Warsaw Food
Polish food has come a long way since the drab days of the eastern bloc. The restaurant scene in Poland is thriving and supermarkets over here in the UK are now also stocking up on Polish essentials to cater for expats and the growing number of pickled herring lovers already here.
With Warsaw itself an increasingly cosmopolitan city, it would be possible to visit without ever tasting traditional Polish cuisine, but why would you bother when the dishes available are so tasty, albeit an acquired taste in some cases.
For the true taste of Poland check out such dishes as 'borscht', the attractively presented beetroot soup, which takes pride of place on many traditional menus. Although it may sound a little like peasant food, borscht has always featured on elegant dinner menus, particularly when made using beef stock.
Other specialities include a mixture of sauerkraut, cabbage, meats, onions, bay leaves, garlic, red wine, salt and pepper. Sometimes known as the queen of Polish dishes, it is left to cook over a period of days but is extremely welcome in the cold Polish winters.
As a consequence of the winters, many Polish specialities are rather stodgy, with dumplings making a frequent appearance on menus. Oily fish is also popular, especially herring and salmon, although for many visitors pickled herring is an experience best forgotten.
With binge drinking still a peculiarly British past-time, the restaurant scene is dominant in Warsaw, with many locals choosing to spend their Friday night in the latest trendy bistro as opposed to propping up the bar. Choice is surprisingly wide and new restaurants seem to open every week in what is known as a "dynamic and fast paced" restaurant scene.
After years of food shortages and socialist era "milk bar" style eating, Warsaw's restaurants now feature regularly on European top-tens. Visitors need not constrict themselves to local fare, with Asian, Italian, Mexican, vegetarian and more all available in abundance.
For authentic Polish food, Fukier in the old town is a "must" for those looking for traditional cuisine. Bazyliszek, Gessler and Restauracja Polska are also popular with locals, always a good sign of quality. Less expensive is Klub Aktora, a neighbourhood secret, along with Literacka and Kmicic. For those planning to splash out, head to Warsaw's answer to the Ivy, the Belvedere, which is frequented by presidents and the rich and famous.
Warsaw has a large Italian business community, with a wealth of Italian restaurants now opened to cater for it. Venezia is among the best, while Balgera caters for north Italian tastes. The Roma cafe is intimate and quaint and Vera Italia acts as a real home from home for local Italians. When it comes to quality of ingredients and cooking skill, Parmizzanos in the Marriott hotel has a justifiably good reputation.
For cheap and dependable local choices, check out Adler bar and restaurant, described as an "oasis in a concrete jungle". The menu offers a selection of Polish and Bavarian nouvelle cuisine for reasonable prices. The ice meringue with strawberry mousse is particularly highly rated.
For vegetarians, Vega is one of the best restaurants in town and has the bonus of being very cheap. Stuffed crepes are a house speciality and vegans are also well catered for.
Despite its vodka-soaked heritage, bars are less popular, but 99 is particularly fashionable and world class, as is Boathouse. Zanzi bar and Rabarbar are also well worth exploring.
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Eating & Drinking
