Sometimes, we just want to go somewhere close to home that offers a few things outside the usual hospoda fare. One place that fits the bill is called Ego.
It’s a little spot across the street from the Bohemians 1905 football stadium in Vršovice.
There aren’t so many tables, and sometimes they are full. You take your chances when showing up unannounced.
There’s just one long room below street level with brick walls and uncomfortable chairs and benches.
The prices are pretty reasonable. Yet, despite my earlier claim to common tastes, I must confess my favorite thing there is also among the most expensive items on the menu.
The meat was quite tender. Warning: this thing will set your mouth aflame.
The steak sat on top of a sweet and spicy pool of barbecue-style sauce. But it is their own mixture that didn’t come from a bottle. Not directly, anyway.
Unfortunately, the price does not include side items. Last time, I got it with “American potatoes.”
She was very impressed with the freshness and quality of the fish. She was not so happy with the sour cream-based concoction on the side. After one taste, she just avoided it.
I went again more recently and decided to try their “sweet ribs” (155 CZK). They were served in a metal enamel tray.
These were big-boned ribs, so it looked pretty massive. The meat was first smoked before it was finished in the oven, giving it a reddish color. But it was also on the dry side.
As the name says, it comes with a sweet sauce, but it is not very sweet and used sparingly. On the side, there was also mustard, chopped onion, and horseradish.
This ain’t haute cuisine. But I just love those crispy, crunchy things.
I’m not sure if it is fair to mention, but more than a year ago, I did try the ginger, honey, and lime wings. I throw this out there because I still have the picture.
Despite the promise of the delicious-sounding preparation, they were lacking much of the hoped for flavors. And they left the tips on the wings, which is a turn off for American wing purists. If they’ve changed they way they do them, I’d love to hear about it.
Brewsta is the creator of Prague’s first English-language food and drink blog, “Czech Please.” He’s now posting a new adventure on Expats.cz once in two weeks.