SK I EN
Update: Since this article was written, NIXA has closed. The review remains here as a snapshot of its early days.
NIXA is a newly opened restaurant in the former space of the old Bowling restaurant. Before we dive in, let me answer the question nobody asked: why is this article labeled Part 1? Simple—we visited unprepared. But let’s go step by step.
The interior hasn’t changed much from its Bowling predecessor, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The place still looks decent inside. The outside, however, leaves something to be desired. A single T-sign with a taped-on menu and doors displaying opening hours for both a defunct business and the new one? Not the most confidence-inspiring start.
At our table, a drink menu from Kofola with handwritten prices nearly scares me off. Then comes the daily menu, also presented in a plastic sleeve from Kofola. But right as I brace for the worst, the server arrives and is, to my surprise, lovely and polite. I ask if we can see the full menu and am told that they don’t have one yet due to “issues with the graphic agency.” Fair enough. At least she sells us a ginger lemonade from the tap, which tastes surprisingly good.
If I wanted to be a real nitpicker, I’d ask why restaurants don’t just make printable, editable menus in-house—but hey, who changes menus often anyway, right?
What We Order
We go with the daily menu.
I don’t try the lentil soup, but my companion Ďuri praises it. He says it’s thick and flavorful.
As for me, I have the schnitzel and the mashed “potatoes.” I hesitate to even call it mash—not sure what they’re going for there. It lacks milk and is quite dry. The schnitzel, while not dry, has a strange oily aftertaste, likely a result of being deep-fried.
The second experiment of the day is the ham pizza. Describing the style is tricky. It feels more like “whatever the oven gives.” The tomato base is barely there, and the cheese clearly never met mozzarella. Now, I understand not all good pizzas need mozzarella, but only if the replacement cheese is solid. The ham is probably the best part. Overall, it feels like they make pizza just to have a pizza. Maybe that works for the bowling crowd? Although judging by the opening hours, I’m not even sure that’s their target group.
Ah Yes… Pancakes
By chance, pancakes are part of the daily menu, and of course I can’t pass that up—even if it means doubling them as my main course.
What I get is a blend of plastic-tasting whipped cream, syrupy chocolate sauce from a squeeze bottle, mass-produced jam, and a healthy snowfall of sugar. Together, it’s a perfect recipe for a visit from Captain Diabetes. Honestly, I wake up the next morning wondering if bees are going to start orbiting my ass.
“But Roman, pancakes are dessert, they’re supposed to be sweet…”
Yes, obviously. But if you give this to a kid, they’ll pull your car for three days straight and then crash into a hyperglycemic coma.
Final Thoughts
NIXA is a neighborhood restaurant with the potential to become a decent lunch spot. It’s clear they are only a few days into business and still have work to do. For now, if you work nearby and want a fast, no-fuss lunch, it’s passable—but not the kind of place you’d go out of your way to visit, let alone bring someone to impress.
