Reviews

I did not hear much positive about Hergetova Cihelna lately so was really curious when I received an invitation to Cihelna a week ago. We decided to try their brand new Pizza Pasta concept that they introduced about a month ago. First of all, you can only get the items from the Pizza Pasta menu upstairs - without the gorgeous view over Vltava and the Charles Bridge that I was so looking forward. The Pizza Pasta food prices are much more affordable than the food at Hergetova Cihelna "downstairs" and actually are comparable to Grossetto, Ambiente Pizza Pasta or other "better" pizzerias in the centre.
However, the pizza was a disaster, although we ordered their specialty, Pizza Chef. A very dry and tough pizza with about a half of the amount of toppings it needed, with just microscopic amounts of cream and sundried tomatoes. Would not recommend to anybody. Also, it was ice cold as we did not receive the meals at the same time (the pizza came about 20 minutes earlier than the canelloni but we waited as the waiter told us the canelloni will be ready "any minute"). However, the canelloni were really dee-lish, with great fresh spinach-ricotta filling and homemade sauce. So was the panacotta. We did not like the interior but think dining at the terrace facing the square with the fountain could be a lovely experience, especially in the summer. Staff was OK, although I would not expect the staff to be watching football (there was a huge plasma TV in the restaurant) in such a fancy place.

I was there Friday evening and was utterly disappointed by the whole experience. The food was mediocre at best and the service absolutely appalling.

It took 20 minutes (count 'em) to get a waiter to come take our order to the extent that to attract attention I eventually had to stand up and wave the menu in the air.

It's a shame, having been there before, and I've always enjoyed good service there in the past. Won't be back.

Well, look below for my review from last year when things were apparently still good at Kampa Group. I went to Cihelna on Monday for a dinner with out-of-town guests and was horribly disappointed. The service has been slipping of late, as other reviewers have noted, but this experience was the worst I've ever had here.

Up until now I have been a frequent Hergetova Cihelna visitor. That is at least 3 times per month. The view of the bridge, the pleasant atmosphere, and the good food were what constantly brought me back.

Monday's dinner (after watching the CZ-US football match at the bar upstairs) was awful. We begged the waitress four times before she brought us bread. There were five of use. When we ordered a large bottle of still water, she brought it with four glasses. My order for a Jack and Coke was met with some unbranded whiskey and cola that tasted like bitter lemons. When I asked her to check to be sure that this was what I ordered--that this was not like the Jacks and Cokes I'd been drinking upstairs for the last two hours--she said that's what she had ordered and walked away. Ten minutes later, when she deigned to come by our table again, I reminded her of the issues. She took the drink this time and returned about 10 minutes later with a new one, this time saying that she had pressed the wrong button on the machine (but still no fifth water glass). By this time everyone had empty glasses at the table since we had been visited so infrequently, so we requested more water, another water glass, another round of alcohol, and begged for more bread. She walked away without acknowledging the request and was gone for 10 minutes before my Czech boyfriend confronted someone who looked to be a manager about the atrocious service. She offered us a different waiter and said that this one had only been on the job for 14 days (even though I am certain I had seen her before). As all of this is going down, 14-days-on-the-job comes over with a new big bottle of water, but not the kind we were drinking. The new waiter was better. He brought the right water, with two new glasses, and correct drinks.

The rest of the meal went off okay, but the very recently updated menu has removed some old favorites. Also, as others have noted, the quality of the food has dropped noticeably and dramatically. The tuna used in the sashami pizza was chewy and at points could not be bitten through. The filet was undersized and overcooked. The svickova has been reduced in size to the point where it is not really even a full meal.

Waiter #2 tried to make up for the service experience with a free round of after-dinner drinks, but the conversation all night was all about how awful the experience was. Really, really disappointing.

If it weren't for the view, I'd say never again. But for really inventive cooking without the view and excellent service, I'll be voting with my wallet and going to Mozaika much more often. For now, Cihelna will be reserved only for when I have tourists in town who won't mind the ridiculous pricing for mediocre food and absolute crap service. And I'll send them there on their own.

I have to agree with the previous reviewer, as this place has unfortunately realized that with their gorgeous view, kampa dining history (and therefore rave reviews in all the current travel books) and non-repeat tourists, they've realized that they can still make a fortune without having to offer fine dining.

About a year ago I went here and was really impressed by the food. Of course due to the price it was a place I only went to with guests but it has continually gone down hill and is absolutely no longer worth the price anymore...

Cihelna, used to be one of those places you could always rely on to impress visitors, business associates, parents or lovers.

But what happened? The view remains as impressive as it always has. Unfortunately Charles Bridge is the only thing about this restaurant that has remained up to standard.

I have been a regular customer of this restaurant, and in fact most of those in the Kampa Park group since pretty much soon after they started, so I think I can speak with some authority.
The first inkling that something was wrong was several months ago when I ordered a steak. The usually inch and a half stack of prime beef has been reduced to a chewy cheap cut. NO! I do not want to pay over 300kc for a cut of that quality. I´ve had better in Czech pubs. I didn´t finish my food. I informed the waitress that it was not up to its usual standard. Of course they did jack diddly. I found that none of the cheaper lines of wine were available. I was put off and didn´t return for several months. They have since changed the menu. I have yet to try the fillet mignon - I was too scared.

Then with friends last week the same. Ingredients were poor; the food was badly cooked and flavoured. The squid starter, coming in at an unpalatable 595 kc, and is usually one of those ‘oh my God you have to try a bit of this´ dishes, was so bad that it was spat into napkins by all those who tried it and had to be sent back. Didn't seem to worry the staff though. At those prices I'd expect the chef to come personally and issue an apology. The prices have rocketed. The cheaper wines have been taken off the menu entirely. Again we had to beg for the bread which usually comes as standard before the meal.

Twice now I have had incredibly disappointing meals from a restaurant once famed for its great food and standards. I am also not alone in this opinion. Cihelna, sort it out, grab your manager by the scruff of the neck and give him a good shake. The prices for the ever-decreasing quality of your food are no longer acceptable. Quite frankly, until I hear a good report from someone who remembers the standards of old - I will not be returning. This restaurant has dropped from an 8 or 9 to a very poor 2. Absolutely NOT worth the money any more.

From the moment you alight at the gates welcoming you to this unique and delicious restaurant, you know there's something different and interesting in store.

The first thing you see is the fountain of two animatronic and anatomically correct naked men peeing. Get past the tourists taking pictures and walk down the hill to your right and then the steps to the left to enter the foyer. There you are greeted by gracious English-speaking hostesses who will take you to your seat. Be sure to look back behind you to the right of the door after you enter. There you'll see plaques reminding visitors of the great floods in Prague. They start down near the floor and appear to end around mid-thigh, but be sure to glance up near to the ceiling and see the marker signifying the 2003 flood!

Once you are seated, the waitstaff is surprisingly attentive and on the ball. I have never waited more than a couple of minutes for a replacement refreshment. While the dining is leisurely and unhurried, once you order your food is quick to arrive.

There is a FULL bar, so whatever your heart desires can be found and enjoyed at HC. House brew is Pilsner, which should satisfy everyone. The wine list is good, but the Czech waitstaff will advise you against the Czech (cheaper) wines. Bottles range from around 500 Kc to upwards of 2700 Kc for pricier imports.

After you sit down you will be presented with bread in garlic and olive oil. It's really outstanding, but don't fill up on it. They will bring you refills until the cows come home, but it's worth it to leave room for the rest of the great meal that's to follow.

I recommend starting off with an appetizer course of sashami pizza or (if you're into such things) the fois gras pizza. I have never had the foie gras, but my dining companions have spoken highly of its quality and deliciousness. I can personally attest to the fact that the sashami pizza is quite wonderful, with a perfectly blended wasabi topping that delightfully mixes with the taste of the tuna sashami and pizza crust to excite even the most jaded tastebuds! Other appetizers include tiger prawn in a creamy garlic sauce, terrific crab cakes, and a pleasant beef tartar.

Moving on to the entrees (I haven't had the soup or salads--yet), there are several paths to take. The pastas are fabulous and inventive. I recommend the parmesan risotto, although the crab looks quite good as well. For a surprising twist at such a fine-dining establishment, try the burger. It is quite good (although usually a bit overcooked--ordered three times now as medium-rare and have been delievered to the table as medium-well), served alongside a small dish of fried potato wedges. Another dish worth considering is the pork ribs served with a great bleu cheese sauce.

Finally, all of the dessert selections are quite good. I have enjoyed the chocolate tart and creme brulee on multiple occassions, and recently had the special desert consisting of a delightful raspberry gelato with a fresh raspberry compote on top that was incredible and refreshing.

Hergetova (like all Kampa Group restaurants) isn't cheap. I like taking wealthy friends and relatives there (who think it's terribly cheap compared to California or NYC prices--and are happy to pay). It's a perfect place for a quiet romantic meal, and a great location for a business dinner with new clients you'd like to impress.

There are two distinct dining areas, one upstairs at the peeing-man-fountain level near to the substantial and well-stocked bar and pool tables as well as one downstairs with the riverside patio and an older and more-intimate feel interior dining room. I like both. On quiet nights, the upstairs is empty, which can be good for important business discussions. On busy nights, or when the view is the reason you're there, the river side simply can't be beat!

I suggest you call in advance to reserve seats on the river. If you join the Kampa Group affinity program, called "More Than Dining," you can usually get a good seat on short notice. Add to that the opportunity to get points toward great rewards, and MTD will have you visiting all of the Kampa Group restaurants as often as your pocketbook will allow. Check out http://www.morethandining.com/en/pages/ for more information or to sign up.