Slightly caramelized and almost crisp on the outside, oozing soft, creamy liver on the inside, and placed in a small circle of delicious sauce - I try to slice the foie gras thinner and thinner, hoping to extend the experience for as long as possible....24 hours later, and I’m still tasting yesterday’s starter. This is a superb restaurant – outstanding cooking with top quality ingredients, excellent affordable wine, a relaxed atmosphere with friendly, informal service. I was eating alone, and, having no one with whom to exchange the occasional morsel, opted for the Chefs’ menu with matching wines. Each of the four very good wines came in a lovely glass of a different, wine-appropriate shape. In some restaurants, Rona glasses would be a statement (and probably a reason to up the prices). Na Kopci has Rona glasses because good wine deserves a good glass, and vice versa, but it’s all so relaxed that you hardly notice how well you’re being treated. As well as the foie gras, the porcini cappuccino and the roast deer were outstanding. Everything was perfectly paced, and when my five courses and four wines had taken the allotted 2.5 hours, which passed all too quickly, I was lucky enough to get to stay at the table, where I enjoyed two slow glasses of Lagavulin. Despite the long dinner and the six generous drinks, the portions and the composition were so well judged that I didn’t have any of the symptoms of over-eating or having too much to drink that you might expect. And being alone, I was looked after even more assiduously than the couples and groups around me.
The vast majority of people who eat here are Czech, many coming as family groups. So for a visitor, it’s a privilege to eat in a restaurant where local residents are enjoying themselves and to get a sense of what a really good local restaurant is like. But then getting here is too much trouble for most of us because, although the online menu has an English version, the reservation page hasn’t. Long may this continue I say! And there’s nothing to worry about because the staff speak excellent English, and you’re assured of a very warm welcome once you arrive. And being ‘on the hill’, it’s not in the centre of town either, which to my mind is also a plus - metro to Radlicka, turn right as you come out of the station, up the flight of steps to the street, turn left and walk 7-8 minutes up the road till you get to K Zaverce. Turn left and Na Kopci’s 150m up on the right. Easy!
This was my second visit to the Kop. If I lived in Prague, I’m sure it would be my favourite restaurant. Go on, catch the metro and spoil yourself!More
