I'm making up a little list for my trip. In New Orleans they have their gumbo and Hurricanes; San Francisco it's sourdough bread and Dungeness crab; and New England has their lobsters, etc.

So, in that vein, if you were visiting PRAGUE,

(1) What city or regional food or drink specialty is something you MUST experience because it's just not the same anywhere else; and

(2) At what place or establishment in particular prepares or provides it the best?

Prague has some of the best beer in the world. The real Budweiser (nothing like our watered down swill) comes from there. (I know it's marketed here but do;t now the name.)

Food specialties are typical central european - lots of game: birds, deer, boar. But you can find almost any type of food you want.

Stay away from places that look touristy (English menus, patrons speaking English or German) and you will get authentic Czech meals. Some of the best (and cheapest) meals and beer can be had in pubs - where you will see locals eating inside. Goulash is another delicious classic, and you should definitely have becherovka - it's a delicious herbal liqueur. You can have it straight or mixed with tonic (called "be-ton" which means concrete ihn czech). Don't miss Cafe Imperial - delicious Czech food in a beautiful art nouveau setting. Tourists do go there as well as locals.

The name of the "real" Budweiser, brewed in Ceske Budovice is labeled as Czechvar in the US. The signs & logos you will see, closely resemble their Anheiser-Busch cousin. The quality & taste however, bear little resemblance to the American swill of the same name. We had a wonderful dining experience right next to (actually kind of under) the St. Charles Bridge. Complete w/a surprisingly great little local wine & dessert all for less than $25 US.

The men in my family swear by Pilsner Urquel (beer). Boots

Well, it was not in Prague, but in a Czech restaurant, my son was impressed with "Goulash" a dish similar to beef stew, only more beef less "stew"

Here's a great Prague trip report, with a heavy emphasis on food:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34382226

and here's a more recent one, the Pancacky Papers

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34514397

Excellent thoughts and posts guys -- and thanks for that great link FainaAgain! Just before departure in May I'm going to print out all my "Food Specialties" by city posts and hopefully enjoy some wonderful tried and true experiences.

that should be, Pancaky

Huh? Sorry can't take this credit

mbresso, if you haven't left yet, I thought of one more thing you absolutely must try. Go into any deli - there are several in downtown and Old Town, and they are usually crammed with locals standing inside around lunchtime - and order some chlebicky (pronounced h-LEB-eech-kih). They are little sandwiches topped with a variety of things - ham, cheese, or salami topped with pickles, eggs, red peppers...they are distinctively czech and delicious! You can stand in the deli and eat them, or you can order them to go and take them to a park to have a picnic.

Hi, 2 weeks ago in Prague, I went to some restaurants I can recommend. Besides I was born in Czechoslovakia, so I think I know what is the typical Czech food. If you really want to taste the Czech cuisine, you should try for example "knedlíky", "palacinky","ovocné knedlíky", "chlebícky", "rízky", "uzené se zelím"(resp. dumplings, pancakes, fruit-dumplings, little sandwiches, schnitzels, smoked meat with sauerkraut), but I'm not sure you will like it. Most of Czech food is rather heavy, that's why they drink so much beer then, to digest better. Nevertheless, Czech beer is extraordinary good and tasty. You must try ordinary bread ("chléb&quot and sausage ("klobása" of "cigára&quot. Very cheap but tasty meal is "smažený sýr", fried chease with pommes-frites, hopefully with salad.
I'd recommend Olympia en Kolkovna (www.kolkovna-group.cz or www.kolkovna.cz) en Klášterní pivovar nearby Strahov klooster: www.klasterni-pivovar.cz (unfortunately is this website made only in Czech)or maybe Vojanùv dvùr in U Lužického semináre street nr.21, nearby Malostranské námestí. I don't know the last two restaurants from my personal experience, but they were recommended to me from my Czech friends.
PS My colleagues liked all that "Becherovka", sweet herbal liqueur. If it's cold outside, it's not so bad...

Great Food everywhere we went (tourist place or not). Although we enjoy Pilsner Urquel for beer, I prefer Staropramen (sp?) even better.

In Prague, you'll see outdoor cafes with umbrellas with the name of the beer they serve. (and no others)

We Czechs like dumplings and pork.

Check out their pastries--haven't seen anything like them except in Paris. Yummy!

Enjoy yourself!