Fire in the lead role: How GRILLWORKS became the heart of červený jelen

When we first connected with Benjamin Eisendrath from the American company GRILLWORKS, he quietly smiled over the phone and said: “Do you even know who you’ve reached and what kind of beast this is? ”And we replied: “Yes, we do…”

That moment marked the beginning of a story we couldn’t have fully imagined back then. Ben — together with his father, who developed the iconic GRILLWORKS grills with him from the very beginning — had heard about the Červený Jelen concept: the industrial space, the open fire, the honest ingredients, and a kitchen where fire isn’t decoration, but the foundation. In that moment, he understood that their grill belonged exactly here. And so the first GRILLWORKS in Central and Eastern Europe made its way to Prague.

In that moment, he understood that this is exactly where their grill belongs

When Ben stepped into Jelen for the first time, he paused for a moment, took in the scent of wood and warmth… and tears filled his eyes. “This is where it belongs,” he said.

From that moment, a friendship was born — and today, guests from all over the world come to Červený Jelen to see GRILLWORKS in action and taste steaks prepared on one of the most respected wood-fired grills in the world.

GRILLWORKS: Wood, heat, and technology that pushes fire cooking forward

GRILLWORKS is not an ordinary grill. It’s a precision wood-fired hearth, designed by the Eisendrath father-and-son team to allow stable, safe, and exact work with open fire.

It’s also the only grill of its kind used by restaurants of Alain Ducasse or José Andrés — and the same one stands here at Jelen.

GRILLWORKS brings several essential advantages to the kitchen:

• A massive firebox lined with firebricks for stable heat.

• Integrated brasero fire cages where wood slowly turns into glowing embers.

• Smoothly height-adjustable grill frames that allow instant control of heat intensity.

• Signature V-channel grates that direct juices into basting pans and minimize flare-ups.

• We use only oak and beech wood, dried for 6–9 months,ensuring stable burning and giving the meat a clean, subtle wood aroma.

The result is consistent, clean heat — ideal for steaks and other grill specialties.

Signature Specialties from the Grill

Our Josper grill brings out the best of fire and premium ingredients, offering a selection of dishes that celebrate pure craftsmanship:

• Rib Eye Steak (Argentina, 400 g) – 120-day grain-fed, awarded Gold Medal at the World Steak Challenge 2024. A highlight of our steak selection.

• Sirloin (Argentina, 250 g) – 50-day aged tenderloin with delicate flavor and juicy texture.

• Flap Steak (Argentina, 250 g) – mature beef flank, full of character and rich flavor, perfect for true steak lovers.

• Tomahawk (Czech farm, 1000 g, for 2–3 people) – iconic bone-in steak, both a visual and culinary experience. Served with our signature Špork grill sauce, Silver Medal at the World Steak Challenge 2024.

• Lamb Racks (New Zealand, 200 g) – tender and aromatic meat, elevated beautifully by the fire.

• Přeštice Pork Neck (Czech Republic, 250 g) – a local favorite, full of flavor and authenticity, enhanced by the grill’s smoky touch.

• Wagyu & Foie Gras Burger (270 g) – a unique combination of premium wagyu beef, foie gras, and truffle mayo, served in a brioche bun with red onion marmalade.

Whether you choose an award-winning Rib Eye, a shared Tomahawk, or the iconic Wagyu Burger, you’ll experience the harmony of top-quality ingredients and mastery over fire.

More than steak

GRILLWORKS excels at venison, pork, seafood, and plant-based options as well. Open fire gives them a naturally intense flavor that simply can’t be replicated. Every cut of meat responds to heat differently —and that is the essence of working with wood and flame.

GRILLWORKS is more than technology

It’s part of our story, our friendship, and the philosophy Červený Jelen is built on. And every steak is the result of working with fire that you can see, smell, and taste.