Prague Restaurant – 450 Scarborough Golf Club Rd, Scarborough, ON M1G 1H1
Country: Czech Republic
Seating: Indoor seating and a beautiful back patio. 
Must-try dish: Beef Goulash 
Dinner guests: Big Al & The Wackjob of the East 
The high: The outdoor patio is a leafy haven with various tree types and a feeling of being away somewhere else. 
The low: The location is far out from the city center, so it requires a vehicle. 

Rumor has it that the Czech population consumes the most beer per capita in the world, so it felt fitting to sit on the restaurant’s back patio with a cold beer in hand. The Prague Restaurant is tucked away east of the city in Scarborough, just off of a golf course in what was historically a predominantly Czech and Slovakian neighbourhood called Masaryk. This name comes from Czechoslovakia’s first President: Tomáš Masaryk. 

The Czech Republic is a country in Central Europe that was once a part of the Soviet Union, and until 1993, was referred to as Czechoslovia. The Czech Republic and Slovakia separated without any animosity towards each other, but both countries still share similar foods, language, and culture today. Although there is a Czech population in Canada, it’s not as large as the presence of people from other countries around the world. Needless to say, Czech food is difficult to come by, even in Toronto. 

The Beef Goulash came highly recommended, and was the favourite dish of the night. There are meaty pieces of beef in a paprika centric sauce popular across Central Europe called Goulash. It comes served on top of spätzle, which are a short and doughy pasta noodle similar to gnocchi. The noodle takes on all the flavours from the sauce and the meat. Upon the first bite of this dish, an instant reminder of a long-lost love for paprika returned. 

An evident dish to share is the Bohemian Platter – a plate packed with traditional schnitzel, sausage, tender pork roast, red cabbage, sauerkraut, and roasted potatoes. Dumplings are also advertised, though Czech dumplings don’t come stuffed with other ingredients, instead they are a fluffy bread-like texture that easily captures sauces. We thought that we would warn you so that you know they are in fact there, and if you want something stuffed, best try their Pierogi’s, potato and cheese ones are on the menu and also made there way onto our plates! 

Our group came with a large appetite, so after the first round of orders, a final Schnitzel was ordered for the table. Our server recommended the Ham and Cheese Schnitzel and the Mushroom Schnitzel, but we ultimately got the Brie Cheese Schnitzel, which was magnificent. The generous piece of pork is flattened and covered in cheese then breaded and fried. It’s served hot with a side of your choice, we opted for the spätzle.

A shared order of Apple Strudel completed the night in a delicious way. 

If you ever get the chance, a visit to the Czech Republic is certainly worth it. A couple of days in Prague is necessary, but the rest of the country shows a much better depiction of the kindness and warmth of the Czech people. The immediate welcome by the Czech is unparalleled in the rest of Europe, and even around the world. Czech it out! 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)