Who should go here: People who like pizza.
Expat consumer gives it: Four surly Polish employees out of Five.
Pizzeria Rimini is probably best known to this writer as "we should go to that place sometime." It's on the way when we go shopping at Real and this phrase has been uttered a million times in the period we've lived in Warsaw. One day, we made a special trip there; it seems that 'sometime' had arrived.
Sometime began to turn into a lot of time after we ordered. This author had been that morning for a 15 mile run and was kinda hungry as a result. It took a minute to even get to order because it quacked like a sit-down restaurant, had feathers like a sit-down restaurant, but despite the lack of signs declaring it a "samoobsluga" (self-serve; this doesn't mean that you have to grab the food yourself, it means you have to go to the counter to order it and then grab it at the counter when it's ready) place, the surly juggernaut behind the counter eventually brought menus to the table (we were supposed to get them ourselves). His every motion toward the table was a kinetic exclamation of "idiot foreigners."
So I finally ordered, and after an eternity (nearly reaching the point of setting out for the Andes mountains to look for a fallen plane load of athletes to eat), my large 'strong' pizza arrived. I think the term refers to the attributes your wrists must possess to eat a pizza with a knife and fork, which I don't know why I even bother with since everyone knows I'm an American anyway. The 'strong' has tabasco sauce on it and was really pretty good. Their pizza is definitely worth a try...if you've been driving back from Real, declaring that you must go there sometime, make it sometime soon. It's worth it. Just remember to go to the counter to get your own menus and to order. Final note: they don't have a very extensive menu; if you are going out to eat with someone who's finicky and wants a big selection, this isn't the place for them.
You can find Pizzeria Rimini at Wilhelma Konrada Roentgena 1, about a quarter mile west of Aleje KEN on Roentgena. You'll probably have to park a little down the street.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Grill 15/16
Who should go here: visitors to Krakow who aren't afraid of shoving a little meat in their mouths.
Warsaw Expat Consumer gives it: three grilled man's things out of five.
Grill 15/16 is an easily overlooked place on the south side of the old market square in Krakow. Despite the deceptive name, they specialize in, *gasp*, grilled foods. So we're talking meat, people.
Their most unfortunately named dish, "meska sprawa," they have chosen to tranlate into English as "a man's thing." They perhaps do not realize the apprehension with which an English-speaking native might approach a dish with such a moniker, especially considering its depiction on the placard out front with a big sausage in the middle of the plate. Much to this eater's delight, the sausage is actually a sausage, and it is accompanied by grilled ham steak. Oh, and there's some beef loin as well, but Grill 15/16 carries on the grand Polish tradition of not being able to cook frigging beef.
I sound like I'm complaining, but this is a good place, with good food and a friendly wait staff.
You can find them at Rynek Glowny 16 in Krakow.
Warsaw Expat Consumer gives it: three grilled man's things out of five.
Grill 15/16 is an easily overlooked place on the south side of the old market square in Krakow. Despite the deceptive name, they specialize in, *gasp*, grilled foods. So we're talking meat, people.
Their most unfortunately named dish, "meska sprawa," they have chosen to tranlate into English as "a man's thing." They perhaps do not realize the apprehension with which an English-speaking native might approach a dish with such a moniker, especially considering its depiction on the placard out front with a big sausage in the middle of the plate. Much to this eater's delight, the sausage is actually a sausage, and it is accompanied by grilled ham steak. Oh, and there's some beef loin as well, but Grill 15/16 carries on the grand Polish tradition of not being able to cook frigging beef.
I sound like I'm complaining, but this is a good place, with good food and a friendly wait staff.
You can find them at Rynek Glowny 16 in Krakow.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
LeCedre
Who should go here: Anyone who likes food that is good. Period.
Warsaw Expat Consumer gives it: Five belly-dancing Arab princesses out of five.
Holy schneikies. I have eaten here twice in person and many more through take out (via www.roomservice.pl). If you like, or even have an inkling that you might like middle eastern food, then you must eat here. Assuming you live in or travel to Warsaw.
Your middle eastern staples are here, and they are delicious (falafel, lamb, chicken, Lebanese-style rice). Their hummus is wonderful, particularly the hummus with meat. You can order mezzas (think Arab tapas), or just get an appetizer and a main dish. I have tried a wide range of things from this place and I can say with confidence that they are the kitten's mittens. Everything I have had from here has been delicious.
If you are in Warsaw, you must find this place at Al. Solidarnosci 61 in Praga, or order it to your house through roomservice.pl.
Warsaw Expat Consumer gives it: Five belly-dancing Arab princesses out of five.
Holy schneikies. I have eaten here twice in person and many more through take out (via www.roomservice.pl). If you like, or even have an inkling that you might like middle eastern food, then you must eat here. Assuming you live in or travel to Warsaw.
Your middle eastern staples are here, and they are delicious (falafel, lamb, chicken, Lebanese-style rice). Their hummus is wonderful, particularly the hummus with meat. You can order mezzas (think Arab tapas), or just get an appetizer and a main dish. I have tried a wide range of things from this place and I can say with confidence that they are the kitten's mittens. Everything I have had from here has been delicious.
If you are in Warsaw, you must find this place at Al. Solidarnosci 61 in Praga, or order it to your house through roomservice.pl.
Gruzinskie Chaczapuri
Who should go here: American expats wanting rude treatment and crappy food in Krakow.
Warsaw Expat Consumer gives it: one half lame imitation ethnic cuisine out of five.
Folks, I've been to Georgia. I've eaten Georgian food in Georgian homes and Georgian restaurants. This is not Georgian food. It is what some lame restauranteur came up with after reading a page ripped out of a Georgian cookbook and listening to fourth-hand stories about Georgian cuisine.
Their wine list contains Georgian wines from one of the largest Georgian wine exporters in existence. I can't recall the name at this point, but recognize the bottles from the pictures in their wine list because I've bought the same label in the United States. That is where the authenticity ends, and it ain't a helluva beginning because most Georgians drink home made stuff, not commercially produced. I reviewed the menu of this place in passing a few times (there are Gruzinskie Chaczapuri franchises like rabbit offspring in the old market area in Krakow). When sitting down making the actual decision on what to eat, the choice becomes no easier. My absolute favorite dish, Mtsvadi, was made a mockery of in the menu. I didn't bother; instead I ordered what sounded like Mtsvadi made with chicken instead of the pork it should be made with. My starchy accompaniment choices were french fries or rice, neither of which is a smash hit in Georgia. To spare you the details, the fries were passably good, the chicken skewer was over-spiced and not very good.
The best part was the rude waitress. I went to the Grodzka 3 location in Krakow. From the moment I arrived, the waitress thrust an English-language menu at me, was curt and rude to just the border of me having nothing reasonable to complain about, and spent as little time as humanly possible in my vicinity. An American couple, having cleared out while I was eating, was to the best of my knowledge made fun of as their waiter and my waitress cleared their table. I did not hear what they were saying, but their body language led me to believe they were making fun of them. When I was finished with my meal, and the waitress asked me about the bill, I said, "chcialbym zaplacic karta" (I'd like to pay with my card). To this point, she really hadn't given me an opportunity to speak Polish, and as a native English speaker, when I'm spoken to in English, I speak English in return. She appeared unpleasantly and embarrasedly (is that a word?) surprised. She remarked that she didn't know I spoke Polish and ("to fajna zabawa") what a fine pretense it was. Her demeanor implied that she felt busted about making fun of the couple. I felt vindicated. To that point, I had intended to apologize to her in Polish for being an American. I think she got the point, though. Oh, and I might add, this was (according to her nametag) head waitress Krystyna.
If you absolutely must, you can find this poop-hole at Grodzka 3, at the corner of Florianska. In Krakow old town. *spit*
Warsaw Expat Consumer gives it: one half lame imitation ethnic cuisine out of five.
Folks, I've been to Georgia. I've eaten Georgian food in Georgian homes and Georgian restaurants. This is not Georgian food. It is what some lame restauranteur came up with after reading a page ripped out of a Georgian cookbook and listening to fourth-hand stories about Georgian cuisine.
Their wine list contains Georgian wines from one of the largest Georgian wine exporters in existence. I can't recall the name at this point, but recognize the bottles from the pictures in their wine list because I've bought the same label in the United States. That is where the authenticity ends, and it ain't a helluva beginning because most Georgians drink home made stuff, not commercially produced. I reviewed the menu of this place in passing a few times (there are Gruzinskie Chaczapuri franchises like rabbit offspring in the old market area in Krakow). When sitting down making the actual decision on what to eat, the choice becomes no easier. My absolute favorite dish, Mtsvadi, was made a mockery of in the menu. I didn't bother; instead I ordered what sounded like Mtsvadi made with chicken instead of the pork it should be made with. My starchy accompaniment choices were french fries or rice, neither of which is a smash hit in Georgia. To spare you the details, the fries were passably good, the chicken skewer was over-spiced and not very good.
The best part was the rude waitress. I went to the Grodzka 3 location in Krakow. From the moment I arrived, the waitress thrust an English-language menu at me, was curt and rude to just the border of me having nothing reasonable to complain about, and spent as little time as humanly possible in my vicinity. An American couple, having cleared out while I was eating, was to the best of my knowledge made fun of as their waiter and my waitress cleared their table. I did not hear what they were saying, but their body language led me to believe they were making fun of them. When I was finished with my meal, and the waitress asked me about the bill, I said, "chcialbym zaplacic karta" (I'd like to pay with my card). To this point, she really hadn't given me an opportunity to speak Polish, and as a native English speaker, when I'm spoken to in English, I speak English in return. She appeared unpleasantly and embarrasedly (is that a word?) surprised. She remarked that she didn't know I spoke Polish and ("to fajna zabawa") what a fine pretense it was. Her demeanor implied that she felt busted about making fun of the couple. I felt vindicated. To that point, I had intended to apologize to her in Polish for being an American. I think she got the point, though. Oh, and I might add, this was (according to her nametag) head waitress Krystyna.
If you absolutely must, you can find this poop-hole at Grodzka 3, at the corner of Florianska. In Krakow old town. *spit*
Taco Mexicano
Who should go here: People who happen to be on the Krakow main market square, who are looking for decent, none-too-expensive eats.
Warsaw Expat Consumer gives it: three and a half tacos with no cabbage or sour pickles.
This is a place that is located in the heart of Krakow tourist country...the main market square. I was there today, the last day of June, and I sat outside. It was mid-afternoon, and I am not normally a big fan of outside tables. Flying napkins and insects, sun in your face while you're trying to eat...not my cup of sangria. I sat out to the south of the sukiennice "cloth hall" in a shady, breezy spot.
Despite the fact that it took a well-placed drinking glass to prevent my napkins from realizing their aviatory dreams, the 80-plus degree weather and shady-breezy location made for a perfect late lunch spot. I had the tortilla soup and grilled chicken burrito. The soup was truly good, cilantro and lime juice tastes giving it a much more authentic American-Mexican taste than I'm used to in Poland. The chicken burrito, while good in its own right, did not quite hit the target of authenticity (and when I use the word authenticity please bear in mind that I like Chevy's Fresh Mex). It did not contain any of the typical Polish dodatki like cabbage, pickles, or weird sauces. Forty Zlotys bought my lunch (at today's exchange rate roughly 13 bucks). I was happy when I left.
You can find Taco Mexicano next to the Wentzl hotel at Rynek Glowny 19 on the main market square in Krakow.
Warsaw Expat Consumer gives it: three and a half tacos with no cabbage or sour pickles.
This is a place that is located in the heart of Krakow tourist country...the main market square. I was there today, the last day of June, and I sat outside. It was mid-afternoon, and I am not normally a big fan of outside tables. Flying napkins and insects, sun in your face while you're trying to eat...not my cup of sangria. I sat out to the south of the sukiennice "cloth hall" in a shady, breezy spot.
Despite the fact that it took a well-placed drinking glass to prevent my napkins from realizing their aviatory dreams, the 80-plus degree weather and shady-breezy location made for a perfect late lunch spot. I had the tortilla soup and grilled chicken burrito. The soup was truly good, cilantro and lime juice tastes giving it a much more authentic American-Mexican taste than I'm used to in Poland. The chicken burrito, while good in its own right, did not quite hit the target of authenticity (and when I use the word authenticity please bear in mind that I like Chevy's Fresh Mex). It did not contain any of the typical Polish dodatki like cabbage, pickles, or weird sauces. Forty Zlotys bought my lunch (at today's exchange rate roughly 13 bucks). I was happy when I left.
You can find Taco Mexicano next to the Wentzl hotel at Rynek Glowny 19 on the main market square in Krakow.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Blue Cactus
Who should go here: those looking for a hearty meal with a few companions in a good atmosphere.
Warsaw Expat Consumer gives it: Three and a half prickly cacti. English spoken here.
The Blue Cactus is billed as 'American' cuisine. The names of the items on the menu are purely Tex-Mex, but the execution differs a bit from what you may be used to. That said, this eater found the nachos and chimichanga very edible and pretty enjoyable. Those stuck in Warsaw, desperate for a Mexican food miracle, can tide themselves over here. Expat consumer's lifetime companion described the fajitas as 'delicious'. The overall impression from the one (hopefully soon to be repeated visit) is that the food here is pretty good, the margaritas are 'great', and the beer selection ain't too shabby. Additionally, the BC offers cooking classes, kids parties, and has an attached bar/night club.
Find the Blue Cactus at their website www.bluecactus.pl.
Warsaw Expat Consumer gives it: Three and a half prickly cacti. English spoken here.
The Blue Cactus is billed as 'American' cuisine. The names of the items on the menu are purely Tex-Mex, but the execution differs a bit from what you may be used to. That said, this eater found the nachos and chimichanga very edible and pretty enjoyable. Those stuck in Warsaw, desperate for a Mexican food miracle, can tide themselves over here. Expat consumer's lifetime companion described the fajitas as 'delicious'. The overall impression from the one (hopefully soon to be repeated visit) is that the food here is pretty good, the margaritas are 'great', and the beer selection ain't too shabby. Additionally, the BC offers cooking classes, kids parties, and has an attached bar/night club.
Find the Blue Cactus at their website www.bluecactus.pl.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Warsaw Tortilla Factory
Who should go here: People in large groups looking for a party with no expectation of awesome Mexican food.
Warsaw Expat Consumer gives it: Three out of Five Sombreros. Se habla Ingles!
WTF, aside from being a well-recognized texting acronym, is also one of Warsaw's premiere party while eating spots. Mediocre Mexican food is served at group tables that have their own beer tap; once the tap is activated by the wait staff, patrons can tap their own as they like and monitor the cost of their beverages on the wall.
Food is okay. If you are looking for decent American-style Mexican, this is not the place. The food is definitely edible and even passingly good, it's just not quite what it should be. The tacos have very little vegetation; this eater likes the meat, but tacos just have to have some vegetables to add a little crispness. The mega-hot habanero mango salsa is...well, hot enough to kill a gringo, but not what the truly adventurous spicy eater is looking for. The waitress we had spoke excellent English.
I have no personal experience going here on Friday and Saturday nights, but have heard from others that it gets pretty wild. Second-hand reports state that Friday nights are pretty purple at WTF. Your humble narrator will report further if a Friday or Saturday night is experienced.
You can find the Warsaw Tortilla Factory at Ulica Wilcza 96, or visit their website at http://www.warsawtortillafactory.pl/.
Warsaw Expat Consumer gives it: Three out of Five Sombreros. Se habla Ingles!
WTF, aside from being a well-recognized texting acronym, is also one of Warsaw's premiere party while eating spots. Mediocre Mexican food is served at group tables that have their own beer tap; once the tap is activated by the wait staff, patrons can tap their own as they like and monitor the cost of their beverages on the wall.
Food is okay. If you are looking for decent American-style Mexican, this is not the place. The food is definitely edible and even passingly good, it's just not quite what it should be. The tacos have very little vegetation; this eater likes the meat, but tacos just have to have some vegetables to add a little crispness. The mega-hot habanero mango salsa is...well, hot enough to kill a gringo, but not what the truly adventurous spicy eater is looking for. The waitress we had spoke excellent English.
I have no personal experience going here on Friday and Saturday nights, but have heard from others that it gets pretty wild. Second-hand reports state that Friday nights are pretty purple at WTF. Your humble narrator will report further if a Friday or Saturday night is experienced.
You can find the Warsaw Tortilla Factory at Ulica Wilcza 96, or visit their website at http://www.warsawtortillafactory.pl/.
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