Przekąski –Zakąski Bistro a la Fourchette

Bistro is remarkable, original and has a special quality all of its own. The place is small but the bar is massive. They have two prices: 4 zl for beverages and 8 zl for food. Those are just simple appetizers heavily rooted in Polish history, best known as tasters to accompany vodka drinking. When it comes to drinks: vodka, beer, red wine, white wine, coffee – just one brand and kind. It is a perfect place for a drink between a dinner and heading for a club. It is great when late in the night you need just the last shot and a titbit. It is charming on the early afternoon when you can observe Krakowskie Przedmieście while sipping coffee. It welcomes you in the morning after a tough night with cold beer and hot sausages. It warms you up with wine after the sightseeing. Open 24/7. People come and go. None of them spend long time there but everyone adds something to the place’s unique ambiance. 

I encourage you to watch a bit of the documentary “From Poland with Love” where you can see more explanations from the owner himself. 

From Poland with Love Episode 2 

Na zdrowie! 

Monika

Przekąski-Zakąski  Bistro a la Fourchette
Krakowskie Przedmieście – corner with Ossolińskich Street, just across The Bristol Hotel
open 24/7

Papu

Papu restaurant is situated in Mokotow, a part of town I have been living in for almost four years now and first time I dined there was no earlier then spring this year. Really do not know why I waited so long...

Décor is absolutely ornamental, abundant in flowers and with rigid white linen on the tables. After entering you are welcomed by a warm semi-darkness (because of thick window dressings) and wooden walls. Charming lights in the evening complete the ambiance of relax and food-fiesta. As one of my friends summed it up accurately: Christmas but without reindeers. 

Shrimps on hot lava

Specialties of the restaurant are meals served on hot lava. Guests can value between shrimps, tuna steak, white meats and fillet steak (beef).  Food is placed raw on the lava and actually it is the client that decides how much it is cooked. Quite spectacular to watch but rather for those, who like playing with their food in restaurants. I would rather trust chef and be served something that is already done. And in my opinion you can trust chef in Papu. 

Carpaccio

Starters: Polish pierogi are very good there, small, delicate, served cooked and you can choose between cheese, veal and spinach or mix them together. I think it is just right for someone who is in Poland for first time and would like to eat something really Polish. Beef tartar served Polish style with yolk and sour chopped cucumbers is also worth trying. Salmon tartar that I had was good, or rather – okay but I would not recommend it strongly. Instead it is better to have carpaccio – in my opinion one of the best in Warsaw. Delicious secret lies in the horse-radish cream that is spread under meat. Absolutely fabulous. 

Soups: I haven’t tried the cucumber soup so I have yet to have an opinion on that one, but from other three the wild mushroom soup evokes the best emotions. Obviously you need to like wild mushrooms (boletus to be precise). Lemon soup is just not to my taste. Truthfully I have no idea if it was good lemon soup or not because it was simply strange. Seasonaly, they are offering pumpkin soup on the menu but previously they had tomato cream which was really nice.

All salads (except Caesar salad) are interesting with not so common in Poland add-ons as pear, balsamico-honey sauce, chicken livers etc. Nice, fresh, proper portions and absolutely as it should be. Regarding Ceasar salad… It needs a few words of explanation. I am an absolute fan of Ceasar salad and I try it in every restaurant if it is on the menu. But as a fan I’ve become quite a purist in the subject and I want it to be done the classic way. No changes in salad type, no extras as tomatoes or other vegetables, proper sauce etc. And it is not served that way in Papu – nevertheless the chicken is tasty and juicy, bread toasted nicely and sauce is good. Still…. It is not The Right Ceasar salad I would love to have. 

Main courses: Papardelle with prawns and vegetables is very nice, though not being fan of pasta I shall not be eating it regularly. Cod fillet – I have tried a bit and it was very good but generally Poland is not a country where fish is served in an impressing way. Pork cutlet with mashed potatoes is so Polish and conventional for me that I skipped that one but might be a new experience for foreigners.  Unfortunately I haven’t tried goose yet. But I recommend definitely beef fillet – truffle oil gives it quite a splendid taste. Duck is perfect – Polish are good in preparing duck and if you have a feeling for that and a chance to try – go for it. As for the ribs this honey glaze they do fights now for the first place with BBQ sauce in my personal “way to serve ribs” contest.

Desserts: Though they look and sound delicious, every time I dine there I am so profoundly filled after the main course that I simply have no chance to stuff in anything else…. Need to go JUST for a dessert some time.

The menu is in Polish and English and there is special menu for kids as well. Staff is nice, they speak English and are perfectly able to recommend and explain how dishes are served and made. Good wine list and wide range of aperitifs and afters complete the picture. Prices are rather high, You can check them on the website, but it is really worth trying. I would rather recommend it for dinner than quick lunch – it is such a nice place to sit and relax that it is worth at least 3 hours of your time. 
Monika

http://www.restauracjapapu.pl/
Al. Niepodległości 132/136
tel.: (+48) 22 856 77 88

Delizia

This Italian restaurant was strongly recommended by one of my friends and he insisted that this is the only place in Warsaw where you are served decent portion of truffles. So be it, tonight is the Italian night. 

The restaurant has big windows but the view onto Poznańska Street is not exactly spectacular. Just an average street in a busy city. There are about 8 tables and a small bar, so it is better to book ahead if you are planning on having dinner in the evening. The atmosphere is a bit different from what I expected (a cosy Italian restaurant). The décor is rather simple, lot of shades in shades of beige and brown. The tables are wooden but either were they too high or the chairs were too low because I needed a pillow to feel comfortable with the height between my mouth and the plates. And just for the record 1,70m is not small, is it?;-)

But let’s get to the point, which is food, shall we? I was a bit nervous due to the character of the meeting so I lazily but willingly followed recommendations of Lorenzo and pick up tuna tartar and tagliolini with truffles. Tuna was perfectly fresh, delicate and not spoiled with any unnecessary spice, just fresh pepper and a dash of balsamico. The main course was an absolute REVELATION: truffles freshly sliced, aromatic and lavishly scattered all over the plate and the best tagliolini I have ever had. Pasta generally is at the end of my food list and I hardly ever order it, but here it was worth every penny.

I’ve tasted a bit of carpaccio as well and it was nothing but good. We took a bottle of house wine and the choice was really good (I.G.T. Montagner Veneto) and in a reasonable price (65zł).

Menu is in English, Polish and Italian. Lorenzo speaks English, Italian and very good Polish, which is a reason to congratulate him. Staff is helpful, friendly and ambiance is very familial. I would definitely recommend delizia and shall be coming back there from time to time. 

Monika


http://www.delizia.com.pl/
ul. Hoża 58/60 Warsaw
(entrance Poznańska Street)
Monday to Saturday, 12 to 22, Sunday closed
Reservations:+48-22 6226665

To Be Reviewed . . .

Just a quick list of haunt that we like to frequent - stay tuned for full reviews and our favorite dish picks!

Hektor
Casa to tu
Mały Belgrad
Nasz Naleśnik
Izumi Sushi
Rimini Pizzeria
Mistrz Asia

and many more to come!