Pravda Beer Theatre — Restaurant in Lviv Urban Hromada

UPDATE: 3 FEB 2017 It's been almost a year since I wrote this review about Pravda, and thankfully I can say that the place continues to improve and provide a quality product and atmosphere to clients, tourists and locals alike.

The beer is still fantastic, and although prices have risen a bit, they still are well within reasonable boundaries (around $1 for a 250ml, with some lighter beers being a bit cheaper). They've added some nice beer snacks, such as beef jerky and popcorn, and redid their main menu a bit as well.

There's no more weird greeter guy in the staircase, and the downstairs basement area has been revamped in such a way that it allows you some shelter from the noise above when the orchestra is in full swing.

The only thing I could wish for now is a slight menu change - as it stands, a lot of the food is both fairly expensive and frankly a little out of place for a brewpub. $8 ribs might sound good to Americans, but you can go across and get the same thing for half the price. There used to be an awesome "bigos" on the menu (think hot dog/mashed potatoes mix), but sadly it was removed. I don't really know which direction the owners would like to take the food, but right now it feels like there's something a bit missing. Even something as simple as hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders or pizza would make this place a true sit-down restaurant - as it stands right now, I just come for the beer!

In any case, I'm happy to see Pravda in its current state and I eagerly await to see where it goes in the future.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

So the first two or three times I went to this place last year (2015), I HATED it.

The beer was "blah" and expensive, the service was terrible, and the concerts were more annoying than anything else (by the way, do NOT sit anywhere in the main halls during a concert if you want to have a conversation with someone - the sound is so loud you can't really escape it - it even pours out into the Market Square).

But then about half a year ago, they got a new brewer and redesigned their menu - now there's 10+ different beers which they always offer 4 options of at any given day, and they're all quite good. They are bitter and hoppy American-style beers (probably because the main brewer is an American), but they aren't flat and crappy like a lot of other beers offered around Lviv. Plus, the price is right (20-22 hryven for 250ml), and I like being able to order them by the quarter-pint so I don't feel obligated to drink a TON. I've tried a few things on the menu which are pretty good - I know they had a scare in 2015 with food poisoning, but I heard several heads rolled because of that and it looks like they fixed things up very quickly.

Now this is my go-to place for a beer or two after work. I strategically sit in the side hall if I don't want to listen to the concert, but I think they've toned down the volume a bit and they place the schedule on the first floor so you can see when the concert is going on and where and plan accordingly.

All in all, it's a good place and worth regular visits. I do have one qualm though - whoever the guy is that sits on the stairs as a "greeter" is pretty much next to worthless. (READ UPDATE: He's since been fired) The first couple times I saw him I thought he was a customer just messing around in the staircase, but then I found out that he was actually the "promoter" of the restaurant (similar to the executioner at Meat and Justice or the guy at House of Legends to tells stories). Unlike those other guys though I think this guy's job is just to play on his phone in the staircase all day. Not exactly up to the standard of other Lokal...

Excellent atmosphere!! Go here!!!

We went in on a Wednesday evening around 2100 and it was packed! We had to go up to the 3rd floor to find a table. The reason: a live brass band (about 10 musicians) playing pop songs. We heard songs by Selena Gomez, Bruno mars, etc. The last couple of songs were obviously Ukrainian favourites because everyone started singing along. Loved it!!!

The building is set up sort of like a square donut, so the floors above ground all have balcony seating and you can look down through the hole in the middle. The band sits on the second floor balcony facing the centre, so you can see/hear them clearly from all over the building.

It seemed like there was a little bit of a dance floor going on the ground floor, and a bunch of people were dancing in their seats or at their tables. Even the workers on our floor were getting into the dancing. Incredible!

The band only plays until 2145 and for the last few songs we were handed empty plastic bottles to bang on the table to the beat. The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic!

They serve a medium menu of food (maybe 6 options) and appetisers as well as a bunch of beers. Note that they don't serve any alcoholic drinks other than beer, which was annoying for me and usually I would minus a star, but the atmosphere made up for it.

Also if you can translate the beer they're quite quirky. For example they have a Mexican beer named Trump.

Do yourself a favour...

Bad experience with the customer service. I have visited this place each evening and everything was good. Waiters speak good English, if not then they call colleague who does. They recommend me good beer with lemon taste or black Obama beer. Interiér is very modern, a lot of young ppl there. All was good till i went to the shop located inside this pub. They are selling beers which serving in the pub. I bought 6 bottles of beer and they put everything to the one not very strong paper bag (outside was heavy raining). I asked if they can put each beer separately to the small bad (girl before me bought 4 beers and without any problem and smile on stuff face get it when she asked). For me the answer was NO. When i asked why they sad just NO and gave me one small bag like souvenir to the big bag with all my beers. Then i asked for at least stronger bag. With very unhappy face and with big afford on the face i get second big paper bag and straight away they started to serve another customer. Please treat all customers equal... it is really rude to provide different customer service to two different customers when they are next to...