Koliba Czech and Slovak Restaurant

LOCATION
Near the corner of Smith and Johnston St, close to Victoria Park Station, #86 tram and #200 bus.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
Comfort food is the order of the day at Koliba Czech and Slovak Restaurant. From its dark and homey, slightly 70s decor, to its great selection of fine Czech beers on tap and hearty traditional dishes, this is a place to seek out on a cold and rainy night. Czechs are great beer drinkers and there are some fine brews to be sampled here (Krusovice, Budejovicky Budvar, Staropramen), but if you really want to keep the winter chill at bay, opt for one of the deceptively innocuous-looking fruit brandies which are fire water indeed! All the main courses are heavy and ultra filling, but it’s certainly tempting to begin with an entree such as bramborak (a crispy potato pancake served with sweet and sour cabbage), a marinated sausage or devil toast topped with minced beef and cheese.

Mains are very meaty (with the exception of a crumbed Edam) and include the traditional beef goulash, pork schnitzel and kransky sausages as well as the Czech national dish of roast pork with braised cabbage and homemade bread dumplings. The Slovak national dish haloushki – a classic stomach liner with small gnocchi-type dumplings and a cheese and bacon sauce – is incredibly rich, tasty and filling. Also keep an eye out for the specials which are listed at the door and easy to miss once you’ve walked in. If you can manage dessert you certainly deserve the awarding apple strudel with walnuts or red wine poached pears wrapped in vanilla cinnamon crepe and served with ice-cream.

Angela Costanzo