Warsaw Restaurant Tips by matcrazy1 Top 5 Page for this destination

Warsaw Restaurants: 298 reviews and 418 photos

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VT-GANG IN BATIDA RESTAURANT - Warsaw

VT-GANG IN BATIDA RESTAURANT

Batida: Not my recommendation but...

If you are in good company, like I was in Batida restaurant, it's less important what you eat and how much you pay when time passes very fast... :-)

Well, we, a group of 11 VT-ers, ended up in Batida restaurant when we didn't accept eating in close "Domowy okruszek" restaurant or better to say shop due to lack of space and beer there :-) We followed suggestion of random young woman who suggested us this place round the corner as more expensive but with not bad food.

Batida reminded me all those "western" style restaurants which started to be fastly set up one by one all over Poland in early 1990' when the nation after years of grey, state-owned restaurants usually reserved for groups wanted to try mainly Chinese, Asian, American, Greek, Spanish and Italian food, never Polish. Hmm... I was told that it was very difficult to find any Polish food in Warsaw that time. And Batida was set up in 1991. Years passed by but unfortunatelly the restaurant (probably its management as well) didn't change and may have serious problems soon or... must totally change.

I didn't like the cold, pseudo-modern, no-character interior design of the restaurant. In this selfservice restaurant the food is displayed in large trays. When you make a choice the food is put on your plate and... transferred to the back to warm it up out off your sight in a microwave. I don't like it... Additionally despite fast food character of the place it's not cheap.
Fortunatelly they offered beer, limited choice of Polish beer (Tyskie, Lech - 8 zl) and some foreign as well (Dutch Heineken as I remember).


Favorite Dish: I had Spanish paella (25 zl; 6.5 euros) which surprisingly was not that bad, although not as good as the original one I had many times in Spain. Less or better olive oil and more lemons next time please. Next time I'd also try simple roasted potatoes (ziemniaki zasmazane) and green beans (fasolka szparagowa).

Urszula had a meal called shortly "szpinak" (spinach; 23 zl) which was baked spinach with cheese... hmm... I didn't like it. She also ordered "poledwica wieprzowa" (pork sirloin; 22 zl), a large piece of meat boiled in thick flour sauce ----> shortly do NOT order it. I think the staff of the restaurant should eat it by themselves. Good appetite :-). I do hope that other dishes like salmon (losos 30 zl; hmm... in sour cream?), chicken breasts (piers z kurczaka; 20 zl)roasted turkey (indyk pieczony 20 zl) tasted better.

There was one typically Polish meal called "bigos" (45 zl/12 euros per kilo) offered. It's a mix of sauerkraut, small pieces of meat, forest mushrooms and some herbs boiled long time (longer better, 24 hours for example). Well, it's a risky meal in unknown restaurants but you can prder a bit and try (no worries it should taste much better than it looks :-).



Address: Ul. Nowogrodzka 1/3; 00-513 Warszawa; Poland

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: In downtown/centre. On southern side of the street corner of Bracka Street. Map here.

Other Contact: batida@batida.com.pl

Phone: +48 (22) 621 45 34

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 2

Theme: Eclectic/International

Review Helpfulness: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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  • Updated Apr 4, 2011
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BUSY BAR POD BARBAKANEM - Warsaw

BUSY BAR POD BARBAKANEM

Bar Pod Barbakanem: 15 times cheaper than in a fancy restaurant :-) Polish Cuisine Review

I once (in 2002 or so) discovered this milk bar by coincidence thanks to heavy rain. Haha, I can't stop laughing. I remember so-called milk bars from my university years. A lot of great ideas were born in young free minds there, despite spartan setting, simple and the cheapest food and somewhat not pretty aroma (sometimes rude staff, too) in those past milk bars from 1980'. After years of fascination of various "western", foreign food Poland tries to re-store those old Polish milk bars now. Well, they can't look and smell like their original cousins from the communist past, you would never enter them in that case, believe me.

This one in Warsaw called Bar Under the Barbican (open daily 8 am - 6 pm) is similar to the original milk bars in unusual mode of service: first you have to go to the cashier to order a meal and pay, you will be given a small piece of paper with a number. The kitchen is connected with the eating room by a small window signed "Wydawanie posilkow" (distributing meals) with a shelf/counter below (picture here). Dishes with ready meals are put at the counter with accompanying shout coming from the kitchen and calling "the number" to take his/her meal. Well, be careful if you don't know numbers in Polish language haha. Stay close to the window and watch like a dog for your meal. Good luck :-).

No worries, you will be prized with simple but unbelievable cheap and mostly tasty food. Warning: the place is very busy in rush hours that is from, say, noon to 3 pm.


Favorite Dish: I had "pierogi z miesem" (dumplings with minced meat) and Polish beetroot soup called "barszcz" (borscht) which is the local culinary heritage of many Eastern and Central European nations. Both were almost as good as the similar meals (well, add croquet to the soup) in fancy "U Fukiera" restaurant in the Old Town Market Square but cost only 8 (eight!) zl (= 2.1 euros or US$2.6) that was some 15 times less! Well, it's not an appropriate place for business meetings :-)

Another typical milk-bar style meals are: mushroom soup (2.3 zl), breaded pork chops with cabbage and mushrooms in cream but... skip that fat cream :-), cacao, milk or fruit compot to drink (all 1 zl). Warning: prices might have risen a bit since 2002.



Address: Ul. Mostowa 27/29; 00-260 Warszawa; Polska

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: At the northern edge of the Old Town. From the Barbican walk Nowomiejska St. a bit northwards, on the right corner of Mostowa St. Click on the map here

Other Contact: poczta@barmleczny.waw.pl

Phone: +48 (22) 831 47 37

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

Review Helpfulness: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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  • Updated Apr 4, 2011
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FISHERMAN (RYBAK) RESTAURANT - Warsaw

FISHERMAN (RYBAK) RESTAURANT

Fisherman: Great design and atmosphere

It was a discovery! I was very surprised when I entered this restaurant located at the Old Town Market Square and I suddenly found myself onboard of an old wooden ship with a mast, fishing nets, ropes, barrels and fishing trophies. All that stuff together with colorful fish kept in two large aquariums and numerous young and medium-aged folks watching TV, drinking beer, talking loudly and smiling makes authentic, lively atmosphere... more typical for a pub and quite different than in other restaurants around Market Square.

The main Captain's Room is a place to dine while Pub Viking in a shape of boat with a bar upstairs is a place to meet or make friends and to have a beer (rather more than 1 :-). I was told that there is music played there in some evenings. mainly sea shanties, I guess. The very friendly, young staff completes the unforgettable feeling of this restaurant/pub.

The restaurant offers mainly (but not only) fish and seafood at reasonable price as for the most expensive Warsaw location. Expect to pay about 10 - 14 zl per soup and 25 - 70 zl per main course. Well, as for now I do recommend this place more to meet people and have a beer than to dine.


Favorite Dish: Well, I rarely order any fish or seafood in unknown restaurants in Poland for obvious reason. I am afraid of being totally dissapointed. I need recommendation and I know good fish restaurants around my hometown, but not in Warsaw.

So, I ordered not that risky potato pancakes (25 zl for very large and tasty portion) and surely beer and then one more... :-). Well, those pancakes being the least expensive were very popular among locals and went quite well with German light brown Warsteiner Premium Dunkel beer. Not too bad a brew of caramel, medium sweet taste. As the place is busy (for evenings call them and book a seat) there is no risk to get unfresh draught beer. I mean from a barrel opened the previous day (or week) and not properly stored (should be +4C) at night which is quite common way of saving on energy, right?



Address: Rynek Starego Miasta 1/3; 02-272 Warszawa; Polska

Comparison: about average

Directions: In the southeastern corner of the Old Town Market Square (Jezuicka St.). Map here

Other Contact: fisherman@restauracja.warszawa.p

Phone: +48 (22) 635 57 40

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Pub/Brewery

Review Helpfulness: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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  • Updated Apr 4, 2011
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GREENWAY = PRZYSTANEK ZDROWIA - Warsaw

GREENWAY = PRZYSTANEK ZDROWIA

GreenWay (Przystanek Zdrowia): Vegetarian food anyone?

It's a Polish vegetarian fast-food like (by self service and design) chain restaurant which serves meals of both Polish (pierogi, dumplings) and international cuisine. I remember some Mexican, Hindu, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Italian (lasagne) and Arab meals in the menu.

The prices are reasonable as for the location in downtown. The least expensive meal, soup of the day cost around 1 euro as I remember. It maybe a good option for folks looking for breakfast as they open at 8.00 am on Mon - Fri. The restaurant is called in Polish Przystanek Zdrowia which lterally means Health Stop (like bus stop).


Favorite Dish: Once, after bad experiences with ethnic food in Warsaw I had Polish dumplings with mushrooms (Agaricus) and pumpkins whuch tasted worse than those homemade dumplings I had later in Warsaw.

Urszula made better choice. Her Hungarian style pancake/crepe (palacsinta) stuffed with cheese and mushrooms was quite good.



Address: Ul. Szpitalna 6; Warszawa

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: In downtown. Walk Szpitalna St. southwards, cross Zlota/Gorskiego St., the restaurant ahead on the left. Map here

Other Contact: http://www.wegetarianie.pl

Phone: +48 (22) 625 00 55

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Vegan/Vegetarian

Review Helpfulness: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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  • Updated Apr 4, 2011
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RESTAURACJA PRZY ZAMKU UNDER RED UMBRELLAS - Warsaw

RESTAURACJA PRZY ZAMKU UNDER RED UMBRELLAS

Restauracja Przy Zamku: To watch people and have a beer

Some people love to watch birds, I mean real birds, two-legged creatures which can fly. But wherever I travel to, I prefer to watch two-legged (rarely four) human beings, preferrably sitting in a comfortable chair with a bottle of cold local beer in hand, futher on sitting on the busiest street or square where a lot of birds, opss.. people pass by. In Warsaw the Old Town Market Square, Swietojanska Street and the Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy) meet perfectly these requitements (on sunny days from May to September though) as for watching people. Well, Warsaw isn't as "birdy" or rather "pigeony" city as Krakow. Don't the birds like Warsaw or what?

Well, once I chose Restauracja Przy Zamku (Restaurant by the Castle) which offered me chairs and tables put in front on the Royal Castle Square as well as expensive and very expensive food (Polish and hunter's food, game food) I didn't want (or I couldn't afford - choose what you want). Although my chair was neither soft nor very comfortable I enjoyed a lot great view on passing by human beings well lit in the last rays of the setting sun with the Royal Castle in the background. Chairs put on the Old Town Market Square in some restaurants/pubs are more comfortable.



Favorite Dish: I didn't eat anything. I had great large capuccino wrongly just before sunset (excuse some traditional Italians) and excellent Polish Zywiec beer (8 zl = 2.1 euros per 0.5 l - not that bad as for the excellent location). It's always good time for cold beer. Isn't it, my German friends?

I think it's too touristy and over-priced restaurant to eat there anything and they state in the menu that they add 10% for service unless you pay less than 50 zl (hmm... no comment)..Expect to pay 10 - 25 zl per soup and 30 - 70 zl per main course (+ those 10%) in 2006, menu in their webpage. The stylish (in hunter's style) interior looks somewhat cold, I didn't like it.



Address: Pl. Zamkowy 15/19; Warszawa; Polska

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Opposite to the Royal Castle (Zamek Krolewski), corner Swietojanska Street. Map here

Phone: +48 (22) 831 02 59

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Pub/Brewery

Review Helpfulness: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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  • Updated Apr 4, 2011
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CHIMERA SIGN - Warsaw

CHIMERA SIGN

Chimera: Great atmosphere at crazy pub Pub's Review

I was in Chimera technically twice but the second time in 2005 I had only a cup of caffee in beautiful garden yard but I noticed that they probably doubled prices since my first visit soon after opening in 2003 or so. Well, the caffee was excellent and I remember that they offered some light meals including some for vegetarians (dish of cheese). And first of all the interior design and decor is magical, crazy, totally surreal - go to see it.

Our amusing Warsaw friends booked a table and invited us for the evening or rather half a night to Chimera pub and we had great, great time this time in fairy-like, magical cellar hidden in a courtyard basement. I was impressed by the surrealistic, colotful, totally crazy, mixed, partly postindustrial decor. Whenever you go there please take a picture of that crazy toilet/restroom lock :-) This place crowded by mostly (but not only) young folks has an atmosphere and charm especially after first beers and drinks when some more crazy and amused young people started to run from table to table looking for new friends mostly of opposite gender. Some preferred to look at one point and wait. Music played by DJ included most pop/rock hits of that time, some songs were sang by a company by one table where someone celebrated birthday.


Favorite Dish: I had potato pancakes (low risk meal) with chanterelles (25 zl now - 2006) and it was OK, nothing special though.
Urszula had roast duck with apples - very risky meal and expensive (36 zl = 9.5 euros). It tasted quite good, meat should be a bit less dry and warmer.
Try strong Chimera drink (15 zl), don't forget to take a deep breath before and break after. Cheers! Do enjoy!

Warnings:
- the most important: do call them and made a reservation at least for Friday and Saturday evening or come very early (at 6-7 pm);
- it's not a silent place for contemplation rather noisy pub with music played by DJ but you can hear your next neighbour, no worries;
- it offers lively pub atmosphere, it's not a fancy, stylish restaurant;
- it's not a cheap place by Polish standarts especially for food lovers but not a very expensive as well, although for that price you may eat more and mostly better food in Kompania Piwna, Podwale 25; expect to pay some 20 zl (5.3 euros) per soup and 20 - 40 zl per main course;
- after first 2-3 hours whenever I wanted to use their toilet/restroom I had to wait a bit, so don't be the last minute guy like a few ones; I gave them a way;
- mysterious drink called Chimera (15 zl) is strong and addictive especially when it goes with beer; it changed two 2-legged young guys into sleeping stones which paid attention pub security but the two strongmen left them alone when discovered that they were still 2-legged although sleepy;
- I had an impression that the pub staff wanted to close business at about 1 am (they stopped to play music, started to run and clean tables etc.) but... it was lively Saturday night and the folks were half a way of their drinks.... soon they started to play music again till some 3 am. They claim that they are open till the last consumer... I see a job for malicious journalists... to test them.



Address: Ul. Podwale 29; Warszawa; Polska

Comparison: about average

Directions: Close to Barbican, in Podwale street which goes outside the city walls at its northern part. Map here

Phone: +48 (22) 635 69 19

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Pub/Brewery

Review Helpfulness: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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  • Updated Apr 4, 2011
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PUB NA SKARPIE - Warsaw

PUB NA SKARPIE

Pub Na Skarpie: Large beer for 1 (one!) euro :-) Pub's Review

I found this outdoor (probably open seasonally, say from May till September) pub by coincidence crossing Rydz Smigly Park and it had no name :-). I stopped there as soon as I noticed many locals. Well, many locals, especially the young ones, in any pub in Warsaw means that cheap beer is on tap. This crowded place also offers a few simple and cheap meals but do not expect anything special. For locals it's first of all the place to have a beer with friends and not to go bancrupt.

Don't expect menu in any other language than Polish. Let me translate:
1. Karkowka - grilled meat from the neck of beef or pork, 16 zl;
2. Sish kebab - hmm... it looked different than in Turkey; 14 zl;
3. Szaszlyk - small pieces of various meat and vegetables put together on a rod and grilled, 15 zl;
4. piers w owocach - chicken breast with fruits, 15 zl;
5. kielbasa - grilled sausage, 8 zl;
6. kaszanka - a traditional Polish blood sausage 6 zl;
7. salatka grecka - Greek salad (hmm... not at all Greek, bring magnifying glass to find feta - traditional Greek cheese; 8 zl)
8. ziemniaki zapiekane - roasted potatoes, 4 zl
9. frytki - chips = French fries, 4 zl.
And that's all. Meals 1-4 are served with chips, mixed salad (small and not good) and sauces (skip them :-), 5 with salad and bread, 6 with bread (included in price).


Favorite Dish: I've had the cheapest beers on tap in Warsaw (from a plastic cup): a local Pilsener called Krolewskie pelne (Royal full) by Warka brewery cost only 4 zl (1.05 euros) per 0,5 l, while Polish premium lager Zywiec - 5 zl. Krolewskie (links below) was surprisingly good in this place but I preferred Zywiec :-).

We had pseudo-Greek salad (a lot of green cabbage leaves, onion, lemon) and good karkowka + 2 cups of beer. We paid in total 33 zl (8.7 euros). Credit cards accepted. Tipping? As you want... it's a self-service pub and most don't pay tips. Look at the writing above the desk: SAMOOBSLUGA. You must first make an order there, then take a seat and wait.

If you want to try something Polish, take "kaszanka." I usually like it a lot but... you may not :-), just take a try (only 1.6 euros here, at least 3 times more in downtown restaurants).



Address: ul. Na Skarpie; Warszawa

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Close to Sheraton Hotel and seat of Polish parliament; in Rydz Smigly Park (Park marsz. Edwarda Smiglego-Rydza), at southern part of a viewing terrace. Map here

Other Contact: http://www.warka.com.pl

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Pub/Brewery

Review Helpfulness: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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  • Updated Apr 4, 2011
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IN THE TENT BEFORE THE FOLKS CAME :-) - Warsaw

IN THE TENT BEFORE THE FOLKS CAME :-)

Pub Lolek: Great place, fun, music and food

WOW! It's unfergettable place where we, 6 VT-ers spent a few hours in the evening/night in January, 2006. Highly recommended first of all for nightlife activities: dancing, music live, fun, drinks, atmosphere, meeting friends etc. but for food as well - limited choice of Polish simple food but I loved it and all at average or low price (from 6 zl per soup to 25 zl per grilled sirloin; it's only 1.6 - 6.6 euros). Warning: for evening hours (especially on Friday and Saturday) reservation (call them) highly recommended.

First of all the setting is magical. In wintertime it's a large tent (like a circus tent) put in the middle of covered by snow park. In the middle there is a wooden dancing floor and a stage for musicians. Colorful lamps are hang on the main tent mast. There is no floor around but the ground covered by small stones on which numerous wooden tables (each for 10 people) with benches are put. "The walls" of the tent are made of transparent foil which made us feel like sitting in the middle of snowy park. No worries, the tent is air-conditioned and each wooden bench is covered by thick blanket to keep warm... a place where your back ends :-). It's pretty warm inside.

It's a self-service place, unique kind of self-service. Opposite to the stage there is a bar which serves only basic soft drinks, basic vodkas/spirits and beer. If you need other drinks (coctails for example) and food you have to make a trip (some 20 m only) from a tent through colder corridor-sleeve to either main restaurant hall (coctails, food) to the right or to large coal grill in wooden cabin/hut to the left. You pay first in a bar (but not in a coal grill) and you are informed when to come back for your food. No worries, it goes quite fast. I made many trips then and back :-). Funny.

The main restaurant room/hall looks pretty and unique as well like a cave with large round bar.


Favorite Dish: I loved almost everything I had (open my next pictures) and it all went perfect with beer and "furious dogs" :-). They specialize in traditional Polish potato pancakes. Each portion cost 11 zl (2.9 euro) and is surprisingly large :-). We ordered all: home-made (yoghurt sauce, fried apples, sour cream), with spinach, meat, salmon, chanterelles. Well, salmon was not that good for me.

Add blackwurst (bloody sausage; 8 zl) and neck joint of pork (karkowka; 14 zl) from coal grill which tasted great as well. Hmm... after X number of "furious dogs" I ordered grilled potatoes but... I forgot about it :-). They offer a lot of free addings put around the grill: bread, fresh vegetable salad, sour cucumbers, pikles, stewed onions, sauces (garlic, grill), ketchup, mustard, horseradish etc.

For other food go to their menu webpage: try traditional Polish home made "bigos" (boiled sauerkraut with meat) and Mammoth Tusk (grund beef with fresh red pepper) from coal grill. Get free sour cucumbers, pikles and stewed onions. Boun apetite!

For drinks switch to my nightlife and also warnings or dangers tips, please.
Cheers@@@!!!



Address: Ul. Rokitnicka 20; Warszawa; Polska

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: About 2 km south of Central Railway Station. Map here and here

Other Contact: lolekpub@lolekpub.pl

Phone: +48 (22) 825 62 02

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

Review Helpfulness: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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  • Updated Apr 4, 2011
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PUSZKIN RESTAURANT, THE ENTRANCE - Warsaw

PUSZKIN RESTAURANT, THE ENTRANCE

Puszkin: Russian food :-) but Soviet service :-(

Speaking about Polish culture, I think that as for food traditions Poland is closer to Ukraine, Belarus and Russia (not to mention Lithuania which formed one common state with Poland during long centuries), than to Germany or Austria (a bit different than in political traditions :-) and, what's interesting, has some quite distant Italian influence.

These common Polish-Russian food traditions encouraged me to visit Russian restaurant Puszkin to discover and enjoy some Russian food. I was dissapointed about the restaurant and probably I would include it in a tourist trap tip but the food itself was not that bad.

Well, the restaurant desperately (and unsuccesfully) wants to be elegant and luxary which is well seen in its over-loaded, colorful interor design and some other details: costumed waiters, glass and baroque silverware, cigars and expensive cognacs on a little table etc. Add noisy parrots in a birdcage. I found something byzantine in this style :-).

The worst was service: first of all slow, very slow, even slower, then very serious, cold and with very limited knowledge on Russian food. Seeing their speed, their unhappy and blank faces, and complete ignorance I figured out that referring to service it's not Russian but Soviet restaurant which I remember from so-called Soviet Socialist Republic of Ukraine in 1980'. As I remember "Soviet culture" it's nothing to be proud of and as I know history it was quite different than Russian.

My ears expected to hear old Russian folk or classic music (the best live). But some horrible disco style music blared from poor quality loudspeakers.

At the end when i already paid exactly the sum pointed in my receive, a great miracle happened. My waiter suddenly became fast. He came back twice to my table asking whether I wanted a dessert or caffee and... suggested me to tip him which I didn't like and surely didn't do.


Favorite Dish: None specifically favourite. Polish Zywiec beer to drink :-).

Well, the Russian by name restaurant, in fact, offers a few Russian meals (by name and description in the menu) and many others (non-Polish, too). Despite no suggestion from my ignorant waiter I chose my Russian meals... by prize (the most and the least expensive ;-).

In the beginning the waiter brought to us (free) something he called pate from game but it was some meat, I guess, produced probably a year before from wild animals killed in tzar Russia - uneatable. OK, I remember the most expensive meal called in the menu sturgeon in limon-saffron sauce with caviar and jasmine rice. Soft fish and sauce tasted almost as good as cost (bravo for the cook!) but strange rice not at all. If you order that sturgeon don't forget to bring good magnifying glass to find any caviar in your dish and keep in mind that they probably dry it before. I had some salad as well which was OK, looked better than tasted. Add a portion of very good Russian "bliny" (blintz) - my recommendation and the least expensive meal in the menu. Well expect to pay some 20 zl per soup and 40 - 90 zl (10.5 - 23.5 euros) per main course in 2006.

Final conclusion: chose any other restaurant in this high price category by Warsaw and Poland standarts! It's strange but unfortunatelly I didn't find as for now any (even one!) very good Ukrainian, Belarusian or Russian restaurant in Poland. I don't understand why... our countries have a lot of common (Slavic language and culture) and it should be continued, in food exchange as well. At least there have been quite many good Lithuanian restaurants in Poland recently :-).



Address: Ul. Swietojanska 2; 00-288 Warszawa; Polska

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: In the Old Town, by the Royal Castle - the first house on the right walking from the Royal Castle to the Old Town Market Square. Map here

Other Contact: +48 (22) 635 99 60

Phone: +48 (22) 635 35 35

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 2

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.stare-miasto.com/puszkin.html

Review Helpfulness: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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  • Updated Feb 3, 2007
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BAZYLISZEK PATISSERIE AND CAFE, ENTRANCE - Warsaw

BAZYLISZEK PATISSERIE AND CAFE, ENTRANCE

Bazyliszek: Polish patisserie Polish Cuisine Review

When we, 6 brave or crazy VT-ers looking for a small breakfast in extremely cold Saturday morning (some -20C or so), entered Bazyliszek cafe/patisserie the two just awaken ladies behind the counter looked at us like they had seen invaders from space. Indeed, it's likely that we were the only consumers that terribly cold morning. Additionally we used some strange for the ladies language and the one of us was Black. Well, in generally mono-racial Warsaw (well, there are few Asians) Toyin didn't meet any his sisters and brothers except a three ones on... the 2 paintings in the Royal Castle.

Anyway, as soon as the ladies heard well known for them Polish language they ufff.. stopped to look at us with basilisk's sight. Check my local custom tip on Bazyliszek if you don't see what I mean. They started to be a bit faster and even smile. The patisserie has a few small (read extremely small in American English) tables and offers croquetes and a choice of Polish cakes and pastries. Hmm... diffucult to chose as there is no word in any language but Polish. And they don't have any device to warm anything... At least good hot expresso caffee with milk warmed my body.


Favorite Dish: Krokiecik (1.9 zl - 0.5 euros) - Polish little croquet, a sausage-shaped parcel of minced meat, encased in breadcrumbed pancake and panfried - tasted good but should be served warm!

Paczek, plural paczki (1.5 zl - 0.4 euros) - a traditional Polish doughnut, a deep-fried piece of dough shaped into a flattened sphere and filled with marmalade made from fried rose buds. They were covered with icing and tasted very good in my opinion, my recommendation.

Faworki (called sometimes chrusty; 34 zl = 9 euros per kilo) - Polish homemade speciality, sweet light crispy biscuits in the shape of thin folded ribbons, deep-fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar. I loved them cooked by my mom for Fat Thursday but those ones in Bazyliszek were awful, old and dry ones... shame on them to sell them. They must be warm and fresh to taste great!

The ladies apologized that probably due to transportation problems they hadn't already got fresh pastries that morning. So, maybe when you come there... try "Makowiec Polski" - Polish poppyseed pastry (19.5 zl = 5.1 € per kilo) . Anyway I have a very long list of improvements for this patisserie... let them go bancrupt if they don't change soon :-)



Address: Rynek Starego Miasta 5/7; 00-272 Warszawa

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: In the southeastern wall of Market Square (Rynek Starego Miasta). Map here Warning: there is a fancy restaurant of the same name at No 1/3, look here.

Phone: +48 (22) 831 18 41

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 2

Theme: Dessert

Review Helpfulness: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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  • Updated Feb 3, 2007
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Intercontinental Warszawa
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Polonia Palace
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Sheraton Warsaw Hotel
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Radisson Blu Centrum Warsaw
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Le Regina
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Holiday Inn
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Courtyard by Marriott Warsaw International Airport
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Castle Inn
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