La Ceaun on Council Square in Brașov is a Romanian restaurant named after the cauldron, and most of its dishes are cooked that way. Soups and stews are made fresh each day from local ingredients. The menu also includes sarmale with polenta, goulash, spare ribs and papanași with sour cream. The room is cosy, there is a terrace on the street, and the square outside is the old centre of Brașov. Start with a soup or stew, then save room for dessert.
Cooking in a cauldron
The name La Ceaun means cauldron, and the restaurant cooks most of its dishes in cauldrons. The kitchen works from old recipes, and the menu is built on soups, stews and rolls that follow traditional Romanian cooking.
Soups and stews are prepared fresh every day with local ingredients. The menu is kept to a short list, so each dish gets careful attention. A few Hungarian-style dishes, such as goulash and a Hungarian beef stew, sit alongside the Romanian classics.
What to order
Start with a soup. Mushroom soup and ciorbă de burtă are on the menu, and the sarmale come with polenta and sour cream. The goulash is a house favourite, and the spare ribs are a good choice for a heavier main course.
Each meal comes with bread baked with potatoes, house pickles, and hot peppers for the soup. Local specialties such as mici, grilled minced meat rolls, and garlic sauce also appear on Romanian menus in the city, so ask whether they are available.
For drinks, the restaurant serves Mușțata beers and the Romanian craft beer Zăganu, along with lemonade and local wines. Papanași with sour cream make a fitting finish.
The terrace and Council Square
Inside seating is cosy, and there is a terrace on the street, so you can choose where to sit.
Council Square, or Piața Sfatului, was the site of Brașov's main market in the medieval period. Today it is the centre of the old town, with cafes, restaurants and bars around it. From the square you can see the Gothic Black Church behind the coloured baroque houses. The former town hall, Casa Sfatului, stands on the square.
FAQ
Is there outdoor seating?
Yes. The restaurant has a terrace on the street, and you can also sit inside.
Do I need a reservation?
Booking is recommended, especially at lunch, because the restaurant often fills up and queues form.
What should I order?
Try the sarmale with polenta and sour cream, the goulash, and papanași with sour cream for dessert.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entrance, restroom and seating are listed as wheelchair accessible.
