Guests smash Budapest’s only 2-Michelin-star restaurant with hammers!

Photo: Illustration/Pixabay

Recently, there was a unique dinner held at Hungary’s only two-Michelin-star restaurant, Onyx. Eight guests could enjoy great food and the company of founder Anna Niszkács before completely smashing the place.

Onyx is Hungary’s only restaurant with two Michelin stars, which has been closed for eight months. The restaurant advertised a mysterious (and free!) “Last supper” in October, which eight people could attend together with founder Anna Niszkács and her mother. Those interested in attending were requested to send a videotape as an audition. Eventually, eight people were chosen who could attend the “Last supper” on 28 November, Dining Guide and 444 report.

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You might wonder how Onyx was able to pull this off at a time when strict restrictions are in place due to the coronavirus epidemic, and no indoor dining is allowed, nor is it possible for more than 10 people to gather in the same place.

The trick was that “Last supper” was not a dinner at all, but a clever marketing trick. The event was actually a film shoot, which granted all the necessary permits that allowed it to happen even in these restricted times. Onyx was equipped with all kinds of lights, cameras, and microphones when guests arrived.

Also, as a safety measure, all attendants were rapid tested for COVID-19 before dinner, including staff and crew members. The dinner went on as usual; attendants were having pleasant discussions while they consumed their dinner with the cameras rolling. After dessert, however, guests were served strange tools. Hammers appeared on the scene and confused looks were exchanged around the table.

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Suddenly, everybody was dressed in protective gear (goggles and helmets), and literally started smashing everything: tearing down the tapestry, slashing the rugs, and smashing the glass. Why, you ask? Well, as it turns out, Anna Niszkács decided back in 2019 that she wanted to redesign not only the exterior of the restaurant but also the entire operation of Onyx.

She created a unique concept that instead of a hierarchical kitchen structure, where there is a master chef who is responsible for all decisions, she wants to build a restaurant where teamwork and cooperation are the basis of the work. She wants the staff to make decisions together and have different chefs responsible for the different aspects of the operation, including cooking, aesthetic presentation, communication, supplies, and the economic background.

The decision to completely rebuild the restaurant was also made back in 2019, so Onyx would have closed even if there was no worldwide epidemic.

Since this complete redesign of Onyx is a very important step, Niszkács wanted the whole process documented, hence the shooting of the now-famous last supper. Even though the supper was also meant as a clever marketing trick, Niszkács also admitted that she wants to create a serious film about the renovation, one worthy of being on Netflix.