We have been in Prague for about 4 days now and have had mostly good experiences in dining. We were excited to try a place in Old Town and wandered into the Zlaty Strom. We had been warned that some places do take some advantage of customers and we feel that happened here. We were charged a cover of about 4-5 dollars for bread placed on the table. When our bill did not add up and we asked about it, we were told they put on an extra 15%. That has not been the expected here and it was not even put on the actual bill- just verbally. The food was okay, although some folks near us left in anger after not receiving good service. It has a great location and I don%26#39;t know about the hotel, but the practices of the restaurant do not seem to be above board.
HGHSPL
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We ran into this as well - a handwritten bill with service charge of 15% added to the total but not itemised - all makes you suspicious of where the money goes. I can%26#39;t understand why a computerised till isn%26#39;t in use as it is certainly not a small estbalishment or tucked out of the way. Food purchased was ok but service very surly from unhelpful youths.
This is one to definitely avoid as they are not open above cover charge or high service charge and no sense of it being optional.
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We ran into the same thing a few days back. Just a hand written bill for the total amount. We asked our waitress how they arrived at the total and then she let us know we had been charged for the bread. There was nothing on the menu to indicate any kind of cover charge. And even with the bread and service added on, the total didn%26#39;t make sense.
We did, however, also come across many restaurants that clearly indicated the cover charge on their menus. These were the more expensive restaurants, though.
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I ran into this as well in Prague at a restaurant overlooking the river near the bridge, however I cannot state this is the same restaurant. Now that I am home I have forgotten the name. But beware! I was overcharged as well for bread and other unknowns! The bill was handwritten and not itemized. Poor service and average food. Prague is such a beautiful city but it is being overrun by people trying to take advantage of you and get you for every extra cent!
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if the zlaty strom was the restaurant in karlova street, if you go to the restaurant website www.zlatystrom.cz you can pick up the restaurant menu. on the last page, it clearly says (albeit in small writing) %26quot;couvert 30 kc servis 15%%26quot;
I would guess that it actually said the same thing on your menu, and you just did not notice it, so the restaurant was actually charging what the menu says it does; in other words, what they are doing is above board, as they expect you to read the menu.
I am not excusing what may be sharp practice, but all I would say is this. u zlaty strom is on the main street from the old town square to the charles bridge; i.e. in the main tourist area. in any city in the world, if hidden charges and bad service are waht bothers you, don%26#39;t eat right on the main tourist street. go one or two streets off of the main tourist street and you will get better and more honest value.
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Bad service and hidden charges are not the preserve of just the restaurants and bars on main tourist thoroughfares - you can find that anywhere - what annoys about this restaurant was the fact that the bill did not show the service charge on it so to the casual eye the bill was incorectly totalled. I agree the charges are on the website and also the menus if you look carefully but if you stroll in for a drink the menu isn%26#39;t always consulted.
I would just avoid a place like this in future but would not tar all bars and rstaurants with the same brush.
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i would as a rule always avoid places right on the main tourist street. you are bound to pay more than a similar place one or two streets away
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