Zlata Praha

A short shlep from midtown, Zlata Praha offers an exceptionally filling, exceptionally cheap Tuesday-through-Friday lunch special ($6.95): bread, a cup of soup (I fancy the tripe; above), one of 15 entrees (below, beef brisket in a rich fresh dill sauce, accompanied by those large bready "dumplings"), plus dessert and coffee or tea. On my most recent midday excursion, dessert was limited to a palacinka, a thin crepe filled that day with apricot preserves, but if you venture to Astoria for dinner, try the fruit-and-cottage-cheese dumplings. Just don't try to finish them by yourself.

I've never managed to dine in Zlata Praha's small backyard garden, but each October they manage to export a surprisingly large portion of their menu (and the appropriate kitchen facilities) to the Czech Street Festival on East 83rd. Garlic fry bread and grilled kielbasa, I've found, simply taste better outdoors.

Zlata Praha
28-48 31st St. (30th Ave.-Newtown Ave.), Queens
718-721-6422

Comments

[AP]

I'm intrigued by this post b/c in Boston we have no, zero, zilch Czech food. If you are in the mood to respond, I have two questions: do they have kolaches (dessert pastry) on the menu, and exactly when is the Czech Street festival? TIA, and I love your blog.

[Dave Cook]

Someone at Zlata Praha makes them, since I've tried them at their oversize booth at the street festival, but kolach doesn't show up on their menu (which you can find it at their website, http://www.zlatapraha.cc/main.htm ). The street festival was held on the first Saturday in October each of the past two years, but for the definitive word, ask to be added to Zlata Praha's mailing list. Best,

Dave Cook