Last weekend, the vibrant streets of New York City’s Upper East Side transformed into a slice of Prague as the Czech Center hosted its 15th annual Czech Street Festival. Unlike some street fairs, this event offered a genuinely engaging and culturally rich experience, drawing visitors into the heart of Czech traditions.
A lively scene from the Czech Street Festival in New York City, showcasing the vibrant atmosphere and crowd enjoying Czech culture.
While charmingly compact, spanning just under a block on 73rd Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues, the festival was packed with attractions. Beyond the central concert stage and informative booths promoting Czech tourism and Sokol New York, the aroma of delicious food beckoned from two prominent food stands, complete with inviting seating areas. We decided to pass on the offerings from Café Prague, with plans to explore their Chelsea restaurant for a future in-depth review.
A bustling food stall at the Czech Street Festival, offering a variety of Czech and Polish dishes to festival attendees.
Instead, we were drawn to Bratek Deli, a New Jersey-based vendor. Despite their Polish roots, Bratek Deli presented a tempting array of both Czech and Polish culinary delights. For those not deeply versed in Eastern European sausages, it’s worth noting that the distinction between a Czech klobása and a Polish kiełbasa can be subtle. Bratek’s klobása proved to be a highlight – perfectly balanced in flavor, smoky, and avoiding excessive saltiness or grease.
Close-up of Czech klobása sausage being grilled at the Czech Street Festival, highlighting the delicious street food offerings.
The potato pancakes were another popular choice, although slightly on the greasy side. The same could be said for the “pork butt shoulder” served with onions. However, the pork shank, likely boiled and subtly seasoned with paprika, stood out for its exceptional tenderness.
A plate of Czech potato pancakes at the festival, showing a classic example of Czech street food.
The culinary journey continued with a wide selection including schnitzels, sauerkraut (with or without sausage), cabbage rolls, and Polish pierogies. While the meat crepes were a bit underwhelming, the cheese and potato pierogies were a definite win, contrasting with the less impressive meat-filled variety, which seemed to share the same filling as the aforementioned crepes.
Assortment of Czech pierogies and other dishes at the Czech Street Festival, displaying the diverse food choices available.
Our visit was brief, but the festival program promised a rich afternoon of concerts and puppet theater performances, with Czech beer and further musical entertainment scheduled inside the Czech Center for the evening. For those intrigued by Czech culture, exploring the Czech Center’s upcoming events is highly recommended. It’s a fantastic venue to experience more of what Czech culture has to offer beyond the bustling Czech Streets of this annual festival.
