Café Imperial

Save the best for the finale. This is absolutely the best best meal for my entire Budapest-Bratislava-Vienna-Cesky Krumlov -Prague trip. Food was fantastic. Highly recommend for the daily menu for the best value, dill soup, onion soup, roasted quil, chef's special-Beef Wellington. Service was excellent, professional & attentive. Atmosphere was great. Cosy and relaxing ambience, good place to have meal with friends & family, or even your business lunch. Note: 1.you MUST reserve the table to avoid any disappointment, you can do it via Google maps. 2. 10% service tax applied to the bill

Vito and Aneta were our servers and they were very warm and welcoming. They were also fast on their sevice and very kind. The food was also top notch ! The schnitzel was so tender and the mashed potatos were so creamy and buttery. The atmoshere is something else. The building is historical and I would suggest someone to visit only to see the interior design of the restaurant. I would definitely come back again !

Café Imperial is a beautiful century-old café you really shouldn’t miss when visiting Prague. The food is impressive and high-quality — I liked it so much I visited twice, once for breakfast and once for lunch. For breakfast, I recommend choosing the buffet; you get a great variety of dishes for a reasonable price. Lunch was also excellent, but it’s best to make a reservation. Their coffee and desserts are lovely as well. With its elegant interiors and warm service, this place is absolutely worth a visit.

The restaurant sure lives up to its high reputation. Reserve your table ahead of time - they are often booked out a few days in advance. Service was very professional and highly accommodating. Timing of the dishes was also perfect. I ordered the stuffed quail as a starter - absolutely incredible, tender, juicy, beautifully seasoned. Kulajda - traditional Czech creamy soup with potatoes, dill and a poached egg - beyond delicious. Lastly, the braised veal cheeks were out of this world. Try to pair the dishes with some wonderful wine from the Moravia region - both the Chardonnay and their Pinot Noir went well with the above dishes.

Beautiful art deco interiors and excellent service. The mood at this restaurant is very nice and uplifting. The vegetarian truffle gnocchi was absolutely delicious - was surprised by how delightful it was as the rest of the menu is quite meat heavy. Large variety of Czech specialities too! Also tried and recommend the French onion soup and rabbit croquettes.

Oh wow! We ate dinner here twice. The space is stunning-large white tiles on soaring columns. Service is excellent. Vito was our server tonight, and was knowledgeable and friendly. He taught me how to read the allergy codes for the desserts (the Scilia raspberry cake--GF and wonderful. The venison and rabbit were A+++, but my beet salad was A- for too much goat cheese...4 thick baked discs...and too few beets. I loved their wines by glass. Try the Marovia Zweigelt Rose or the Gewurztraminer. Wonderful wines. The primitivo was very good. One of my favorite restayrants in the world.

The veal cheeks were nice, and the wine selection was decent - but honestly, nothing you couldn’t easily get elsewhere in the Czech Republic. Unfortunately, everything else was below average, especially when compared to cheaper, more local restaurants in Prague that offer far better food and service. The service was particularly disappointing. It felt very much like we were judged for looking younger and not as wealthy as some of the other guests. Our waiter, Eduard, brought a starter we had ordered to share without any serving cutlery or side plates, and then delivered it at the exact same time as our mains. One of our mains, the veal schnitzel, was not as hot as we'd expect it to be, which made us wonder when it was prepared. All the food arrived extremely quickly - less than five minutes after ordering - which made the whole experience feel rushed, like we were being pushed to eat and leave. Meanwhile, other tables were clearly treated better: they received recommendations, were asked if they were ready for the next course, and generally got more attentive service. We were simply dropped both courses at once with no care or pacing. Overall, the experience felt unwelcoming and poor value for money. We definitely wouldn’t return and wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.

Cafe Imperial in Prague is a breath-taking example of Art Deco interiors. Every visitor gasps at the sight of the original ceramic wall tiling and mosaic ceiling from 1914. Once you enter, you can feel an atmosphere steeped in rich history and timeless beauty. The place has been a favored haunt of notable figures such as writer Franz Kafka and composer Leos Janáček. In addition, Café Imperial offers high-quality food experience and fine selection of wines. I and my companions tried the Truffle gnocchi with champagne sauce, the Vegan curry and the Goose liver pate. Each and every dish was tasty and delicious. The dessert (Sacher with apricot sorbet) was the perfect ending to our dinner. Last but not least, the service at Café Imperial is attentive, professional, and kind. Special thanks to Zdeněk, who made our stay even more pleasant!

This was our first Czech meal after a long day of travel. We got in about an hour before they closed and it was an awesome experience. Great service from Irina, amazing tea, cheese plate, chicken breast special, fries, and strudel. Of course it's also a beautiful space. I was happy they added a 10% service charge because I wanted to tip!

Great authentic spot in a charming part of Prague! This was my first time here, and I was in complete awe of the GORGEOUS interior. We were seated pretty quickly despite it being a bit crowded on a Sunday afternoon. However I will say, the rest of the service was on the slower side. While I understand that cafe culture in Europe is a bit slower-paced, my party had to flag down our waitress many times just to get the check. The food was impressive! We started with the ham and cheese and bread starter and were all very pleased. It reminded me of tartare almost (but tasted much better)! For our entrees, we got french onion soup and the braised beef and dumplings. The french onion soup was SO good, the perfect ratio of onions to cheese to bread! The braised beef was also very good but we found the dumplings to be a little tasteless, but the sauce with the beef along with the cranberries really enhanced the flavor. Overall, a great first meal and welcome to Prague!

Two hours can easily slip by when you enjoy a delicious meal at the gorgeous cafe imperial! The food lives to its reputation. We tried roasted beef toast and swordfish from the daily special menu, and a duck confit from the Czech traditional menu. All dishes are tasty and photogenic. It's different from having lunch in the US, you don't feel being rushed or have the urge to rush your meal, maybe it's because everyone around you seem to be so relaxed, happy and take the time to enjoy nice conversations with their friends and friends - no one was on their phone either. The restaurant has beautiful decors. It almost feels like you are dining in a museum. We had a great time and hope to return in the future!

The Art Deco restaurant is on the Michelin guide. The interior is impressive with the high ceiling and colorful mosaic-tiled walls. I ordered the hanger steak. It was rarer than expected, but I enjoyed it overall. It also came with a side and I went with the potato gratin. I was mostly looking forward to their cakes for dessert. I had the Oriente cake and opera cake. I went with Oriente because it had a matcha tea glaze, but the flavor isn't too apparent. I preferred the opera cake a tad more. Service is so-so. They set the tables with a gloved hand. The waiter didn't really check up on us though. When I wanted the dessert menu and the check, I had to flag him down each time. Be aware there is a service charge added to the bill.

Part of our Festive Danube Cruise was a short visit to Prague, Czech Republic. We were guests and the Imperial Hotel. Included with our package was Breakfast at Cafe Imperial. Service is efficient. Breakfast Buffet had a nice selection of food, pastries, and fresh fruits. Com temporarily designed dining room. Comfortable seating. We were unable to get seated for lunch or dinner during our stay in Prague. I would recommend making reservations a month or two before your planned arrival.

Stunning! In every way, the Cafe Imperial was stunning. Firstly, the entire restaurant is layered with mosaic tiles. Floors, ceilings, walls and pillars. Very colorful and ornate, these tiles make the restaurant shine. When you walk in, you feel like you're in a five star fancy restaurant. You should carry yourself that way, because that is how they treat you. You'll find that the attire by other patrons and the atmosphere is casual, but it truly has the essence of a fine dining establishment. Which....it is... I ordered the French Onion Soup as a starter. As French Onion Soup goes, this was fantastic. It also came out at the perfect temperature so you weren't searing your mouth to literal shreds because you just couldn't wait. Believe me, after the first taste, you won't want to wait. For the main course, I selected the Confit of Duck with Red Cabbage and Potato Dumplings. The duck was out of this world! I don't order duck often, but this is a game changing dish. The sweet/sour flavor of the red cabbage complimented the duck quite well. It wasn't necessary to blend the two, as they were both independently delicious, but it gave you some flavor palette mixing options. The potato dumplings were something else. They were good, but after spending a week in the Czech Republic, I learned that dumplings were quite common. But their not what an American would expect. American dumplings are often found in soups or stews and they are a bit mushy of a texture. These potato dumplings were perfectly shaped spheres, about the size of a ping pong ball, and were surprisingly dense. Alone, they don't impress. Cutting them to smaller pieces and blending them within your bites is a nice addition. Would I go back? 100% and I cannot wait to return. Best of all, the Cafe Imperial, like many places in Prague and the Czech Republic are quite affordable. My dinner, consisting of the Soup, Main and a Pepsi cost a total of about $30. Tip wasn't included. Their tip custom is different than ours so you typically need to leave cash.

I went there for dinner in mid-July of 2024. I did not have a reservation, but found a seat when I walked in. The inside was stunning. The menu was short, which I liked (as I get lost with long menus). I order the endive salad, grilled tuna, and a juice. The food came quite soon and came with free bread. The tuna was too salty. Other items were good. The service was great. It cost me about $40 U.S., which is not bad given that this is a Michelin star restaurant and ranks high in all kinds of rankings. Overall, I was reasonable happy with the experience.

We love Cafe Imperial! The interiors are breathtaking and the breakfast buffet has everything you need presented in a beautiful setting. I saw several people order the Eggs Benedict and they looked spectacular and the portions were abundant. I liked the idea of the buffet because there were many typical Czech meat options that you could try if you are unfamiliar with some of the local sausages and hams. The scrambled eggs were light, fluffy and flavorful. There were numerous fruits, vegetables and breads as well as other typical breakfast fare. I ordered the hot chocolate which was more of a drinking chocolate. This was my first time to have real European hot chocolate and I was very pleased. So delicious. I bought ingredients to make the hot chocolate at home later on in our trip. The service is impeccable. Cafe Imperial is very popular and rightfully so. I would definitely return.

I wanted to love this place. Found it was a bit loud, and the waiters seemed like they are v fed up with the tourists, they were all a bit grumpy. Nice wine and bread but our mains were not great. Beautiful space, probably better for tea/coffee and pastries.

I came here for the buffet breakfast on a Friday morning and my party of two was ignored by busy staff for several minutes. A very rude Manager type walked by and we politely asked for some kind of acknowledgment of our presence. We got a rudely expressed reply to wait. We decided to leave due to that interaction. After our local friend told us it was part of the Prague experience, we returned the next morning. I would also note that we left another cafe that same day from being ignored AFTER being seated. That was Cafe Savoy fyi. Anyways, Take two - We decided to try again at Cafe Imperial the next morning.... We arrived and again were ignored for a couple of minutes. The rude Manager type walked by us however, a nicer staff member acknowledged us. Not long after that another staff member escorted us to a table. I'll be quick with the rest of the review. The buffet was decent. Nothing outstanding in the buffet world. Ambiance is good, although it is very tight to get around. A redesign would help but I'm sure they don't care. The sweets looked good but I was a bit disappointed with the taste of the cake and pastries, with exception to the filled doughnut ball. There was a few good juice options, Hot Chocolate, and I enjoyed the Bacon and Mushrooms, even though it was a bit oily. It's an experience, and a decent one if you're based nearby.

wow gorgeous interior. absolutely stunning in here. the food was kind of hit or miss. we loved the endive salad, french onion soup, and truffle gnocchi. the chicken that came on top of the salads was super plain and sketchy looking especially for a restaurant of this caliber. the steak was a little too rare for us as well.

Came here for dinner and were able to be seated without a reservation, although our party of 7 were split into 2 separate tables. I got the duck with potato dumplings. Some parts of the duck were really tender, but other parts were more dry. The potato dumplings were large, but they were plain and not super tasty. I tried my boyfriend's escargot, and that was tasty/tender, although the pieces were quite small. The ambiance is beautiful inside

Cafe Imperial is perhaps the best restaurant in Prague. It is extremely challenging to make a reservation for dinner. We walked in at about 5:30 and were promptly seated. The hostess informed us that our dinner could not last for longer than 1:45. An hour and 45 minutes?! Where can you relax and enjoy dinner for that long in the US? We were seated at a less than prime location. No problem, we had no reservation. The decor of Cafe Imperial is unique, absolutely gorgeous. The art deco style including the magnificent ceiling is something to behold. It truly adds to the dining experience. Our server was wonderful-patient and helpful for sure. There is a menu in both Czech and English and everyone speaks sufficient English to make this an easy experience also. I had an interesting view of the door to the kitchen. One person brings the food on a tray to your server, who then takes the dishes and brings them to your table. It is such a refined experience just to watch this all take place. The food here is absolutely superlative. I don't think that there's anything that's not delicious. We chose escargot and a salad for our starters. Our entrees, the Veal cheek and special halibut were so truly delicious. They were served on beautiful dishes and were extremely well seasoned. The sauces were also really delicious. We did not have time to enjoy coffee and dessert and I can't comment. The offerings on the menu looked really good. We'll have to come back another time to try them. If you can, I highly recommend this restaurant. You can make reservations prior to arriving in Prague or ask the hotel. If you can't get a reservation, come early and you may get lucky as we did. Enjoy.

Beautiful art deco style classic restaurant! It's one of the best known cafes in the city and it's just outside of the old town. Service is very professional with the formal old school style. I stayed at the hotel and had the breakfast buffet one day and ordered from the menu one day. It's worth going to at least once and you can get a full Meir just have a coffee and pastry.

Very attentive service , accustomed to tourists customers. Wonderful interior decor with classic French cuisine options along with a few Czech items. Very good food and had a nice evening.

The ambiance at this restaurant is absolutely amazing. The food and the service was excellent. My wife thought that the teriyaki salmon was made perfectly while the shank of lamb was a giant serving a huge cut of meat. Also tried their Matcha-mango iced tea and chocolate fondant dessert.

Yelp Review 2023 #20: Prague has some beautiful restaurants and cafes. With a limited time in the city with a list of things to do and see, and food to eat - I figured Cafe Imperial needs to be on the top of my list. Ornate walls, art nouveau interior. It's quite nice. It's easy to get to as it's near a tram station. I came here for a late lunch. I lost track of time and ended up hungry at 1pm. I did have a reservation at 12:45pm but they weren't busy when I got there and immediately got seated even if I was 15 minutes late. I saw Matcha Mango Iced Tea on their drink menu and I was missing things I had easy access to back at home so, that's what I got. It's a small glass of matcha with a subtle hint of mango. They have French food, international food, and Czech food. I went with one of their Czech specials, Braised Beef with Creamy Sauce, Bread Dumpling and Cranberries which was comfortingly simple but delicious. I got a side of fries in case I didn't like the bread dumplings. Turns out, I didn't really need the fries (it was good though. Thin and crispy). The beef was tender and the gravy was savory with a smidge of sweetness. They have pastries, cakes, and ice cream for dessert. I got the Hazelnut Meringue. It's light, airy, but creamy and crunchy at the same time. I loved it. When it comes to service, I don't expect friendly service which is common in the US. Surprisingly, Cafe Imperial has friendly service and I was pleasantly surprised.

Possibly the best café in Prague! Excellent food and great service, in an exceptional atmosphere. I ordered braised veal cheeks with mashed potatoes, paired with a Pilsner Urquell beer, excellent. For desert I had an Oriente cake (pistachio and sour cherry), with a Viennese coffee, just amazing. An important part of the experience is the art deco style of the restaurant, you can stare the whole time at the ceiling without looking like an idiot, it's so beautiful! I will be back tomorrow for more!

This place.... Simply fantastic. All around great. Suggest going for lunch if you forget to make reservations. WORTH IT! Just lovely. We had beef Wellington duck salad desserts escargot and onion soup. Delicious all!

Super cute spot with great decorations, elegantly plated foods, and friendly service. The waiters here were all attentive and since they worked as a team, there were multiple people ready to help you at all times. My friend and I got the braised beef in creamy sauce and the duck confit. Both of them were a little dry but the flavor was great. Out of all the braised beefs with creamy sauces I got on my trip to Prague, this one definitely had the most savory, tastiest sauce.

Tried to go here but were told by a rude hostess that they were full, but took walk-ins the next day around 9am (even though the place looked totally empty). We tried the next day at 9am and were dismissed by an even more rude waitress as if we were pests. Again, the place looked more than half empty.

We saw this restaurant while we were in Prague on vacation and they had top notch reviews so we thought we would give it a try for lunch. It is a very fancy place with a great history. The food lived up to the hype and the service was the best we experienced anywhere in Europe. I have the lamb shank amd it was cooked to perfection. My wife had soup and quail breast and she complimented the food also. Will be back next trip to Prague.

Food and service were both excellent. The place is beautiful, carrying with it an old world charm.

Fantastic food great service in a beautiful setting! We had the liver terrine and duck confit with a great dessert and wine and coffee for less that $40 per person. Don't miss it.

The café left a memorable impression with its elegant charm and inviting ambiance. The décor exudes sophistication and comfort, making it the perfect spot for both casual and intimate gatherings. The food served is nothing short of spectacular - from the tantalizing appetizers (PRO TIP- get the rabbit croquet - pictured) to the delectable main courses (Braisef Veal Cheeks- pictured) and desserts, every dish was a testament to the chef's culinary prowess. The service was equally commendable. The staff was attentive, friendly, and prompt in their service, ensuring a seamless dining experience. This café is a gem, offering a delightful fusion of great food, a welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional service. Highly recommended for those seeking an extraordinary café experience.

Another great restaurant experience in Prague. Located in the Imperial Hotel (restaurant access from the street) we were greeted immediately and seated quickly. Opting to order from the menu vs the breakfast buffet (which looked delicious as well) we were very pleased with the food and coffee. The French breakfast and eggs Benedict were delicious and served quickly. A very comfortable setting and English speaking with English menus

Escargot was excellent. Buttery and garlicky just as we expected. A great appetizer to start our dinner.

The food and the ambiance of this place is great! The servers could use a little help being friendlier but overall our experience here was great. The food can make you forget the staff is not the nicest but they also weren't extremely horrible as some of the other reviews say.

I visited there twice during my stay in Prague because the choux cake with framboise was extremely delicious and wanted to try other dishes. The confit was well made and the dessert was artistic. I ate too much so I walked a lot around Vyšehrad in the afternoon.

The food and service were good. The indoors was nice too. I did not find a better place in Prague having said that I did not have amazing meals there. They were just fine.

This historic cafe is beautifully decorated in the Art Deco style. The service definitely gave this visit the three stars. The waitress took our coats & hung it up. They were also attentive & helpful. However, we decided to try the breakfast buffet & it was not exciting. The scrambled eggs were runny, the small pancakes were rock hard. The meat & bread selection was pretty good. You could also get some yogurt and fill your bowl with toppings or fruit. If I return, I will most likely order from the menu instead.

Unbelievable service. Food was incredible- would love to go back!!!! Started with beef tartare and goose liver pate Proceeded with Dill Soup with poached eggs I had braised rabbit with potato dumplings My wife had stuffed quail. Paired wine nicely. Just an amazing experience!!

After settling into our hotel in Prague, we decided to go ahead and walk around and find a place to sit down and eat and stumbled upon here. When walking in, the restaurant was absolutely beautiful on the inside, however, that's when everything turns sour. Service: This was the first major issue we had. When we walked in, it seemed as though we weren't welcome there at all. They sat us in a table within the bussle of the service, which is find but already put a damper. However, after that, our server (or should I say servers because they changed almost every time they came to our table) were extremely dismissive and were trying to push us out. When we ordered our appetizer, they actually said "That is going to be 20 minutes, you know that right? We don't want you to have to stay long". After that, service was whoever came over. Food: Now, after seeing the reviews and such, I was hoping for a decent meal, but even that fell flat. Rabbit Croquet: (3/5) - This was the best thing we had during our dine in, however, it honestly was a very small portion and tasted exactly like a chicken pot pie. Rack of Lambs: (2/5) - These were probably the smallest lambs I've ever had. I don't know if my life of growing up on a farm makes me picky, but they were small and over cooked with a desperate need of salt. Roast Beef with Bread Dumplings: (2/5) - we did want to try something authentic to Czech, so we decided to get this. The beef was very very over cooked, with the only thing saving it was the gravy. Overall, our experience was far less than amazing. If you are in Prauge, I recommend maybe going to find a hole in the wall before stopping here.

Fancy restaurant with good food. My truffle gnocchi was very different than gnocchi in America. It was fresh with surprisingly good flavors. Everything was good except she automatically charged us for service. We hadn't been charged any service charges anywhere else in Prague but the place was fancy, so I wasn't going to argue the charge.

Went for late lunch on a busy Saturday we were sat right away. Restaurant itself is beautiful! Beautiful mosaics throughout. Service and food were on point! I had the Czech braised beef perfect portion for myself but some might find it a bit small. My husband ordered the hangar steak and said that it was cooked to his liking and flavorful. Would go again.

Only talking about the breakfast buffet here. Lots of options all around. Dropped a star for no potatoes.

Visited here for breakfast and a coffee. Honestly can't complain about this joint. Cute interior. Decent service by European standards. Fair prices. We had an American Breakfast and an Eggs Royal with two flat whites. Both of us left full and thought our respective meals were tasty. I would like to return for an evening coffee and a delectable pastry.

What a shame, this used to be our favorite restaurant in Prague. The service was not good. I gave it two stars because the salad with goat cheese was very good. However, the quail was inedible, and the beef Wellington was awful, the beef tasted old and rotten. Unfortunately, the wait staff argued that it was fine. The first thing you ever learn in restaurant service is that the customer is always right. We will have to look for a new favorite place in Prague.

We stayed at the Imperial Hotel so we got to experience this restaurant every morning, we also had lunch there once and dinner on our last night in Prague. First, the place is beautiful all the tile and art deco throughout the restaurant made it a joy to look at. I think i took more photos of the décor than the food. the bread basket came with a wonderful ham spread that was delicious For the lunch i had the Dill Soup (with poached egg floating in it) and the Goat Cheese and Beet Salad, and my wife had the salmon. Food was great and the service was very efficent. The dinner was for a large group in the private room but we all ordered off the regular menu (we were told it was 3- 4 month wait for a reservation for dinner on the weekend.) I had the duck which was fantastic, tender, moist and flavorful. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Nice breakfast, but the ambiance is what would make us come back. It is so beautifully decorated. You can order a la carte or do buffet.

The food was good, despite the crowd the service was good. It's a good place if you don't have any problem with the crowd because I went there twice and both times was crowded; but I sometimes I like people around me.

What a delicious place for breakfast. We went the last 2 mornings. The service was impeccable and the food absolutely amazing! My group enjoyed the omelettes, American and English breakfasts, eggs Benedict and scrambled eggs. Adding bread basket and croissant proved perfect with the omelette or eggs. Teas and coffee were delicious! Highly recommend and will be back when we return in 2023.

The staff are both polite and professional. The food is great in particular the French breakfast if you like pastries and jam. The baked goods are hand made and deliciously fresh. The coffees are good...all in all definitely worth it.

This is an absolutely stunning restaurant! The beautiful tilework is worth a visit, even if you just pop in to take a few photos. The restaurant serves typical Czech cuisine, and is a great place to try out some local favorites, including locally made wine by the glass. Not many restaurants in Prague feel very tourist-friendly, but Cafe Imperial was warm and welcoming. I should mention that we were with a local friend, so that may have meant a different experience for tourists like us since we had a local in tow. For dinner, we opted for a glass of local red wine (bleh) and the special dill soup with egg. The soup was interesting, to say the least. I'd call it an acquired taste for sure. For our entrees, we went with the chef's recommendation -- the duck and the beef with cream sauce. Both are very popular regional dishes, and both were tasty. Prices are reasonable and the service is fast. Make sure you check out the bronze swan faucets in the bathroom before leaving!

Café Imperial is conveniently located just steps away from the Namesti Republiky metro station and the Palladium (a shopper's paradise). It is part of the Art Noveau style Imperial Hotel, which is almost like a landmark in the city center of Prague. The restaurant is upscale, and the ambience is classical, elegant, and breathtaking. You would most likely fall in love with this place the moment you walk in. This was our first meal in Prague so we opted for a couple of Czech classics. BRAISED BEEF WITH CREAMY SAUCE: This is one of the most popular Czech favorites. The beef had a texture that wasn't like that of a steak, although the cut of meat looked like a steak. It wasn't tender like a stew or a goulash, but had a coarse texture similar to maybe that of a sausage. The sauce was rich and delicious and was the perfect companion for the bread dumplings, which were almost like sliced Chinese steamed buns (mantou). DUCK CONFIT: This is a popular European dish and the Czech version came with a generous serving of red cabbage which had a nice balance of sweet and sour for my palate. The cabbage was almost like a crossover of pickled cabbage and German sauerkraut. The duck meat was tender and fell off the bones. It was flavorful albeit a bit dry - which a confit shouldn't be, because it's supposed to be cooked in its own juice and fat. The dumplings that came with this dish were round like the size of golf balls and were called potato dumplings. They were denser than the bread version and were more filling. The food itself was more like 3.5 stars, but just the experience of dining inside this literally majestic restaurant is enough to justify rounding it up to 4 stars.

Stopped in to Cafe Imperial as part of a food tour. It is right in the city center close to several hotels and near to the Palladium. I immediately fell in love with the interior upon entering. Gorgeous, tiled walls and columns gave the place a nice, luxurious, steeped-in-history feel. We were shown to our table promptly and service was very friendly and attentive. The Czechs are known for their beer, but I opted for some Czech white wine which was quite good. The guys got beer which they enjoyed. To eat, I started with the Kulajda - a dill soup with mushrooms and a poached egg. The soup has a slightly sweet, mixed with balsamic, taste. Flavors were good. I went with a Czech classic for my main course - Svíčová. This was braised beef with a carrot and parsley root gravy, with dumplings. This dish came with a small side of cranberry sauce for adding a little extra sweet, if needed. There are different types of dumplings, and this one was a bread dumpling (they also do potato dumplings). The gravy was rich and perfect for the dumpling to sop up. The portion was the perfect size to fill me up without being overstuffed. Convenient location in the city center. I can see myself stopping in again to try some more Czech fare. To note: Check out the fancy golden swans in the bathrooms

I usually don't write reviews but I had to on this one! Food is good but our server was coughing. He coughed right next to us almost 4-5 times. Once right above my husbands shoulders. I also saw our server touching his nose. Also I felt ignored by our server. We had to remind him three times to get our check, he wasn't busy at this point- just busy chit chatting with people on other table who were ordering bottle service. Oh, even while placing our order and talking to us about the dishes- he said hold on and went to collect check from other table. Like we didn't matter! Lastly he didn't even bother getting our jackets after paying our bill. Good food but service for us wasn't good. To me how I am treated matters!

My first meal in Prague, and the most delicious one. We had beef goulash and dumplings, duck confit, and fish. My dad also had a cappuccino that he raved about for the entire day. The fish was just okay, but the beef was so incredibly tender and melt in your mouth. The dumplings it came with was softer than the others I've had here. They looked like thick slices of white bread but it reminds me of steamed buns. There was a side of cranberry jam/sauce that you can put on top. Coupled with the gravy sauce that the beef came in, this reminded me of Thanksgiving. The duck was very lean, and the meat just falls off the bone- the best duck I've ever eaten (I usually don't like duck because the meat tastes too oily/fatty ). There was a side of sour red cabbage that was also very delicious. The dumplings that came with this dish were round and more dense than the flat ones- tasted fine but nothing too special. Now the dessert we had was the imperial date cake. This was probably one of the best cakes I've ever eaten. It was dense but not too sweet or rich. I could taste the caramel and gingerbread but none of the flavors were overpowering. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very elegant and the staff was attentive and efficient without being overbearing. Our entire meal was about $50 USD which was basically how much we paid for 2 burgers and a salad at McDonald's in New York!

The food is Delish! Try everything. Desserts are terrific. Decor is beautiful. Check out the bathrooms. Enjoy Irish Coffee