Sample Platter - Feeds 2
    Katie B.

    Always authentic - always amazing! I grew up eating all these dishes and it always feels like home here. I recommend getting there early or calling ahead to secure your spot. Cute little resturant and friendly service!

    Hungarian platter-mashed potatoes, paprikash, cabbage rolls, schnitzel

    Dining at Balaton feels less like eating out and more like stepping into someone's home for a lovingly prepared meal. From the moment you walk in, the warm and inviting atmosphere sets the tone--there's a sense of comfort and familiarity, like being welcomed by family. Each dish is made with clear attention to tradition and detail, from hearty goulash to tender chicken paprikash, with flavors that are rich, layered, and deeply satisfying. Portions are generous, and the presentation is homestyle rather than fussy, which only adds to the charm. If you're craving authentic Hungarian comfort food served with heart, Balaton is the place to go.

    Chicken Paprikash
    Jessica C.

    Our sever, Susy, was fantastic! She gave great recommendations! We had the chicken paprikash, stuffed cabbages, and tiramisu!

    Töltött káposzta
    Nikita A.

    Authentic Hungarian food! A lovely Hungarian restaurant ran by wonderful Hungarian people. I am so happy we stopped by to eat here. I felt right at home with the poka dot table cloths, the red bowls for the soups and it just felt warm and cozy. Even the customers were fun, we were all talking about our experiences from Hungary. Köszönöm!

    Weiner snitzle
    Amy H.

    Great food, very large portions. Very busy so you know they're doing everything right. I got the stuffed cabbage and spaetzle. Super delicious. My hubby got the fuzzy chicken, which means it's breaded with potato pancake batter. The homemade applesauce is wonderful too. One of our party also got the chicken noodle soup which he stated was so close to his Jewish grandmothers! Weiner snitzle was superb! Def be back!!

    Some of the cookies we enjoyed later after dinner

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    2 years ago

    Food was good but pricey. Fry bread was recommended as something new and exciting, it was fry bread.

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    2 years ago

    Really enjoyed everything I eat. Look forward to returning. I needed to be wheeled out I was so stuffed. Lol

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    2 years ago

    Make a reservation because they are very busy. Food is amazing!! Small seating inside. I think I have everyone at work going here now.

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    3 years ago

    Excellent food, huge portions, highly recommend! Make reservations-smaller than previous location on Shaker Square

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    Ask the Community - Balaton Restaurant

    Is this the same restaurant that used to be in Shaker Heights?

    They were someplace else before Bainbridge/Chagrin Falls. So it definitely could be Shaker.

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    Cafe Europa and Bistro

    Cafe Europa and Bistro

    3.4(78 reviews)
    14.6 mi
    $

    Awesome family restaurant. Authentic. Delicious. Satisfying portions. Great service. Even claim…read moreingredients are sourced well. They have a little marketplace of beer and wine and a big dessert case. Pretty decor with a Midwestern diner vibe. Had a great calm breakfast there with the family- will be back for sure! We drove 30 minutes for this place from Cleveland and it was well worth it.

    I wasn't sure where I wanted to go to breakfast this morning because the City of Willoughby (in…read moretheir infinite wisdom) decided to block off the entirety of downtown for a festival. So no one could reach the downtown businesses. So on my way home I came across "Cafe Europa and Bistro" in the Pineridge shopping plaza. It's a small storefront in the middle of the plaza, run by a European family - husband, wife, and son. When I walked in I was a bit surprised that the place was entirely empty because the parking lot was nearly full. The son greeted me warmly and told me to choose any table. He brought me water (spring water) and a menu. We chatted a little. I read the short, very to the point, breakfast menu. And settled on the "Healthy Breakfast". The young man was exceedingly friendly and kept up a running conversation the entire time. His mother was in the kitchen preparing my breakfast. And the entire thing took on a surreal feeling as if I was in the kitchen of their home as a guest. A marvelously fresh breakfast appeared very shortly thereafter and I began my breakfast, as the running conversation (admittedly a bit one sided) continued. An oversized mug of excellent coffee appeared quickly that really was excellent. Time flew by and before I knew it I was reading to leave. The young man asked if I would like a ginger shot, on the house before I left. I thanked him but said no. I paid my $16 bill and after a few pleasantries, departed. All in all it was an unusual experience. Excellent food, good service, nice people... but maybe a little too personal... maybe? I don't know. It was just different. I guess I would just say you should give it a try and see what you think.

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    Cafe Europa and Bistro
    Cafe Europa and Bistro
    Cafe Europa and Bistro

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    Balaton Restaurant - hungarian - Updated May 2026

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