The Rock and Roll Vegetarian

So the cheese block didn’t really go down that well for me. So I decided to try out the other end of Czech Vegetarian in Prague, the well known and respected duo of Lehká hlava and Maitrea.

Lehká hlava (meaning clear head) and Maitrea are sister restaurants, and although they feature different menus, the food has a similarity. So, when without a reservation at one, finding it booked, we tried the other first!

Maitrea was nice and modern looking, and seemed like we were in for a good meal when we sat down. Our waiter was very nice too, actually. We placed our orders – first a nice vegetable soup. After a few days of not the most healthful food, this really was great – a simple brothy soup with very small vegetables and a garnish of parsley.

Then we moved on the main courses. Not suprisingly, I got something called Goulash – as it seems I am always into the traditional dishes done vegetarian. Mrs. Rock and Roll Vegetarian went for an asian type of dish, a special, vegetarian sesame chicken.

Vegetarian Goulash? Ok, maybe not the greatest idea in hindsight….Basically this was a dark gravy dish, with a few red beans in it, over some tasty seitan and onions with some slices of whole wheat bread. I don’t know, but I was hoping for something more healthy – What was I thinking? Now I’ve had vegetarian haggas in Scotland, and I know you can do meat dishes vegetarian, but actually wasn’t crazy about this, and it was pretty salty…

The sesame chicken, made with seitan too, was a lot better, we both felt. If you have been out for vegetarian chinese at a place that does these kind of meat substitute dishes, you would recognize this. Although kind of normal, it was very tasty, and we loved all the peanuts.  The seitan was very good, and so happy to be back with the good old veggie standards.  It was on rice, which we weren’t sure if was a light brown rice or white. It was not quite like either, which was actually perfect.

A beer for me (Bernard served here) and a white wine for her, and we were done.

Over all, not thrilling, but good and solid, with maybe a bit too much salt. A nice atmosphere, and a good choice when in Prague.

Next, on our last night in Prague we finally tried the highest praised vegetarian restaurant in the city, Lehká hlava! We should have eaten here more! This place is really great!

We stopped for some wine on the way, fearing that as a vegetarian restaurant we might do better at a wine bar for this. And wow, that was good wine!  But oops, we were just a bit late for our reservation, and did feel bad.  Kind of just forgot what time it was…After a quick call, they were very nice, understanding and said “no problem R and R”. Thank you.

The restaurant is in an old building, and has a really nice creative interior done by some local artist friends of the restaurant. It has vaulted ceilings and neat looking custom designed glass tables with lights inside of them.  We kept it very simple, and just ordered 2 things: “Big Clear Head” – selection of main dishes (eggplant quesadilla with tomato salsa and sour cream, grilled vegetable kebabs, potatoes au gratin and a small green salad with lemon-honey dressing), and the burrito with pinto beans, avocado salad with goat cheese, tomato salsa and sour cream, rice.

I went with the “Big Clear Head” because it would really give me a taste of a variety of their dishes. I’m not that easily satisfied I fear, so I knew something would probably be great, and something not so great. What was great was the vegetable kebabs and the potatoes au gratin and the salad. Best vegetable kebabs i’ve ever had. And the potatoes au gratin were triangles of pan fried potatoes and cheese. Very rich, very tasty, if maybe a bit salty (I hate to say it though). Salad good as salad is. Eggplant quesadilla? Well, I never really love eggplant quesadillas, so I wasn’t suprised that with all of this food, I kind of ignored it.

Our burrito with pinto beans platter was also really good! It wasn’t the typical burrito you often find, as it was kind of open faced. Not completely, but it was as if this was a slightly deconstructed version. Tortilla was fresh, flavor was great, and it was very nice!

Yes, definitely recommend this great restaurant…