GUNDEL – waiters who also communicate using sign language

Author: Sándor Csíki

From now on, people with hearing and visual impairments will receive special attention at the Gundel restaurant.

The waiting staff have learnt basic sign language in both English and Hungarian, whilst visually impaired guests can discover the stories behind the dishes at Hungary’s most famous restaurant from a menu written in Braille.

A short film about Gundel has also been made, directed by Péter Bergendy, and it is available from today.

Attention to detail and respect are key pillars of the restaurant, where, from now on, guests with hearing or visual impairments can enjoy the authentic Gundel experience even more fully. The waiting staff have learnt the 10 most important sign language gestures for guests in both English and Hungarian, whilst a Braille menu detailing the story behind each dish helps to ensure an even higher standard of service for guests with visual impairments. In addition to all this, accessibility is also a priority throughout the restaurant.

Gundel is particularly proud that its team is made up of such an inclusive community, which works day in, day out to ensure that everyone feels at home there. This Gundel hospitality, which is also extended to people with disabilities, is showcased in a recently filmed short film directed by the renowned Péter Bergendy, whose credits include „The Exam” and „Post Mortem”, amongst others.

As well as its emotional value, the short film also has educational significance. The film director said: the short film, produced in collaboration with Gundel, tells a very human story which, as well as offering a glimpse into the workings of this special restaurant with its rich history and ever-evolving nature, also presents a fine example of people looking out for one another – a value that is increasingly being lost in today’s world. This is precisely why it is important that we remind ourselves time and again just how simple an act it is to pay attention, and yet what everyday miracles it can bring about.

Jenő Magyary, Managing Director of Gundel, confirmed that, alongside its legendary hospitality, social responsibility and sensitivity have always been part of Gundel’s core values, and have shaped the attitude of those who work here, which is now also evident in the care shown towards guests with visual and hearing impairments.

The two founding owners of the Eventrend Group, which operates Gundel, Zoltán Kőrössy and Gábor Nagy, said: Károly Gundel He ran the restaurant in Városliget – founded in 1894 and later named after him – with the intention that its doors should be open to everyone. He shaped Gundel into a place defined by hospitality, culinary artistry and the preservation of tradition – a place where it is always a pleasure to visit. This is a legacy that the current operator, Eventrend, also fully embraces and continues to enrich.