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.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
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.
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