Beca's Kitchen is a bistro restaurant in Universitate, Bucharest.
Andreea Beca's Beca's Kitchen near Piața Romană in Bucharest runs a small homemade-food bistro, chalkboard daily menu, big mismatched plates of food.
Signature dishes: Daily homemade plates, Tomato soup, Cheesecake
Must order: Whatever's chalked up that day; the tomato soup is the standby.
Tip: Lunch fills first; reservations by phone only.
Address: Strada Mihai Eminescu 80, Sector 2, București, Bucharest
Trattoria Sale e Pepe near Foișorul de Foc in Bucharest cooks a no-frills Naples-leaning trattoria menu, wood-fired pizza and made-fresh daily pasta.
Signature: Pizza Napoletana, Tagliata, House tiramisu
Order: Pizza Diavola; the daily fresh pasta.
Tip: Bookings advisable on weekend evenings; mid-week walk-in is fine.
Buongiorno Italian on Lascăr Catargiu near Piața Victoriei is north-central Bucharest's dependable mid-priced Italian, with daily made pasta.
Signature: Spaghetti alle vongole, Tagliatelle al ragu, Burrata plate
Order: Spaghetti vongole when on; the burrata starter.
Tip: Three Bucharest locations; this is the Calea Victoriei branch.
Garden of Eden is a first-floor courtyard in the Universul building on Brezoianu, a Mediterranean kitchen and cocktail garden in central Bucharest.
Signature: Garden-grilled mains, Tapas plates, Cocktail menu
Order: Grilled octopus; the tapas trio; a Recaș rosé.
Tip: The courtyard is heated in winter; an enclosed nightlife-grade space.
Berăria H opened in 2014 inside the former Heavy Industry Pavilion in Herastrau Park, billed as Southeast Europe's largest beer hall on a 5,000 sqm floor.
Signature: Mici platter, Roasted pork knuckle, House lagers
Order: Pork knuckle on bread; a meter of house lager.
Tip: Concerts most weekends; bookings essential for Friday and Saturday nights.
Kané on Tunari runs a Romanian-fusion kitchen in a converted Dorobanți house in Bucharest, with a courtyard garden and a strong modern wine list.
Signature: Tasting plates, House signatures, Romanian wine pairing
Order: The chef's tasting; the house Recaș pairing.
Tip: Sunday closed; the garden runs May through October.
The 1879 Caru' cu bere on Stavropoleos serves the soul of Bucharest dining, where mici were recorded in a 1920 chef's letter to the Academy.
Signature: Mici, Sarmale, Papanași
Order: Mici with mustard and ciorbă de burtă, then papanași for dessert.
Tip: Walk-up queues from 12:30 onward; the upstairs hall has the live folk band.
