authenic places - prague, vienna, budapest

[gariotin]

Any suggestions for real, authentic home-style restaurants in Prague, Vienna, or Budapest? I am looking for the kind of places residents of these cities might go to - not necessarily fancy, but good. Center city locations would be helpful.

Thanks!

[Gifted Gourmet]

one such thread to start you off This is a compendium of places which are authentic and relatively inexpensive in all three cities.

yet another thread .. same topic This focuses upon Budapest and has some great ideas ... some of it is from my trip to Budapest last fall so the info is relatively recent.

romantic and authentic restaurants in Prague from Chowbaby

one such example is this:

in Old Town, Dobromila a la Francaise remains the favorite for its excessive standards. Do not be deceived by the simple exterior of this restaurant. The authentic cooking technique has been preserved and passed on to a new generation. Interestingly, the known 19th century Czech chef, M. D. Rettigova, selected the original recipes.

Edited July 31, 2004 by Gifted Gourmet (log)

[gariotin]

Thanks for the tips - will let you know how I fare when I return!

[gariotin]

Back from my trip with a few suggestions for anyone:

Prague -

ate at U Modre Ruze, in Old Town just down the street from the Estate Theatre which has great opera. It is in an old brewery/beer hall from the 1400s. Food was excellent - try the "Czech Plate" for a little bit of everything: goose, pork, cabbage, dumplings, as well as good local wine. Fennel salad starter, dinner, and wine came to about $50, including tip.

Vienna -

go to the Nasmarket and do not miss a wonderful cafe attached to a fish purveyor, called Cafe Umar. Outside seating and outstanding fish (gratefully appreciated after eating more meat in a week than I'd had in a year!) Absolutely order the grilled sardines if they are offered, also the local fish (something like welsch), which is a fresh water fish from the Danube. Also at the Nasmarket, if you like cheese check out Kaseland which has many French, German, and Swiss cheeses but also some very strong pungent Austrian ones called Rasskase - yum! (Had a great conversation w/the manager, who lamented that he cannot get American cheeses to sell. Told him about the recent Festival of Cheese at the American Cheese Society conference in Milwaukee, where over 700 American artisinal cheeses were featured, and he was astounded!)

For dinner, check out a great little place about 2 blocks from St Stephen's, called Oswald & Kalb. It is on 14 Backerstrasse - good old-fashioned atmosphere, menu changes every evening. Excellent local specialties and some new takes on traditional dishes. Waiters were lots of fun too!

Budapest -

Great little place just behind the big food market in Pest - called Borbirosag. It is at 5 Csarnok Terrace and offers great food with wonderful wines - many by the glass. The veal paprikas was outstanding. Very reasonable prices and waiter can make good wine pairing suggestions with your food.

All in all, I can't wait to go back!

Hope this helps anyone heading that way soon.

[Gifted Gourmet]

Even though I am not heading there soon, your marvelously detailed post made me remember some of the highlights of my trip there last fall .. wasn't the duck/goose absolutely terrific?? I still dream of the one I ate in Prague ... "veal paprikas was outstanding" .. I found Budapest quite reasonanable and the food was superb for the money ... did you have beef goulyas? I loved that! Welcome back!

[gariotin]

Yes, the goose and duck were marvelous and I agree that overall, the food and wine was quite reasonable in Prague and Budapest. Vienna was another story, but then it's more on the beaten path. Even so, meals w/wine at good restaurant or coffee house was quite reasonable. Did not see beef goulyas on any menu, or might have tried it.