4. Restaurants

Praga Restaurant

229 W St Charles Rd, Lombard, IL, 60148
  • (630) 495-0470
  • Store is closed

Praga Restaurant Menu

  • Appetizers
  • Salads
  • Pastas
  • Entrees

Healthy Meal suggestions for Praga Restaurant

  • Appetizers
  • Salads
  • Pastas
  • Entrees

  • Diane N.

    Went there tonight to celebrate our 37th anniversary. My husband suggested a couple of other places but I said Praga is quiet. WRONG!!. Walked in to find a family/Village of Lombard gathering which we thought we could deal with. Seated, drinks brought, (not good). Ordered our meals.(Very Good) Then the speeches started from said gathering.Speeches! Really? Had to hold our conversation until they were done. We were so uncomfortable! Felt we crashed their party. Wolf down our meals. "NO" to dessert. " NO" to a second cocktail. They should have shut down to a "Private Party" and suffered the loss. So disappointed!! Could not wait to get out of there!

    (3)

  • Sheri N.

    Just celebrated my folks 65th anniversary and they loved it. Service is always good. The food is why we always keep going back, and the martinis are awesome! We've been going for years and have always had a really good experience.

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    Went here this evening after a swim meet, kids all starving. Decent food, but horribly under staffed, no waiter and took an obscene amount of time to get out food. Well over 30 minutes for dinner. We eat a lot of Mediterranean and this was over priced for sure!! Should be $$$ the staff were nice but it was obvious they were short handed and should have apologized at the least! Last, the ice tea tastes like Nestle raspberry tea, awful. Would not return or recommend.

    (2)

  • Amy R.

    What a delightful little restaurant in bland downtown Lombard! I had an awesome experience here. I came here for part of a dog training class in which the owner of the training group and the owner of Praga had arranged for us to be there to enjoy drinks and apps and enjoy our dogs in public. I brought my mean dog (sigh) and was VERY anxious, but with a certified dog trainer there and a very dog friendly restaurant owner, my concerns were eased right away. Hamish and I got our own table due to his aforementioned meanness, and the owner walked around to each of us and offered bowls of water and treats to each pooch there. Our server was awesome with the drink refills (mid afternoon = just diet coke for me), and the patio is a nice mix of privacy and people watching. Since it was lunchish, I ordered the Norwegian salmon roll up, as it seemed like a nice, fresh, light midday meal. It was AMAZING. It was delicious smoke salmon rolled around Brie cheese flavored with herbs (lots o' dill!) and baby spinach. It was a generous portion, served upon more baby spinach and cucumbers, with a lovely herb-y dressing and house-made potato chips that were light, crispy, and a fabulous juxtaposition to the creamy salmon rollup. I ate every last bite! We stayed about 1.5 hours, me in one chair and my dog in another, enjoying each other's company, delicious food, and the sights and sounds of Lombard along busy St. Charles road. Though next time I'll likely leave the pup at home and bring the husband along, I will definitely be returning!

    (5)

  • Noomi J.

    It was a Thursday night, patio was packed. We were seated inside. The waitress explained that the waitstaff was stretched thin. Polite, but super slow, inattentive service. The diners next to us made remarks about how their coffee took 30 mins to arrive. We ordered a flambe coffee from their menu, but later the waitress told us that the bartender didn't want to make it. Off-putting explanation. Waitress also smelled strongly of cigarettes. Bearable, but not desirable in a dining experience. P.E.I. mussels ($10) - 4 stars. Delicious with a wine sauce, tomatoes. Would've been better served with bread. Beet, butternut squash, and goat cheese ravioli ($14) - 4 stars. Caramelized brussel sprouts and prosciutto pieces. Around 8 raviolis. Liked the goat cheese and beet pairing. Beef short ribs ($15) - 2 stars. "Braised and glazed with ginger, peach, chipotle, brown sugar, tomato sauce. Oriental stir fry root vegetable slaw. Sweet potato fries." After reading that description, I was excited to try it. But the execution was meh. Meat wasn't tender, forgettable taste. Slaw was a pass. Maybe 9 sweet potato fries, soggy, seemed like an afterthought to the dish. Presentation was a mess. Instead of this, get galbijjim from a decent Korean restaurant. Raspberry Grand Marnier creme brulee ($7) - 3.5 stars. Tasty with a thick crust, but the inside texture wasn't the smooth creaminess that I look for in a creme brulee. I liked the look of the menu, and the food was overall good except for one dish, so about a 3.5 star rating. The memorably poor service rounds it down to a 3.

    (3)

  • Brie R.

    Had a delicious short rib dinner followed by strawberry profiteroles. They gave my infant son some mashed potatoes for him to nosh on. It's a little pricey for me but they have full meals on the lower end for the quality of food that you get.

    (4)

  • Drew T.

    Good food. Service was alright. I was hoping to get more out of what I paid for but overall it was good

    (3)

  • Stefanie W.

    Who knew you could find such an exceptional restaurant in downtown Lombard?! Thank you, Yelp! Have been here three times now. The first time was a weekend. The restaurant was nearly full and they gave us a nice window seat overlooking their patio area and sidewalk. The atmosphere is understated and relaxing. The service was attentive yet relaxed. Quiet confidence rather than chirpy faux friendship. We went with our server's recommendation of their specialty, Veal Praga. Oh, so good! Comes with spaetzle and red cabbage. If you've been missing your German grandma's cooking, this is the dish! Based on our description of our preferred wines our server also produced a terrific bottle within our price range. Dessert was a dish of ice cream covered with Michigan cherries, slightly whipped cream and shaved almonds. Sounds too simple but you MUST order this. I'm not a huge dessert person but I haven't stopped thinking about this dessert. Second visit, we popped in on a Friday night. First visit must've been dumb luck for us to get in because this is not a place you pop into on the weekend without a reservation. It was packed and there was no hope of waiting. :-( Third visit was every bit as good as the first. We brought our young daughter and they were happy to split my meal for her though they do offer small pizzas as bar snack / children's meal. I think they're $6.95. I had to have the cherries. Mystified by my continued fixation on them (Was it the wine?? Could they really have been that good?) we ordered it again. Oh yes! It IS that good and the portion is big enough to split. Their wine/martini bar, Bonton, is attached. Looked nice but I haven't been on that side. Can't wait for summer to try the patio!

    (5)

  • M J.

    We've been big fans ever since they opened. Most recently we really loved the stuffed pear salad. They should probably change the menu to reflect the fact that they are pear slices, not whole pears. I almost didn't get it because I was turned off by the idea of a whole stuffed pear. I also love the pork tenderloin but the delicious creamy sauce can be a bit rich for my delicate constitution. Go here and enjoy the food, wine and awesome outdoor patio.

    (5)

  • Michele S.

    This is a great little place in downtown Lombard. The dining room is small, so reservations are recommended, especially if coming on a Friday or Saturday. Before my meal, I tried the mushroom soup that was on special. The broth was made with sherry and there were nice big mushroom pieces throughout. Great start to the meal. For dinner, I went with the penne pomodoro with chicken, which was divine. The sauce had a little cream in it making it smooth and a little more filling. Even though I was full, I had to force some dessert because the ice cream with cherry sauce was calling to me. That dessert was worth every last discomfort from my bursting stomach. There is also a nice wine list for those who care to partake.

    (4)

  • Pete I.

    Consistently understaffed - but the joint finds salvation with 5-star food. If you are patient - this place won't disappoint.

    (4)

  • Kristen H.

    Based off the asparagus salad, bread, and wine, this location gets two stars, and for service I would put zero stars. My boyfriend and I had been dying to try Praga Restaurant for some time now and finally had the chance to do so. We were immediately greeted and sat on their lovely patio that overlooks the peaceful traffic of downtown Lombard. We had bread and olive oil ready for us and my red wine was full of body and flavor. Our waitress appeared nice at first but that all changed until I ordered my food. As a vegetarian, I have special dietary needs, and I tend to be understanding if a restaurant has a small selection, and typically I move around this and substitute or subtract something from the meal. I already knew what I wanted before we arrived, because we had looked at the menu. I wanted their squash ravioli with beets and brussel sprouts. The only thing on the ravioli that I did not want was their prosciutto glaze that was on top, which I did not believe to be an issue. Apparently, it was to the waitress, who believed that she knew what I would like better than me. When I stated that I did not want the prosciutto glaze, she stated that the dish would not then work because it would be bland, and I said that is fine (because I did not want to argue and know that I would like it especially with those three particular veggies), but the waitress would not budge. She literally would not let me order it that way, until finally she agreed to just have a red sauce on the side for me which I just consented to in order to make her go away. I would never put red sauce on top of those vegetables and the sheer fact that she was not confident enough the restaurant could not cook anything but bland ravioli was discouraging. I chose to move on from the incident and we enjoyed our grilled asparagus with gorgonzola cheese and pecans which was phenomenal. As our entrees were served, I noticed that the red sauce was all over the ravioli AND not on the side. I decided to still give it a try, but instantly regretted it. It tasted just like bland cheese ravioli with marina sauce and I become upset. When I addressed the waitress about the issue, she again wanted to argue with me and reiterated the fact that the vegetables were inside the ravioli. The beets were but I only tasted one piece of squash in all of the ravioli and definitely not the brussel sprouts. She brought me a side of brussel sprouts which were mushy and disgusting and I could not even finish eating them. I began to notice the way she treated her table next to us in a kind manner and was almost trying to avoid me, possibly because she believed me to be too demanding. I will never return to Praga by choice again, and I will tell all of my vegetarian friends to stay away as we are obviously not welcome here!

    (2)

  • Chris H.

    Cosy and quiet early Sunday evening but excellent food the Norwegian smoked salmon appetiser was done of the best smoked salmon I've ever had. My wife had the New Zealand lamb and I had the pork medallions absolutely divine and now way over priced for such good food. Definitely worth going there anytime

    (5)

  • Stephanie G.

    My husband and I wanted to go out to dinner, but did not want to go to any chain restaurants. Praga was just the right place. This restaurant offers unique menu options in a relaxed dining setting. They have a great out door patio, which would have been perfect if it wasn't 105F with max humidity. We sat inside, which was just fine. I started off with a cucumber martini, which was refreshing and delicious. BTW, thursday is $5 martini night!!! What a deal!! We started with the Fromage appetizer. Yum and Yum. I went with the sea bass for my entree. It came with au gratin potatoes (to die for) and veggies. The sauce that was on the sea bass made this dish a home run. My husband had a steak, which I though was cooked perfectly (he thought it was a little rare, but he liked it anyways!) Glad I live so close to Praga, because it is nice to have a place in the neighborhood that can offer spread like something you would find in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    Excellent food and service. Also a beautiful bar and one of the nicest in the chicago burbs.

    (5)

  • Nikki B.

    A friend recommended this place and we've been meaning to try it for the last year and finally had the chance. Not what I expected. Our waiter seemed inexperienced as we had to wait some time in between drinks and he never took the empties away until we asked. I ordered the filet medallions medium rare and they were overcooked so I sent it back only for them to return fatty and still not cooked as I asked. The Manager was accomadating and did not charge me for my meal but I would not return or recommend

    (2)

  • Jim M.

    Gotta be kidding walked in @ 6 tonight empty dining room offered a table in bar area NO THANKS WILL NEVER GO BACK

    (1)

  • Jennifer N.

    My husband and I just moved to the area and had driven past Praga a few times. Decided to try it last Saturday night and it was honestly one of the best meals we have EVER had! My husband ordered a soup as an appetizer that came out hot and delicious. He ordered the Veal Praga for dinner that had a mushroom sauce over it. I don't even like mushrooms and even that was incredible. I ordered the rack of lamb and it was absolutely AMAZING!!! I rarely clean my plate the way I did at Praga that night. Top it off with a delicious pear martini and wonderful cherries and ice cream for dessert... we were in heaven! Not to mention the service was excellent and the ambiance was delightful. We are so thrilled to have found this hidden gem in our new hometown! Our total bill was only about $80 but the quality of the food and service far surpassed what we paid. It even beats out some of the best restaurants we've been to in the city. We HIGHLY recommend Praga!!! You won't be disappointed!!!

    (5)

  • Jason L.

    I've eaten here twice with my fiancee's family and enjoyed outstanding food and attentive service both times. Their salads are great - I've tried the stuffed pear and spring green and was impressed by both. Entrees have all been superb. I would definitely recommend them and look forward to returning soon!

    (5)

  • Rebecca C.

    Of all the restaurants I've dined in the Western Suburbs, Praga is at the top of the list, if not the top restaurant on the list. Although every table was taken by 7:30 pm on a Friday night recently, we were not rushed out the door and could stay and enjoy our flambe coffees and dessert. From the wild mushroom soup, to the free range chicken, the tenderloin and the delicious sides (nice to have crisp, fresh vegetables), to great red wine choices, the meal was just awesome. Our server suggested the sour cherry dessert and we were so glad she did. It was a perfectly not-too-sweet end to a perfect meal. We never tire of the intimate yet comfortable Euro-style atmosphere with Euro style comfort dishes. I could dine there everyday...

    (5)

  • Yana G.

    Made reservations for grandmother's 92nd birthday dinner two weeks in advance for Saturday night at 7PM. I called the Praga Restaurant phone number and had mentioned that it was a special occasions and if its possible to get a nice table, was told not a problem. We arrived on the day promptly at 7, and were walked to the Bonton (adjust bar) area of the restaurant, and were told we are going to be seated at one of the high tops. I disagreed and stated that I made reservation at Praga and explained that this is a birthday, to which the hostess/waiters shrugged and without any further attempts stated this is the only table they ahve available and they seat in both areas. Ok that's fine but how come no one mentioned this when I was making reservations and specifically asked for a nice table? I asked to speak with the manager who could also care less. No apology, no attempt to make this up, we were seated with an elderly person at a high top table in a loud, dark bar area. Felt terrible, at that age every birthday is a gift and should be celebrated fully, but there is nothing we can do. Now as to the food and service. Service was ok, a bit rushed, waitress barely gave us a second to open our menus before she came back to get drink orders. Bread arrived and it seemed like a loaf you buy on sale at the grocery store, sliced. So strange, restaurant with steak houses pricing should be able to have a bit better quality of bread. As to the entrees, very underwhelmed. Extremely average, bland soupy seafood pasta dish, with two tiny scallops and two shrimps swimming in greasy brownish broth. And that's for $25 a plate. The rest of our party agreed on the same for their dishes. Save your money and go elsewhere, management clearly doesn't care about guest's requests and does whatever possible just to fill the space, plus food that is an Olive Garden quality for 3X the price.

    (1)

  • Cathleen H.

    The previous review is older. Last time my husband and I were there, we were not happy. The server was not pleasant and the food was mediocre.

    (2)

  • Megan M.

    i really want to love this place but i just can't. my last two experiences were very frustrating. while the food is delicious - the service is just terrible. i spent over 2 hours here on mother's day mostly because our food took so long to come out of the kitchen (there was only 2 of us). then in the middle of the meal, our server informed us she was leaving for the day and someone else would be around to take our dessert order. that second server never came to our table, i had to go to the bar to ask someone else to take our dessert order. on my second visit, the server seemed annoyed when we were seated in her section. i would definitely recommend eating here, just bring your patience!

    (3)

  • Jennifer L.

    My boyfriend and I were in the area again since his car needed to be fixed (again) at a shop in Addison. We were hungry for dinner so we went here after a good recommendation from a co-worker who lives in Lombard and of course, the Yelp reviews. First, there are two entrances - one for Bonton (the wine bar) and Praga (the restaurant). We walked into the one for the restaurant around 7pm. The waiting area is super small and fits no more than two people. We were asked by an employee if we had made reservations. We said no and she said she'd see what she had available. Another employee came back a few minutes later and led us to our table, which was a high top in the wine bar area (Bonton). This would have been fine had I been able to drink. However, I didn't want to since I was driving. My boyfriend was kind enough not to drink either so I wouldn't be alone not drinking. The wine bar looked great! The ambiance and look was quite different from the dining room. We sat right by the room with all the wine. The downsides were that the bar was loud and especially for us since we were right by the bar and I could hear the bartender mixing all the drinks. Also, they didn't turn on the Bulls game and instead had college football on. I think I overheard someone ask for the Bulls game, but the bartender said no. Not OK. For dinner, I started with the sherry laced wild mushroom cream soup. The soup was delicious and I enjoyed dipping the bread into it. My boyfriend had the crab bisque soup, which was delicious. He enjoyed it very much. For our entrees, I had the jumbo walleye which came with white rice mixed with cilantro pieces, a corn and asparagus vegetable mix and some sort of butter sauce. It tasted delicious. I enjoyed the cilantro rice, which was a nice palette cleanser, which allowed me to go back in for more bites of the fish. The fish was prepared nicely and melted in my mouth. I enjoyed the vegetable mix and the sauce, but found it odd that rice and vegetables were on my plate. I think maybe the rice was out of place despite it being very delicious. My boyfriend had the prawns (three big pieces), which were served with asparagus (he found these to be a bit chewy) and mashed potatoes. He enjoyed his entree. For desert, we had the Raspberry Grand Mariner Creme Brulee. It had the raspberries mixed in, which I was not a fan of. I did not like the Grand Mariner and found the consistency to be off - sort of mealy instead of what it should be. The brulee part was good. Service overall was just OK. I felt like our server could have been friendlier and I didn't feel like he totally made an attempt to make us feel welcome. I may go back if in the area and request to sit in the dining room. Bottom Line: 1) make reservations, 2) skip the Creme Brulee and 3) sit in the wine bar area if you want a more loud, vibrant atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Rob T.

    A few months back we called at 5p on a Saturday and were able to get an 815p reservation for 4. The owner told us that there would be no issues as there were "over 100 seats". We showed up about 810p and the owner told us it would be 10 minutes. That was fine with us as we grabbed a drink in the bar. However, after 30 minutes and multiple visits to ask when we would be seated, we finally sat down at 910p. The food was average and this was supported by our friends who had gone there several times prior and recommended this place. This visit however put them off for future visits. There was neither an apology nor offer of a drink or app due to the delay in seating. This is the reason for the 1 star. I do not think we will be back due to the lack of professionalism by the owner.

    (1)

  • Vikki B.

    after 5 yrs straight of making this our fave summer time restaurant, we can still make it 5 stars! Pavel was his usual courteous, casual self-- a reminder that customer service still DOES exist! Once again- the food was outstanding and fresh , and perfectly seasoned. We had for UM))) stuffed chicken breast and filet medallions ((YUM YUM)) and then topped it off with some martinis and dessert to go ;) bc they portions for the price are very generous we were STUFFED! :) hands down- thsi is our fave restaurant in Dupage county! the patio can get loud- so can the inside- but Thursdays expect a wait- its $5 martini night and their martinis are fabtastic so tehy draw a huge crowd! ;) If you are looking for quieter - don't go Thursday ;) but whatever you do- TRY this place!

    (5)

  • Dave M.

    We had a very enjoyable dinner at Praga. The steak poivre and swordfish steak were well fixed and tasty. The profiteroles were very enjoyable. Coffee was good. Praga is surprisingly down-to-earth, and service was friendly and skillful.

    (4)

  • Sarah A.

    My Sister & I took our Mother to Praga for their Mother's Day 4 course special. Great service and very good food! I had their crab cakes, cream of mushroom soup, salmon and chocolate brownie thing w/ raspberries & strawberries. I go with a group to Bonton - their bar next door - on Thursday evenings for the martini specials. Great outdoor space too for those warmer nites!

    (4)

  • Sabby H.

    The food here is great as is the wine selection. Several seafood specials - the striped bass was excellent and thankfully they cooked it naked (no carb loaded coating!). My husband had the fillet medallions that were excellent, and a friend of ours the stuffed pork chop which he loved. Must try the Fromage onion tart as an appetizer. We had great service last night, however getting seated can be a little awkward as they don't really have an indoor hostess station.

    (4)

  • Doug V.

    Had a wonderful dinner with a colleague last night. Enjoyed lamb chops and a butter leaf salad out side on the patio. I trade a lot and always seek out local spots versus the chains. This is a gem. Highly recommend

    (5)

  • Bryan B.

    Before eating here I thought it was going to be another mundane meat place. I was shockingly surprised at the level of quality of both food and service. I just don't think of downtown Lombard when I think of food food. Now I will.

    (4)

  • Erika M.

    I had a great time here. The food was great and the service was wonderful! The wine list was phenomenal and our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu. I had the shrimp scampi... it was divine. I will be back here soon

    (5)

  • J J.

    This was our 4th time at Praga. The atmosphere is cozy and great for a date night. The food is consistently great, from the veal to the rack of lamb. The mushroom soup is out of this world. Easy parking and the benefit of the connected bar. My only complaint would be the owner always seems so stressed and crabby. Ok, business is not great, but with that attitude and the rude way in which you talk to your staff is a huge issue.

    (4)

  • R M.

    What a pleasant surprise to find this exquisite restaurant hidden away in the west part of downtown Lombard. Not exactly the first place I think of for superior food but we were so pleased with our experience, I decided to invite others to partake of this superior restaurant. [BTW, it was new to us but the establishment has been operating for 11 years according to our waitstaff.] We dined on a Wednesday, which was quiet to say the least. Two other tables were being served. We were, obviously, seated promptly, brought water, bread, and asked for drinks within a few seconds. The rest of the meal was very well paced considering there was no crowd. Bread is only so so but were we taken aback when our first course arrived, blue point oysters on the half shell. Very mild and well detached from the shell; not a whisper of grit or sand. My wife had the house chop salad, served nicely in a large margarita glass and it was fresh, tasty, and dressed with just the right amount of oil/vinegar/spices. I would say it actually exploded in your mouth. I had their wild mushroom cream soup with sherry, which was to die for. Rich earthy flavor, nice texture and size to the mushrooms, nice note of sherry, and not too much cream as to make the soup too heavy. Outstanding! My wife's entree was Veal Praga, strips of veal sauteed with mushrooms and onions, served with spaetzel and red cabbage. She could not stop raving about this choice, until she had finished every morsel, a rarity for her. It was rich and complex with a hind of sherry or brandy. This signature dish hints at the heritage and underpinning of the restaurant's menu--Modern European. There are two other veal options, a few beef offerings, as well as pork and chicken. Not fish entrees on the regular menu. But the specials included two fish dinners. I chose the Scottish salmon served over mascarpone mashed potatoes with a corn/asparagus accompaniment. Simply superb. Nicely crusted, not overcooked, and absolutely no fishy/salmony flavor or scent. The extras on this dish we equally good and balanced well to the fish. We had room for no more and were also pleasantly surprised when the check was presented, especially since we had 4 drinks. While not an inexpensive meal, it was extremely fair for the quality, but remember this is not a "family" restaurant and the choices are all a la carte. Those folks who have complained about price need to stick to Denny's or even the immensely overrated Glen Prarie restaurant a few blocks away in the Crown Plaza on Roosevelt, which is just a few dollars less per entree than this wonderful, comfortable restaurant. Do yourself a favor, skip going downtown Chicago for a "special" night. There is a very special restaurant just down the street in, of all places, Lombard. Bon Appetite.

    (5)

  • Justin L.

    Praga has pretty good food with a nice ambiance and location. Be careful to watch for the small strip mall, I missed the place and had to come back around. The food here was pretty good. It's been about a year since I've gone, so sadly I can't remember the dishes I had; however, I remember the lobster bisque and the bar was convenient with a nice selection of wines and beers (nice when you arrive early and are waiting on others -- as I was). Ambiance was a definite plus. The outdoor patio was very nice. I went in late spring so it had a bit of a chill (not the restaurants fault), but with the park nearby and the trees around, definitely a nice place to take someone.

    (4)

  • Mike B.

    Took a friend from out of town here for dinner having never eaten there before other than a dessert we had at the adjoining wine & martini bar Bonton (which I would highly recommend). In a word, the dinner was phenomenal. We had an artisan cheese sampling plate as an appetizer and it was excellent. I had a seafood pasta that was good (I won't say great, but good), my friend had a melt-in-the-mouth Filet Mingon, and my wife won the "I ordered the best thing at the table award." It was a pork chop stuffed with spinach, pancetta, and some kind of cheese, and served with caramelized brussel sprouts. Our server was incredibly attentive and personable. This is definitely a hidden treasure - I'd advise people not to skip it because of it's unassuming exterior.

    (5)

  • James S.

    First time guest. Greeted warmly, Service was excellent. Enthusiastic and cheerful staff radiates to guests. Prompt attentive service, We both had a very, very good filet, and and shared an excellent dessert. Very good wine values. We will be back. Go soon........it was a delightful dinner all around!

    (4)

  • Carol K.

    A nice restaurant out in the "burbs" that I had never heard of? Say it isn't so . . . I must be slipping. But it was true. And true to me, I had to rectify not having eaten at this place yet, with a visit on a recent Friday night. We had an early reservation (made the old school way- ya gotta call). When we arrived, we had a choice of several tables, one by the window, one tucked away in a corner and one in the separate bar area. The corner table won out as it had a little more room and boy did we need it! First up- a couple of their appetizer specials of the day. The raw oysters were fresh and served with the expected condiments, but the scallops were amazing! Seared lightly and served over a mushroom risotto, it was plate licking worthy. Next up- I had the heirloom tomato caprese salad and my dining companion had the cream of mushroom soup. Equally as good. And then the entrees. My cheese and mushroom stuffed veal chop was perfectly cooked, and falling off the bone. And the "Praga veal" (a more traditional approach with spatzle and sweet and sour red cabbage) was noteworthy as well. The food came up fast, which was good as there was a misstep with service up front as the server thought she had already taken our order but she hadn't. No problem, though. She got us right back on track. Parking is a breeze as there is a lot right next door and in the Summer months there is a nice patio out front which would be a great place to enjoy a dinner. Dinner for 2 with a couple glasses of wine ran about $130. Praga is a find! Now I just wonder how it stayed off my radar for so long?

    (4)

  • Melissa G.

    We went here for NYE and ate Praga's amazing food in the romantic Bonton Wine Bar. LOVED the experience. The food was exceptional and the Cosmo was very well made. The staff were very attentive. We went for a second visit and stayed in Praga. It was again an amazing experience with delicious food and excellent staff.

    (5)

  • Lindsay M.

    If you haven't read my review on Bonton Wine and Martini bar. DO IT NOW. Any place associated with the owner is not a place you will find me. The food is decent but the service and manager skills ruins it for me. You will wait forever to get a waiter to your table and they will have a bad attitude. The food will take too long to get to the table. Although it will seem like pretty good food, you'll have to ask yourself, is this REALLY good? OR am I just really hungry from waiting for so long? Don't bother ordering a drink because it will take 20 minutes to get it. And really don't waste your time going next door to Bonton for a night cap because it will just end up ruining your night. 1-Star for the food, the service, and ownership took away the other 4 stars.

    (1)

  • Rob B.

    Praga really earned about 3.5 stars for our dinner, but I dropped that extra .5 due to the final bill. So there we were driving out to Glen Ellyn after doing some holiday shopping, and we were very hungry. I was driving by all sorts of fast food on Roosevelt when I remembered seeing Praga and Bonton just up the road. I figured if we needed to hang for 10 minutes, no big deal. I love Culvers and Arbys and all the greasy speed eats too, but we needed food of substance. They open at 4:30 (yay!) and we got our choice of the dining room, naturally. We sat down in the nicely decorated dining area and our server came right over to get us started with menus, water and bread with herb infused oil. The bread was good, but the oil was bland. We ordered a crab cake appetizer and our entrees were Scallops and Veal Scallopine. As we were ordering, another table of 4 came in and were seated directly next to us. The staff knew them and exchanged greetings which made me more mad that they were a loud table. The staff should have known not to sit the noisy table next to a couple dining in an otherwise empty restaurant. So after our bread course our waiter swings by to clear the plates and do "the crumb scrape" which took a hilarious 4 minutes due to the over abundance of tablecloth accent pieces. There was a centerpiece diamond that was too large, and it was upside down so the crumbs kept getting stuck in the seams. It was a real conversation buster. The crab cakes came. 5 star, amazing. Great texture, great flavor, the corn was a nice touch in the cake as well. If I was getting sauced at Bonton next door, I'd have cakes to keep me company. If you're going to stop in, get the cakes. The jovial folks next to us were just getting their food served as my wife and I were looking around to see if the waiter could give us an update. There was about an 30 minute gap between appetizer and entree even though we ordered everything at the same time. Just as we got his attention, the plates came shooting out of the kitchen. So next up was our entrees which were also 4-5 star quality. The sauces were good and the scallops were cooked just right, not tough, but with a nice searing on the exterior. It truly was a nice show from the chef of the evening between the cakes and entrees, and it certainly beat the pants off of anything else we were considering in the area. When our bill came, that's when I started taking the stars away. We spent well over $100 between the two of us. I really don't mind dropping the bills on a dinner but if you charge over $50 per person, you better get things right. For that bill, there should have been better management of the dining room, and more attentive service. I felt like it was a pretty poor value. It makes some of my favorite restaurants that much more of a treasure since they provide great food with amazing service for about half the price. Praga could be a 4-5 star establishment with some more attention to what happens outside of the kitchen.

    (3)

  • Candice G.

    What a great choice for a Father's Day dinner. I took my Dad here to celebrate the big day of Dads, it was both of our first time eating here and not a disappointment at all. Ooh- and as an extra bonus, it was nice out so we ate on the storefront patio outside. The service was great, all of the staff were so humble and friendly and made you feel welcome and appreciated without any coddling. The food is labeled as Eastern European but with none of the heavy meats and cheeses that you'd expect. My Dad said that calling it American would give people a better idea of their menu beforehand. As a vegetarian, I made sure to check out the menu prior to my visit to make sure there'd be something there for me, and ooooOOOOooooh was it good. They have a specials list that varies on the day you go but it's really extensive... several appetizer options, soup and salad options, LOTS of fresh fish entrees, and dessert. The daily specials menu here is bigger than a lot of restaurants real menu. My Dad and I got the Fromage appetizer ( goat cheese baked with caramelized onions, spinach, and red pepper wrapped in phyllo dough with a yummy pink tomato basil sauce) and the special salad that had spinach leaves, grapefruit slices, candied pistachios, grilled asparagus, and a really great vinaigrette dressing. Both items were mouth wateringly good... I'm defo going to try to steal the salad recipe to make on my own time, maybe call it Candice's Summer '09 Salad. For dinner my Dadio got the chicken dish with mashed potatoes. It looked good and was stuffed with peppers, spinach and other yummy goodness. He finished every bite of it. I saw another table with some sort of braised beef tomahawk looking dish and it was really a sight to see. I had to keep turning around to check it out like there was a celebrity sitting behind me or something. I got the vegetarian special which was seared polenta cakes on a bed of marinated spinach with a mixture of mushrooms, peas, asparagus, and some sort of dee-lish sauce. I, too, ate every bit of it. For dessert I got the "Tony's" crepes. They are banana crepes covered in syrup with vanilla ice cream and dried banana chips... served WHILE ON FIRE and then the dessert chef pours a ladle of something... I want to say Gran Marnier on top it. Twas dreamy... though some of my bites tasted like pure alcohol, it's hard to complain about getting a buzz from dessert. I'm so recommending this to friends. Even for vegetarians, though there's not a huge selection- they are superb.

    (4)

  • Sara C.

    Good place! So far, have been there twice for drinks and Bonton. Decided this time to try their food as well as their martini. The food is good. Pork chop was too salty. Crab cake too mushy. But everything else was delish. The scallops were cooked perfectly. The chicken wings were so crispy and I love the batter for the calamari. Light and crispy. The only suggestion I would have is possibly have a more variety of vegetables. Squash, sweet potatoes or broccoli wouldn't hurt. Everything we had was accessorized with corn. It was good but everything looked so yellow! Great wine list. The martini was good. When I disliked the raspberry martini right away waitress exchanges for another. Definitely we will go there for food and drinks. If only drinks will go before 10 so we can order those chicken wings!

    (4)

  • Daisy E.

    Recommend! it's a cute local place to get wine with the real good cheese and grape platter. Owner is real social and nice. The outside patio is relaxing during summer.

    (5)

  • Annie W.

    The place is easy to find. I swear, I survive on Yelp and googlemaps. I travel a lot for work and find myself in new cities, so finding good food is a must. There is plenty of parking in a lot close to the restaurant. I was early, so the place was empty, and a little darker than I like. I took my time perusing the specials, wine list (book), dinner menu, and martini list. I went with the scallops special, but started with the stuffed pear salad. The salad was...meh. I was expecting it to be delicous. It *looked* delicious and pretty. But it needed salt. And there was no salt or pepper on the table. Another reviewer was correct, the oil for the bread service is bland/boring, and almost tasted a little rank. Skip it. The scallop entree was really really really good. The scallops themselves were perfectly seared on the outside and had that lovely buttery flavor good scallops have. They were served over yukon gold mashed potatoes, with a corn/asparagus mascarpone sauce. I ate every morsel and wished for more. The portions are European (smaller), so it's totally doable. I had the bread pudding for dessert...not great. The strawberry tasted as if it had been sliced with the same knife that sliced onions. I wanted to try everythingon the menu, so I'm sure the majority is really good. I'd go back. I just wouldn't get the pear salad or the bread pudding.

    (4)

  • Karen J.

    Praga isa littlegem in Lombard. Tonite's specials were mostly seafood (salmon, tuna, swordfish, scallops). We had the scallops as an appetizer but it was also a special main dish with risotto.Very well prepared. My husband had the tuna and I had the salmon. Both entrees were excellent and the portions generous. Praga has a broad wine list and their house wines are decent. The dessert menu is large and we enjoyed splitting a raspberry Grand Marnier creme brulee. mmm. Praga has street front outdoor tables that are surrounded by flowering plants. On Saturday nights during the summer there are car shows on the street and it is rather noisy but tonite it was a relatively quiet early fall evening and we lingered over a wonderful dinner. There is street parking in front and a large lot 2 storefronts away. Servers were attentive. There is currently a special running. 10% off dinner if you show your Lombard library card.

    (5)

  • Nate J.

    Excellent service (Tony was our server, nice guy), excellent staff, great atmosphere, nice setting. Not often that I go somewhere and everything on the menu sounds amazing. I had the Pork Rack with spinach and onion rings....tasted excellent. My wife had duck with ravioli and cabbage, also good. Had the 'pinwheel' appetizer before this...also great. This place did everything right in my opinion. Not badly priced.

    (5)

  • Lisse C.

    Really enjoyed this place! The location is very cute and great for a nice dinner date without being overly formal. We sat on the patio and found it to be relaxing, Jack Johnson playing in the background, soft patio lights, friendly service. I started with escargot and it was perfectly cooked, buttery and delicious. My husband had crab cakes which were great as well, they had a slight hint of curry which was new. My entree of sea bass with truffle potato was amazing, the fish was delicate and melted in your mouth. My husband had filet mignon and it was overcooked and even burnt on one side. What's funny is the chef didn't even try to hide it by flipping the burnt side down! The deserts were not bad but unremarkable compared to everything else we had, except the steak. Nice place to go have a relaxing, well prepared meal and get great service.

    (4)

  • Dave S.

    Last night, I had the best meal of my fine-dining life at Praga. My wife and I each had some well-made martinis on the well-designed outdoor patio, but not before our appetizer of soup. Not a lot of soup, but some of the tastiest liquid one could ever slurp. Her asparagus-leek soup was quite good, but I've never had anything like the sherry-mushroom soup, which is a staple at Praga. The martinis were smooth and well-balanced. Then the entrees came. A pleasant basmati-ginger rice lined both of our plates. My wife's tilapia was accompanied by a tasty sauce and seasoned corn mixture. But I ordered the seared tuna, flavored with sesame and brought together by a sauce of caramel-soy that left us wondering what exactly was in it and how could it taste as good as it did. I've never had tuna that didn't come out of a can; I'm now spoiled by this dish and happily so. It easily rivals any dish eaten at 302 West, an incredible restaurant that thrived in downtown Geneva before the owner passed away. (One employee of 302 West was Pavel, who went on to start Praga.) Though we were happily full, we were able to indulge in dessert, and I'm not kidding, but I couldn't stop smiling while eating the malted-milk cheesecake. It was that good. If it had been a cooler night, we would likely have ordered 302 Coffees, a delicious drink that no one else seems to get. I apologize for not being more creative with my descriptions of the meal. But is was astoundingly good, and i can't think of another meal I've enjoyed more. I've read the negatives that people have given about Praga. They're service is not as instantaneous as some would like, and I get that. But I know for a fact that they're short-staffed, and that they haven't moved their prices in years. In this economy, something's gotta give, and we didn't mind waiting a little longer for our courses, especially one that achieves such a level of excellence, a work of art by a culinary master. (Can you tell how much I liked the tuna?) Downtown Lombard is struggling. I don't think enough people know how great this place is, and it's likely because of the location. St. Charles Rd. is no state route. But it's in my town, I love that it's here, and we plan on frequenting it as much as we can. It's the type of place that you'd expect in Naperville and Elmhurst and possibly be ignored. It's a crown jewel of Lombard, but is it pearls before the porcine? Seriously, are Lombardians too short-sighted to recognize the value of the extra cost? And why do they choose Claim Jumper over and over again? Strange.

    (5)

  • Sue T.

    A friend and I spent a delightful evening in this little storefront restaurant. The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. Many diners appeared to be regulars. Praga had just switched over to their fall menu. I had terrific, juicy, tender duck breast over winter squash and red cabbage. Service was friendly, provided by someone who truly knows and loves the food. The Bonton Wine Bar in the storefront next door (and connected at the back of the restaurant) ensures you have a good choice of wines for dinner. It looks like a great place to have a chat with a friend or take a date. I found the storefront a bit difficult to find, approaching from the west on a busy street. The sign over the front was hidden by trees. My trusty car nav said I was "there" so I parked and walked and found it. My friend had the same issue. No problem -- I'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Kate D.

    I have a new suburban go-to! Really, I can't wait to go back so I can try more items off the menu. First and foremost, I'll agree with another reviewer's husband who dubbed the food more American than "family style European." I have no idea where that description came from but it wasn't the portion size or the menu selection. Anyway, on to the good stuff. We had a 7:30 p.m. reservation for two and arrived at 7:35. The Praga dining room was full so we were seated at a table along the back wall in Bonton, the adjoining wine bar. I preferred the quieter lounge atmosphere and space of Bonton so that was serendipitous. We were greeted promptly by our fabulous server, Pavel T. He was friendly and enthusiastic about the food in a way that wasn't annoying but rather, contagious. The free bread was of 2-star quality. No flavor and cold. The olive oil was okay but rather plain. No shaved cheese, no anything. Pavel brought our wine and calamari appetizer quickly. The wine list was, as everyone mentions, extensive. The calamari was a perfect portion for an appetizer for two. It came with a salsa-like dipping sauce we both enjoyed. Flavorful but not spicy. Our entrees arrived just as we finished the calamari. I ordered chicken stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese in a Marsala sauce, which came with mashed potatoes. YUM. I practically licked my plate. The sauce was delicious and the chicken was cooked to perfection. My husband had the filet mignon in a mushroom sauce on fingerling potatoes with spinach. He liked his best, I liked mine best. Both were delicious. We topped it all off with the bread pudding. I really hate bread pudding but liked Praga's enough to try several bites. It came with homemade whipped cream and fresh berries. My husband was in love. For two glasses of wine, calamari, filet mignon, stuffed chicken, and dessert our bill totaled $80. Great price, great service, great meal. We'll be back.

    (4)

  • Jim P.

    Checked this place out based on Yelp reviews and was pleasantly surprised. Bar room is beautiful and we had a couple well made martinis before dinner. Service was fantastic across the board. Food was really good. Had the rack of lamb while my wife had the white fish. Very reasonably priced given quality of food, service and atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Osiris V.

    YUMMM, I forgot about the delicious calamari at Praga!! If you're into Mediterranean cuisines I would recommend this little hole in the wall restaurant. We came in and sat in their little lounge area and ordered a few drinks. Few rounds I should say. The waitress was very attentive. Afterwards, she moved us to the restaurant part, very intimate. Four of us shared the calamari. We ordered 2! Afterwards I got the chicken since it was the only thing that didn't scare me on the menu ;). My bf got the porkchops and the other two in our group ordered the duck. No complaints afterwards!

    (3)

  • Celia R.

    This is a fabulous little gem in downtown Lombard. The husband a wife team are the chef owner and pastry & dessert makers, plus working the front of the house. The Veal Praga and Veal Marsala are outstanding as are the soups and salads. Great for a romantic dinner or an evening with friends, Lovely outdoor tables during nice weather.

    (5)

  • Colin B.

    Great food, great service. Not too expensive, even the alcohol was moderately priced. An enjoyable atmosphere, the server Dan was especially friendly.

    (5)

  • Maria P.

    We love the food here and the the drink list is fabulous. Then comes the service. They definitely need a manager coordinating who does what as there always seems to be confusion as to where to seat people. I would highly recommend their escargot, the veal Praga, and their lobster bisque.

    (4)

  • Katie O.

    Great atmosphere and service, calamari wasn't great, but everything else was incredible. I had the scallops with acorn purée and my husband had the halibut, we loved it!

    (4)

  • Richard O.

    Very impressive preparation of the entree. Flavorful explosiveness in the veal sauce. Scallops were lively. Family style European restaurant with a flair for quality. Pleasant service compliments the delicious food. Nice selection on the menu. Extensive beer and wine menu along with various desert selections. I will visit here again great out of the way place in Lombard with outdoor seating and a spacious interior.

    (4)

  • V W.

    My husband and I wanted to find a nice restaurant. For us that means delicious food, knowledgeable waitstaff, good wine list and priced accordingly . Well, If I could put in ten stars for this restaurant I would. We are only going to be in the Chicago area for a week, but we are already trying to figure out a way to go back. In a city where food is reason enough to visit, Praga, in Lombard should be on your list too. Ron is a fantastic waiter, and the entire staff is professional and friendly. The lamb was superb, and my husband had the excellent veal. Truly I can not remember the last time we found a restaurant we enjoyed so much.

    (5)

  • Yvonne M.

    Went to Praga a few weeks ago because of the reviews I saw on here. I have to say, it was a great experience. The decor was not all that impressive and the service was ok but the food was delicious!! I ordered the filet mignon tips with the cognac flambé (or something like that). I don't recall what my date ordered. Either way, we were both very pleased with the food! We both will definitely go back there!!

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    I've been a fan of "Praga" since they opened. I just wish that I could make it there more often. Summertime eating outside is a treat. The staff has always been attentive and willing to go beyond expectations to help. The food never ceases to impress me. We eat out often and have tried many much more expensive places and yet the quality is never as good as "Praga". Give yourself a treat in these trying time's go to "Praga" and enjoy yourselves.

    (4)

  • Caitlin P.

    I have been to Praga numerous times since it has opened and in the beginning the servers were wonderfully kind and attentive, your reservations that you made in advance was always followed, the owner always came out to see how your meal was and the food was excellent. Within the past year, Praga has steadily gone downhill. During this time, I have dined with them three different times. Out of these three times, I have made reservations a couple of days in advance and had them confirmed with the hostess. All three times, my party has arrived on time and they have told us that there are no more tables left and escorted us to wait in the gloomy bar area/dungeon. What's the point of a reservation? This last time, today, my mother wanted to have their famous Mother's Day Brunch. So after making reservations weeks in advance, when we arrived right on time, we were told that all of the tables were taken and we were escorted to the gloomy bar area, Bonton, where we waited 15 minutes for someone to ask us if we wanted something to drink. We then waited another HALF AN HOUR to be seated. So a 45 minute wait in total for a party that made reservations far in advance. This was the third time that this exact situation has happened to me there. I didn't make the reservation to have my mom sit at a bar for close to an hour and not eat. When the waiter came to our table to bring us to our seat, instead of apologizing for the extended delay and inconvenience, he simply said "Ready?" I couldn't believe it. Nice Mother's Day for my mom. The food is sometimes awful/overcooked and sometimes amazing; you never can tell what you are going to get. But the one thing you definitely can expect is plan on being inconvenienced over and over again at this place in some way, shape or form.

    (1)

  • Vick C.

    Highly recommend to go this restaurant! Family style European restaurant with a very high quality of food and service! Nice selection of menu and wine menu. Nice decor and feel warm and comfortable! I had scallops and they were turn out perfectly! Love the food, reasonable price, good for dating, must go!

    (5)

  • Colleen W.

    I have to write a review in response to a review that was written this past Valentine's Day. I'm not sure what restaurant this person visited but it definately was not Praga. My husband and I have been visiting Praga since it opened. We have made it an annual event to dine at Praga on Valentine's Day because of the attention to detail that Praga gives to their Valentine's menu. This year was by far the best menu that Pavel has put out for this day. Pavel always prepares his food on the spot, nothing is pre-prepared as was previously suggested. This year, Praga's menu included a four course meal and each course had 5 or 6 incredible suggestions. I had the fresh oysters for the appetizer, the lobster-shrimp-pepper bisque for the next course, the trio (lobster, shrimp and scallops) for the main course and the creme brulee for desert. Everything was honestly incredible. What we received for $55 per person was worth every penny...and then some. I highly suggest Praga for any occasion, even just the casual dinner. Excellent service, incredible food and a wonderful atmosphere!

    (5)

  • Jeff B.

    This restaurant is our (my wife and I) favorite place to dine in all of the Chicago area. Pavel (the owner and master chef) is a genius when it comes to creating unique and extremely tasty European dishes. His wife, Martina, is a wonderful hostess. We have been there on numerous occasions and have absolutely loved every one. They have a good wine list, which is reasonably priced - international selection of wines. Appetizers and salads are each a unique creation. Entreees (and we have tried almost every one of them) are rich in flavor, unique in the blend of meats, vegetables and garnishes, and always served in such a pleasing presentation. It is best to make a reservation on a weekend, and, admittedly, there are some nights when service can suffer a bit if they are extremely busy - especially true in the summer months when all tables outside are full. Nonetheless, overall we have always had an excellent experience. They do no rush you - it is like an elegant European dining experience - right in the heart of Lombard! Our favorite evening is on a summer Saturday evening, when Lombard hosts classic car night (Cruisin' Nights), get there early (5:30 -6:00), enjoy a wonderful meal in the evening sunlight, and then walk around and check out the classic cars. By 7:00 to 8:00 they are usually very crowded and then, admittedly, it gets more hectic for them, but we are near the end of our meal by that time, and have enjoyed a wonderful, relaxed international dining experience..

    (5)

  • Ron T.

    Couldn't have asked for a better night to celebrate our anniversary! After many suggestions and lots of reviews read, I decided that Praga was the restaurant for my wife and I to celebrate......they didn't disappoint either! First off, service was phenomenal! Megan was our server and she was delightful, personable and made the whole dining experience very relaxing! We started out each getting our own appetizers, seeing how my wife and I have different tastes on certain things but she's starting to like more of the items that I always order. She had the Stuffed Pear with Gorgonzola Salad, so good.....she let me try it! I went with the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, one of the best I've ever had! For our entrees....my wife had the House Cut "New York" Steak with Gorgonzola mashed potatoes, to die for. I enjoyed the New Zealand Lamb Rack Parmesan Crusted served with the most unbelievable potato gratin, this coming from a person who usually dislikes potatoes done that way, so good I was taken back. The portion sizes are very generous and every bite was better than the previous! Dessert was a must, usually a skipped item at other establishments. My wife went with the Fresh Berry Creme Brulee, had no complaints. I went with the "New Orleans Style Bread Pudding", not what I expected looks wise but some of the best I've ever had! It looked more like a cake but was it really good, fresh berries to go with it and an unbelievable caramel pecan whipped cream on the side, again, to die for! All in all, this has been one of the nicest and best restaurants that we have been to in awhile, so happy we decided to go. Service is top notch, food is wonderful and we will definitely be going back, also recommending them to all of our friends/family!

    (5)

  • Mike P.

    We LOVE the food here and the martinis are fabulous. It's all fabulous and consistently so. The service is well, not bad just off a couple of beats. They really need a front room manager.

    (4)

  • alicia b.

    Oh yes! I dined at Praga Friday night and it was a lovely experience.I've lived in Lombard for pretty much my whole life and we always drive past this place but for some reason have been scared to try it but not Friday night! We arrived at about 6ish and it was pretty empty which made me sad but quickly it filled up.So if your going I would recommend making a res. but if not there is a swanky lil bar attached called bonton you could have drinks at. The meal: Drinks---if you like beer go for the Czech beer Golden Pheasant or if you like wine their selection is out of hand! Apps: My mom and I shared the Gorgonzola stuffed pear salad.OMG it was probably the best salad I have ever had! Din Din: I had the only vegetarian option a delish spinach penne pomodoro pasta.So good my carnivore mom and Bf had the stuffed chicken breast with mashed tatos and string beans.They both polished it off. My daddy had the seared sesame crusted Tuna which he claimed was the best he'd ever had. So the pros are the meal was delicious, the waiter was a really nice man, all the customers were really nicely dressed and good looking, the drinks were amazing, and the menu changes often. The cons are that arent very veggie friendly, kinda pricey and........ hmmm thats all I got

    (5)

  • Carrie W.

    So... Praga was recommended to me by a co worker of mine.. who also lives in Lombard. It was date night for me and my husband, which is quite rare on a Friday night. Without reservations we were sat immediately in a very cute and warm dining room and the service started immediately.. which was nice. As soon as we got our menus and water was poured.. my husband quite the stickler when going out noticed that the silverware was quite spotty, ie water spots.. it didn't really bother me. The wine list that was given to us was quite expansive we ordered a nice cab from a Paul Hobbs winery in Argentina.. (which averaged $32) our server though brought to us a $100+ Paul Hobbs Cab and swore that that was the one we ordered.. I know wine and I know that that was not the one we ordered. After about 15 minutes he finally came back with the one I had asked for.. it was quite yummy! We ordered the escargot app and it was quite good, but it was too rich.. too much cream, but the flavor profiles were great. We then ordered our dinners, my husband ordered the duck breast and I ordered the lamb shank... it was around 7ish when we ordered our entrees and the server thought they may have been out of my entree... it's a Friday night at 7pm, and it wasn't that busy.. come on.... We get our entrees and my husband's duck breast was over cooked and you could tell that my shank was the last one, the texture wasn't quite right.. and then we found out that the spatzel that was served with the lamb shank was not made there.. you could tell it was out of a bag... The caramelized root vegetable ragout though saved the dish, it was fantastic... We ordered dessert Bananas Foster.. and again our server was like... it may be the last one... it was 7:45? Yikes... we did get it.. and it was fantastic! Yummy, yummy... All and all, it was good.. but there were too many quirks.. oh did I mention the steak knives were from IKEA??? We will probably go back and give it another try.. they have an outdoor area which looks really quite nice... good for a great summer evening! We do have to say, in old downtown Lombard there aren't really any fine dining places... this is the only one.. and we think it could only get better.

    (3)

  • Bette S.

    Praga is our family restaurant of choice for a lovely evening. Last week we celebrated a significant birthday for my husband with a party of 34 family and friends. The owners opened up Praga on a Sunday afternoon for our party. Earlier they helped us choose a menu and wine pairings which gave our guests a number of delicious choices. Service by Maureen, Mitch and Erin was outstanding. They couldn't have been more helpful and the food and wine were served seamlessly. The first 45 minutes were spent in Bonton and the outside patio with wine and cocktails as the guests arrived, then we moved into the restaurant which had a lovely, intimate quality. Our choices for appetizers were the crab cakes or the fromage onlon tart; a choice of mushroom or vegetable minestrone soup or caesar salad; for entrees, a choice of pork chops, stuffed chicken breast, diver scallops or oven roasted salmon; and dessert, chocolate mousse, profiterolles or black cherries/ice cream. Our guests all said the food was delicious. My favorites at Praga are always the scallops, the onion tart and the mushroom soup. Thank you Praga, owners and wait staff, for a lovely afternoon of celebration.

    (5)

  • Michelle H.

    My husband took me out to celebrate my birthday. Great Wine List, great dinner selections. The stuffed pear salad was amazing. On the large side, well dressed. Husband had the roasted squash bisque. It was phenomenal. His entree, duck breast was better than mine. I had the Veal and Spaetzle it was very good, but the duck was phenomenal. Only room for improvement is the front door opens to the dining room and a large coat rack. Standing there waiting to be seated is awkward.

    (4)

  • Kai Z.

    Praga is such an adorable, intimate gem in the burbs with all the amazing food and attentive service you could ask for. My fiance and eating companion says that the way to his heart in a restaurant is a constant supply of bread, and the waitress kept us well stocked with carbs and drinks throughout the night. Even when the place became completely packed toward the end of our meal, service didn't slack one bit. We split a lobster/phyllo appetizer, which was a flavor orgasm and had decent chunks of lobster for only $7! The sea-bass had a deliciously crispy sear on it, and my dessert - banana rum crepes - were equally palate-pleasing. It was definitely worth the drive and all the wrong turns we made trying to find it!

    (5)

  • Christine L.

    A couple's night out in the 'burbs brought us to the charming Praga for dinner and drinks. We arrived at 6:30 (I know, early for us younger folk) on a Saturday and were immediately seated at a lovely table near the window. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and drinks. We decided to forgo appetizers and instead start with a round of martinis, quite good and a nice selection of specialty drinks. The wine list was huge (!) and most selections are available by the bottle or glass. For entrees, we ordered the scallops, stuffed chicken breast, striped bass (on special that night) and blackened NY strip. Each was served with a unique side dish pairing. The scallops were served with a spinach risotto that was rich in color and taste and the striped bass I ordered came with polenta parmesan fries which I absolutely loved!! The ambiance was very intimate and cozy, the menu was small but filled with unique offerings, service was quick and personable -all in all, a recommended pleasurable Saturday evening.

    (4)

  • Jason P.

    I can't believe it has taken me this long to write a review of this place. I went here with my wife and my in-laws, back during the first week of January while we were back in Chicago for the holidays. The first thing I loved about the place was the music they were playing. I have a fairly eclectic taste when it comes to music, preferring downtempo european electronica and chillout, and that was exactly what they had on the sound system that evening. Music aside, the place was small, intimate, and dimly lit. I love restaurants with atmosphere, and this place had plenty of it. With the snow on the ground outside, watching the cars drive past outside of the huge windows at the front of the restaurant, it just made for a nice evening that made me feel more like I was in Lincoln Park than Lombard. The food... oh my god the food. The BEST, absolute BEST scallops I have ever tasted in my life, followed by one of the best steaks I have ever had. Everyone else in my party enjoyed their food as much as I enjoyed mine. To top it all off, the service was top notch. This is my new favorite restaurant in the western suburbs. It is a little out of the way, but the drive is well worth it.

    (5)

  • George J.

    Have wanted to go here for the longest time and our anniversary was the perfect occasion. Were seated immediately and our server, Kim, was just a hoot, more like a family member than a waitress. Had a small issue with the wine list (multiple wines with the same bin number, so we got a much more expensive wine than we ordered - they immediately gave us the lower price). Food was impeccable, the crab cake the best we've ever tasted, the beet salad a great combination of sweet and tart, the entrees were perfect, and the cherries dessert was heaven. Finish with an after dinner drink in Bonton was just perfect. Prices are so reasonable for this level of cuisine, I was shocked. Looking forward to returning.

    (5)

  • Jenn G.

    Great food for a small place by the train tracks! It can be a but pricey, but the portions are well worth it. Best day to go us Thursday for $5 martinis!

    (5)

  • Tom E.

    Went there last night for dinner and came away extremely impressed. My wife and I shared the butternut squash soup and crab cakes as a starter. Both were excellent. As a main course I ordered one of the specials which was pecan crusted halibut served over sauteed spinach and parsnips. My wife ordered the veal medallions served over mushroom risotto. Neither one of us could have been more happy with our dishes. The food presentation and atmosphere is also very nice at this restuarant. If you are looking to get away from the chains in the suburbs and want a more intimate experience with top notch food, this is a great place. There is also a bar next door attached to the restaurant. We didn't go in but it looks like it would be a nice place for a before or after dinner drink.

    (5)

  • Cecille A.

    I finally ate here with a couple of friends after reading the great reviews of this place. Definitely in agreement with everyone here that the food here is very good. And they have a huge drink selection as well. For appetizers, we had the goat cheese tart and the calamari. Both were delicious, although i thought that the tart had a lot more onion than cheese but it was still very good. Two of us decided on the scallops with risotto for our entree and my other friend chose a chicken dish. All of us had the stuffed pear salad which was excellent. Our waiter forgot to put in our orders for the salad, and we got our entrees first. He was very apologetic about it and although it wasn't a big deal to us cuz we got the salads anyway later, he was nice enough to throw in the dessert we ordered for free! To sum things up, this place is definitely a place to check out if you're in the area. Has outdoor seating too, once the weather gets warmer!

    (4)

  • Lauren S.

    This resturant was great! My boyfriend and I went on a tuesday night and the resturant section was all to ourselves. The waiter was great, the food was great. The duck with the butternut squash puree and cabbage was too die for, the oysters great and the escargot dish was pretty decent. I cant wait to go back!!

    (5)

  • Anna C.

    I went to dinner here last Saturday night with 3 other guests. We sat inside initially because it was so hot outside. I had made reservations, but the table was not ready until 20 minutes after our promised reservation. I can understand a small delay (5-10 minutes) in a small restaurant, but 20 minutes was a little long. We waited in the bar (Bonton) which I highly recommend! Bonton is open very late when it is hard to find late night spots in the burbs. The decor is very urban and sleek. The bartender was very attentive and helpful. Once called to our table, our server was excellent!!!!!! We really liked her very much and showed our appreciation in a large tip. After dinner, we took coffee and dessert outside on the patio. The temperature cooled off slightly and it was a beautiful evening. I definitely suggest sitting outside on a nice evening. Now I'll chat about the food. I had the stuffed pear salad (which was excellent) and the seafood pasta. The pasta had scallops, shrimp, and a large portion of lobster meat. Another guest had the same dish and we both enjoyed it very much. The other two guests had a beef dish that looked like marinated beef tips. One of the guests strongly disliked the meal, but the other thought it was OK. Everyone liked their salads. The bread pudding dessert was great, especially since it did not contain raisins which I dislike. All in all, it was a fun night. My food was delicious but other guests would not agree. It is a great late night/outside dining choice. It is a little pricey.

    (4)

  • Chester R.

    this place is good. it's not amazing....especially for the prices....but it is good. the service is a little schizo, and the day we went in the summer the dining room was very warm. it was a forgettable experience. but for lombard, yes, it's the french laundry.

    (3)

  • Kat D.

    Went for Valentines day and got that 4 course meal plan they were offering as a Valentines special. Great food. It was the best scallops and lobster I've ever tasted.

    (5)

  • Gayle G.

    I'll give it the fifth star if I go again and it's a repeat performance. Wow. Just, wow! Everything was just lovely. I wasn't expecting much and was so happy with the service, ambiance and the food. The prices are great. $20 for a scallop entree? That's a deal. And they were delicious with a pistachio pesto over a corn relish. The halibut was wonderful too! Desserts were a tad weak, but still tasty and appropriately priced at $5.50 each. I'll definitely be back if I'm in the neighborhood.

    (4)

  • Roland W.

    Praga is the exact reason I'm glad I found yelp! this is a wonderful restaurant. We we're visiting Chicago to see friends and met them here for dinner on Friday night. We arrived a little early and were seated immediately. The service was attentive but not at all rushed. If they have one flaw it's the busboy. He offered more bread, but never brought it. I can live with that since everything else was great! We started with a goat cheese tart and crab cakes, both we're excellent. I was the only one to have a salad and chose the Gorgonzola cheese filled pear with greens. You have to try this if you eat here. We each had a different entree which were all prepared and presented to perfection. We capped off the evening with espresso and three desserts. The creme brulee was perfect as were the profiteroles. If you're going to be anywhere near Lombard I recommend trying Praga. FYI, they were in the middle of remodeling or adding a bar area which looked really cool. The next time I'm in town I'll be back!

    (5)

  • e j.

    We just had a perfect dinner here last night. The Praga's salad of sweet peppers and feta servied in a martini glass was perfect. We loved the satisfying appetizer of Austrian goat cheese tart. Then the scallops sounded so good that we both ordered them and we thouroughly enjoyed every bite, the mushrooms, the sauce, the veggies all worked together beautifully. For dessert we shared the Marscapone/honey tart which was good, would try other desserts next time. A gem we are lucky to have, especially in Lombard.

    (5)

  • Jim L.

    I concur with all the references to food made by my fellow reviewers. They simply make wonderful dishes -- ALL of them. And it IS easy to miss, so keep your eyes out. One comment about prices, however. One appetizer, a salad selection and entree will easily set you back about $37. Then add dessert and drinks, and you are in a gourmet restaurant in Chicago (but seated in a storefront in Lombard). Of course, no parking or valet fees. So, to set the record straight, plan on AT LEAST $100 per couple. The food is ABSOLUTELY TOPS, but don't think this will be an $18 experience!

    (5)

  • Kimberly D.

    Praga is a very intimate restaurant, perfect for a date but ok for small groups. Staff was very attentive and service was exceptional. The food was amazing with nice presentation. I had the cream of mushroom soup, ...very fresh! Then my entree was a free range chicken stuffed with spinach, sun dried tomatoes and goat cheese. Very moist and delicious. Prices are not bad for the quality of meal, service, and ambiance.

    (4)

  • Doug W.

    Praga is a gem! My wife and I felt like we were sitting in a quant eatery in Napa... Great food with a nice wine list. Before we knew it 3 hours flew by and we wanted to stay for more. A wonderful staff that knows how to make you feel like a million bucks and a killer menu will keep us coming back...

    (4)

  • Booda B.

    Praga is a great place to go for a special dinner. The vaguely European dishes are wonderfully prepared and of the highest quality. Main courses are about $12-$25 (if I remember correctly), which is really a bargain for this caliber of food. The staff is friendly and accessible and doesn't mind answering stupid questions. Not the sort of food I'd eat every day, but it's a classy little restaurant and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fine dining experience.

    (4)

  • T D.

    I enjoy this restaurant in the summer, when you can dine outside on their patio, with euro music playing in the background. A nice romantic feel about this place, dark inside and the service is great. I met one of the owners at the bar, she was very helpful with my questions about their menu. Praga is really drawing over into more than one type of cuisine, a real authentic, European influence is what I think their menu offers. A bit pricey, but well worth it, the food is very good with unique choices. You won't be disappointed in the wines here, ask for suggestions. The wait staff knows their stuff, it is not a large restaurant, so make a reservation. FYI, in the summer month's the town has a Cruiser Nights, where people view the cars and it runs right in front of this restaurant on Saturday nights, so may or may not want to avoid that night, dining outside here. Call ahead and ask first.

    (4)

  • Ada V.

    Fabulous food, attentive and friendly service. Love the outdoor patio and ambience inside. Downtown-style food in the western suburbs. You can dine here for $50 to $100 for a couple, depending on if you go all out with drinks, dessert, etc. Lots of options on the menu. The duck cannot be beat! Meat, fish, pasta, it's all fantastic. Food snobs and regular folks can dine together at this place. They obviously use quality ingredients - everything tastes awesome.

    (5)

  • Jason B.

    My wife and I just moved out to the area a couple months ago and we've been looking for some nice places to go to have a dinner that was a little more special than most of the restaurants around. I found Praga online and decided to give it a whirl. We were pleasantly surprised. For a Friday night the place was busy but not so busy that we couldn't Get a table on short notice. The service was good, and the wine list is pretty good as well. The only strange part is that this is one of those places without a hostess stand so when you walk in it's not clear who you are supposed to talk to. As for the meal, everything is excellent. They have some very creative appetizers which are very unique or are great twists on some of the more standard items like crab cakes or calamari. We went with a salmon "pinwheel" which was excellent. The entrees were also great, my wife had the fillet tips and I had scallops with cauliflower risotto which was good, if you like cauliflower. The tab was a bit pricey but not out of this world. A bottle of wine, an appetizer, two entrees and desert was $103.

    (5)

  • Melissa C.

    Very cute and romantic spot that makes you feel like you are somewhere else. Wonderful food, great service and an even better wine selection. Reservations are a must.

    (4)

  • Brian N.

    My girlfriend and I have been here three times, and we're quite impressed. Every appetizer, entree and dessert has been quite good - not a single let down. The mushroom soup is fresh and delicious. The duck was perhaps the best I've ever had. The halibut was baked perfectly and had a great combination of flavors. My girlfriend has enjoyed the veal and the filet to name a couple. Appetizers show impressive creativity without being annoying and are nothing short of delicious. Some of these were specials, which seem to change pretty often. Overall, this seems like a place where the chef is keeping a close eye on every detail and every dish that leaves the kitchen, and I love that. Either that or she has really good kitchen staff that can be trusted to do their thing. Or both! We have only been on weekend nights, and they can get pretty busy. Service is very good even during busy periods. Staff seem to know the menu and are very friendly. Highly, highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Traci Z.

    We went to Praga on a Friday night. The restaurant is kind of small, but it is very cozy. You would not feel like you were in a strip mall in the suburbs. There were not a lot of people there when we arrived, but it slowly filled up. The service was wonderful. She gave us some awesome recommendations and didn't pester us while we were eating. It was the perfect service. I had the mixed green salad to start and the tuna for the main dish. It was a special for the night. It was amazing. My boyfriend had the NY strip steak. I would say it was the best piece of meat I have tried in a long time! Each dish came with a unique side. There was a huge wine listing if you want a bottle. The glass listing wasn't as large, but still had enough selection. Unfortunately, we didn't save room for dessert. I did see them bring some out and they looked delicious. It is definitely our new go to place for a nice night out!!

    (5)

  • Jennifer W.

    This place is a definate gem. The wine list is specatular and the staff is very willing to give you a recommendation of a good bottle. It is a little pricey, but so worth the meal and ambiance.

    (5)

  • Kathy C.

    My boyfriend and I have dined at Praga at least a dozen times and have never been disappointed. He lived in Lombard for several years and this was always our "go to" restaurant for a nice dinner that wouldn't break the bank. We've since moved to the city, but have been able to make it back on several occasions. The food at Praga is fresh, delicious and is always made with care. We have several standard dishes that we tend to go back to (anything with scallops), but we also enjoy trying new things from their daily/seasonal menu. I would highly suggest any of their fresh fish dishes and their soup of the day for can't miss dishes. They also have an extensive dessert menu, which provides a diverse selection that satisfies a variety of palettes, provided that you have room =) The service has always been top-notch at Praga and the owners have been there bartending, waiting tables, talking to customers, etc... everytime we've dined there. I have to admit that it is nice to be recognized when we walk through the door. Praga recently added a separate bar area right next door to the restaurant space, which houses their extensive, and very affordable, wine collection. I would highly recommend Praga if you are out in the Western suburbs and want a local experience. I would also recommend it to anyone who is willing to take a trip to Lombard via the Eisenhower or the Metra (which has a Lombard stop just steps from Praga). If you go on a weekend, be sure to make a reservation.

    (5)

  • Tina T.

    A great hidden gem tucked away in Lombard! When one of my clients first told me of this restaurant and described it as Eastern European fusion, I thought to myself, "yuck - heavy meats and sausages and sauces - not for me!" But one night we decided to try it after hearing about it from several others. What a great surprise! The food is European fusion, and includes several wonderful fish dishes prepared deliciously! Prices aren't bad at all for the quality of the meal - you can find meals anywhere from $15 to $25; but the meal is definitely worth it! They have a great wine list, wonderful wait staff, romantic and intimate atmosphere. Not a very big place, although we've never had to wait too long. And the bar seats exactly 3 people with no room for standing! I like going in the fall/winter to avoid the car nights, but that's just me as I tend to pretty much hate those things!

    (5)

  • Emily E.

    Dined here for Valentine's Day--it was the best meal I have had in months, if not a year or so. The atmosphere is quiet and dimly lit, perfect for a romantic dinner. Our waitress was incredibly friendly and helpful. All of that wouldn't have meant anything if the food hadn't been so darn good! We got the scallops and the duck, both of which were cooked PERFECTLY, and simply melted in our mouths. Needless to say, we had no food on our plates come the end of the night. Definitely recommended for an excellent dinner out. Would come back for dinner and to check out the truly swank martini bar attached to it.

    (5)

  • dan w.

    My wife and I have been eating at and enjoying Praga Bonton for as long as they have been serving their patrons great food and amazing wines. The service is excellent and the menu has been well thought out, ingredients are fresh and the experience is delightful. I can say I have never had anything but tremendous meals at Praga. I suggest an after dinner drink at the attached Bonton wine and martini bar. The bar is truly one of the western burbs best, great atmosphere and it is priced exactly where it should be, ask Pavel to pour something to surprise you. If you are not dining and are simply out for the evening the bar menu is also coming from the same kitchen, enjoy this place it is a treasure!

    (5)

  • William V.

    Had an awesome time at Praga. Meghan was our server - she did an outstanding job, very friendly and professional. We arrived to a near-empty restaurant at 6:30, but w/in 25-30 minutes the place was packed and hoppin'. Appetizers came out quickly, dinner was served almost too quickly - weren't rushed but didn't have a whole lot of time for conversation. Desserts were OK...The crepes that I ordered were heavy on the alcohol left in the dish. I definitely could find several dishes that would make it easy to come back regularly and not have the same thing again and again. It is definitely worth hitting if you are staying in the area and looking for a great, laid-back, fine-dining experience. Would definitely be a regular haunt, if we lived in the area.

    (4)

  • Peter B.

    This is one of multiple times I have eaten at Praga which has morphed from Eastern European food to a good modern American bistro with a European flair; this past weekend it was as a group of 6. The appetizers were varied, the mains everything from tuna, to halibut and veal. The dessert selection was not as good as the mains or starters. The wines by the glass were both a good selection and reasonably priced. Service was good; we were not hurried. I have never been disappointed eating at Praga.

    (4)

  • Kris Z.

    This place is delicious - the food is original and presented beautifully and the staff just make you feel special. They are very busy and there is a reason for it. Well worth seeking this place out.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Romantic
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Praga Restaurant

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