photo: PrahaIN.cz/Pivo, illustrative photo
PrahaIN.cz repeatedly talks to owners of restaurants and classic pubs across the Czech Republic. We map the development of prices and the tastes of regulars. We also deal with businesses in the Krkonoše Mountains, in the Beskydy Mountains, but also in the Šumava Mountains.
We had the opportunity to speak with several entrepreneurs during the past weekend, when we were mainly interested in attendance. It is said to be good, beyond expectations. The problem, as the interviewed restaurateurs and pub owners agreed, began to be the behavior of some visitors, guests.
Petr Vychodil has been doing business in the center of the metropolis since the nineties. “I’ve actually wanted to since 1989, but it wasn’t possible at the time,” he recalls, adding that what was, was. “Recently, however, there have been two bad habits in Prague, which, of course, have become a habit. Firstly, it was the fact that many foreigners started bringing their own drinks to restaurants. At first we didn’t believe it, then we uncompromisingly asked them to go throw the plastic bottles on the street. Americans and Israelis in particular were quite surprised, because they took the Czech restaurants across the center as fast food, where you can also bring your own drink,” the mentioned businessman informed us.
Pavel K., an elderly waiter at Restaurant U Malířů on Malá Strana, confirmed his words. “We were really famous at the turn of the millennium. Expensive meals, super-expensive wines, but it also happened,” he summed up the answer to our question if customers brought their own supplies.
It’s a terrible sight
The mentioned trend did not apply only to Prague, and certainly not only to the past. We heard similar testimonies in Potrefená huse in Vaňkovka in Brno, but also in Luční bouda in the Giant Mountains. This evil is said to have disappeared over time. For a new one to come. And it was precisely this that was pointed out to us a few days ago by the operators in the Beskydy, Šumava, and also in Kutná Hora. This is an order of one drink, but for two people.
“It’s true, I’ve experienced it, I’ve seen it, and I wasn’t completely thrilled about it,” admitted Petr Vychodil. “We have beer for 130, for some it is a lot, but you also have to realize that the rent in the center of Prague is sometimes up to 250,000 per month. So they come, have a beer, and a straw. And they suck it together for maybe an hour,” he explained.
Our source from Modrava, who has informed the editors several times by phone about the events there, also knows what is being said. “Common practice, common bad habit. There’s nothing you can do about it. Parents get half a beer, kids get half a lemonade. Naturally, we do not forbid them, but the sight of it is terrible,” he told PrahaIN.cz. The price of a pint of Pilsner Urquell beer in his company is between 55 and 60 crowns. A liter of lemonade costs up to a hundred. “It’s been going on for a year, maybe a little longer. It’s because they save people. We can see it in the number of meals served. Everything is replaced by soups as a main course. I don’t blame anyone, but it’s stupid for us,” he added.
Did the dog live?
Our third source, Richard T., is an entrepreneur from Valašské Meziříčí and has been working in the Beskydy for over fifteen years.
“I know it the other way around. Last week we were in Pustevny. It was cold, foggy. So we had tea and half beer. The attendant came to ask if we wanted to cast each one separately. So I watched what he meant. The lady told me that they notice that people get one for two, so she made me very happy,” he added. “Thanks to that, I also had soup, it must have cost over a hundred. And we got two spoons straight away, I felt like a welfare case, but what…” he laughed.
The trend of drinking one beer in two was evaluated relatively negatively by two other entrepreneurs from the center of Prague, both of whom come from the former Yugoslavia. Thanks to the massive number of customers, they don’t care. However, if there were fewer people, they would stop a similar trend.
Time to Raise a Glass… But Not Too High!
Welcome to the wild world of Czech pubs! Here, the beer flows like… well, beer. But it seems some patrons are taking their ‘bring your own’ ethos a bit too seriously. Let’s dive into the hilarious yet exasperating saga of drinking habits across the Czech public houses!
The Rise of the ‘DIY’ Drinkers
It seems the glorious tradition of downing a pint in a proper pub is being hijacked by a gang of renegade recyclers! Our good pals over at PrahaIN.cz have uncovered a shocking trend—certain *foreigners* are rolling into restaurants with their own drinks! Now, you’d think they were starting a picnic instead of dining out! Can you imagine strolling into McDonald’s with your homemade burger? “Excuse me, I bring my own ketchup. It’s organic!”
Petr Vychodil, our seasoned restaurateur, reported a rather astonishing moment: “We had to tell the tourists to, quite literally, throw their plastic bottles on the street!” Isn’t that just classic? They see the Czech dining experience as some sort of fast-food hackathon. Americans and Israelis, you’ve been told!
The Peculiar Practice of ‘Sharing’ a Drink
But wait! The bizarre behavior doesn’t stop there. It appears we have a new trend unfolding—a curious case of ‘one drink for two people.’ Sounds romantic, doesn’t it? Except when it’s a pint of beer and a straw, which is the stuff of pub owner nightmares! “We charge 130 crowns for a beer, and they sit around for an hour, sharing it like it’s the last drop of water in a desert!” Petr lamented.
It does raise an eyebrow or two—sharing a beer? What’s next, sharing a plate of goulash as a ‘togetherness’ thing? I mean, what’s the point of going out for a meal if you’re aiming to half-savor it? It’s like saying, “Honey, I love you so much, let’s just share half our lives!” Talk about commitment issues!
Public Blues: ‘Fake-It-til-You-Make-It’ Edition
In the picturesque areas of the Beskydy and Šumava mountains, the sights are apparently ‘wonderful yet terrible’ as parents sip half a beer while the kids get half a lemonade. A publican lamented: “It’s been happening for about a year now. A scene straight out of a comedy! When did it become fine dining to split a beverage?” Honestly, it’s akin to watching a soap opera about pub etiquette gone wrong.
And why stop at drinks? Why don’t we just all come in with a picnic basket? “Hi, we’d like one table, please! Oh, and here’s a four-course meal we brought from home!” How very convenient!
Should We Laugh or Cry?
Our man Richard, an entrepreneur from Valašské Meziříčí, recounted a hilarious exchange when he visited Pustevny. He found himself joyfully consuming tea and half a beer while the waiter hand delivered two spoons and a side eye. “Thanks for treating me like I’m on welfare!” he chuckled. But isn’t that the Czech spirit? Laugh in the face of absurdity!
And while these outré occurrences might be annoying to some, there’s a strange camaraderie in shared fuzzy moments over a pint. One bar owner from Prague, with only their profit margin in mind, said, “We’ve got enough customers; it doesn’t matter!” However, I can assure you, if the crowd dwindles, those straws are getting rationed real quick!
Conclusion: Drink Responsibly, But Not Too Intelligently!
So what’s the takeaway, dear readers? If you’re in the Czech Republic, please observe some pub etiquette before heading out. Let’s try to keep our drinks where they belong—and if you feel the need to sip a pint with a straw, perhaps consider a bizarrely overpriced cocktail in a another trendy bar instead? Cheers to that! 🍻
Until next time, keep your pints high and your contributions to brewing a meaningful conversation—just not literally!
