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It all started with a friendly baking and the dream finally came true because of the coronavirus. Although, due to the epidemic, Budapest and national tourism and hospitality are facing increasing problems. By comparison, the Block BBQ restaurant opened its doors on September 14, during the pandemic, at the beginning of the second wave.
My friend Zoli, who is now my partner, has always made more than delicious food by baking in the garden, all as a hobby. If you are interested in something you are a maximalist, be it sideways, pulled powder or beef neck, the group of friends liked it all, so I said: these dishes would be worth selling.
– Zsolt Koncz, the owner of Blokk BBQ, started the fairy tale story.
But the idea was not followed for long, until the epidemic period. Zsolt Koncz really started to grapple with the caterer idea at that point as he found that there were serious problems in most areas, but the food delivery was working very well.
Originally our plan was to find a kitchen and just deal with delivery, but we scrapped it. Although none of us had significant hospitality experience, we asked our most knowledgeable acquaintances in the profession, did a tasting, and after everyone encouraged us, we intervened. We are definitely looking for a place that does not depend on tourists and is also in a densely populated area. This is how we find a cozy little pavilion in the Kispest part of Üllői út, which we mold and build ourselves.
Added Koncz Zsolt to the index.
How to overcome a difficult period?
But in vain everything looks beautiful and good, the question arises: is it worth opening a restaurant in the midst of an epidemic, while Hungarian tourism is in dire straits?
Clearly, in terms of traffic, the weather is not the best, but the owners of Block BBQ are not worried. As they say, they will be slow in the first half of the year due to the virus situation and bad weather, so they are expected to recover from the next terrace season. In the meantime, they intend this period to introduce themselves and their food to as many people as possible, while also preparing for home delivery and pre-ordering to remain the only solution in the event of further adjustment. . However, the idea of closure may not even emerge.
He played an important role in designing the menu to have dishes that could withstand delivery. The backbone of our menu is provided by BBQ bowls and sandwiches, focusing on flavors. It is also an important aspect that the main dishes are made exclusively with quality ingredients, as well as the special garnishes that our chef dreamed of, trained in the haute cuisine line. Based on the feedback, we are on the right track, and even during this short time we already have regular customers.
Said the owner.
The hotel could not open, only the restaurant
In a completely different situation is the Sessions restaurant and the Roxy rooftop lounge and bar in the city center, which belongs to the Hard Rock Hotel Budapest, which opened on August 28. The conditions are special only because the hotel is still closed. The hotel would have originally opened in May, but was postponed due to the coronavirus until November and finally March 2021. The decision is logical because a foreign tourists give the Mainly to the target audience, but this does not apply to the restaurant.
After the opening, there was a lot of turnaround, tourists also came, but restrictions arrived, borders were closed, restaurants could not be opened after eleven o’clock at night, so the target audience and consumption habits changed accordingly. full, dinners and musical entertainment too. Due to the hardening, we had to redesign our plans, we see that more and more people hardly dare to go out and much less to sit in a restaurant, it is true that the heated terrace and the open attic compensate us. At the entrance we measure the fever, the tables are at a sufficient distance from each other, so everything follows the rules
– told Index Kornél Tóth-Harsányi, CEO of Hard Rock Hotels in Hungary.
He added that not only have they opened a new restaurant, but others have brought something more and consequently have brought in an award-winning mixologist from abroad, and the kitchen is run by a couple of chefs with significant experience abroad, but trust many Hungarians looking for Hard Rock. thanks to there will be no further decrease in traffic. But they can plan ahead for a month or two at most, but while they can, they go on and fight to the end.
Where closure was inevitable
However, with the refreshing exceptions, the domestic tourism problem remains large, and there is still no help, and not everyone is so lucky to be able to stay open.
The number of guests dropped below two percent, so we didn’t even open it this week, we had to close it
Manna Sebők, manager of ZONA and Szabadság Bistro, told our newspaper.
At the moment, one of the two restaurants, ZONA, which has mainly foreign customers, has closed its doors, although the Bistro Szabadság will not open during the weekend. Due to the closure, several employees had to be laid off, leaving a total of 14 out of 54.
We try to get through this period, but we live overnight. There is nothing we can do but wait, that’s all we have left. It’s sad that hospitality doesn’t get any help and there isn’t even a perspective from it. Budapest was left alone. No vision, just waiting to have a rescue package. Both restaurants have more than ten years of current leases, and this is a big expense even if one is closed. If the government took over the rents, or at least part of them, it would be of great help. Non-reimbursable support would be needed, especially for those who make a living from tourism.
The executive added.
In the case of ZONA, the owner at least paid a lower rent by the end of the year, although they don’t even think about reopening it in the spring, but at Szabadság Bistro there is not even a discount, so if the business is not going well, you should close. According to Manna Sebék, the turnover is already below 50 percent compared to last year, and outside help would be needed to stay alive. Although home delivery has been mentioned, fine dining isn’t exactly a suitable genre for this.
People are afraid, they prefer to sit at home, the healthy do not dare to go out, they do not consume, although it would be important to assume a social responsibility, which should not be limited to wearing masks, and then ruining businesses, be it nails, hairdressers, cafes or even from the restaurant
Sebok Manna said.
Featured Image: Bálint Bojtor
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