Restaurant Peklo... wine cellar of the kings
Christmas Eve in Prague. We had just gotten engaged at the top of the observation towers on Petrin Hill. We wanted to celebrate but it was a long way across the ridge to get back to town.
As I penguin-walked my way through the snow, we came across a sign, leaning against a lamp post, for Restaurant Peklo. It felt a little like Narnia. As much as I am wary of restaurants with tourist signs, we did want to cheer ourselves!
When we got close to Peklo, our path was clearly marked with lit smudge pots. Interesting. They lead us to a heavy wooden door, which we apprehensively opened. Down the candle-lit stairs we went into a dramatic, cave-like room with stone vaulted arches. Can I just say wow! Really wow! We have nothing like this where I'm from!
I just wanted something light... a nice salad. The waiter talked me into their special though. Christmas carp soup. Joe went for something more traditional - French onion soup and potato pancakes. Add some of the yummy Frankovka wine to toast our newly engaged selves and we were going to be just right!
Christmas carp in Prague owes it's own entry so I won't spoil my overall thoughts, but the soup was good. What is it with Europe and real cream? So, so good. Why do I make my soup with half and half? Oh yeah. I don't walk 3 miles a day at home and sit at a desk burning 0 calories. The salad was crisp and covered with ample fresh mozzarella. Lightly dressed in a balsamic reduction, after heavy Czech pub food, it was great!
Peklo's French onion soup we thought would be traditional but the presence of a bread bowl, which would become a recurring theme, made us rethink. Think of this as inside-out French onion. The cheese was melted into the bowl first and then the soup ladled in. He described it as not really French onion but rather Czech onion - more onion, less broth. I myself would have had issue with this because I like burnt cheese!
His pancakes looked soooo good. They were covered in cheese. Slightly browned cheese. And spinach. I seriously thought about getting sick just to try them. He won't tell me how good they were though. That's love.
The food was good, the waiter attentive, but the architecture makes this restaurant. Peklo is dramatic. Ancient. Beautiful. Located up the hill not far from the Crown Plaza Petrin Castle, it's worth a trip on a snowy Christmas Eve.
Posted by Lindsey Ann Waldrep at 1/7/2010 10:28 PM 
Categories: European Dining
Tags: Prague Architecturally Interesting Christmas
Categories: European Dining
Tags: Prague Architecturally Interesting Christmas
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