The Hanácká Hospoda
pron-âhanatska hospodaâ is your best chance to try the traditional food of the region and it comes in big portions, for not much money. they also have a beerhall in the basement but the main restaurant is on street level. the menu is in the local hana dialect with a czech translation, but is also available in english and german. hanã¡ is the name of the culturally unique region surrounding olomouc, and hospoda just means pub. an example from the menu is "chicken-a-la-duck" half a roast chicken with cabbage and potato dumplings, for 109kc about â¬4. it is also worth trying some of the dishes containing 'olomouckã© tvarå¯å¾ky', the traditional cheese of the region. it is on the lower square dolnã nã¡mästã, close to the main square. (http://www.outsideprague....)
The traditional cuisine of Olomouc and the surrounding Haná region is an excellent example of Czech cuisine. In addition to more common Czech dishes, it includes some unique local specialties. One of the best known culinary products of the area is the Olomoucké tvarůžky cheese also called Olomoucké syreÄky. This is a traditional since 15th century Czech ripened soft cheese with very low fat content, pungent taste and strong odor. The cheese is named after the city of Olomouc, but is produced in LoÅ¡tice, a small city about 30 km away. Although the cheese is commonly available in stores around the country and often consumed raw, usually with some beer, you have to visit Haná region to find dishes based on this cheese on restaurant menus. For example, the cheese can be used as a filling in a local variety of Cordon Bleu, or it can be served fried. The dishes containing this cheese can usually be recognized by the word LoÅ¡tické in their names. Because of the strong odor, do not be surprised when you find some mint sweets HaÅ¡lerka on your plate.
Garlic soup ÄesneÄka is available all around the country. The garlic soup of the Haná region Hanácká ÄesneÄka is one of the best varieties and is usually very strong. If olomoucké tvarůžky are added, the soup is called LoÅ¡tická ÄesneÄka. Because of the combined might of garlic and the strong ripened cheese, it is not recommended if you plan to kiss someone that evening :) On the other hand, garlic is very healthy and you should get some ÄesneÄka if you have cold or sore-throat.
Hanácký kolÃ¡Ä is the typical sweet cake of the region.
There are dozens of excellent restaurants in the city, and most have English menus. Local favorites include Cafe Caesar, which is in the renaissance Town Hall Building on the main square. Hanacka Hospoda and U Kasny are more traditional Moravian Restaurants, and are located in the nearby lower square. On Marianska Ul. is the Svatovaclavsky Pivovar (http://www.outsideprague....) which is a non-smoking microbrewery with indoor and outdoor seating and a comprehensive menu of local specialties.