Eastern Europe Guidebook
Best and worst restaurants:
Best: Farina in Cracow
Why: We went at 4:00 pm day we were leaving . Everything was 20% of and the food was delicious. Ihad the salmon in butter and capers sauce- best meal of our 20 day trip.
Barbara Chasnoff in Chicago , Il USA 10/07/2011
Best: Klub Architecktu
Why: Loved the atmosphere and good food for a reasonable price
Judy Sepik in Forestville, CA USA 10/01/2011
Best: Mayer penzion
Why: delicious dragonfish
Tay Siew Hua in Singapore, Singapore 09/09/2011
Best: WIWA on the Main Market Square in Krakow
Why: One of the resturant owner's sons, Patrick, was exceptionally gracious (& good food), then referred us to the family's other restaurant in the ulica Szeroka in the Kazimierz (Jewish Quarter), which has the opposite name, AWIW, which also has good food. He arranged a 10% discount for the AWIW. The whole family is involved in these restaurants & are very friendly.
Larry Iversen in Bremerton, WA USA 07/03/2011
Best: Bar Grodzki (Milk Bar)
Why: Awesome food , English menus, both of the people that worked there were very nice and the food was unbelievably cheap. We ate there twice. One note, they no longer have shared tables. They had about 12 or so small 2 & 4 top tables.
Francine Miller in Seminole, FL USA 05/18/2011
Worst: not worst, just not as important
Why: We usually stay for a week in each place. We found so many good restaurants that we stopped using the guide. Warning: Do not let the waiter choose your meal, even if they say, "I know just want you want". There will be way too much food and it will cost too much.
Judy Kropp in Oakdale, CA USA 12/04/2010
Best: Figlmuller in Vienna
Why: The best schnitzel in 3 countries! Good service and atmosphere (in the bricked cellar area). Enjoyed viewing window at Demel's. Cafe Gerbeaud was yummy, with good service in a crowded place.
Worst: Gigerl Stadtheuriger in Vienna
Why: Terrible experience there; should not be recommended. Came in, after a short while was told to sit with another couple even though there was 1 empty table next to it. We sat and that kind German couple had to help out or we'd never have eaten! They got us a waiter so we could order wine. The waiter said we had to order the food at the counter and when we went to do so, the counter people said no, the waiter has to take our order. They asked who told us different and we told them. Then they took our order. The other couple's wine was bad and they couldn't drink it and they left. The music and most of the people were in the next room while we were sat by the food counter. We felt like they didn't want us there.
Debbie Dalin in Delray Beach, FL USA 10/24/2010
Best: I tried many of Rick's suggested restaurants on this trip and they were all very good.
Why: In Warsaw Brow Armia had good beer and food and their outside terrace was great for watching people.In Krakow Pizzaria Trzy Papryczki had good pizza and the garden was nice. Restauracja Jarema had a very nice atmosphere and good food and wine. In Vienna I sat outside at Zu den drei Hacken and Cantinetta La Norma. Both were near the Cathedral, but seemed miles away from the mobs. In Budapest Baletcipo was a good place near the Opera to sit outside in a pedestrian zone and have a snack or meal. Garloczy Cafe had a very nice quiet area outside to eat and their food was good. Menza had good food and a good wine list by the glass. All had good service with staff who spoke excellent English.
James S Perschbacher in Mableton, GA USA 10/10/2010
Best: Budapest Market Hall
Why: Went for lunch twice. Enjoyed being able to point and ask questions. Didn't track down much for places for dinner, but after a great lunch at the market hall, didn't seem to matter much. Only problem was it being crowded (try to miss dead-on lunch time).
Brian in Böblingen, Germany 09/08/2010
Best: Lehka Hlava Vegetarian Restaurant
Why: This was our best meal in Prague. An extensive menu, non-smoking, and a wonderful wait staff. You can't go wrong.
Anna in Tacoma, WA USA 06/22/2010
Best: Aperitif in Krakow
Why: Awesome food, great prices, nice atmosphere. We went there twice and loved it both times.
Worst: Menza in Budapest
Why: Meat was overcooked and nothing special. Wasn't bad, but certainly wasn't great. We did like the outdoor seating on a cute square.
Chris in Minneapolis, MN USA 06/10/2010
Best:
Why: Ate at "Restauracia pod Samsonem","Podwale Piwna Kompania" and "Brow Armia" in Warsaw. All in Rick's book and very good. In Krakow we enjoyed Aqua e Vino (Italian),Miod Malina (Polish-Italian), Polskie Smaki(cafeteria), and Pierozki u Vincenta(great pierogi in Van Gogh setting). All in Old Town.
Judy in Alexandria, MN USA 05/19/2010
Best: Prague: Ceska Kuchnye ("Czech Kitchen")
Why: Rick recommended this cheap cafeteria in the Old Town, and we were really glad we went. My boyfriend and I were on a tight budget, so he wanted to eat American fast food all the time. I insisted on something Czech, and Ceska Kuchnye satisfied my desire for something traditional for the same price as it would have been to go to McDonald's. There's no posted menu and it's a bit daunting to just grab a tray and join the line, but a woman at the front of our line laid out our options in our choice of five different languages. Thanks for the recommendation, Rick!
Lori in Mannheim, Germany 04/11/2010
Best: Shalimar, Liszt tér
Why: Excellent, genuine Indian food at reasonable prices (Ft 2,000 [$10.31] or less per entre). Not near our hotel, but the Metro and Budapest Card made the distance irrelevant.
Jack in Brondum, MN USA 03/29/2010
Best: everyone was excellent
Why: can't fo wrong with Polish food
susan ford in senoia, GA USA 10/02/2009
Best: Strahov Monestary
Why: Best beer ever!!
L.A. Meharry in Vancouver, WA USA 09/21/2009
Best: Carne Di Hall in Budapest
Why: Not in Rick's book but great food & view of the river & Pest side. Right down the street from the Hotel Victoria. Great staff-very friendly. Expensive-family of four with drinks & good tip $185.00. We ate outside twice & had drinks outside one other night on the way back to the hotel from the subway stop. 1011 Budapest Bem rkp 20.
Scot Dailey in Arlington, Tx USA 08/15/2009
Best: Miod Molina in Kracow.
Why: Excellent variety, good service, food was reasonable and delicious. Ate there twice.
Worst: Podwale Piwna Kompania in Warsaw
Why: My wife and I went on a Saturday evening around 2000. Crowded by no one waiting. We waited for someone to take our order, then it came quickly except my wife's main course never came. Food was average, not very appetizing. We commented that this was first recommended restaurant from Rick that was a disappointment in many years of travel. This place is a tourist stop with good decor but weak food and service.
Don Waddell in Walnut Creek, CA USA 07/25/2009
Best: Bar Mleczny, Krakow Poland
Why: What a fun experience! The food was pretty good, very cheap and the workers were pretty nice to us.
Tim Bolinger in Plano, TX USA 07/14/2009
Worst: Restauracja Farina
Why: We arrived while they were not busy and were seated immediately. That was the last time we had contact with any of the four waitresses working our area. We sat there for a half an hour while other customers were being waited on. In fact one table came in after us, had drinks, placed their order, and were being given bread when we had yet to even request our drinks. We attempted to catch one of the server’s attentions, but it was obvious they were ignoring us. We have no idea what we did to be treated this way; we were polite and greeted them in Polish. It was a big disappointment that left a black mark on our trip. We were surprised this happened, because after reading your review (and our wonderful experience the night before at Miód Malina) we were looking forward to trying their food. Needless to say, we ended up walking out (with the waitresses giggling at us as we left). I sincerely hope that the manager does not condone this type of service, as it is very bad for business.
Liana in Chicago, IL USA 07/14/2009
Best: Chimera (Krakow, Poland)
Why: Great food (lots of vegetarian AND meat options, to satisfy my brother and I) and good prices.
Worst: Two Caves (Mostar)
Why: We didn't wind up actually eating there, because after sitting down and looking at the prices, it was WAAAAY more expensive than it was made out to be in the guidebook.
Amy Tedoff in Colts Neck, NJ USA 07/12/2009
Best: Menza - Page 481
Why: This was an outstanding restaurant, both in terms of the setting and the price of the quality food. I'd recommend stating that reservations are smart, as we only got a table at 19:00 by promising to be out of there when the next guests (who had a reservation) showed up at 20:30.
Jack Martin in Lawrence, KS USA 06/28/2009