The Prague Feed (January 2023): Japanese degustation, Texas barbecue spice up drab days

There's no better way to beat the winter blues (after all, Blue Monday was this week) than by making reservations. This month's crop of new openings promises to brighten your winter plate and elevate your mood. From Lebanese to Japanese or humble barbecue and cozy bakeries, get ready for Prague's freshest new food tips.

Artic Bakehouse|The popular Prague bakery opened their fourth location in the Czech capital this week, on Na pořici street in the city center. Inspired by Icelandic tradition, the bakery specializes in sourdough breads and pastries, whose remarkable scent has been a mainstay of its other locations, at Újezd, Myslíkova, and Štefánikova since 2019.

Krystal bakery|A longtime neighborhood favorite in Karlín, Krystal Bistro, opened a bakery last month. The selection includes artisan breads, such as a standout sourdough and pastries. Their travel cakes, which take their name from their longer shelf life that makes them suitable for traveling, come in various flavors like Vanilla & Praline, and Carrot Cake, which will likely make you want to eat them on the spot rather than saving them for a trip.

Pekárna Nostress Bakery|The famous Old Town bakery, which comes with a café and bistro, also opened a branch at Karlínské náměstí. Both locations offer breakfast and a variety of French baguettes (such as truffle baguettes), soups (try Potato and Leek Cream), quiches and salads, and if you still have room, an impressive variety of sweets and cakes.

Soul Love|Taking over the space in the historic Boutique Hotel Jalta, Soul Love brings sashimi, steaks, and sharing plates to Wenceslas Square. Fans of London's Sushi Samba will feel right at home amid its riotous mix of jungle decor and local art, while creative cocktails in the bubble lounge lend to the swishy vibe. Despite the flashy decor, the Japanese degustation menu gets straight to the point. Japanese Omakase, courtesy of Tokyo chef Takeshi Ito, and dishes of crispy yakitori, karaage, and tender kamo duck breast with zingy dipping sauces are the perfect soul mates.

Vinobona|Prague Castle's Nový Svět quarter has a new resident, Vinobona. Located in a house built at the end of the 17th century, the restaurant bistro offers an original take on Czech cuisine, in an unusual fusion of traditional tastes (such as a dish of sturgeon, apple, and beef intestines), as well as weekend brunches, including a vegetarian six-course tasting menu.

Yummy Hummus|The Lebanese bistro, which opened in December, promises the best hummus in Prague, a claim not to be taken lightly. Don't be fooled by the name, though, as Yummy Hummus also has a charcoal grill that, turns out juicy Lamb Cutlets, Shish Taouk, and grilled chicken balls marinated with garlic, fresh lemon juice, and olive oil. The Mezze appetizer plates are great for sharing.

Pizza, pasta and wine|Two Italian food chains are heading to Prague in the near future, Czech Crunch writes. Rossopomodoro, a brand that has expanded beyond Italy to include 130 restaurants around the world, offers pizzas and pasta dishes made with Neapolitan ingredients. Based on the Wine & Food concept, Signorvino pairs wine with a wide variety of pasta.

New ice cream café|Ice cream connoisseurs rejoice: Šabatovo zmrzlinářství, whose parlor in Jesenice has been a fan favorite since opening a decade ago, has just opened its first Prague café at Jiřího z Poděbrad. Both their sorbets and ice creams, come in a dizzying array of flavors, including Cucumber and Mint, Sea Buckthorn, Tahini, and Hokkaido Pumpkin.

Texas and Memphis-style BBQ|A old/new school barbecue, Hell Smoke BBQ is a haven for meat eaters that opened last month. Meats are sourced from Czech farms, and include homemade sausages, pulled pork, beef brisket, turkey and chicken wings cooked in a style that fuses low'n'slow and Asian cuisine. Their secret? A Texas-imported barbecue meat smoker using Mesquite wood.

Pop-up barbecue|Tomáš Oujezdský and chef Silva Jackson from the established Holešovice barbecue house Big Smokers will take part in a pop-up event on Jan. 19 called Big Smokers U Kalendů. For an afternoon and evening only, hosted by the U Kalendů restaurant, smoked Carolina-style pork and ribs will come together with U Kalendů's bread and pastries for an unforgettable combination of flavors.