A Restaurant Review: Restaurace Zvonarka in Prague, Czech Republic

Modern Dining at Modest Prices in Prague

As more and more savvy travelers are finding the Vinohrady neighborhood of Prague, with its largely tourist-free streets, lovely 19^th century architecture, and affordable boutique hotels, the neighborhood restaurant industry has been experiencing a boom. And one of those restaurants that best combines the neighborhood restaurant with its tourist counterpart is Restaurace Zvonarka. (See below for specific directions.)

Unlike most Czech restaurants, one needn't have the skills of an explorer to find the dining area. First of all, most of the dining area can been seen from the sidewalk. And the basic floor plan is that of a typical modern restaurant in America. You enter where the bar is, then proceed to the dining area. The restrooms are located behind the bar in a corridor between it and the kitchen. That said, the interior décor is not very Czech. If you like a modern look with little ornamentation, you'll like the décor of Zvonarka. There is one treat, however. Weather permitting, they open a fairly large garden area in the rear which overlooks the Nusle Valley. Don't' get too close to the edge, however, if you've had too much too drink. It's unlikely you'll survive the fall. It's a long way down.

In regards to the menu, the food is pretty good, and it's priced fairly. An appetizer I can recommend is the Caprese at 75,-kc, which is slices of mozzarella with tomato and basil pesto. If you want to experience a common Czech dish, try the Vinohradsky Piquant Beef Goulash with onions and dumpling, 125,-kc. It's really done quite nicely, better than you'd find at a beer hall. If you're feeling homesick, Zvonarka has a nicely priced dish, it's Buffalo Wings with a traditional sauce, but in a cheese sauce with cucumbers. At 95,-kc, it's one of the better priced items on the menu.