Now don’t get me wrong, I love fine food just as much as the next person. A night out at a hatted restaurant is my idea of a great birthday meal – but silver service every day? Absence does make the heart grow fond, and a modest meal from time-to-time certainly makes my belly appreciate five-star cuisine when it gets it. <\/p>\n See, I think there is a honesty that is unbeatable when it comes to simple fare. Whether it is pasta on the Italian Riviera<\/a>, or pork belly in Prague<\/a>, or even my mum’s chicken curry, call me uncouth but a rustic feed will win me over any day.<\/p>\n Luckily, one doesn’t have to travel all the way to Prague for a good pork belly. Cheeky Czech in Sydney’s inner west suburb of Newtown dazzles – and not only because of it’s unmissable yellow beacon, hanging outside the front door.<\/p>\n The restaurant has it’s daily deals signposted outside – but my husband has a weakness for pork belly, and I for goulash, so our choices are made before we even arrived. <\/p>\n The goulash doesn’t disappoint. Served with bread dumplings to mop up the thick, spicy gravy, it is authentic as the first Czech dinner<\/a> we had on our visit to Prague. I savour every last mouthful, the tender meat pulling apart like fairy-floss, and the paprika igniting my mouth just enough to warm it (although for a palate that isn’t used to Indian food, it might be quite hot!). A perfect balance that doesn’t leave my belly too heavy – not too much meat (my pet hate), not too much bread, just enough sauce.<\/p>\n Proper Beef Goulash: Lightly spicy stew with onions, beer, paprika, garlic, chilli, herbs & spices. Served with bread dumplings.<\/p><\/div>\n The pork belly (a rather small portion, although it is quite rich and fatty) is drizzled with a mysterious-but-luscious sauce, presented with a dollop of red cabbage and, this time, potato dumplings. The classic combination of salty-crusted pork with sweet cabbage did not disappoint, although the dumplings were a bit heavy (but what else would you expect, it’s potato).<\/p>\n \u201cKnedlo Zelo\u201d: Crisp but tender pork belly with crackling roasted on apples, onion & garlic, served with spinach puree or red cabbage & potato dumplings.<\/p><\/div>\n For the vegetarians, there’s even a separate menu for you! We tried the brie to share between us, a wheel of cheese that oozes its way into your belly and heart alike. We actually meant to order the marinated brie<\/em>, served with sour kraut and chilli, but they heard us wrong (on two occasions in fact) – I WILL have to go back and try it. I suggest you point at the menu when ordering, as our hosts may have difficulty understanding English at times.<\/p>\n Double Brie Cheese Steak: Served with homemade chips, tartar sauce & cranberry sauce.<\/p><\/div>\n Finally, one can’t visit a Czech restaurant and not try the beer – and this one has a variety of belly-warming brews (only a handful of them are Czech), served in glasses so large I feel like Jack on top of the beanstalk. We try a different one each time we visit, but if you’re opting for the daily special, note that you’ll be drinking house beer, not one of your choosing. Not that it’s a problem, the house beer is probably one of the best on the menu!<\/p>\n In summary, we can’t fault this place. The food and drinks are excellent, the hosts friendly and chatty, the decor jolly. And the price – perfect.<\/p>\n Featured on: Cheeky Czech’s ‘best goulash in Sydney’ doesn’t disappoint. I savour every last mouthful, the tender meat pulling apart like fairy-floss, and the paprika igniting my mouth just enough to warm it. Continue reading ![\"in](\"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/yellow.jpg\")
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\n Ambience:<\/td>\n 8\/10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Food:<\/td>\n 9\/10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Service:<\/td>\n 9\/10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Value:<\/td>\n 8\/10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n ![\"Cheeky](\"http:\/\/www.urbanspoon.com\/b\/logo\/1610318\/minilogo.gif\")
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