Prague Czech Beer Restaurant
42 Kellett St
Potts Point
9368 0898
As I turn down Kellett St from Bayswater Rd, a stencil on the footpath informs me that i'm walking through the site of the vicious 1929 Sydney riots, when the city was terrorised by razor-weilding gangs under the instruction of notorious underworld figures 'Tilly' Devine and Kate Leigh. The street itself is mainly bordered by terraces, some of which are now restaurants and wine bars, 24 hour pubs, gaming lounges and the odd strip club for good measure. An icy breeze takes over the dimly-lit street, voices emanate from the buildings. I am habitually checking the time. I wonder how much has changed since the 20s, hopefully a lot.
Prague is situated on the corner of Kellett Way and I walk down there while I wait. As my friends arrive, we are shown into the bar and immediately I have a good feeling about this. The bar compliments the cuisine with an array of quality imported beers from the Czech Republic which i'm dieing to sample.
The restaurant is the product of a renovation in 2004 and has a homely, cosy atmosphere. People chat quietly amongst themselves and it feels as though we're in a guest house in the Blue Mountains. We start with the Utopenci (marinated Czech-style sausages) which we are warned are served cold, which is little deterrent. They are engulfed by a marinade of what tastes like lemon juice, vinegar and onions. Although a huge serving, it works well. Next is the crunchy fried and stuffed mushrooms with blue cheese and tartare sauce. Even at this early stage of the evening, I make a mental note to go to the gym ASAP. The mushrooms are merely a vehicle for a whole lot of calories but the flavour makes it worth it.
After deliberating about the mains, I choose the stuffed Chicken Breast with Peach and Prawns, Blue Cheese Sauce and roast Potato. On face value prawn and peach don't work- one is a crustacean, while the other is a stone-fruit by-product of a deciduous tree. As it arrives, I'm happy to be proven wrong. The chicken is tender and the roast potato a cut above. It all washes down quite easily with the addition of some great Czech pilsners, Urquell and Gambrinus. My friends order the Beef Goulash with extravagant bread dumplings and Veal sausages with horseradish and mustard. I could get used to this.
Food: Great variety of dishes. Many new dishes to try. It was a strange and exhilirating experience to glance down the menu and to not really be familiar with any of it. It never sought to rely on the beers, which are undoubtedly a strength.
Service: Almost seamless. Had everything covered.
Value: Outstanding. Table for 3 came to about $110. We shared 2 entrees, each had a main and topped it off with a few drinks and a side serving of chips.
Atmosphere: Warm, cosy, friendly- felt like you were eating at someone's house.Perfectly juxtaposed to the atmosphere outside.
Verdict 13.5/20 I will be back. A great way to end the week
NB: Should you opt for late-night pancakes on say a Friday night, leave the long queue at the Rocks for someone else. City Extra is more than competent in the art of the flapjack and is just a short stroll from the Harbour View Hotel.
