I enjoyed a delicious dinner at Čestr, a Prague steakhouse that ofers delectable cuts of meat and excellent service.
Best Steakhouse In Prague – Čestr
My brother recommended this place…he claimed it was like a fine steakhouse in LA, but half the price. While Prague has many culinary dishes more unique to Czechia, this was not my only meal in Prague and it’s always a treat to have a nice steak dinner.
Čestr
Legerova 57/75
110 00 Praha 1-Vinohrady, Czechia
+420 739 266 287
11:30 am – 11:00 pm (Monday – Friday)
12:00 pm – 11:00 pm (Saturday)
12:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Sunday)
(Do make reservations at the link above in advance)
The dining room was spacious with an open kitchen and the staff were wearing aprons and white shirts. Having skipped lunch, I had an early dinner at 5:00 pm and found the restaurant deserted on my arrival (but full by the time I left).
As I was examining the menu, freshly-made bread with a delicious olive oil dip with an olive tapenade was offered.
I knew I wanted a beef tenderloin for my main course, and like any proper steakhouse, they brought over a list of today’s cuts, so I could choose the proper size. The cost was 550 crowns per 100 grams (about 24 USD per 100 grams)…not nearly as cheap as my brother had suggested. I chose a 253-gram steak at a cost of 1265 Czech Koruna, so 60 USD.
But first, it was a chilly spring day and I began the meal with parsnip soup…sublime. I also ordered a glass of Malbec.
With my main course, I ordered French Fries. The “bio” (organic) filet mignon was melt-in-your-mouth delicious…no sauces necessary, just salt and pepper.
The feast was not over.
I concluded the meal with a flat white and a scoop of ice cream with habanero and dark chocolate. What a great combo: it had a strong kick to it.
The damage for dinner was 1,900 CZK (including a modest European-appropriate tip…). $90…yeah, not not bad for all I had.
If you’re looking for a nice steakhouse in Prague, Cestr is your place.
Not cheap but way cheaper than what you can get in the US. A meal like that at my favorite steakhouse here in Minneapolis would easily be above $200 per person when you add expected tip.
@MeanMeosh: unfortunately that time where you could eat like a king for nothing in Argentina is long gone. Prices are following USD now so still cheaper than in the US but way more expensive than what you paid in 2023.
https://pickupthefork.com/2025/02/18/inflations-a-bitch-what-food-costs-in-buenos-aires-right-now/
In December we paid more than 70 dollars for 3 to eat without wine in a neighbourhood parrilla in Palermo, the type of place that up to the previous year I’d pay about €8 to eat in including a 375ml bottle of wine. The price in hard currency basically tripled in the space of 10-11 months…and I also got the impression that the meat itself was just a little bit less good than previously (it was absolutely fine, but I recall having some mind-blowing meals there in the past).
On the other hand, hotels seemed to have remained reasonably priced, I paid $75ish per night for one of the 4-star NH properties.
These days dinner for 3 in Palermo for $70 would be a pretty good deal.
Well – that’s highly unfortunate. Glad I enjoyed it while I had the chance.
Can you please not tip in Europe?
We don’t do that, keep that crap in America.
I tipped almost nothing – rounded it up, as I’ve done in Europe for 20 years.
That’s customary.
I’m Czech and you tipped properly. Rounded up to 1,900 Kc is a job well done.
I don’t tip in Europe and always left the restaurant with waiters smiling and happy we were there. We even had times we went back to the same restaurant and the waiter remembered us and was happy we came back. Also, I always pay with credit card and never saw a way to even add a tip if I wanted.
OK, this post lacks nuance.
While tipping is not a social obligation like in North America, tips at upscale places are a sign of good manners, especially if service is great and attentive.
I live in Prague, I’ve been to Čestr, I would tend to tip about 10 %, though no one will get offended if you round up like Matthew did. This is different from tipping at a counter-service place where it’s not appropriate.
That 3-course prix fixe for CZK 1,215 isn’t a bad deal at all.
If you really clamor for incredible steak at ridiculously cheap prices, head down to Argentina. At the end of 2023, I took my family to a good steakhouse in BA. Steak for me, fresh seafood for my wife, pollo a la parilla for my son, appetizer, soft drinks, 2 glasses of wine – all for about $45.
Cooked to perfection and with the wine not a bad price. There was a missed opportunity to try the fruit dumpling with poppy seed for dessert… Oh who am I kidding.
Looks good.
Any upcoming posts about some Czech food?
Coming soon.
Be prepared for schnitzel, goulash, pork knuckles or ribs, carpaccio, bruschetta, and beef tartare. I was there for a week and got back last week. The food quality was fine but I was truly stunned by the lack of variety from one restaurant to another.
It really comes down to whether you only stay in the touristy areas, or venture out of Old Town.
Prague actually has a decent variety of cuisines and styles, though all the tourist hotspots converge on ‘traditional’ dishes, often lackluster or badly executed. And they you have pure BS like underbaked trdelník, which has only been around since the 2010s.
I might be biased but if you look into type of food, quality of ingredients and price, it is hard to beat Italy when it comes to eating out. My family of 4 just spent 20 days all over Italy and we ate at around 25 different restaurants (we skipped lunch most of the days while at the beach) and all restaurants were selected in advance after reading reviews, getting recommendations from family and friends, including several on the Michelin guide (not starred), etc.. Four people, 3 to 4 course meals (mostly seafood, fresh fish but also beef, veal, lamb and pork), bread, coffee, wine, prosecco, etc… and the highest we paid was EUR220 for all of us. All the restaurants were fantastic and meals were amazing.
Sounds like you found some great places. Half of the enjoyment I find is the anticipation of a quality meal.
You should visit the parts of France I visit. You’re overpaying. BTW, Spain might be a better deal.
I prefer Italian food 1000 times over French food. I find it difficult to believe I am overpaying when I am getting appetizer, first course, second course, dessert, espresso with biscotti all accompanied by wine or prosecco for less than EUR50 per person. And I am talking very high quality ingredients. What parts of France are you talking?
Way to be relatable, Matthew. $90 dinner for one while in Eastern Europe. The only thing relatable about this post is all the innuendos about meat melting in your mouth. I’m sure certain of your readers will enjoy reading between the lines there.
PRG is very much not in Eastern Europe- it’s West of Vienna. I probably still wouldn’t pay €50 or whatever for a single steak there, but it’s not Belarus, it’s a world-class city and major tourist destination so you can’t expect to eat in top restaurants for a nominal amount of money. I suggest we wait and see what Matthew posts on Czech food – if it turns out he’s been eating in the cafés by the astronomical clock, I’ll be the first to lambast him!
Oh come on, Mr Expert.
Sure, this is not a place you’d go for a casual dinner with kids, but whenever I visit, the place is full of locals. Prague is not a poor city to begin with, and enough people like to have great-quality beef once in a while, perhaps celebrating a special occasion.
You can do much worse for the same price by eating at one of the many tourist traps a few blocks down Wenceslas Square. Čestr is actually pretty good value even by local standards.
Choosing to order beef tenderloin at a steak house severely diminishes your credibility in rating restaurants.
What do you order – the malý párek?
Ribeye FTW!
I agree, haha, but if that’s what he likes, more power to him!
Gurl, I’m so over the pretentious ribeye crowd! If I want fat, I eat lamb. 😉
Uh where is the Bearnaise sauce? Dip my filet in garlic aioli??
I can’t resist posting this special Onion broadcast from 2010 about Franz Kafka airport In Prague.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gEyFH-a-XoQ&pp=ygUUT25pb24ga2Fma2EgYWlycG9ydCA%3D
I’ve had a better looking meal at Outback or Texas Roadhouse. Now that’s some good eatin’!
Kinda odd math 10% from 1833 is according to bill is 187. Weird.