Hours:Sun.-Thu. 11:00-22:00; Fri.-Sat. 11:00-23:00
Cuisine:Fish & Slovak
Prices:Sk Sk
Reservations:Recommended
English menu: Yes
Credit Cards: No
Recommended:Definitely
Below the castle and parliament, and across the road from the River Danube sit three restaurants, all of which offer delightful choices. Rybársky Cech is the more informal of the two fish restaurants, and also contains a pension. Located at the far end of the building is Twist Steakhouse, and upstairs the more elegant fish restaurant, also called Rybársky Cech.
Both of the fish restaurants serve a wide selection of dishes, including a large choice of fish; and the steak house is earning a well-deserved reputation. All this makes it sometimes hard to get into the small steak house, and the elegant upstairs restaurant is popular for private parties.
The informal restaurant/pension - Rybársky Cech - is clean and bright, with fish tanks and abstract fish scenes creating a nice atmosphere. We did not see a no-smoking section, but none of the tables had ashtrays.
Outside the restaurant is a patio, but it is not recommended; as the noise from the road is so loud that conversation is almost impossible.
The Hungarian "Halaszle" fish soup is wonderful. It is more peppery than one would expect, with generous chunks of fish, and it is served hot, not tepid the way so many restaurants choose. There is a wide selection of fresh salads, and an interesting selection of hot and cold appetizers.
We chose the fish, and both the halibut and the flounder were cooked tenderly. The portions were good, and were well presented. Other fish dishes include calamari, shrimp, mussels, shark, swordfish, and a huge fish platter which obviously would feed several.
Dinner can be accompanied by a choice from an extensive list of local wines, and offers the opportunity to explore what foreign wines are available.
The restaurant was near empty when we arrived - albeit late. It is a pity that not more people sojourn here as it tends to be consistent, and pleasant. If you need somewhere quiet for dinner or lunch, Rybársky Cech offers discreet service and privacy when needed.
For the two of us, dinner, including a couvert charge of 30 Sk and a tip, came to 850 Sk.
Author: Michel Litt, Graham Wood
