Krčma Letná Restaurant

Krčma Letná is something of a Košice classic. Set amid the attractive surroundings of a park, it makes a positive impression at first glance. Inside, you step into a modern interior dominated by wood. The menu combines Slovak and Czech cuisine, complemented by a selection of international dishes. At lunchtime, we were somewhat surprised to be offered only the daily set menu. Upon request, the à la carte menu was provided, though this seemed to create a brief sense of awkwardness for the staff. We hoped the cuisine would offset the initial impression, and fortunately, it did. From the à la carte selection, we chose corn-fed chicken supreme served with bryndza špecle and bacon. The idea of pairing this classic poultry dish with bryndza dumplings was an appealing one; however, the dish was slightly on the dry side and would have benefited from a touch more salt. A well-considered choice was the fried pirohy filled with bryndza and curd cheese, featuring a pleasantly light dough and a generous proportion of filling. The accompanying sauce had a pronounced mushroom flavour and included pieces of mushrooms. The chocolate soufflé was beautifully light and finely aerated, delivering very good flavour, yet the experience was mildly compromised by the ice cream, which the staff acknowledged was sourced externally. If you are looking for an attractive setting for lunch, a romantic dinner or a family celebration, Letná remains a reliable choice.