After a less than stellar with a meat-alternative traditional Czech dish at another Prague…read morerestaurant, I didn't have high expectations for Maitrea. I decided I would try it anyway because it was in the area and had such good reviews, and I'm so glad I did!
The transitional dish I opted for this time was the svíčková, some kind of soy meat cutlet topped with cranberry sauce, whipped cream, and some kind of creamy sauce covering the whole thing. Bread dumplings came with it, which were perfect for soaking up that creamy sauce. I'm not really sure how to describe what it tasted like as it was unlike anything I've ever eaten, but it was all flavorful, rich, and delicious! The whipped cream seemed especially random to me, but it was unsweetened so it wasn't actually too out of place. The meat alternative that was used was not too spongy, which often is the case with soy-based products.
The ambiance is very cozy - I sat downstairs but it didn't feel like I was in a basement at all. No complaints about service either, and I appreciated that you could pay via the QR code at your table so I didn't have to worry about flagging a waitress down for the check. All in all a great experience and if I'm ever in Prague again, I will be back!