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Prague Fine Food Emporium
Categories: Restaurants Delis Restaurants Sandwiches Restaurants Modern European Delis, Sandwiches, Modern European [Edit]
638 Queen St WToronto, ON M6J 1E4
Neighbourhoods: Niagara, West Queen West, Trinity Bellwoods
(416) 504-5787
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 7 pm
Sat 7:30 am - 6 pm
Sun 10 am - 5 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert, Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
21 reviews for Prague Fine Food Emporium
Review Highlights
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"...in addition to the all day breakfast, has traditional items..." In 3 reviews -
"The best part, they have frozen food goodness to take home." In 3 reviews -
"Had an excellent schnitzel sandwich here." In 5 reviews
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
5/23/2012
Came here for brunch. Server was really friendly and the food was great. I recommend the Czech-Break it was delicious! Toilets were nice & clean too, always a good sign
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Review from Tara F.
Montréal, QC
8/17/2011
Do you have a hankering for Mama's svickova or Babicka's goulash?
You're in luck because this Prague deli's own Maminka will tell you step by step how to make it, and send you home with the finest cuts of meat to do just that.
Not feeling so confident about your old-European cooking skills? These Czech specialties made in house taste just like Babi's, and you can eat them in the little dining area or take them home. -
Review from Sayno H.
Toronto, ON
1/23/2012
Had breakfast on a saturday before heading off to the library. Omelette was amazing. Salmon was extremely good. Waitress was very friendly and nice. We ordered two main dishes, a side dish and two coffees for $34. For that great food, i was easily willing to pay 50. A place I will definitely come back to
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Review from Liam K.
Downtown Core, Toronto, ON
3/30/2012
I'd seen all the good reviews for this place so I figured I'd give it a try. We both ordered the schnitzel. We were immediately disappointed when we saw her put the food in a MICROWAVE. Sorry, but schnitzel's should be fried to order, not pre-fried and reheated. In fact, any restaurant that microwaves their food is ripping you off. Because of this, the schnitzel was chewy and the skin was soft and kind of soggy. This place looks like a good grocery store, especially if you're looking for harder-to-find European foods, but I certainly won't be dining there ever again.
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Review from Tee Jay R.
Toronto, ON
5/19/2011
In addition to a bewildering array of Eastern European ingredients, deli items, and prepared foods, the Emporium serves up a refreshingly different selection of Czech brunch dishes in its small dining area -- a welcome alternative to two-egg breakfasts, waffles, and omelettes.
My recent breakfast here was one of the most memorable meals I've had in Toronto in quite some time. I wouldn't describe me as a breakfast fan, since I find that most affordable brunch places are much of a much, but the Emporium sets itself apart with its varied menu, pleasant service, and careful execution, all at a very reasonable price.
The Czech-break, a mix of kielbasa, bread dumpling, and eggs, was lightly seasoned and, despite its meat-and-starch base, not stomach-leadening. The kielbasa was delicious and the chunks of bread dumpling were the right texture, neither chewy nor gluey.
My favourite, though, was the palacinky (crepe) stuffed with fruit and topped with yogurt and blueberry compote. Very much on the lighter side of crepe dishes, and a far cry from the typical sweet-on-sweet combo of syrupy fruit topping smothered in whipped cream. The combination of tart yogurt and pleasant natural sweetness of the fresh fruit was refreshing.
Our server was friendly, funny, polite, and swift. I really couldn't have asked for a better experience and it is nice to see an established restaurant that is still putting in a strong effort to please and attract new customers. Well done! I can't wait to try their lunches and prepared deli items. -
Review from Kent P.
1/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had an excellent schnitzel sandwich here. A lot of options in terms of buns/toppings (get sauerkraut) and a very reasonable price point (about 7 or 8 bucks). Unlike the breaded veal you'll get at Italian places around the city, the meat here is much denser and less reliant on the fried exterior.
Service was prompt, goulash and bread puddings were both enjoyable and although didn't try it - the Czech allday breakfast with Kielbasa, dumplings, and eggs looked wicked.
Czech-please!
Great lunch spot.
five out of five pats.
patpatpatpatpat
ttyn,
-PATListed in: Toronto's Best Sandwiches…, Brunch.
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Review from Amie T.
Toronto, ON
4/16/2011
I went here for perogies the other day. Just perogies. I could have eaten all day. They were amazing.
The shop is rather small and it makes it cute and cozy. They took care of all 13 of us...who just came because we heard the perogies were good. Several plates of perogies and 89 cent pops later, we came out happy and satisfied.
Now I can say I've been to Prague...and THE Prague.
;) -
Review from melissa s.
Toronto, ON
7/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
Incredible schnitzel and absolutely delicious smoked salmon. I love the mix between a grocery store and restaurant.
worth Czech-ing out ;) -
Review from Melanie H.
Toronto, ON
1/25/2010
I've just eaten some lunch here, and rushed home to put the kettle on for some digestive tea (Try Traditional Medicinal's Eater's Digest). For $12.95, I ordered a potato pancake filled with chicken, feta, olive, sun-dried tomato and dried herb mixture. The flavour was musty (from stale dried oregano), the dish was really salty, oily, and the garlic breath I now have will keep me from getting any action for the next 2 days. The actual pancake tasted pretty good, but the filling was really bad....I bet no one in the kitchen would ever eat this dish. My boyfriend ordered a navy bean soup which was fine but nothing special (canned beans), and the daily special.. beef with a orange sauce and mashed potatoes. He said the dish was not hot enough, and very BORING. We finished off with coffee, which we didn't drink because it tasted like the coffee maker needed cleaning.
The service was excellent, which is why this place gets 2 stars instead of 1. Very friendly and much appreciated, but not enough to get me to go back again. -
Review from Robin S.
Edmonton, AB
10/25/2008
Prague is always one of my favourite places to go for a bacon-and-eggs breakfast in Toronto, and I've spent countless hours sitting at the counter by the window, alone, drinking coffee, eating my breakfast (although, to be fair, it's usually afternoon), and reading books.
This is a family-owned business which, if the photos on the walls tell the correct story, seems to have been a butcher shop originally. Now they're a restaurant, bakery, and small grocer - you can pick up items ilke Eastern European chocolate bars, bags of perogies to take home, and even homemade plum preserves, delicious on buttered toast.
Prague's menu, in addition to the all day breakfast, has traditional items like pork roast with dumplings; they also make a killer eggplant schnitzel and if you've got room for dessert, do not miss the strawberry dumplings topped with quark cheese - they're absolutely heavenly. -
Review from Nunya B.
Toronto, ON
6/2/2011
Fantastic home cooking...takes me back home :)
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Review from eric g.
Toronto, ON
8/17/2010
I'd been meaning to go to the Prague forever, but somehow was never in the mood for Central European comfort food when in the Queen W. neighbourhood. Until yesterday, when I had dinner plans with my pal JN, who - like me - is a veteran of Mitteleuropa.
We got there about quarter past six, to find out that the place closes at seven - so a long catch-up over dinner was pretty much out. The menu is full of Czech stand-bys such as svicková (beef in creamy sauce), fried cheese, roast pork, sauerkraut, etc. - all very authentic. So far so good.
We both ordered the smoked salmon appetizer - house-smoked salmon was excellent, a good start to the meal.
And then we got our mains. Both the svicková and the blood sausage with potatoes and sauerkraut were bland, bland, bland. Liberal application of Czech mustard helped my blood sausage a bit... But we both agreed that on the scale of post-communist Central European development, our dinner was somewhere around 1995. Better than 1989... but not up to snuff by today's standards.
Sadly, by the time we got to dessert, the kitchen was closed and they couldn't make palacinky - stuffed crepes. And my vanilla-custard-filled Czech donut was... well, I only ate half, and I never leave dessert unfinished.
So why does the Prague get three stars and not two? The service was friendly and warm - indeed, delightful. They let us stay long past closing as they cleaned up. And the Slovak beer was excellent. -
Review from Seema M.
Updated - 6/8/2010
Sadly, upon my return to Prague things have changed..
It was dead quiet in the middle of the week at lunch time which is unheard of at Prague. We were seated immediately (which was nice).. all three of us ordered the all day breakfast, each with our eggs cooked differently. Needless to say, all of the eggs came out over-hard, which none of us had ordered. We were all a little too shy to say anything but the waitress could tell something was up. She offered to change our eggs (which was really nice) but we were hungry and in a rush so refused. The rest of the food wasn't great either- toast was cold, potatoes were really salty and the kiabasa (sp?) sausage was hard. Luckily we had ordered a side Czech potato salad which was delicious as per usual.. we devoured it!
I usually crave Prague when I am away and insist on having it upon my returns to Toronto.. may have to find somewhere new :(1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/27/2009
I used to live around the corner from Prague and I miss it so much. The chicken schnitzel sandwiches… Read more »
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Review from Erin H.
Toronto, ON
9/11/2008
When I come back from traveling abroad I ease the sad but inevitable transition of returning home by enjoying breakfast at Prague -- a little piece of Europe right on Queen St.
Prague offers up traditional Eastern European Fare from Chicken Paprikesh - chicken sauteed in a creamy smoked paprika sauce - to a variety of savory or sweet crepes, to Kielbasa and eggs.
The staff is not a bunch of built boys and bodacious babes. Rather the place is housed by real women, middle aged and staunchly middle Eastern. The food is excellent and the place is fun. My one complaint is they clearly did a face lift to the joint a few years back and I never got to see it in its original glory. Oh well can't have everything. -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
10/24/2008 1 photo
I have never been to Czechoslovakia (first try!) but I understand that it's beautiful and I know that they can make some pretty good hockey players too. What I didn't know is that they also have some skills in the kitchen, which is what I was very pleased to find out when I went to Prague (the bakery, not the city). The store smells wonderful and for that reason alone I think that you should stop in. The store has things that I've never heard of and while they are foreign they all look delicious and if you are from that part of the world I think that this would be an excellent place to find certain foods that you wouldn't be able to get otherwise. The bakery is small and many of the products have packages that are only in Cyrillic and yet it manages to have a down to earth homey feel. I would recommend this store to anyone who likes baked goods or to any Czechs.
Like the review? Check out the link to my blog on my profile. -
Review from M P.
Toronto, ON
6/10/2010
Nice little deli/cafe with character. It's not just about the food here. It's about the experience, the feeling of escaping the city and perhaps even traveling to some Eastern European countries....
I have been there a couple of times on the weekends. It's always extremely busy so the service is a bit chancy... You might get a good host/hostess :) or you might not :s
This time I took my friend from Montreal to check this place out. She absolutely loved this place. We ordered the Prague burger and grilled Moravian sausage. Boy, they were delicious and reasonably priced!!!
To top it off, our hostess (a really nice young lady) suggested the palacinky (pancake) with ice cream and melted chocolate.... Yummmm !!!
Needless to say I love this place, maybe more on the weekdays to avoid lineups and rude hosts/hostesses... -
Review from patricia l.
Toronto, ON
10/16/2011
Everything was bland. There so-called fresh squeezed orange juice, didn't taste fresh. Their ice cream tasted cheap; definitely not home-made. Their perogies were bland; I can make better ones at home by opening a bag I bought at No Frills. Their goulash was bland as well. The waitress was friendly. Decor was of the routine modern genre.
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Review from George F.
Clarkson, ON
11/21/2009
We live in Mississauga but every weekend we drive in just to have lunch there. Food is excellent. Service is great. Worth the drive. Just had another fabulous meal there!!! Tripe Soup, Wiener Schnitzel, Liver Pudding, and the pastries are amazing!! Everything done on premises. The best part, they have frozen food goodness to take home!!!
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Review from A P.
Toronto, ON
3/26/2010
I come in here a lot to hit their takeout counter. really good assortment of sandwhiches and Czech pastries/takehomes. Don't expect a smile from the person making your delicio food tho.
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Review from Adam S.
3/15/2010
The food was great, but the service was completely awful. We arrived to a half full restaurant for brunch, and ended up waiting 45 minutes for our food, while every other table that was seated after us was served. When our food finally arrived, one of the orders was completely wrong, and took another half an hour to cone out. The staff was totally unapologetic, and different waiters kept implying we should be leaving while waiting for the corrected order.
All in all, the food was good, but not good enough to warrant spending two hours sitting in a deli. -
Review from Uros M.
Toronto, ON
3/18/2011
Went to this nice and homie place with great expectation. I wasn't disappointed. Take out food available as well. Fairly priced. Will be back
