The Národní kavárna Restaurant is just across the street from the National Theatre. The place has a great interior and a rich cultural history – we visited twice to sample the menu.
On both occasions, we were seated in the front part of the restaurant.
The rear room has seats along each wall, but it’s also the route you would take to the bathrooms. I think the front has more atmosphere, although who knows where the famous Čapek brothers used to sit during their visits back in the 1920s.
We ordered 0.15l glasses of Chianti Classico (145 Kč) and a carafe of water (50 Kč). Those who have read my other reviews know that I think tap water should be free when wine is ordered.
On our first visit, we had Beef Tartare (100g), shallots, fried capers, smoked crème fraîche, pepper emulsion, toasted bread (200 Kč) as a starter.
It’s a good dish, although if you don’t like onions, you may find the shallots overpowering.
For a main we had beef burger with chorizo, cheddar, tomato, watercress, salad, marinated onion, spicy mayo, chunky fries (190 Kč).
It was a perfectly serviceable burger but nothing amazing. The good news is that the menu has more items now, many a better choice than a burger.
Our next visit, to start, we had Gambas al ajillo – roasted shrimps with garlic, chilli and parsley on bread (140 Kč).
It was beautifully presented and tasty, but you’d need to love garlic to enjoy this dish. The toast was rubbed with garlic and then slices mixed in with the topping.
Next course Flambéed Cod fillet with miso paste, pumpkin risotto, coconut milk (240 Kč).
The cod was perfectly cooked, the risotto delicious and the dish worked well enough that I’d order it again. The only odd component were coconut flakes, sprinkled across the top of the fish – I’d ask for those to be forgotten next time.
A nicely presented pot of tea, with small jug of honey on top, was 60 Kč.
The staff were always friendly, polite and returned to ask how each dish was. The toilets were modern and clean.
The English menu on the website didn’t reflect the actual menu when we last visited, perhaps because there are currently so few tourists in Prague. Open the Czech menu in Google and allow it to be translated https://www.narodnikavarna.cz/jidelni
I’d be happy to go back to the Národní kavárna Restaurant and I imagine it’s full early evening for pre-theatre dinners. The chef is clearly trying to produce good value food that is well-presented.
From the restaurant website:
The National Café experienced its biggest fame between 1923 – 1928. Virtually anyone who was significant in Czech culture was a frequent visitor. Among regular guests of the Café were the Čapek brothers, Vítezslav Nezval, František Halas, František Hrubín, S. K. Neumann, Eduard Bass, Ferdinand Peroutka, Jaroslav Seifert, Konstantin Biebel, Vladislav Vancura and many other significant personalities who found their popular refuge here.
Národní 339/11
Prague 110 00
Czech Republic
+420 773 824 585
Open daily 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
The Prague Review 