For those of you who think "wow, it sure would be fun to travel back to 1493 and dine in the Middle…read moreAges," U Sedmi Svabu is the place for you! We found this place by accident and it turned out to be quite the memorable dinner in Prague, to say the least.
We walked into a dungeon, complete with a basement (be sure to go down there, it's pretty cool), suits of armor, and servers clad in wench get-ups that would be suitable for your local Renaissance fair. The theme is top-notch and is taken to new heights here, yet nothing feels too "hokey" about it.
We loved the super dark atmosphere and candles on the long wooden tables. We were seated in a corner by the bar and it felt so cozy and romantic even though the restaurant was busy. Our server was friendly and prompt, and the menus have English translations -- sort of. The broken English on the menu is pretty funny ("good ribs from pig roast"), but we appreciated the assistance because the Czech language is so difficult to read and pronounce!
We each ordered a local beer and I was delighted that it was served in large, chilled mugs. The menu had a good mix of local specialties and comfort food, and we ordered a bit of both.
To start, we got the Chalupníkův Tejden (garlic soup) and the Couračka, a tasty cabbage soup with sausage and cream. Both of these were delicious and the portion sizes were huge. Our soups were served with a large side of hearty brown bread that was glistening with a layer of lard, as is the norm in Prague. It was also fresh and delicious.
Since I was sick of eating pork, I went with the chicken schnitzel. This turned out to be one of my favorite things I ate in the Czech Republic. It was a very large fried chicken breast topped with toasted nuts and a side of green beans. The beans were just okay, but I was craving veggies so I gobbled them up. Hubby got the roasted pork knuckle and said it was well prepared too.
Vegetarians can rejoice because the restaurant has a large veggie-friendly menu -- something that can be difficult to find in the city. Choices were interesting too, ranging from omelettes and goat cheese with honey to a baked potato and sauerkraut pancakes. There's a great assortment of salads too.
Looking back I'm sure this place was some kind of a tourist trap, but we very much enjoyed our meal. It was by sheer happenstance that we dined here and we were pleasantly surprised by the good service, fair prices, and large portions.