Sodo — Restaurant in Prague

Very cozy bistro in Dejvice with good quality food but pretty small portions for the price.

I'll start off by saying that I wish they would do reservations. The don't accept reservations in the morning so when you come in for a brunch like we did it will really depend on your luck whether you get a table or whether you'll have to wait. I really don't understand their hesitancy to do morning reservations as at the end of the day the girl at the door couldn't find a table for us so she made a waiting list for all people with our phone numbers. That's a poor "reservation" system in my eyes. It's super unprecise and I saw many people being turned off by this. We were told that we have like 40 minutes before a table frees up so we went for a coffee not even 20 minutes in and we were called in, we just got our coffee order and had to rush to the restaurant. Not a good customer experience at all.

But I must say that the server was nice and very accommodating and waited when I told her we will come in 20 minutes. So please sort out the brunch organisation and you'll make life easier for everyone.

If you manage to get a table it is a very cramped space so you will feel like you went for a brunch with your friends or family which has some charm to it I must say in our pretty isolated world.

For food, the only thing I wanted to get were their famous dumplings with Šodó. Their adaption of this dish is very elevated, nothing like what I used to eat as a kid. First of all the brioche dumplings are buttery and well risen, giving them a melt in your mouth mouthfeel. Then they are put on top of a berry compote which adds a touch of acidity to it. Finally the most surprising was the vanilla sauce with wine. You could really taste the wine in it so it had this bitter aftertaste but in a good and sophisticated way. I also love the texture it was very mousse like almost like capuccino foam.

The downside to it however, is the portion size. I got the full big portion that consisted of 6 small dumplings. I'm sorry but I that would be appropriate only for a child not a for an adult. So either take the price lower and put some more dumplings in to make it a real full satiating meal not just an overpriced dessert.

Overall, I do recommend it if you never had this type of dumplings but go for a full meal somewhere else and then only come for the dessert portion, otherwise you risk being hungry...

It was our second try to get a seat here (without a reservation) and we were lucky to come at the right time when people at one of the tables were leaving. It is a very popular place that we were really looking forward to visit. On a cold and windy day seating outside was unpleasant, so the inside tables were full. You should really plan the visit if you want to get seated, even on a cold day people agreed to seat or wait outside (gladly blankets are provided). Was it worth it though?

We left with really mixed feelings. The interior is very small, but well kept, designed with a lot of care as well as the menus. The stuff was very polite and friendly even though they’re working at full capacity. We came for their specialty - šodó, but also tried a ragú from the daily menu. Both meals were great, but a bit small. Both had a very distinct and rich taste and the gnocchis were the best I’ve ever tried. But we left somewhat frustrated.

We liked the food, but for the price the amount felt insufficient. The šodó was a bit too alcoholic to my taste which was a surprise (I don’t drink but normally enjoy pralines with some alcohol fillings, so sweet šodó with wine was a promising description). And with the cafe being so busy, we didn’t feel comfortable or relaxed during our lunch. People were constantly popping in to ask for the availability, waiting outside in the cold looking through the window if we were done with our food. I felt sorry for making them wait. We left slightly hungry, somewhat guilty and with a feeling that the investment was not worth it.

It is a nice place, but we don’t think we’ll come back...

Update after 5 months: the opening buzz certainly did not die down, quite to the contrary. On Sunday morning, the place was packed. However, the seating situation improved a lot with several outside tables. The food remains excellent: I highly recommend the toasted bread with whipped feta and marinated peppers and the signature dish, buchtičky se šodó, still keep the great balance between the vanilla sweetness and winey undertones. Despite the place being really busy, service was efficient and spreading the pleasant and easy going vibe. Original review: Very nice location in a quiet Dejvice street. The place is indeed very small, but loaded with vibrant and pleasant vibe, thanks to always smiling and efficient staff. I had the Šodó breakfast. The egg was excellent, backed up by tasty bread, pickled veggies, cheese and saucisson. Perhaps the focaccia was a bit out of place on the plate. Perhaps a nice Czech rohlík instead? The real highlight though was the buchtičky se šodó. The sauce is extremely airy with the sweet and vanilla tastes brightened up by the hints of white wine. Not to forget the nicely tangy blackcurrant jam hiding at the bottom. I will definitely come back for more! Update after the second visit: gnocchi lightly roasted on butter, peas and crème épaisse are delicious, a hint of spring on your plate. A tip if the line to get inside is too long: there are 4 outside seats on the window sills and they serve everything...