The "Prague" restaurant in Moscow is considered one of the most prestigious and luxurious today. However, in the 1880s, it was a gathering place for tipsy cab drivers who, knowing about the simple cuisine and cheap alcohol, jokingly referred to the tavern as "Braga." Everything changed due to a chance event. One day, merchant Semyon Tararykin bet the owner of the establishment that he could beat him at billiards using only his left hand. The tavern owner agreed to the match, wagering the restaurant. Tararykin indeed managed to pocket all the balls with one hand.

After acquiring the coveted premises in the center of Moscow, Semyon Petrovich began a major reconstruction of the building. He abandoned the common hall and divided the restaurant into several zones, allowing for various events to be held simultaneously. The merchant also changed the menu, replacing simple soups, cereals, and pies with exquisite dishes. The restaurant's specialties included rasstegai with sturgeon and sterlet. Even the dishes were unique: the plates bore the inscription "Greetings from Tararykin."

"Prague" hosted grand celebrations on major holidays. For example, before Christmas, each female visitor was given a fan featuring views of Prague, scented with the French perfume "Coty." It was a favorite gathering place for Moscow's creative intelligentsia, including Leo Tolstoy, Alexander Kuprin, Anton Chekhov, Ivan Bunin, and Maxim Gorky. In 1913, Ilya Repin celebrated the successful restoration of his painting "Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan" here.

After the revolution, the restaurant, like many others, was nationalized and turned into a cafeteria for Moselprom. It was here that an episode from "The Twelve Chairs" unfolded, when Kisa Vorobyaninov and Liza spent money set aside for furniture with treasures.