I enjoyed my meal here very much! Couldn't decide between the roast 1/4 of duck or breaded pork…read moretenderloin so I had the combo meal! The pork was crispy, thin and delicious! Not sure what happened with other experiences because for us, the gravy was great! It was tasty and thick enough but definitely not gloppy. I was told the dumplings are homemade and you can tell! So light and fluffy! I didn't have the sauerkraut but instead had the cucumber salad. This was not a creamy salad as I'm used to but a light, sweet with just enough sour vinaigrette type sauce it was delightful! My friend had a similar meal but with no duck. She loved it. We started out with superb liver-dumpling soup and finished with a perfect and homemade kolacky! Washed it all down with a tasty Czech beer. It was a wonderful meal. I cannot forget out knowledgeable and doting server, Agnes. The busboy was around every few minutes to clear spent plates and drinks. In other words, service was top-notch. The ambiance is a perfect mix of old-world kitsch and 70's supper club. It was clean and inviting. The bar is an old, 70's winding island of a bar that welcomes customers with comfy, cushioned stools. I even walked out with my very own, "Last of The Bohemians" t-shirts! Perfect night.

Awesome old school classic Bohemian food! Breaded Pork Tenderloin, dumplings, sauerkraut, etc…read more Fantastic!! Attentive, friendly staff. Five stars!!

Wow! For a small restaurant, there was a lot of great food. The server was really attentive. He had…read morea lot of tables but checked on me often. I even got good for my picky eater. I got chicken schnitzel and he got Wiener schnitzel. We'll have food for tomorrow, too! Yay!! Music and conversations are in the background, but it's still easy to talk and hear whomever wants to talk.

We found this restaurant by accident and are so glad we did. The food is phenomenal and so much of…read moreit! We started with a bowl, not a cup of Beef Goulash. It was a meal in itself. I brought the remainder home and we ate it twice. Delicious. Moved on to the Breaded Pork Chops with Bread Dumplings and Cucumber Salad made with vinegar and it too was delicious. Again brought a bunch home with extra gravy and had another 2 meals. SIL also had a stuffed cabbage and loved it! You also get a dessert to finish the meal. Cannot say enough good things about the food. Also service was outstanding and the place is cozy and clean. If you like Ethnic Eastern European cuisine this is the place to try!

The Czech roast beef was rich in flavor, but the beef by itself was a little dry. However, the…read moresauce made the beef taste better. The Czech bacon bread dumplings perfectly complements the dish since it helps soak the sauce and enhances the dish. The complimentary bread with pate was delicious though. The server was attentive since they paid close attention to customers and made sure the glasses of water were never empty for long periods of time.

If you looking for fresh beer and delicious food this is the place…read more From deer mushroom goulash to roasted rabbit and amazing grass fed beef burgers soups everything you can wish for fish as well best place around hands down !!! Staff is 5 stars ! Trust me

The food was really good. It hit the spot. Both types of sausage really resonated with me. The…read morestuffed cabbage rolls were really good. Mashed potatoes, gravy. I didn't really have much of the salad bar with coleslaw and whatnot. It looked decent. The bread is on the top of one of the sections. A couple of people I was with missed those pieces of bread, but I'm glad they said something because we were able to point them to it. The chicken, the sauerkraut, the pierogies were all good. We had the lunch menu, so it's a little bit different than the dinner menu, but everything was tasty and tasted fresh. The desserts were absolutely out of this world. I didn't know what everything was. I asked my waitress or server, who was picking up our plates and whatnot, and she told me. I have to say it was a revelation to know that they actually make all of their desserts as well. Absolutely fantastic. Good flavor. Our server was really excellent. I'm sorry I didn't get her name. She gave us some good information about meat pierogies being available or other types of pierogies if they're not on the lunch bar, which was really cool. For a lot of people, the place may be a little difficult to get into with a walk and whatnot. I wasn't really aware of all the entrances, but one thing to note is it is on the more dimly lit side. Not so much so as to be annoying, it actually sets a nice vibe. I absolutely love that the staff has a sign up there to discourage unattended children from running rampant by the food bar, which I think is very fair and nicely stated. That made me feel good, too, that we had quality control in effect versus other cafes that I've been to where I know the places try, but they don't do a really good job of monitoring the situation. No such issue with Sawa. They did a great job on that front. One issue I did have was with the bathroom. It seemed like a stall. The door opens up really wide into the area where we've been washing our hands, but everything was well maintained and well kept. That made me feel good. Overall, I will say I enjoyed the experience, and I'm looking forward to going back. I specifically want to check out the dinner options because I really enjoyed the lunch, but I want to try out a few other things that they have for the dinner menu. My pictures did not turn out with the lighting, so I'm not going to post them, but needless to say, the food was very good, and I'm definitely looking forward to going back, as I mentioned. The service was excellent, and I think the price was pretty fair for all the food I just ate, so I was definitely pleased.

17th and Cermak Rd has been part of my extended neighborhood for over 70 years, and I've driven…read morepast Sawa's here for all that time. Never stopped in. My dumb ass. Then again, the place is in a magnificent sort of decay (on the outside). Remove the cars in the lot, the steady stream of patrons, and the electricity to the signs and you'd swear the joint had been closed for awhile. Zero curb appeal. Yeah, that's what I'm blaming it on. Step inside, and as they say, it's a different bowl of Czarnina. It's OLD old school for sure, and, at least for me, that's a rousing and quite affirmative sign that good eats may be in store. And they were. The nearby Berwyn/Cicero neighborhoods were heavily Czech, and we all grew up eating that hearty, stick-to-your-ribs, pork-laden cuisine. A similar thread runs through German and Polish menus. Swap out the recipes for side dishes, and you're still in the same universe. My ancestry has Polish and German (along with the Italian and Jewish) components, so a lot of this food is familiar, much of it cooked by my Grandmothers; so I went in with a basic knowledge and expectation of the cuisine. Sawa's bills itself as a "Smorgasbord", which was a term still in wide use 60 or so years ago when Sawa's was established; it's a Danish word for "buffet". Back in the day, a resto yclept as such was considered "exotic", even when the fare presented therein was anything but. That Sawa's kept that describer is further evidence of OLD OLD school. (See my words about "old school" above.) Still, Never stopped in. My dumb ass. Inside, it's a bustling, warm and inviting room, if it were German, one would describe it as "gemutlich"-meaning very "home-like". The staff is very personable and cheerful. Some of the tables and chairs have seen better days, but they're all clean. The "Smorgasbord" doesn't have a HUGE selection, but what's there is very good. There's a salad station, de rigueur; which I passed over in favor of the selection of Polish Zakuski: cold appetizing bits like bean salad, pasta salad, cucumbers, etc.. I took a little bit of everything, all great! There were a few soups, but I made a beeline for the Mushroom Soup. I could have had 3 bowls of that with a few of the zakuski, a beer and call it a day! I can't remember what the other soups were- I wasn't interested once I saw "mushroom". Main course offerings included 2 types of Polish sausage-smoked and fresh. You KNOW those were yum! Gołąbki (pronounced go-WUUM-kee) or: Stuffed Cabbage in tomatoe sauce were proper. Pierogis of several different types, all, again delicious. Blintzes, Pork ribs, GREAT kraut, and Haluski, a cabbage/noodle dish my Polish grandmother used to make, which I have not had in almost 50 years. Almost got misty-eyed for this one. There were two anomalies: Fried chicken, which was terrific, And the only sort-of miss on the carte: roast beef which reminded me of Italian Beef, but not quite as highly spiced. Not bad, but not exactly something I'd order (or expect) in a Polish resto. I was there at the end of the Lunch service and saw the stuff they were bringing out for Dinner, including a rockin' big hunk of Roast Pork and a beautiful Whole Ham. The desserts offered were Polish-style Kolackys, very good! And a selection of petit-four type things. There was a ring-shaped dark cookie that was interesting. Close to a gingerbread, but not so ginger-y. Know going into it, Polish baked desserts are apparently not extremely sweet. Decent with coffee, but if you're looking for a sugar punch at the end of your meal, see if they have some non-savory blintzes on the board. There IS soft-serve ice cream available for a more traditional finale. The onliest disappointment was the bread, perched on top of the trad salad cart. It seemed like an afterthought. Even shmeared with butter, it tasted a bit stale and tired. A shame, 'cos good Polish Rye is a thing of beauty and a joy forever. An altogether gentle and most satisfying feed. I wish I had ordered a beer, which would have complimented the cuisine admirably; but didn't 'cos its a long drive home to Stately Breakwind Manor from deepest Broadview. Got to stay in the lane, you know. A Solid 4 stars. I'll be back for Dinner shortly, where I expect that 5th star will be added. Even sweeter 'cos the price is so reasonable. Why did I wait so long to dine at this EXCELLENT Smorgasbord? My dumb ass...

Walked into the restaurant for the very first time-arrived 30 minutes after their open time - no…read moreother customers except for me- woman behind the bar looked at me...no hello, welcome to Skadarliya - nothing - after that she turned her back to me. A man came from around the corner -not sure if he was mesmerized by my beauty but he stared and said nothing! Finally I asked "do you have to wait to be seated?" Finally opened his mouth and said - "someone will come and seat you" - waited for about 30 seconds - my spidey senses said leave so I did- maybe just an off day????? Good food? Not sure but customer service needs work!

Great food and friendly staff. They were very helpful with the questions I had as a vegetarian and…read morehelped me navigate the menu as it's been about 10 years since I was in Serbia, Croatia, and the surrounding area.

Staropolska is a gem! The menu is affordable, the food is great and street parking was easily…read moreaffordable. We made a reservation as we were a group of 5 and it was not an issue, but it could be on a weekend. There was only one server, but she was on top of her game. The restaurant is European, so it's not designed to be the American rush to eat. We started with potato pierogi to share. They were so amazing! My entree was stuffed chick with dumplings and a lovely cucumber salad. Very good, decent portion. The only detractor could be the restroom which is down a flight of stairs, and could be a challenge for anyone with mobility issues. Def worth checking out.

Chicago reportedly has a large Polish immigrant population, so I tried Polish food here for the…read morefirst time. It was quite unique and commendable. Sour Rye Soup: Not bad, but honestly, I wouldn't order it again... the fermented sourness was just too direct and intense. Polish Hunters Stew: Apparently a national dish of Poland. The first bite tasted like Italian meat sauce, with a rich tomato flavor and a slight smoky aroma; then I discovered the ingredients included sausage, cured beef brisket, minced meat, and sauerkraut, making it quite substantial and much more satisfying than Italian meat sauce. Overall, it was a rich, sweet and sour flavor, perfect with rice, pasta, or bread. Sauerkraut & Mushroom Pierogi: Dumplings, but the Polish version. The sauerkraut was only slightly sour, refreshing and delicious with the mushrooms, while the sour cream added a touch of creaminess and richness. Unfortunately, the skin was thick and sticky, as if it had been boiled for a long time. For better dumplings skin, please turn to a Northeastern Chinese. Half Duck: Strangely, it reminded me of confit de canard. The meat was incredibly tender, falling off the bone with a gentle pull; the melt-in-your-mouth texture was truly delightful. The cranberry sauce was perfectly balanced between sweet and sour, with a rich fruity and fermented aroma. The rosemary emerged in the aftertaste, enriching the flavors and cutting through the richness. The accompanying sauerkraut was even better than the duck, with a crunchy texture and a mild, pleasant sourness, enveloped in a rich buttery and creamy flavor. The accompanying fpotatoes were also soft and delicious, but the roasted pear was too overpowering in its softness and sweetness, not meeting my expectations for a palate cleanser. Table Bread: The bread itself was unremarkable, but the generous amount of butter was commendable. I cannot believe that there is only one server for all the tables.

The food was amazing. I got the European plate and my mom got the perogis. All very delicious…read more Wonderful service, fast and helpful. We went on Sunday evening, there was a live and fun polish band. Can't wait to go back!

Came here for Mother's Day and it was busy! Parking is a bit difficult but we were lucky to get…read morestreet parking. We were seated pretty quickly in the main area but the servers let us know that food takes awhile since everything is made to order so it's best to place the whole order asap. Overall the vibes were good. I enjoyed the rosol and the homemade pierogi (we had the potato cheese and kraut and mushroom). Everyone was also a fan of the potato pancakes, they had a nice crispy edge to them. I split the golonko (pork shank) with my brother, it had great flavor and the meat was super tender and juicy. Also it was a very large portion. The Divoli was also juicy but I feel like could have used more seasoning on that as well as on the kluski. My sister's fiancée got the ribs and really enjoyed them.

Edelweiss was a great German restaurant. My husband and I both order the Wienerschnitzel with…read morespaetzle and the German potatoes. This came with a cup of split pea soup. We started with an enormous pretzel with yummy cheese and mustard dips. All of the food was as absolutely delicious and nice big portions. I think we could have shared one plate but maybe next time. We were too full to get one of their very appealing desserts. Our server, Elizabeth, provided excellent service as she was friendly and very attentive It was a pleasure and we will be back when we come back to town. Thank you for the great experience. Danke schön

We visited this restaurant after a wake nearby and enjoyed the bar atmosphere and pub grub. The…read moreAlpine Thunder band were playing on Sunday and added to a festive atmosphere. The good: The pretzel was amazing, hot and buttery, salty and soft. It's presented on a hanging wire and was at least two feet high. The cheese curds were light and cheesy and beers were everything you'd expect from a German restaurant (including a 2 liter boot of Spaten). People we were with enjoyed the cabbage soup and potato pancakes. The not so good: The jaegerschnizel pork meal was not good, it was hard and unflavorful (I've been to Oktoberfest in Munich where they fed 3000 people and it tasted better). The spaezel and red cabbage were good sides but a bit on the small side. We sat in the bar and service was fine, a bit slow but friendly. The final bill was not exorbitant for the amount of food and beer we had.

Laschet's Inn in Chicago is probably the best and most authentic German food I've found in the…read moreMidwest and I say that having lived in Germany for seven years and dining out there often. Finding good German food that hasn't been Americanized is difficult and few places actually serve German cuisine like it is in Germany with their high food quality over there. So I ordered the daily special that was Jägerschnitzel (hunter's schnizel/breaded pork tenderloin with a mushroom gravy or sauce) and for an appetizer I ordered jalapeño poppers along with the authentic German goulash soup and pumpernickel bread were very good. The Jägerschnitzel sauce that is a mushroom sauce was a little unique but very good. I especially liked the spatzle noodles and the red cabbage (rotkohl) and it's just like I would get in Germany so I loved both side dishes a lot. Cool, old-timey feel to the restaurant and the service is impeccable as well. I left full and was sorry I didn't have room for the strudel they make in house, maybe next time!

What a cool and charming place. The bartender is cool and the customers are as well…read more Saw a half chicken dish that looked amazing. This place is cool and funky. Come check it out.

Great variety of frozen pierogies of all types cheese meat, fruits, cheese, blintzes, excellent…read moreselection, very clean excellent business the product is superior quality. I boil the pierogies and water and brown them in a pan a little bit with some butter and some chives or green onion and they never disappoint. They always hit the spot.

They sell pirogies and blintzes . The pirogies are absolutely delicious! .,)They have I'll name a…read morefew Meat 5 Kraut & mushroom . Cabbage , and so many more . It's a definitely a must try