dinner at Koliba Czech and Slovak restaurant, Johnston St Collingwood
Someone asked me recently, after my review of Mutti’s Austrian restaurant in Carlton where I wanted to eat next. Koliba Czech and Slovak restaurant in Collingwood, I replied. I am somewhat obsessed with central European food, and Mutti’s and the Polish food at Court Jester in Brunswick have impressed me this year. Koliba (named after an area in Slovakia) has been on my list of ‘places to eat at soon’ for months and, as another friend expressed a surprising degree of enthusiasm for Koliba when I mentioned it (I then discovered she had fond memories of backpacking through the Czech and Slovak republics), a group of six was quickly formed for a Sunday night dinner.
We shared some entrees because we were curious to try them but, having seen the enormous serves coming to other diners, were wary of wasting precious stomach space. The bramborak (potato pancakes with sweet and sour braised cabbage) disappeared before I could take photos, but I did get one of the fried garlic bread, which was not what I was expecting (below). It was more like garlicy pesto on rye bread – tasty, but something I could make for myself at home, and hence not something I would normally order when out.
The mains are spectacular in size. The challenge to clear your plate is serious here. Most of our group was defeated but I prevailed. My crumbed pork schnitzel with potato salad and green salad (above) was delicious. Meals like the schnitzel that originally came with mashed or boiled potatoes (as in the website menu) now have potato salad as an option, which is what I chose. Another friend, an expert on potato salad, ordered the same and pronounced the Russian style potato salad to be amongst the best she has ever had.
Beef goulash with bread dumplings (below).
The Czech national dish – roast pork with braised cabbage and bread dumplings (below).
The Slovak national dish Haloushki (potato dumplings similar to gnocchi) with Slovak cheese and fried bacon (below).
The apple strudel (below) was divine.
There are some dishes and menu changes that are not listed on the website, including a wider range of desserts like this poppyseed cake (below).
Koliba has been reviewed by Hookturns, Bruce and Fran, Green cheese, Words and flavours and Sarah cooks. The opinions are mostly positive, and in my case Koliba exceeded my expectations. The food was fantastic and was excellent value. With shared entrees, a main each, beers and shared desserts it came to about $35 each. Koliba was quite well attended for a quiet Sunday evening in Collingwood and I think that many locals have already discovered what a great place it is.
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Other posts you may find relevant and interesting
- lunch at Court Jester cafe in Brunswick, 1 September 2009
- dinner at Provenance on Smith St, 22 July 2009
- dinner at Mutti’s on Elgin St Carlton, 29 September 2009
- pole fetish at Court Jester cafe in Brunswick, 16 January 2010
- Cocoro, 19 November 2007
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:29 pm
I’m hungry just looking at these pics, will definitely go there soon!
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November 3rd, 2009 at 11:30 am
Yeah, Koliba is fantastic. I must go back soon.
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November 9th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Great to see a review of this place! I have walked past it many times and was curious about it and wondered whether it was any good. Will definitely head there soonish, although not while the weather is so hot, can’t imagine goulash and 30 degrees plus would go down well!
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