the only time it's nice to be old...

'Don't you wish you were older? Perhaps the only time you do is Monday night at The Hungarian.' So explains the menu we're handed by the blonde Hungarian waitress on a monday night in Richmond, Melbourne. The menu explains that the discount on our main course will be the percentage off the price of the main course equivalent to our ages. In short, Cathie and I will pay fifty percent of full price. Oh, alright, I'll get a 53% discount!

Cathie ordered 'the secret of Buda' which is Hentestokany - pork stew, cooked with smoked bacon, pickles, tomato, garlic and onion. My main course was Lamb Goulash - a mountain of tender lamb with potato, tomato, capsicum and spices. Both dishes were huge. It was hearty, simple comfort food that your Grandma would make, if she came from Budapest. I loved it. I particularly loved paying $9 and $12 respectively for it!

On other nights, they offer similarly innovative discounts. Such as 'the percent dish' - each night one main course is discounted by the percentage of the day of the month - on the 29th, you get a whopping 29% discount.

The menu also lists sweet and savoury crepes, monsterschnitzels, crumbed mushrooms, Roast duck, stuffed cabbage.

What a restaurant! Hearty food, great value made even better by humourous discounts, wonderful service... and excellent Hungarian wines.

I've been to Hungary and the food offered at this restaurant is similar to what I remember from Budapest. Next time I'm in Melbourne, I'll return to The Hungarian.