U Kroka — Restaurant in Prague

Unfortunately, compelled to write this review and give this place a poor review due to poor service and giving themselves a larger tip than I told them

The meal was a rolling disaster from the very beginning. After ordering, I went to bathroom, and returned to find two people with menus sitting at the table I was sitting at. The only waiter for the outside section apparently seated them at my table, replacing me. I chalked this up to an honest mistake, and just sat at another table.

I received my food and drink, and a chronic problem began to emerge. I sat outdoors near the wall, above which sits a wooden awning. Throughout the meal, bugs would drop on top of me, culminating in an insect conspicuously dropping into my hideous expensive water, which no waiter noticed when they walked by, or did notice and did nothing, which is just as bad if not worse.

Took quite a while for the waiter to arrive, even though there were only like 5 of us at the time. I got the prague ham, a couple beers, and the pork hock. I thought the prague ham would be a "real" unprocessed ham, but they gave me what looked and tasted like supermarket deli meat. Not a good start. I witnessed the man next to me complain about his borscht, asking the waiter if they used beets in the borscht because he couldn't taste it, which is a big yikes from me.

Next came the pork hock, which was decent to good. Nice gelatinous texture on the outside, but a bit too dry near the center and a bit too gamey.

I asked for the bill, and they solicited a tip, and despite everything being a good American I tipped 15%. When I looked after the final amount after tip was added however, I saw that the waiter added tip to 15% and then rounded it up to the nearest 100 CZK, which really bothered me, but by this time with mediocre food and bugs all over me, I just wanted to get out of there.

Just stay away...

During my recent dining experience, I had the opportunity to sample a couple of dishes that, while visually appealing, left me with mixed feelings.

First Dish: Steak with Fries and Sauce** The steak arrived beautifully plated, with a perfect sear that promised a succulent bite. The fries were golden and crisp, complementing the rich, brown sauce that added depth to the dish. A side of creamy sauce provided a nice contrast in flavor. However, while the presentation was spot on, the taste didn't quite match the expectation set by its appearance. The steak, although well-cooked, lacked the robust flavor I was hoping for, and the fries, while crispy, could have benefited from a touch more seasoning.

Second Dish: Breaded Cutlet with Mashed Potatoes The breaded cutlet was another visual treat, served alongside a generous portion of creamy mashed potatoes. The cutlet was golden and crispy, providing a satisfying crunch with each bite. The mashed potatoes were smooth and buttery, pairing well with the lemon wedge and pickles that added a refreshing zing. This dish was a comforting classic, though it could have used a bit more seasoning to elevate the flavors.

Service and Presentation The service was prompt, and the dishes were presented with care. I appreciated the little touches, such as the cloth-wrapped utensils, which added a touch of elegance to the meal. The condiments were thoughtfully placed, and the overall dining experience was pleasant, if not exceptional.

Final Thoughts While the meal was visually impressive and service was attentive, the flavors didn't quite live up to the standard set by the presentation. With a few tweaks in seasoning and flavor balance, this could be a truly memorable...

Five stars couldn’t show enough how good the food was. Every course of the meal was just simply so delicious and perfect in almost every way. We three started our meal with the smoked beef tongue, creamy garlic soup (easter special dish) , sausages and beef tartar . The beef tongue was thick , juicy , smoky and was well complimented with horseradish sauce and apple . The soup was so creamy , garlicky and flavorful. The thee kind of sausages were on point and grilled to the perfection. Beef tartar was also amazing

The main courses were traditional Svíčková and roasted veal . The Svíčková we believed was not totally traditional and missing the cream on top . The taste overall was however great . Veal was cooked to perfection, the side dishes were not impressive but complimented the veal pretty well. The desserts were also a must try . We ordered easter dessert of the day and the corn panna cotta . The easter sponge with mascarpone cream was scrumptious and go to the last bite. Corn panna cotta was so creamy , not to sweet and just perfect . It was served with popcorn and passion fruit culli , which were the perfect pairing with the panna cotta . Price for everything, including beers was only 92 Euro before tips , which for us , whi live in Germany is insanely cheap for the quality . The service was however not friendly and welcoming , but still polite and professional. Reservation is a must . I don’t think you can get a table without one . We have to comeback later at 16:00 to have out lunch , but it was definitely a...