If you're ever feeling a little adventurous and wouldn't mind venturing out into Brooklyn for some good polish eats,try Karczma !! I've actually passed by this restaurant quite a few times, it is next to the "Victory Ford studio" where they shot NBC's Lipstick Jungle. I actually saw the restaurant sign appear in the show during the last episode. Anyways, on a saturday night I was out with a Polish client of mine that promised that he would take me to eat some good Polish food, and while I was secretly worried he was going to take me to some crazy expensive joint, we stopped in front of KARCZMA, which has an amazing selection of polish food with the price equivalent of grabbing Chinese in Chinatown. To start off I had the Karczma signature salad, which was something like 5 bucks. The salad consisted of a bunch of mixed greens with red peppers and creamy ranch-like dressing. Large portion and enough to serve two. With 5 dollars I was really expecting a dingy little sald on a tiny plate. The salad ending up being served in a relatively large salad bowl. For drinks I had a glass of Shiraz,which was a-ok.. Should have gone with the polish beer option instead since this place looks more like a pub joint anyways. Either way I wasn't complaining, since it was only a 5 dollar glass of wine. I was quite distracted with the wide selection from the menu. For starters, I had my eyes on multiple dishes: and the Assorted Plate satisfied all my cravings. It came with Stuffed Cabbage(yum),potato pancakes( my fave), Kielbasa(polish sausage), Pierogies( stuffed mushroom one was the best) and this stew that has cabbage and pulled pork. All for only 10 dollars !!! As for the main course I had the grilled trout. with french fries (10 dollars AGAIN !!!) It was a tad bit dry in my opinion since it was freshlly grilled. I would probably stick to the meat in future. OO and the blintzees dessert was 100 times better than this wanna-be dessert they had in Applebees. Blintzees is like a thin pancake wrapped with cottage cheese inside then deep fried to golden perfection. I can't wait to take my friends here. Whether you like polish food or is curious to try. this is a great place to start. Whether its the wooden floors,waitresses in their traditional polish dresses, traditional Polish folklore playing in the background just the vast majority of locals makes me feel lik i'm in Poland( I've actually never been) and the price range is so affordable that your wallet will be pleased when the check arrives read more

Invariably when mentioning the words "Poland" and "food" in the same sentence here in the United States, people will immediately say and think "pierogi." While these dumplings of potato or cheese or spinach are indeed delicious, there is also a more finely-tuned and in fact complex world of Polish cuisine. A good place to start sampling is one of Greenpoint's most prominent restaurants: Karczma. The only staff we interacted with was the woman who also served our table, and judging by her, this is one of the friendliest places in the city. Karczma is a way of describing a Polish country-style lodge accommodation, and the interiors are designed to suit. It all feels fun, and the food does not disappoint. Hefty appetizers in the $6 range preceed $8-10 mains. A good start is the Tatar Wolowy ($6.50, Steak tartar) and Szparagi z grilla zawiniete w szynce ($6, Grilled asparagus wrapped in Polish ham). It is almost impossible to come here in a group of more than one person and not order the "Plate of Polish Specialties" which has all the favorites including those pierogis and costs only $10. read more

Karczma - Polish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

First, the food here is amazing. I was pleased with everything I tried, which included the potatoes pancakes, perogies, Hunter bacon, and the kielbasa. I came here on a Saturday evening around 6 pm and put my name down for a group of 3. The wait for a table was about 45 minutes. From what I understand, this place is always busy. Going earlier is probably a good idea since it isn't all that large. The beers are huge and all the prices are super reasonable. We ended up sharing a few appetizers and left really stuffed. I'd definitely go again and maybe try one of the full entrees. They have tons of delicious-sounding options. The reason I'm giving 4 stars is because it seemed like we were waiting a bit longer than others for our food. I'm sure everything is made to order, which increases wait times. It didn't make for a bad experience, though; it just wasn't perfect. read more

Polish take out is Awesome! Grilled meat and hearty soups. The portions used to be bigger but that's ok we eat too much anyway so good to cut down a bit. Try the soup in a bed bowl, it's a whole Meal. read more

Ambiance: very polish inspired down to what the waitresses are wearing Service: you're not coming here for the amazing service because there won't be but their food makes up for it! Food: delicious polish dishes and draft beers. At a price that doesn't hurt the wallet you're getting quite generous portions too! All in all I'll be back if I ever venture into the area again l. read more

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This was my first time having Polish food and Karczma left me with a really great first impression of the cuisine. The decor and furniture are very rustic and make diners feel like they're at a restaurant in Poland, especially since the servers are dressed in Polish wear as well. I came here on a Thursday at around noon with my boyfriend and we were seated promptly since the restaurant had just opened for the day. We both opted for the lunch special which includes a soup and entree of your choice ($10.50, such a steal). I ordered the white borscht soup and the Polish kielbasa with hunter's stew. My boyfriend ordered the same soup and the stuffed cabbage with three pierogis. The soup came with mashed potatoes and both were amazing as promised -- this was the highlight of my meal! It's kind of like a chowder and the kielbasa added a nice smoky flavor to the sourness. The bacon chunks in the mashed potatoes were delicious and raised the bar for all bacon I'll ever eat in my life. The entrees came with bread and were great as well. The tomato-based hunter's stew was tangy and hearty with sauerkraut, mushrooms, onions, and meat. The stuffed cabbage was kind of like a pork meatball wrapped in cabbage. The fried pierogis were crispy and flavorful too. The portions here are so generous and hearty that we were both already full from just the soup and potatoes alone. The staff is very sweet and friendly too. Such an amazing spot for Polish food! I'll definitely be back. read more

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Ive heard about this place from many people but just never for around to going there. Finally did and was very happy. Not only is the food amazing its very inexpensive! There was 5 of us,we order 4 draft polish beers, and each got an entree. The total bill was only $95! Needless to say I will be back very soon. read more

Karczma - Polish Platter! Wooo! - Polish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Love this spot. Randomly stopped in for lunch while visiting from Chicago. Authentic Polish food - kielbasa, potato pancakes, stuffed cabbage, pierogi, salmon and a polish spring sandwich. AWESOME! And wash it down with a polish beer. Definitely recommend stopping in. read more

Great place, great food, love taking people here to try polish food. The food is well priced and going during the week is best! Sunday's are always packed. read more

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I've been here many times. This is my go to spot for comfort Polish food. Absolutely delicious. It's a home style restaurant very cozy and with fast friendly service. Everything is priced well and portions are HUGE. The spicy beef goulash, steak tartare, fried meat perogis, and white kielbasa sausage are favorites of mine. They also have delicious and huge soups in bread bowls which hit the spot come winter. Gets incredibly busy during Friday and Saturday night for dinner and turnover is slow as diners usually spend a whole chatting so come early or plan on waiting. read more

Karczma - Spicy beef goulash $13 huge portion and delicious - Polish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Amazing wait staff, food and atmosphere. This restaurant brought back so many memories of my grandparent's house. I would like to see a more authentic sausage though. The filling to the pierogi was so close to my grandfather's sausage recipe, I almost started to cry. Awesome restaurant!! read more

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My wife and I stopped in after finding that the restaurant we'd planned to go to wasn't open yet. We had to wait but I could tell it was going to be worth it. This is clearly an authentic place given most of the conversation is in Polish. The menu has lots of attractive options. I went with the red borscht soup and a sampler entree that had just about everything on it. My wife went with stuffed cabbage. Wow! The food was tasty and the portions were huge. We were stuffed and the bill only came to around $35. That was my first real Polish meal and while I'm unlikely to find anything else this good, I'm looking forward to having more. read more

Was always happy with food but waiting over 25 minutes for an order of chicken noodle soup and 2 orders of potato pancakes is just ridiculous, we ordered this to go at the end of our meal ! Waited forever , table next to us ordered after us and for their meal way before! What is up in that kitchen ??? read more

Yum! The perogies are delicious it reminded me of my babcis. The red barscht was also so so so so fresh and delicious.

Love this Polish joint up in Greenpoint! I hear sometimes they have a wait, but come here late and you won't have to wait. Chill vibe, tasty food, and great prices. Got an order of pierogis and potato pancakes for my din and it was more than enough to hold me over all night. Pancakes were dece, but the pierogis were like perfect little pillows. I've had a few dreams about these pierogis since. Is that weird? Friends got the meats for two and an entire bowl of potatoes. Absurd how much grub for only $30. Would def be back if I was looking for Polish! read more

I've only had polish food a few times, so I decided to order the Polish platter and try a variety of items. I thought everything was delicious! My review is only based on delivery. The kielbasa was delicious, I only wished the portion was a bit bigger. Stuffed cabbage was something I didn't know was missing in my life. I'm already saving recipes to try it at home. I would definitely like to come and try in person next time read more

This place is soooo good. I took a friend who doesn't typically like this type of food and they were even very impressed. The atmosphere is super cute. The food is delicious. Staff is efficient and polite. Good selection of drinks. And prices are super reasonable. Highly recommended! read more

My favorite polish spot in NY! I've been devouring polish food at Karczma for years and they NEVER disappoint. I always try a new dish knowing that whatever comes out of the kitchen will be delicious. I highly recommend the white borscht soup and fried pierogies to get your taste buds going. For your entree the polish platter is a great first-timer option. So far my favorites are the stuffed cabbage, grilled polish kielbasa and roasted hocks in beer. I cannot wait for my next visit so I can add another to the list! There is most likely going to be a wait so head to the bar and enjoy a polish beer while drooling over the dishes passing by. If the temptation is too much to handle you can always order some food right at the bar! Mouthwatering authentic polish food at a great price. read more

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This place is REALLY good, but you don't need me to tell you that. The lowest rating is 3. I've had quite a bit of their food, despite only being there twice. Most of the food is extremely flavorful. It is at worst average. The white borscht is amazing (it comes in bread, think about that for a second). Tripe (sp?) soup is also very good. The grilled platter for two is good for three, but, frankly, it's a pass, only because you can do better. The pork kebabs were amazing--the bacon was unbelievable. They have a REALLY good sausage dish, though I forget what it's called. The service is mediocre, and that's the only reason they get 4 stars. I had to ask for water. Besides that, you just don't get that "good service vibe" (I know there is a better way to describe it, leave me alone). Slight improvement would definitely bring the place up to 5 stars. Now, the price is what REALLY makes this place what it is. Frankly, I think most people could get full from the $3.50 white borscht. The most expensive entree is a $22 platter for TWO. Frankly, these are amazing prices for a restaurant in Brooklyn (imagine how much money is made from alcohol, to support such an establishment). The wines start at around $17 by THE BOTTLE. Admittedly, I haven't tried them. I traveled to try the place, so if you're in the neighborhood you should definitely be eating here. Maybe some people's taste buds are different? I doubt it (I'm not Polish, but I'm from the area and I generally don't approve of the food). Try it, you definitely won't regret it. read more

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Great food. Excellent prices. Authentic Polish evening. Friendly staff. Highly recommend

Ordered the sweet cheese blinzes (nalesniki) and they were awful. Greasy, dripping in cooking oil, farmer cheese and sugar wasn't even ran in food processor, it wasn't smooth. The "cream" is powder mix vanilla pudding (budyn). Terrible, terrible, and for $11 it's a joke. No fresh fruit, just some flour, egg, sugar and cheese. I would certainly not recommend this place! I can imagine everything else stinks of cooking oil and cheap ingredients. I think Pierozek restuarant has much superior nalesniki. read more

Karczma - Grease and strong cooking oil smell - Polish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

We were a large group, and so we separated into three (or was it four?) tables. The waitress was very patient with us about it though. I got the hunter's stew and the pickle soup, and the friend next to me got the plate of Polish stuff. There were three others that decided to share a plate of Polish stuff and also the grilled plate for two, in addition to the stuffed mushroom appetizer. In the end, there was so much food that two people came a little later to join our table and didn't even have to order. The pickle soup was sourly delicious. The taste wasn't too strong, it was just right. It was warming and I enjoyed it. I tried a bit of the stuffed mushroom and that was good also. The hunter's stew had what tasted like sauerkraut with meat in this red soupy sauce. I liked this as well, although there were other things I enjoyed more since I got to try a bit of everything. The stuffed cabbage in the plate of Polish stuff (not the official name of the dish by the way) was one of my favorites. It was so scrumptious that even though I was so full I still kept taking bits of it from friends. Both the beef and the chicken were cooked well in the grilled plate. The meats were juicy and tender. The fish was slightly overcooked, but otherwise flavored well. The blood sausage didn't particularly have a strong taste, although some people seemed scared of it. It just tasted like mushed up insides/meat to me. There was also a plate of sauerkraut, and me and one other person picked that plate clean. I also thought the potatoes were rather yummy. We shared three desserts between six to eight people. I can't quite remember what people ordered now, but I remember that the cheese crepe was very delicious. Overall I, and everybody else, ate a LOT. Most of it was very good, and we only paid like twenty bucks each. Delicious and good value, awesome! read more

My wife and I traveled to Greenpoint by public transportation after getting a couple recommendations from polish friends who go there regularly. We went there during lunch so there was no wait at all. I was told that there could have been a good wait if you were there during dinner time. The decor was rustic, almost giving you a feeling that you were sitting in a village restaurant. Our waitress was nice, but seemed busy. My wife ordered the lunch special. It was an order of kielbasa with hunter's stew. It came with a good sized bowl of white borscht and a side of mashed potatoes topped with pieces of thick bacon. The borscht had such depth of flavor. It was rich and creamy with the a very noticeable flavor of kielbasa and dill. It was our first time having it, and my wife and I both agree that it was very good. The little bits of bacon in the mashed potatoes were tasty and this side was a nice extra. I had opted for a main dish and got the plate of polish specialties. It had kielbasa, hunter's stew, stuffed cabbage, 3 pierogies, and 2 potato pancakes. The hunter's stew was good, but the kielbasa that came with it seemed like a much smaller piece, but then again, there was kielbasa in the hunter's stew as well. The kielbasa was much more dense that I expected. Compared to the other times I've had kielbasa, this had a texture more of a meatier sausage, maybe less fattier. Pierogies were good, but the potato pancakes were better. I thought they were on the smaller side and maybe next time will get a full order of them. The potato pancakes were fried to a golden color and were tasty. The best part of my plate was the stuffed cabbage. It was a whole cabbage, and the filling was very good. It was covered with a tomato sauce and was the first thing to be devoured by my wife and I. We also ordered, at the suggestion of one of my friends, the lard. It was a spread of tiny bits of kielbasa and...lard. Almost like a spread or pate. It was served with rye bread and small pickles. Interesting, but maybe not something I would have to have again. We finally got dessert which was a crepe filled with cheese and covered in strawberries. The crepe was good, but not so crazy about the cheese filling. Overall, we liked the place. The atmosphere was nice, the price for lunch and main dish were great. I would skip the dessert, and the lard. It was our first time there, and we'll be back. Would probably go with the stuffed cabbage, an order of kielbasa, potato pancakes and a full order of pierogies on the side since I thought they were a bit small. Great place and even greater neighborhood to walk off the meal. read more

Karczma - Polish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My boyfriend is Polish and he hasn't been to Greenpoint yet so I've been meaning to take him here. My regular place was closed by the time we got there so we decided to come try Karczma instead as I've heard good things. Came here late on a weekend and waited about 10 minutes for a table for 2. They gave us some traditional bread for the table and we started with a Pickle Soup and a Tripe Soup. The bf was craving Pickle Soup since coming to NYC and agreed they make a delicious one just like home. The Tripe Soup was full of tripe and heavily spiced in flavor. The soups were rich and satisfying; perfect after coming in from the cold. I had the Grilled Pork Chop with Mushrooms and it was a very large thick heavy cut of pork. They came with roasted potatoes served with some spices sprinkled on top and a bowl of creamy cucumber salad. It was grilled perfectly; the juicy meat paired well with the flavorful mushrooms on top. Of course he got the Polish Platter and the portions did not disappoint - He couldn't even finish it. It contained Pierogis, Kielbasa, Potato Pancakes, Hunter's Stew, and Stuffed Cabbage. He raved about the Galumpkis which I had to Google to find out he was talking about the Stuffed Cabbage afterwards. :) He noted that the Polish food here uses a bit more spices than he was used to grandma making and it was probably a regional difference. Overall, it was delicious and we left stuffed and satisfied. Would definitely need to come by again and try some other specialties on the menu. read more

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Your first impression of this place is definitely something along the lines of whoa! where am I? The decor is spot on (but tbh, I'm not sure what poland looks like) but I know it doesn't scream hipster Brooklyn or upscale Manhattan. I liked how there's so much space.. you'll know what I mean when you come here. Given all the positive reviews, I had to try the white borscht soup in bread bowl. At $5.50 and coming with a side of mashed potatoes, it's definitely worth trying. It tastes like a slightly sour (in a good way) loaded potato soup. Even after sharing the bowl, I was pretty satiated.. but 2 more entrees to go. My friend and I (Polish food no0bs if I say so myself) decided to split the Polish specialty platter and beef goulash. The platter wasn't anything special. It just depends on your taste.. The sausage was average and so were the pierogies. I liked the stuffed cabbage... but not a huge fan of the hunter's stew. Beef goulash was probably better than the platter. Humongous portions I can't see anyone finishing and it was served over potato pancakes that were delicious. Since beer was $6 for a giant mug, we couldn't resist of course. Not knowing what Polish beer tasted like at all, we went to the bar and they were kind enough to serve us some samples. Everything tasted the same and I wasn't quite the fan since it seemed kinda bland to me (I"m an IPA and belgian ale lover). Nevertheless, we each got a beer to go with our food. Definitely drop by for an authentic experience, but I'm not sure I would come out of my way again. TIP: They have wifi here, so take advantage if you're unable to get service inside the restaurant like me. The password is their phone number. read more

Karczma - Beef goulash and polish platter - Polish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I came here because my original spot was way too crowded and we were going to have to wait forever to get a seat. We were dying of starvation so I had to get on Yelp and find a place nearby that had polish food since we were in the mood for that. Found this place on Yelp and it had great reviews, so off we went to try it. It was on a side street with not a lot of traffic and so much parking, which was amazing! The hostess and staff were very friendly and the food was absolutely authentic polish food! I loved it and honestly, we had a great time. We stuffed our faces like kings and when the bill came, it was so cheap I thought they made a mistake in the cheque. LoL I def. recommend to try it out if you're in the mood for some good polish home cooking read more

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good polish food and good service the food had great flavor and the waitress had good hospitality

Loved the old school bar feeling here, lots of locals coming in to get lunch and people sitting at the bar. Sit at one of the great wooden booths. Lots of excellent beer choices and I had what I always do...potato pancakes...mmmm...these rank high on my list so will post a photo. read more

Karczma - Super yummy potato pancakes mmmm! - Polish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I've been going to Karczma about ten years on and off with the food being quite good. However the last two times over a three month period the food has gone downhill. The kielbasa, pierogis and potato pancakes tasted like it was prepared hours ago and reheated in a microwave or sitting under a heated lamp. Very disappointing! I'm done! read more

Consistently good Polish comfort food. Never disappoints, and is always an enjoyable and relaxing time. The prices for the amount of food you get are also incredible, especially for New York City. The one complaint I have is that they do not take reservations so I have had to leave my name with the hostess and wait at least 30 minutes every time I've gone. Highly recommend the plate of polish specialties, pierogies, smoked highlander cheese, and any of the soups. read more

I wish I wrote this review earlier so I could remember all the delicious things we tried, but honestly this place was awesome. We did delivery and ordered a mix of meals and appetizers. I remember loving the beets and carrots side. The carrots had this amazing horseradish kick to them. So good. Also had the polish kielbasa and onions- delicious. Finally we had one of the mixed plates with pierogies which also had such a great mix of things. Really happy with our experience! read more

Taken by my Polish friend, it's authentic Polish food! The restaurant was packed on a Saturday night and we had to wait a bit. All the waitresses there were wearing Polish traditional dresses and place was filled with Polish music. We had some Polish beer, many different kinds of food and a great time! We tried Peasant style lard and spices. It sounded strange but not bad. The grilled bacon slabs are nice. It's kind of like ham, not as salty compared to the American bacon, The potato pancakes and Pierogis were nice and soft inside but crispy on the outside, I liked it better than the deli versions. The stew type of dishes like the Hunter's stew and Goulash were excellent. The meat was tender and flavorful. Overall the portion is big, the service is friendly, price is very reasonable. I sense it's a neighborhood place as most of the clienteles seemed local and many spoke Polish as well. read more

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Great variety! Consistently good quality!! Excellent pricing!!! But, come early because in the evening it gets busy-on average 30mins to 40mins wait time for a table. My second time here and certainly not my last! Enjoy! read more

Karczma - Blood sausage - Polish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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This is probably the best polish food left in the greenpoint area , first thing that catches your eye in this place is the decor , outstanding effort and work put into the decor of this restaurant. Love the lunch special cannot beat a soup and a meal for 11 bucks , don't forget the beer . Food is 8/10 as a polish person , it's not 10/10 but it's close as authentic as your gonna get in a restaurant so good give them credit they do really try hard and the waitress's are great . I will be back but not for a few months have to let my appetite for polish food build up again after such a huge meal . IF YIU GO YOU MUST TRY THE DOUBLE SMOKED BACCONNNNNNN read more

Absolutely amazing if you want authentic polish food,great service and cozy atmosphere, makes you feel like you are in the village somewhere in the beautiful European mountains and you just stumbled upon this gem,great selection of different styles of food,both northern and southern part of Poland mixed in together with a touch of a goddess, very impressed and deff will be going back,highly recommended for that heavenly feel of Europe and exceptional customer service read more

I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed the food, it it very good polish food, however my main point is going to be the value. For 11.50 for a lunch portion, I got more food than I could finish. I ordered Pierogi as an appetizer because I was really hungry, and thought a lunch portion might to too little. I got a large bowl of pickle soup with my lunch, and I left half a half the plate of pork cutlet I ordered untouched. Come here to eat, and be ready to really eat. I love this place, and will be back if I'm ever in the neighborhood. read more

The food was excellent, very good quality and the perogies were delicious. The pork-chops were very tasty as well. The service was great as well fast moving and always check up on the customers. The ambiance was great as well. read more

I've been going here for a few years, and the service as well as the friendliness of the staff has improved over the years. Anything you order is delicious. This is my go to place for dinners with my Polish family, as well as bringing my American friends to try something authentic that isn't out of my fridge. The servers wear cute little traditional outfits and the general decor of the place is old school Polish. read more

It's hard to satisfy both Polish-born clients and Americans who are just curious about Polish cuisine. Karczma is trying to remain honest with its food, not to Americanize traditional Polish recipes, but at the same time to keep the standards New Yorkers are used to. If you are Polish and you feel nostalgic you can come here, order in Polish and get a fine meal that tastes almost like home. But you can also bring your US-born friends and encourage them to taste soups such as żurek, barszcz or grzybowa (mushroom soup). Oh, yes, they have pierogi, but that's just too easy - go with something more sophisticated. read more

Karczma - Veal ragout with potato dumplings (kopytka) - Polish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

As soon as I walked in to get my nails polished, I realized I had made a bad mistake and this place was probably more of a restaurant than the salon I was looking for. Never one to turn away from a good adventure, I sat down anyway to try out some food. The previous sentences are not true, besides sitting down to try out some food, FYI. We started with two appetizers: goulash soup, which was tiny but also excellent, and pirogues (sp?) which were delicious and if you've ever had fake pirogues, this is what they're actually supposed to taste like apparently. High recommendations. Then we got the goulash for dinner and it was awesome and I also said "hearty" about 40 times. It was delightful. Filling food is good food, and those Eastern Europeans know how to keep themselves filled. We also got the Polish specialty plate, which had everything I never knew I wanted to try and was fantastic. If you want to get your nails polished, stay away. If you want to get your Polish food, go here! read more