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Traditional Polish with a Twist, Excellent cuisine, Great Value!

On this second trip to Poland and while in Warsaw, I arranged to have lunch at the Polka .
I remember how I loved its interior while stepping in out of curiosity last year, but without having the time to enjoy even a drink then.

OWNER: Magda Gessler is a Polish television persona, a restaurateur and painter, known for presenting (Kitchen Nightmares) and judging in Master Chef. Her many restaurants throughout the country resemble works of art, not only in its culinary aspects. She is talented in refining and updating traditional recipes as well as creating opulent, beautifully decorated spaces. 


LOCATION: Situated in a converted house, the restaurant enjoys a unique location. It is right at the end of the Royal Castle's square, in the heart of the Old Town.

CUISINE: The best of traditional Polish with a light twist and a fresh French-inspired approach. (Portions are big home-style servings.


 
STAFF AND SERVICE: Friendly, professional and discreet staff. Pawel, was very polite and could speak English well. Perhaps they could do better with punctuality of serving if waiters were a few more. This was the only downside I came across.




 
ATMOSPHERE: A restaurant with character -colourful, charming and opulent interior of that of noble Polish mansions of the past . 

From the exterior it does not seem that spacious, yet it is and it is separated in numerous rooms of different size. Besides the bright and so welcoming patio, each room is named after a colour.

Velvet curtains in different shapes, colour and designs hang from the windows, or decorate archways and corners. 
 
It is obvious that the charming and beautifully interior on the whole is created with attention to the least detail.


 
SIMPLICITY: A noticeable simplicity in the way the tables are set, the tables lack table-clothes, but on the other hand this is how it is meant to be. Simplicity in Polish style, multi-colour, friendly and cozy ambience. In short, it is exactly the right atmosphere to enjoy an authentic local meal.

 

 
PATIO: I could not stop taking photos out here . Choosing to have my meal at the patio was a great idea. 

Charming and amazingly beautiful, the patio had ample of natural light coming through its glass roof, creating a feeling of having lunch at a summer garden.

 

COURSE OF DISHES:
 
On this second visit I am here in the capacity of a Food Critic to comment on the course of dishes I have. The menu choice is enough to cater for all tastes.





 
STARTERS: I opted for both, a hot but also a cold starter; the Classic Herring and the Potato Cake. The first one is a typical Polish dish with a briny and kind of souring taste, very appetizing and yummy!

The latter, -my hot choice was tasty but what made it exceptionally good was the pairing lush creamy Mushroom Sauce that I chose to accompany the Potato Cake . Scrumptious and mouthwatering, the sauce had a great texture and flavour.



SOUP: The Sour soup with egg was superb while the Smoked Sausage added a great balance and the right amount of saltiness to the dish.




 
MAIN COURSE: The Thyme marinated Filet Steak is another dish I highly recommend. Nicely presented, the fillet was tenderly juicy and bursting with flavor. The hint of spice and the side combination makes it irresistible. 
 
This exceptional dish can be perfectly accompanied with the Creamy Mushroom Sauce that I mentioned above.


 
BEVERAGE: Normally I skip lunch thus I did not wish to have wine or beer and my choice was just a coke.


 
DESSERT: A friend recommended the 'Karpataka’ with Cherry sauce, but I was not that lucky as it was in high demand that day. Ask for it, I am sure it would be a delight and perhaps you are luckier than me. 

It is a Polish Carpathian Mountain cake which I opt to taste perhaps on my next visit .


 
Instead I had the homemade Apple Pie served with Vanilla Ice-ream and Whipped cream. The portion was huge and it was a great choice. Big thumbs up!





 
 
The overall experience was great. ‘Polka’ is definitely a place to return. I highly recommend it to all friends and followers. Everything I had was fresh and tasty and the price was reasonable too. Be sure to drop by if you happen to be in Warsaw and try the culinary courses and delights which are simply divine.