Na Zlaté Křižovacte--Gluten Free Restaurant in Prague

Hi Everyone,

Living gluten and wheat free is not easy, but it can become even more challenging when you move to a new country. I had been gluten free for 5 years before I moved to the Czech Republic in 2006. Five years of experience had seen me able to adapt to the new gf (gluten free) diet, even learning how to bake cakes and pies using alternative flours. After settling in to life here, I learned to cook a few traditional Czech dishes, but there are many that still elude me. One of those dishes is called svíčková. Svíčková na smetaně is a wonderful dish made with marinated beef served in a creamy sauce, topped with cranberries. This dish is usually served with dumplings on the side. I have watched my husband eat this favorite dish so many times, but I could not enjoy it due to ingredients that have gluten. That is, until one day last week when I visited a restaurant that specializes in serving nothing but gluten free food!

A friend had told me about this wonderful restaurant, Na Zlaté Křižovacte (At the Golden Crossing), that is completely gluten free here, in Prague. I was amazed, as it is difficult to find restaurants here that specialize in particular diets, most especially the gluten free diet. So, my curiosity was aroused and I decided to go for lunch one day. Na Zlaté Křižovacte is located close to the Florenc Metro Station, in Prague 8. It took me no more than three minutes to walk to the restaurant after leaving the metro. The restaurant is located in a building toward the middle of the block, and it’s very easy to see the two gf symbols prominently displayed on the outside.

I walked into the restaurant and was immediately met by staff that was very friendly, helpful and who spoke great English. They offered a choice of seating, and I decided to sit in the second room of the restaurant where it was quieter and I could concentrate on my meal without too much distraction. Na Zlaté Křižovacte is one of the cleanest restaurants I’ve been in anywhere, and one of the most pleasant. The décor of the restaurant is done with calming pale green and off-white walls, with beautiful paintings that match the restaurant’s color scheme. The tables are set with linens to compliment the colors and décor, and as I said—everything is impeccably clean. Na Zlaté Křižovacte is not only gluten free, but is also smoke-free and air conditioned. I must add they also had some very nice music playing quietly in the background—not at all overpowering. The ambience of the restaurant is a wonderful backdrop for some heavenly tasting gluten free food.

After being seated, staff brought a basket of bread to my table, along with some flavored spreads. The bread is excellent and the texture is like the wheat bread I remember so well. Na Zlaté Křižovacte’s menu, in both Czech and English, offers a wide variety of foods from soups and salads to main courses of fish, chicken and beef, along with a choice of drinks such as wine, soft drinks, and more. They have daily and la carte menus that also offer very tempting desserts—all of which are gluten free. Looking over the menu, svíčková na smetaně jumped right off the page at me. I had never been able to try this dish in the past, and now here was a completely gf version. Of course, this is what I ordered. The day I was there, the restaurant also offered pear strudel for dessert. This was heaven for sure, but I had to ask the restaurant staff if the strudel had cinnamon, as I’m very allergic to it. They were very helpful and even talked to the chef, and I was very fortunate, for the strudel did not have cinnamon. I don’t usually eat dessert, but that day I was splurging and went ahead and ordered the pear strudel.

My meal was brought out in good time, and it was done with a traditional presentation of the svíčková. The first bite was amazing, and it was the very first time I’ve been able to eat svíčková since moving here almost five years ago. The meat was so tender it fell apart, so it wasn’t necessary to use a knife to cut it. The sauce was a wonderful blended flavor and provided a very tasteful and delectable backdrop for the meat. The dumplings were lighter than air—truly so good, I could have ordered another plate. After eating the svíčková and dumplings, I finally understood the Czech’s love affair with this dish. Even those who are not on a gluten free diet will enjoy the offerings of Na Zlaté Křižovacte, for their food tastes like what I call “real food” (food made with wheat and gluten).

The dessert pear strudel was just as good as the svíčková had been. Strudel had only been a memory for me to this point, until eating at Na Zlaté Křižovacte. The strudel was delicate and flaky, and the pears were done just right—and not at all crunchy. The flavors were just what I remembered from eating strudel before I was found to be allergic to wheat/gluten.

Na Zlaté Křižovacte also provides other services, in addition to their restaurant. It’s possible to order bread (one week ahead) baked and prepared for picking up to take home. The restaurant also offers a variety of gluten free baking products for sale, and provides services such as take-home food, organizing parties for special occasions, and more.

Na Zlaté Křižovacte is a wonderful restaurant, and I plan to make more visits in the future. This is the perfect restaurant for tourists and Prague residents who are gluten free and need a safe, smoke-free place in which to have some delectable gluten free food. Even if you’re not on a gluten free diet, be sure to visit Na Zlaté Křižovacte and try their excellent food. You won’t be disappointed!

That’s all for today!

God bless,

Sher :0)

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Note:  This review was done completely on my own--I was not hired or paid to offer this restaurant review. I paid for my complete meal. This review is offered as a service to help others who are on a gluten free diet and need to find a safe place to eat away from home and avoid cross-contamination of their food with wheat and gluten products.

(c) 2011 by Sher Vacik