Tried this place a few months back Really good authentic Czech food!! Going back this week! The decor is rustic not anything fancy and their food is really good! read more

I'm from Europe and a little homesick for European type of food here in New York. I went to Koliba on a cold Saturday night and immediately felt at ease entering the restaurant. I had missed the kind of atmosphere this restaurant offers. It's not like my country but I was excited nonetheless. Ordered onion soup with melted cheese on top and pierogies. The soup was a little bland but I had flu so it could have been that. The cheese on top of it was great and I peeled all of it off the soup bowl, yum. I had no idea what pierogies would be and they turned out to be like ravioli stuffed with mashed potatoes tasting very bland as I ordered them without the bacon. They were disappointing and I really didn't understand the dish. I would really like to like this place and am planning to return. I need to try some meat next time. The service is great but I couldn't help but be stunned to find out they have a 25 $ limit for credit cards. I wasn't aware of this beforehand and only had 4 dollars of cash. Luckily they made an exception as they didn't have ATM but come on, why keep the minimum limit that high? My meal with a starter and a half of the main cost 21 dollars with a drink. read more

Good old fashion Czech cooking, excellent Beer selection , maybe they have the best beer selection in all Astoria . I really love their deco from outside to inside. The lady owner who always you seen in the bar is a carather and the staff will make you feel in Praga for a moment. Worth it the experience without killed your wallet. read more

Authentic. A friend of mine is from Czech and he was really missing his home food so we decided to check this place out. Went on a Sunday late afternoon and walked in easily without wait straight to the bar. Looking around it doesn't even feel like you're in Queens. They definitely did a great job of creating their home scenery. Menu could use a little touch up with the plastic covers, but once the food arrived I didn't even care. I ordered the onion soup with chicken and gravy - delicious. Then we tried 3 to 4 different types of vodka from Czechoslovakia (I lost count after the 4th one!). And what made it even more awesome were the staff. Our bartenders were extremely friendly and you can tell they have a very heavy Czech accent which is pretty cool in my opinion. Overall, definitely recommended and will go again. read more

Koliba - Left, chicken with gravy an dumplings. Right, I forget the name but it's fried ham and cheese. Yum! - Modern European Near Me - Astoria, New York

I never really had a grandmother. Well, okay, I do have grandmothers (two in fact) but I never really knew them (due to deaths, divorces, etc). I never got to go over to my grandmas house, see her kitchens, smell her foods, admire the fact that wood paneling on the wall was cleaner than when she moved in 30 years before. The decorative plates, shoes on the walls, and other knickknacks that are so stereotypically grandmotherish (even though I know of no one that really has a grandmother like) are something I never really got to experience growing up. Luckily Koliba is like visiting my Czech grandmother's kitchen (and I'm not even Czech). The decorations are great and the food is even better. The beer flows freely, is relatively cheap and is served in huge glasses. There is nothing that says "Welcome to Europe" than seeing a couple of old ladies drinking beer out of mugs the size of my head. The place was heavily populated with Czech speakers and the food was served promptly. I had an onion soup that was 90% cheese, 10% soup (which is why I loved it) and some beef koulash that was extremely tender and covered in a lucious and delicious brown sauce. It was served with four large doughy potato breads that were delicious. My girlfriend had a garlic soup that cleaned out her sinuses and the potato with sheep cheese and bacon. The portions were epic. There are a few minuses though. They only have one woman working the bar and serving the tables so she is rather hassled and it can take awhile to get her attention. And the water and soda are all served from the same tap so your non-alcoholic beverages taste as if you're living in Florida with its heavy water. You can almost chew the water, which is a problem. But the food is worth the price and the portions are great. And I also enjoyed that even though I might not have a Czech grandmother, when the kitchen doors swung open, it was my mexican people who were cooking and serving it up. read more

Clean, heavy food but not greasy. Would recommend and come back. Good service and good location.

My favorite czechoslovak food. I've been there many times and the food is always good and fresh and portions are very big. If you plan to go on Sunday, I would recommend to make a reservations, couple of times I had to wait for a table. And they're closed on Mondays. If you want to try good czech-slovak food, go there. read more

Koliba is great! The food is great. Czech food is very much like Polish food. The portions are large, the food is great. Be sure to try the Schnitzel, Pierogies and spaetzle! It's definitely authentic! read more

Great little place. Since study abroad in Prague I've been looking for some legit Czech food and Koliba is definitely the closest. I got the national dish of the Czech Republic, Beef with cream sauce and bread dumplings and it was very close to what you would get in the Czech Republic except for the cranberry sauce-like stuff on the top. The cabbage soup is great and they even managed to nail the spaetzle with sheep's cheese and bacon (like the czech mac n cheese). The beer is great too, an important cornerstone of pretty much any Czech activity. Unlike some other reviewers here I didn't really like the decor though, it seemed a little bit over the top Czech. You would probably not see a restaurant decorated like it in the Czech Rep. However, decor really isn't that important. I come for the food and it's pretty great here. read more

Probably the worst hospitality in Astoria. Nasty from the moment we walked in. The place has more rules than a prison. Giant sign on the $25 credit card minimum, which is absurd to begin with but fine, but surprise you at the end that tip is cash only. Well that's too bad for them, not that a tip was merited because they were nasty the entire time. It's great food and a very cool decor but the staff and rules ruin the experience. read more

This place is really treasure in NYC. I came to visit my husband from Alabama and we decided visit this charming restaurant one late afternoon and we were very pleasantly surprise with excellent Czech beer and great selection of Slovak authentic cooking. We had duck with dumpling and pork in potato pancake with good beer and slivovicu. I ate all my portion of duck, it was delicious and brings my memory from Slovakia. We felt so comfortable with my husband in this cozy restaurant that we decided to set behind the bar after the dinner ,had great conversation with charming amazing owner Jirina. We also love the two beautiful Slovak waitresses Monika and Eva. They make us very comfortable. Dakujeme. It is hard to find Czech and Slovak authentic cousin in USA. This is one of the best one and real. This place touch my heart and I recommend to everybody. We definitely will come back when we come visit NYC. S pozdravom Anetta Jackson read more

My friend and I get together every year after becoming friends when we both worked together at a university in Prague. Conveniently now, she lives in Astoria, which is home to more than one authentic Czech restaurant. Two years ago, we visited a different restaurant that is now closed for renovations, and this year we sampled Koliba. I was pleased. Having lived in Prague, I think one of the aspects of visiting here I liked most was when we sat down and the waitress approached us, she spoke Czech to us immediately. Ah! It was just like being back in Prague! The nostalgia! We spoke our Czech/English in response and she was very accommodating. I ordered a large Staropramen on tap. This beer was the beer my local pub served in Prague, and it is my absolute favorite. Taking a drink of it really took me back. (I had two.) I was a little disappointed in the menu, not because it wasn't authentic or because it didn't provide delicious offerings, but because it didn't have the two things I always ate at Czech pubs on the regular menu: fruit dumplings or fried cheese. (The other Astoria restaurant has fruit dumplings.) BUT they were offering fried cheese as a special of the day, so I ordered it with the traditional Czech accompaniments: French fries and tartar sauce. It was amazing! When it arrived in all its fried-golden glory, I saw that huge chunk of cheese and I thought there was no way I could eat all that, but the trust was I could not stop eating it! Very delicious and very authentic! I was completely pleased and satisfied. My friend had a traditional pork dish, and she was very happy as well. The decor feels very authentic to Central Europe as well, and we heard a lot of customers speaking Czech as we dined, which is a huge treat for both of us, who miss Prague very much. I will definitely be back to Koliba. Thank you for bringing Prague to the United States! read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants! The schnitzel here is pretty much as good as it gets. Besides for that, the Czech beer is nice and cold and the service is great. I'm already looking forward to going back again... read more

We really liked this restaurant. Nice decor, cute music and a very nice waitress with a cute broken English - she was really funny and nice! The food was great! My husband had beef goulash and I had smoked pork with sauerkraut yamoooo :) bread dumplings are really great - I never had bread dumplings before and I like them a lot. We tried Golden Pheasant - Slovak beer and it was awesome - I do not like beer in general bit this was so light and drinkable - I really enjoyed it. Will definitelly go back! read more

Around the corner there is a fantastic Czech restaurant..Winter food supreme..The duck and cabbage is wonderful..Filling and tasty..The dumplings are not your typical dumplings. smother, and sop up the plated gravy with this. I was given more gravy.. ahhh winter peasant food served in a warm and inviting place.. Please note: weekdays it doesn't open til 3pm read more

Having never really eaten at a Czech restaurant before, decided to venture to Koliba . Had the duck, my dining partner had the perogis. The were both tasty but in my opinion nothing special. The ambiance is nice and it really does feel like you have left the country. I will be back and next time I will be doing some drinking... read more

I accidentally found this place after dragging my visiting sister from the Statue of Liberty, all over mid town and finally up to Astoria, to go to the Bohemian Hall. http://www.bohemianhall.com/home.htm Much to my chagrin, I discovered that the one and only day the Hall serves no food is Tuesdays. The bartender at the Hall recommended Koliba right down the street. I have never been so happy to make a mistake. If you like Czech food, and you like the food at the Hall, you will love Koliba. The food was amazing, prices reasonable and they still have a decent beer selection. I would recommend making a reservation because the place isn't big and is frequented by the local Czechs. I was actually laughed at (good natured-ly) when I foolishly took my parents there on a Sunday and asked how long to get a table. They said to just go home. :) read more

Koliba - Modern European Near Me - Astoria, New York

I came here for a friend's birthday - be warned, the place is pretty small so you should definitely call ahead and place a reservation. The entire place only would fit about 50 people, but it is really homey - it feels like you're inside a comfy hunting lodge cabin. They have fur rugs along Aesthetic aside, the food was great. I got the beef with cream sauce, which wasn't bad, but really, the schnitzels were AMAZING. I recommend that over anything else on the menu. The beers are all good too. The service wasn't bad, although sometimes it could be difficult to get the waitress' attention. It was pretty reasonable, price-wise, even after paying for the birthday boy's food & drinks. read more

Nice atmosphere and pretty good food. Nice selection of beer, and they have a 1/3 liter option. The prices are a little high for what the food is. The payment options are ridiculous. No credit cards, they do take debit cards but with a $25 minimum, and tip must be paid in cash. They only tell you this when you get the bill. read more

This place reminds me of my trip to the Czech Republic. The food, that is. Not the decor. I don't understand why some people are saying it's "so Czech." I don't recall seeing any restaurants decorated like that, but if I did it was probably in the tourist district of Prague. I mostly ate at small family restaurants off the beaten path. The food is awesome. Not particularly vegetarian-friendly, but hey, it's central european food. Schnitzel and potatoes are awesome. Actually, I don't think I've ever had food that I didn't enjoy. And the beer is good (I'm told by my beer-loving friends). Oh, and if by chance you've been to the Czech Republic and ever having a hankering for Kafola, you can get it here. read more

Great Slovak/Czech restaurant. Not only does the food taste great, it's authentic and cheap. My favorite dish is the ham and cheese with potatoes (or whatever side you choose). The cheese is always made to perfection and the addition of ham is obviously awesome. The place is cute and cozy, with traditional Slovak decorations and cultural knicknacks. There is also a bar with a great beer selection while you're waiting for a table or watching a hockey game (no football here!) The only reason I gave Koliba 4 stars is because time after time, the service sucks. There is one blonde waitress who is particularly nice, but the others have been rude every time I come here. The rudeness wouldn't bother me so much if they were quick - but just warning you, the service is slow. This is not the type of place that will refill your glass the second it goes empty - if you're thirsty, you're either going to have to wave your hands like a madman/woman to get a refill or wait patiently. All in all, I definitely recommend this place. read more

Excellent food at RIDICULOUS PRICES. Menu prices for potato spaetzle with sauerkraut & bacon, and a grilled kielbasa: $15.75 + 8.75, which is INSANE as is. Oh, but wait, if you order for pickup, they charge another $1.50. NEVER AGAIN. read more

I only had the Langos and it wasn't what I expected. Much different than the authentic Langos I had in hungry and czech. Dough was too think, very little Garlic, not crispy enough and no hot sauce. People who worked there was so kind and service was great. read more

When I entered the place and was cheered in slovak language I started to feel like home. The place is equipped like in a classical contemporary countryside restaurant. Food was great, portions big enough and also the prices are really fair. You have to definitely try those beers! They are the best in the world...trust me ;-) read more

Always delicious food and wonderful service. Highly recommend the baked cheese with ham. Sooooo good!!!!

This place is excellent. Came here for dinner on a Friday night and there was plenty of room. It has a wonderful European decor and the food was delicious. I highly recommend their pierogis (they didn't have the fried ones when we went, but the boiled were amazing). They come with bits of bacon and a big dollop of sour cream in the middle. Each bite was heaven. We also had the pancake batter schnitzel with french fries which was really good as well. This is heavy food, built for people who need to withstand harsh winters, but still works for Astoria. The portions are big as well. read more

One of the best meals Ive had in Astoria! Especially on a cold day its really refreshing. The beer is good and I recommend the schnizle with the potato pancake batter, the spaztle, and/ or the perigees. read more

My husband and I have been here a few times and each time has yielded mouth watering deliciousness. The beef with cream sauce is my favorite and causes me to dream of homemade Czech dumplings - and is the sole reason for my giving it four stars. The waitresses are friendly and attentive. And the decor reminds me of a ski chalet. read more

Oh how delicious was this food! Finger liking good! My Slovakian friend brought me here for an early dinner. We had such a great time. Atmosphere was great, and the food was so yummy and filling. I will be definitely coming back here! Highly Recommended! read more

5 stars for the soul-satisfying food, generous portions, and attentive service. -1 star for the $25 card minimum and surprise cash-only tip policy. The food is definitely worth the trek though, so we'll be back soon with hungry bellies and cash in hand. The two of us split the roast pork & smoked pork combination, a broiled kielbasa appetizer, a cold red beet side dish, and the apple strudel for dessert. Everything was perfectly prepared and seasoned, and came out at the ideal temperatures. IMO there's almost no greater sin a restaurant can commit than serving lukewarm food, so that was big in my book. Both porks were delicious, but my boyfriend went crazy for the smoked pork, which was luxuriously tender and smoky. I also loved that we were able to get the entree with with a 50-50 side of both the sweet, buttery red cabbage, and the sharp sauerkraut. The waitress even brought out an extra serving of gravy, which instantly made her my favorite person in the world at that moment. At the risk of sounding redundant in my praise, I'm gonna go ahead and say that the kielbasa was also to die for, especially paired with the killer mustard that they serve there. Honestly, they pretty much nailed every element of every dish we tried. The apple strudel was the only thing that fell short, with a pastry that was soft instead of fresh and crispy. I don't regret eating it though. Looking forward to trying the rest of the menu! read more

The dumplings are out of this world. Decent atmosphere and good portion sizes too.

We went there recently. It was our date night and we both like to try new cuisines so we used yelp to find places in our hood. I've never had Czech food or beer so I was quite curious. We had a combination of pork and beef with red cabbage, and the duck with sourkraut and I had a lighter Czech beer. All were delicious. For sure we are going back there! read more

I visited this restaurant on Sunday night with my friend and they were busy. Still we received great service. There were 2 waitresses both really nice and attentive. The food was very tasty and they give big portions. If you decide to give this place a try, forget about diet! We left stuffed! I would give one extra star for the langos (as I'm hungarian). It was just perfect! And I didn't even mention the check beers... Prices are reasonable: 2 drinks, 2 appatizers and 2 main courses for $60 sounds like a good deal to me. Definitely we'll be back! read more

While my ancestry is Czech, I don't speak or understand any of it. While on a recent trip to NYC, I decided to try a restaurant that serves Czech food. I stumbled on this one and it was well worth the 40 minute subway ride from midtown. Everyone was speaking Czech which I took as a good sign. The roast duck was wonderful with a nice wine based sauce. The sauerkraut was pretty damn amazing. Nice menu and the next time I'm back in NYC, I will be back. read more

I really liked this place. Food was great and the restaurant is small but very cozy with wooden tables. It reminded me if a restaurant I visited I Prague. Would deffintly come back. read more

Food is amazing and so is the service. Beef with cream sauce and the fluffy dumplings is my favorite with the klobasa a close second. Pilsner Urquell on tap finishes off a perfect meal. I love coming here. read more

This place is fantastic! What a great little hidden gem. The most authentic tasting schnitzel I've had outside of Germany/Austria! The kielbasa and pierogis are to die for. As authentic as it gets. Our waitress was very sweet and helpful. Well be back! read more

Love this place. It is never too packed, has cute 90s central European rural decor, and the food is yummy. Portions are fairly large if you're starving, like I usually am. The service is friendly without being overbearing. Prices are just about what you'd expect. Will be returning. read more

What a fantastic place !!!! First of all you walk in and immediately see the place is spotless so that in it self deserves 5 stars .The food is absolutely amazing I can't say enough, It is so delicious. The staff so friendly and professional. And I assume the woman that came over to our table at least 3 times was the owner, she made us feel so comfortable, so welcomed . I can't wait to go back which will be very soon .Highly recommended !!! read more

If giving a 4 star review to a restaurant I've only been to once, is wrong, I don't want to be right. Koliba, a Czech restaurant, won me over by going above and beyond. We had the beef with cream sauce, a dish overflowing with sauce. So much sauce, it seeped out of my leftover container into my bag. The meat was tender but not my favorite type of meat, it had a weird taste, like overly beefy. (When I use the word beefy I think about a bouncer, but this is not at all what I mean. It doesn't taste like a 6 foot tall, overly muscular guy, maybe heavy on the blood. Not that the blood was visible, in the least. Actually, I'm finding it hard to describe the taste, so I'll stop). The dumpling cakes that came with the meal were plentiful and spongy. Our other dish, pierogi's, were doused with pork. If I have to explain why this is a good thing, have your taste buds, or sanity checked out. Our dessert was made my Armenian bakers, a honey, super chocolatey cake; soft, a little goes a long way. Our sweet waitress who barely spoke English would approach us by preempting with a qualifier, every time, by saying "sorry or "excuse me", when there was nothing to be sorry about or excuse. I like this. Better to be excused when not doing doing something wrong than not being sorry at all. It's like a warm-up exercise for the conscious. The restaurant is well lit, and basic with a Czech country flair. It also houses a bar. GO! read more