Vladimir's Czech Restaurant

Over the weekend we drove to Inverness, a tiny town near Point Reyes about an hour north of the San Francisco Bay Area. We had plans to rendezvous with friends to dine at Vladimir's Czech Restaurant. What a fun adventure, mainly due to the fascinating owner, Vladimir.

Vladimir proved to be quite an interesting character. Dressed in native Czech clothing and wearing a pair of knee high riding boots, he basically runs the restaurant single handedly. At 75 years old he still shows up early each morning to prepare the food himself. He also runs the full bar and serves the tables. He didn't hesitate to sit down and share some wine with us as he regaled us with his colorful history. At the age of 18 he skied across the Czech border into Germany to escape the new communist government. After many adventures including time spent in work camps, a year at wine school in Bordeaux and several years in Australia, he immigrated to the USA in 1958 and opened his eponymous restaurant at its current location in Inverness in 1960.

As we expected the food was hearty, well-prepared Czech fare. To start we were served freshly baked bread from the restaurant's ovens. One of the loaves was a tasty sour rye, the other an unbleached wheat.

Next an intriguing bowl of beef soup caused much debate at the table about what cut of beef it entailed. Turned out to be oxtail which explained the rich flavor and full body. It was one of the better oxtail soups I have encountered.

The hit dish of the night was definitely the stuffed cabbage roll. The huge roll consisted of veal, ham hocks and kraut stuffed into red cabbage leaves and topped with gravy. The stuffing was delicious and juicy. Definitely not to be missed.

A special of the night, pheasant, was a bit disappointing as it had been slightly over-cooked and tended to dryness.

The large half duckling was delicious with a tart-sweet plum sauce accented with caraway. An odd combination that worked very well.

Weinerschnitzel, breaded veal, was perfectly cooked and served without gravy.

All the dishes were served with a side of Czech-style dumpings which seemed very bland to me at start but the subtle flavor and texture grew on me and I quite enjoyed them. A tasty dish of sweet and sour red cabbage was served on the side to be shared by the table.

Only one dessert is offered, an cinnamony apple strudel with cream, made with apples that Vladimir grows himself.

We ended dinner by sharing the special Czech coffee made with a generous shot of Slivowitz, plum brandy.

If you are a fan of hearty, peasant style food you will enjoy Vladimir's Czech Restaurant. Make a point of asking Vladimir to share a glass of wine and you will be highly entertained in addition to being well fed.

Comments

[Sandra McPherson]

Awful "food," none of it edible. On Tuesday we were told that the weekend foods on the menu were sold out; so we had leftover veal, but it tasted like pork. Not even the pickles and red cabbage were edible---they tasted very old and stale. The waiter (owner?) was brusque and absolutely no chef because the "food" was so execrable. No one should ever eat here, even if every other place in Inverness is closed.

[JM]

Vladimir is very perceptive. If you had a bad experience, it's probably because he decided that he doesn't like you.

[jasica]

I want to know more about Vladimir's Czech Restaurant where is it. I would love to try!

[Anne-Laure]

Such a great restaurant ! My husband and myself had a wonderful time there ! Very East European culture and decoration and the food was excellent! We even decided to drive from Walnut Creek to there every month !!!! And the owner is simply amazing and very very nice.

Just make sure to have some cash or your check book when you go there because they don't accept credit card.

Its adress
Vladimir's Czech Restaurant
12785 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Inverness, CA 94937
(415) 669-1021

[Mark]

Vladimir's is one of the true gems. Always friendly and great hearty food. Good beer and bar with friendly locals. Don't miss it!

[steven]

One of the best restaruants and atmospheres in Marin, and don't let the word get out. If you are from the area - YOU KNOW - if not, then take your photos and GO HOME!

[Greg]

Vlade is old school and that's why you go there. Forget people that post pictures of their entire meal like above, they should stay home in Iowa. You go for the beer, the stories, and hard work he puts into everything. I've been there when he's told people that complained to go sit in the car. And they should. Save the critiques for Aqua in downtown SF. C'mon people.

[Darlene Hale]

I am not surprised that Vladimir's is still going strong! I recently suggested this absolutely marvelous restaurant to my sister-in-law just on the memories I had of going there over 25 years ago! I am definitely making the trip soon to go back even if it will be almost a 5 hour trip for me now. If the apple streudel is as good now as it was then it alone will be well worth the trip!

As far as the owner goes he was a gracious host sharing memories of his escape from across the Czech border into Germany to escape the new communist government. I'm so glad he came to the United States to share his memories with people who pass through as well as his foods.

[Jesse Quattro]

I just ate at Vladimir's with a dear friend of mine and had the most horrible experience. I have gone there for years and adore Vladimir, but the experience I had was with his nephew. He ignored us, was extremely rude and charged us $12 for two beers. I am so disappointed and will never go back.

[Ginny]

Horrible establishment! As a second generation Czech-American (with parents whose escape stories are more interesting than Vladimir's), I had been looking forward to coming to his restaurant for years. There few other authentic Czech restaurants in California and I finally had the opportunity to make the trip. Within seconds of arriving, my husband and I were immediately, and rudely, turned away at the door by Vladimir's unfriendly nephew because of our baby. Vladimir does not allow children to eat in the restaurant because of the bar. "My uncle runs it that way" was the reasoning. When I asked if we could eat outside, we were rudely told that he does not serve outside. And yet, Vladimir's is dog-friendly? I simply cannot believe that this incredibly rude estabishment is still in business after all these years. Czech people are among the most hospitable in the world (if you escape the tourist zones)-- yet we were treated like American tourists in Prague. I have never been more ashamed of my own people than by this man's unfriendly, unaccommodating service. No wonder they have to charge $26 for peasant food; by the rate they turn customers away, they'd have to recoup their losses somehow. What a true, almost comical, disappointment. I felt like Clark Griswald when he finally made it to Wally World and was turned away at the gate. Avoid this restaurant at all costs. You can get authentic polevka (soup) at Cafe Prague in San Francisco, and be afforded the warm-hearted hospitality of every other normal Czech. At the very least, Vladimir's could advertise their many limitations and restrictions on-line to travellers before making the long hike out. A simply and courteous business practice. Additionally, it should be known, they only accept cash. So... in short, no kids, no credit, no checks. But they do accept dogs. Fitting company I must say.

[Mark]

I completely identify with the bad experiences expressed here. I was part of a large group who went to Vladimir's for a birthday dinner. The experience was odd from the beginning. The woman who seated us (his wife?) asked us a question about the upcoming gubernatorial election before we'd even taken our seats, seemingly polling our political leanings. Then Vladimir rudely denounced a man in our group for wearing a tank top (he covered up with a sweatshirt). The food we received was disgusting. We're all experienced diners and know bad food when we taste it. The entree was some type of deep fried chicken dish and it was gristly and fell apart on the plate...virtually inedible. The vegetarian in our group was unable to get a meal -- they kept bringing her things with meat despite her requests, so she went to the pizza place next door. The birthday boy claims his stomach was never the same after this truly awful meal. What a strange man and what a bad restaurant!

[brad]

Vladimir's is GREAT! Hearty, rich peasnat food, and outstanding authentic strudel with cream. My kind of place. And i don't even like beer, but it tastes so good with that food! Sorry to hear so many bad experiences from travelers expecting something it's not.

[Veronika]

I was born and raised in the Czech Republic and I've lived in the Bay area for some time now. I went to Vladimir's once because I really missed czech food. I have to agree that Vladimir wasn't very friendly, even though I spoke Czech to him and tried to show my patriotism. He scolded me for talking on my cell phone. But I didn't hold it against him - I just thought he was a grumpy grandpa :-) I have to agree the food wasn't good. Some of the dishes on the menu didn't even seem czech (at least I have never heard of them). They seemed more czech/german cuisine combination. And I thought it was too expensive for the quality. I think it's just been a while since he tasted real czech food...and of course you can't get the same ingredients here. I've been to Cafe Prague in San Francisco once and it was much better. Maybe he is getting old and can't cook that well any more.....either way, I wouldn't go back there.

[Michal]

I saddened to report that Vladimir passed away Labor Day weekend 2008. I don't know what will happen to the restaurant, but rumors are that the owner of Manka's Lodge wanted to buy Vlad's out. Local residents may not mind, since it would mean that the Lodge won't be rebuilt in the residential neighborhood on that narrow street up the hill, after it burnt down a few winters ago.

[John]

Boy I hope Margret of Manka's does not get her hands on Vladimir's. She will only again create a place that the locals and weekend residence will feel un welcome.
The place is better off as a pub.