BRATISLAVA, September 4, 2025
This week, the popular Czech cooking show Yes, boss!, featuring renowned chef Zdeněk Pohlreich, is spotlighting U Jelena, a restaurant with deep roots in the Wallachia region. Television Prima will broadcast an episode filmed at the eatery, which recently moved from Drahotuše in the Přerov region to Hustopeče nad Bečvou, near Valašské Meziříčí. The show aims to provide an unvarnished look at the challenges and triumphs of running a restaurant.
Yes, boss! returned this year after a nine-year absence, offering viewers a glimpse behind the scenes of struggling restaurants. Pohlreich, acting as a mentor, doesn’t shy away from confronting issues and pushing owners to improve. The show’s premise centers around Pohlreich’s assessment of a restaurant’s operations, followed by his attempts to guide the staff toward success. The premiere episode focused on Ořechovka in Liberec, a restaurant that had previously earned a single star.
Though, despite Pohlreich’s intervention, Ořechovka’s chef, Michal, announced the restaurant would close at the end of 2024. He cited exhaustion and a desire to pursue other opportunities, stating, “I do in another field now, but this does not mean that I will not return to the gastrum once. I am terribly tired now,I try to compare my life,what happens next.” This outcome underscores the intense pressures faced by restaurant owners and the tough decisions they sometimes must make. This Thursday, viewers will see how Pohlreich approaches the challenges at U Jelena and whether he can help steer the restaurant toward a more sustainable future.
Zdeněk Pohlreich emphasized the show’s realistic portrayal of the industry, stating, “I am convinced that we have managed a strong view of the real world of gastronomy. We are not doing an educational show, but one that shows that even among the stoves we can experience tensions, tense situations and fun.” The show’s appeal lies in its raw honesty and its ability to capture the emotional rollercoaster of the restaurant business.
