Enter the gateway to great dessert at Pekná Brána

Pekná Brána is located on the corner of Obchodná and Vysoká streets in a busydowntown area and seats about 70. A good place for Sunday lunch or aftershopping, Pekná Brána (Pretty Gate) offers a broad variety of dishes - something to please everyone in your party. Menu choices include meat and poultry, vegetarian specialties, fish, Asian, and Balkan. For those readers who learned to like liver and thus pleased their mothers, at least five dishes include liver in some form. Pekná Brána does not have a wide variety of fresh salads, but we had crunchy fresh cabbage salad in a light vinegar-based sauce, which we recommend (19.90 Sk). The turkey with almonds (74.90 Sk) had a generous serving of nuts with two tender pieces of sautéed turkey breast.

Address: Vysoká 39
Phone: 323-008
Cuisine: Slovak, Balkan, Asian
Hours: 11:00 - 24:00 daily
Reservations: no
English menu: yes (also German)
Credit Cards: MC, VISA
Recommended: moderately


Pekná Brána is located on the corner of Obchodná and Vysoká streets in a busydowntown area and seats about 70. A good place for Sunday lunch or aftershopping, Pekná Brána (Pretty Gate) offers a broad variety of dishes - something to please everyone in your party. Menu choices include meat and poultry, vegetarian specialties, fish, Asian, and Balkan. For those readers who learned to like liver and thus pleased their mothers, at least five dishes include liver in some form.

Pekná Brána does not have a wide variety of fresh salads, but we had crunchy fresh cabbage salad in a light vinegar-based sauce, which we recommend (19.90 Sk). The turkey with almonds (74.90 Sk) had a generous serving of nuts with two tender pieces of sautéed turkey breast. Try the Slovenský steak (Slovak steak)(74.90 Sk), sautéed pork with ham and oštiepok (smoked cheese) in a thick brown sauce.

The Athénske ražniči (Athenian shish kebab) was also good - a skewer of pork with onions, peppers and sausage with tender chunks of meat. The table wine is more than adequate, with a good variety to choose from. Portions are adequate without being overwhelming.

The service was attentive and efficient. Parking and tram stops are nearby. The atmosphere here is nothing special, and unfortunately, the radio played a bit loudly.

Pekná Brána has excellent palacinky. If you're tired of palacinky and ice cream, try the Solonya dezert (Solonya's dessert) a combination of chocolate and vanilla cake with pudding, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Served cold, this dish is satisfying and rich.

Our only complaints about Pekná Brána were that the meat and rice were a bit on the salty side, and the lettuce in the garnish had seen better days. The prices are very reasonable, with a three course lunch, including wine, totalling 165 Sk per person.

The most expensive dish on the menu is 290 Sk for a 300 gram helping of pochúťka Peknej Brány (house specialty) a dish consisting of three different meats. The least expensive dish was 39.90 Sk for a plate of spaghetti. Most dishes range from 80 to 120 Sk.

Paul Zendzian and Madeline Vadkerty are the authors of Bon Appetit Bratislava!, which will be published before the end of this year.

Author: Paul Zendzian, Madeline Vadkerty

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