In one word: "FABULOUS!" This is a very special ethnic Polish restaurant with a cook who has very spectacularly hacked the Polish cuisine with some radically different, very modern recipes and tastes. Lotsa meats, lamb, goose, wild boar and yet nothing really heavy or overwhelmingly filling. We were seated at 6 and they had already sold out of sturgeon so we settled for the rainbow trout which I have pictured here. It was stupendous! Simple, elegantly presented and cooked to perfection to retain the moist non-gamey flavor. The service was chatty, knowledgeable, humorous at the right moments and attentive to our needs. We finished with the baked plums which should never be missed. We cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough! It was the the perfect place for us to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary! read more

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The most fantastic authentic Polish meal you can find! Everything is delicious - especially the pierogis, goulash, potato cakes and broccoli salad. You can honestly feel the love they put into each meal they create. Highly recommend! read more

I finally made it to Qulinarnia (months ago, I'm a bit late on this review)! And boy, did it live up to the expectations. I tell people I'm Polish (as in, pure-bred, Polish citizen) and 94% of the time the reaction is, "OMG! I love pierogies! Kolachkies! Yum!" No. Stop that. First of all, it's pierogi. The singular version is simply pierog. And no, I don't eat them all the time because the only good ones are homemade and making pierogi from scratch is an all day affair. Also, I think I've had like three of those pastries during the course of my life. Last spring I had the idea of opening a full-service, slightly upscale modern Polish restaurant downtown Chicago (not that I had the capital to actually do so). I was told it wouldn't work. A few months later Qulinarnia opened with stunning reviews. I am now kicking myself. The space is small, but clean and well designed with a modern and simplistic red/white theme. There's only about seven four-top tables and a couple of two-tops. Even in the mid-afternoon the hostess had to turn people away who didn't have reservations. Make a reservation! Okay. Time for the best part. The food. We started with the house appetizer, which is a traditional pate, served with bread and - what - a homemade applesauce? I had my hesitations about adding the sweetness to my beloved pasztet, but it was great. My father and I also split the beef tenderloin tartar (pickle, red onion, blue cheese, roasted capers, an an egg yolk on top), which was slightly oversalted but nonetheless amazing and impeccably presented. Every single plate that came out of that kitchen looked like it was arranged by a high-end, Michelin-winning chef. My father and I both had mushroom soup, my mother had pickle soup. A+ there. For our entrees, I had fish, my father had a beef dish, and my mother ordered the duck. I regret waiting so long to finish this review because my memory is beginning to fail me, but just trust me on this, okay? The food was remarkable. The apple pie my mother had for dessert was, according to her, the best apple pie she's ever had, which is saying a lot. I devoured my cheesecake. The three of us spent just over $100 (excluding) for a feast of a lunch - four courses AND beer AND after-lunch coffee. Underpriced, but hey, I'm not complaining. This place is well worth a visit. read more

Qulinarnia - Polish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

Fresh Polish food at great prices! Came here for a late lunch with a party of four and we were seated immediately - usually reservations are necessary. It's a small clean shop, the food came out slowly so I'd budget a bit of time for coming here. Everyone's dishes looked amazing. I got the sour soup, broiled cod (seasonal), and the baked plum. The soup was a little sour for my liking but it came in a big bowl and there was a quail egg. I really liked my cod. It was flavored simply with white pepper and salt but the fish was very fresh and I liked the wild rice medley beneath it. The baked plum took a while to make but it was a very refreshing dessert. Not too heavy, tart, and you can definitely taste the red wine flavor. Will definitely come back! read more

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Very nice and caring services. The food was as they described- "old and modern" kitchen,very nice tasty new polish plate twist and the most impressing was the food presentation. The price little on the hight side but I think for the quality its worth it. Ambience was ok nothing special but over all I would definitely come back and highly recommend for all. read more

Qulinarnia - Pieczarkowa - Polish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

I've never had polish food at a restaurant before, and I was excited to see this place! The outside is unassuming, but the food here is really good. My boyfriend and I had the lamb, mushroom soup, and lobster pierogis. The lamb was SO tender and filling. It came with barley, beets, a creamy mushroom side, and fried kale. The mushroom soup was good as well and had so much natural savoriness without being too heavy. The lobster pierogis were okay in my opinion. They weren't as flavorful as the other dishes, but still tasted pretty fresh. I highly recommend going here! read more

Qulinarnia - Lobster and spinach pierogi - Polish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

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You will need a reservation! Call and leave a message. Everyone was very friendly. The place is small and fills up quickly. Authentic Polish food and food was beautifully presented and quite delicious. Price of was reasonable and I brought back a doggy bag. Will definitely go back again! read more

Qulinarnia - Chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, Brussel sprouts, mozzarella cheese, carrots and micro greens - Polish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

We went for Sunday lunch. Had the Polish Platter which gave us a sample of all the favorites: potato pancake, perogis, cabbage roll and smoked sausage and sauerkraut. Everything was delicious. Would highly recommend. It is a BYOB restaurant, they provided glasses and a corkscrew but no extra charge for this. read more

Amazing. The food is just incredible!!! Especially the lobster and spinach pierogies and the fig dessert. Can't wait to go back!!

What a delight! It was my first time eating at a polish restaurant and the experience was great. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The food was reasonably priced. We ordered two apps and two main meals. The portion was large and you will definitely have some food to take home. The only thing they don't have at the moment is a drink menu. It would be nice to enjoy a cocktail with the amazing food but other than that everything was great. We will definitely come back. read more

Qulinarnia is neither a traditional nor stereotypical ethnic restaurant. The decor is simple modern without obvious cues to any nationality. The menu (in English with Polish translation) is expansive and decidedly upscale. And the food is a mix of old-school Polish with modern twists and bold innovation. The diminutive restaurant seats maybe 22. On our weekday lunch visit, it was staffed by just one server and two chefs. While they did not dilly-dally, everything is cooked to order, so it can take a long time for food to appear. A few in our party waited as long as 45 minutes for their entrees. There is no bread service, so if you're really hungry, my advice is to order a starter course. We found the rich, hearty chicken noodle soup satisfying. For families with fidgety toddlers, a nice touch is a bookshelf stocked with toys and children's books. Our patience was rewarded by the size, presentation, and high quality of the entrees. The breaded pork chop far surpassed the pork wienerschnitzel we've had at most local German eateries. Priced just $14 at lunch, this comes with your choice of two sides. Even though potato pancakes are not listed as a side, our server said we could order those. The kitchen delivered not one but two gargantuan pancakes per portion. Others in our group enjoyed the French (not Polish?) baguette, roasted lobster (!) & spinach pierogi, and salmon filet. Dessert? Whoa! Next time. read more

The food and the service at Qulinarnia were both excellent. I grew up eating eastern european food and I can tell you the dumplings (the "Polish plate" sampler), goulash, and potato pancakes are authentic and first-rate. Don't miss the pickle soup. Everyone in our party of six was impressed with their dinner. The decor is simple and surprisingly elegant for this location in a modest suburban strip mall. read more

Qulinarnia - Pickle soup - Polish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

I visited this restaurant last evening. The food was delicious. I had a piece of salmon that was served with asparagus and mashed potatoes. I asked if I could substitute the mashed potatoes for something else but they didn't quite understand that I meant I did not want the mashed potatoes on my plate. No big deal the potato pancake was very very good. Two drawbacks about this restaurant Drawback number one was the fact that they close at 7:30. What kind of time is that to close on a Saturday night? That's the time I usually like to eat! Drawback number two was no alcohol. I like to at least have a glass of wine with my dinner. I did not ask if you could bring your own but if I go there again I would ask The tables were placed very comfortably and I had no problem eating there. The service was very good and the servers were very helpful. I would definitely go back with a bottle of wine! read more

We ordered for delivery (May 2020). We had Polish Platter & Salmon Fillet. Their food is great & very filling! This was our first Polish food experience, we highly recommend this place! read more

Qulinarnia - delivery- Polish Platter. very filling & good! - Polish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

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Came here on the first night of the new menu, so I'm sure it will only get better. Pretty much everything tasted really good (not sure about the sauerkraut soup).with inventive flavor combinations. Food presentation is fantastic. Staff is very friendly. Highly recommended. read more

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A really nice service and Delicious food and I recommendation this little place. Really nice employees. A little bit tiny but nice;) read more

Qulinarnia - Polish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

I will definitely come back to this restaurant Very quaint. The service was great and the food too! We had a combination plate and everything was wonderful I loved the mushroom soup. Dessert as good Had the plums with ice cream. Just perfect. read more

Such a great modern Polish restaurant. I loved the contemporary decor. We were greeted in seconds by a lovely young lady. We started off with Potato Pancakes for an appetizer then I had the Grilled Steal Pork Butt with Grilled Onions and Tomatoes. With sides of Baby Potatoes and Mushrooms. My sister ordered Old Fashioned Pork with Mashed Potatoes and Baked Beets. Our meal was so tasty and delicious. Not to mention it beautifully plated. Needless to say we will definitely will be coming back with the entire family. This was a hidden treasure in the middle of a strip mall. read more

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Looking for a new place to try with my wife for dinner last weekend, we were pleasantly surprised to find a really fantastic, modern take on Polish food that wowed the both of us over. Suffice to say, I'm glad I made the reservation. Our reservation was honored the moment we walked in the door. The table was a bit small and the overall restaurant can feel a bit cramped, but otherwise we were excited to see what exactly there was to try. Receiving a menu split between Polish and -- though I didn't immediately see it, giving me an all too brief moment of panic -- English, we set about deciding what to try. Ordering the grilled highlander cheese was an early highlight no doubt. Coming with two small circles of cheese with bacon and arugula atop with a plated garnish of cranberry sauce proved to be excellent, simply excellent. The cranberry ties the whole dish together and does so swimmingly well. My wife tried the pickle soup and while I can't say too much, good or bad, the taste I had offered a bit of promise. Perhaps next time, since I can already promise there will be a next time. For dinner, my wife opted for the roasted spinach and lobster pierogi's while I chose the potato and cheese variety -- it being a Polish restaurant after all -- we just couldn't resist. In no uncertain terms, they were out of this world. The sour cream on the side meshed so perfectly with the soft doughy exteriors containing wonderfully sumptuous potato and cheese mixed together to form a moment of happiness Norman Rockwell would be happy to illustrate. My wife devoured hers and almost made a move towards mine, so either would be a safe bet for anyone looking for a first time dish to try. My only caveat about the location would be the television inside. I simply feel it doesn't belong and proved to be a bit of a distraction when taking into account the ambient noise already taking place. No doubt sitting outside is an option, yet with October right around the corner, that option will only diminish further over time. Nevertheless, the food was great and matched the attentive service we received. My wife can't wait to go back and, really, neither can I. read more

Qulinarnia - Lobster and spinach pierogies - Polish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

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Our experience here was less then favorable. I ordered the duck breast which was extremely over cooked ( tasted like liver) along with the side dishes. My husband had the goulash which was also over cooked. Our sever was very uninterested, we had to ask about the dinner specials. She was more concerned about rushing through the ordering process. We also had an issue with gnats flying around our food which is unusual in October. read more

Amazing "qulinary" experience!!! Five stars for service - great attitude!! Chief Piotrek - you are the best!! We had a great time, especially it was Father's Day. read more

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Great polish food at affordable prices! I think it's family owned and they couldn't be nicer, more accommodating and serving up great food!! Definitely recommend! read more

Just ate here for the first time and really never had it on the radar but GH was giving a deal. I'm really happy I did because this is the best polish food I've had and I can't wait to eat the restaurant when life goes back to normal. Had the sampler dinner, risotto and goulash. My 2 little ones even liked it. Probably the best potato pancakes I've had (Might be a tie with manny's Deli in the city). read more

Do not waste your money. The food is honestly horrible, especially for Polish food near chicago. The service is even worse than the food. On top of all that they steal money and do not honor gift cards that where purchased 6 months prior. Less then one star, aviod read more

Our first visit here, found it through Yelp. Middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Overall, great food, great service, and a VERY reasonable price! We had the goulash and breaded pork chops. Note that aside from the typical soft drinks, they only serve beer and wine... not a full bar. We will be back! read more

I found this place on Yelp. Looking at the pics and reading other reviews decided to give it a try while visiting Chicago. It was really well worth the evening!!! Atmosphere is very pleasant, food is amazing, service is very warm. We could tell that every single person there puts their hearts and soul in this business. Pumpkin soup with a goat cheese and cherry tomatoes was on special. Very unique and to die for!:) That is one of the few places where you want to take pictures of your (and your neighbor:)) plate and brag about it with your friends:) Highly recommended!!! Enjoy! read more

Qulinarnia - Pumpkin soup with goat cheese and cherry tomatoes... - Polish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

My favorite Polish restaurant in Chicagoland. If you want to try good Polish food, I highly recommend it.

Goulash and potato pancakes were fantastic. Sour soup was really good, really really good. Apple pie was to die for. Oh and they delivered. What a find this place is, my only complaint was I didn't find them sooner. read more

It's unfortunate to have to change my review. We made a reservation for 10 people here for my mom's birthday last Saturday night. 2 hours before our reservation, we got a phone call that told us that they could no longer accommodate us... We didn't have a chance to find anywhere else to make a reservation for that many people in such a short amount of time and ended up a quick service restaurant. It was a big disappointment for my mom and everyone else involved. read more

Love this place. Modern Polish food that is well prepared and the portions are huge. It is a little pricey but with the extra money. Have only been in town for two months and have been here three times already. read more

THis is a hidden gem. Amazing food. Very flavorful and the portion size is great. The pierogi's are delicious and homemade. Everything tastes fresh and elevated compared to what you would get at a local eatery. Service is great and the ambience is nice. Will definitely come back ! read more

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Excellent food! We didn't have a reservation but because we were there earlier enough the still seated us. Be sure to have a reservation:)

Update from 3 yrs ago: was here 1st time 3yrs ago and fell in love with this restaurant. 2 yrs later and it is still phenomenal. Luckily for me it is their 5 yrs anniversary so they had specials menu that normally not available. Food is on savory/rich side so avoid if not your style. Overall, I highly recommend this venue: food, service and price are excellent. 5 yr anniversary dishes: -horseradish + cauliflower soup: interestingly good (will skip next time) -chicken breast stuffed with mushroom + cheese: good (will skip next time) -squash with mushrooms: EXCELLENT...great dish for vegetarian too (will order again) Normal menu: -Goulash (beef stew like + potato/hash brown thin pancakes): beef is tender and interestingly good (will skip next time) -pierogi (potato & cheese): EXCELLENT...I had the varieties platter but this by far my favorite (will order again) -cheesecake: ok (will skip next time) read more

Margaret T. 9/26/21 came 3 p.m., only 2 tables there, server talked to other table guests. We waited 40 minutes for our food, they gave us only 1 slice of bread cut in half, with some shiny fat. My chicken breast was warmed up in the deep fryer, not fresh, cold inside, mashed potatoes were cold in one lump, three tiny thimbles of leftover salads. Very disappointed in my dinner. After waiting so long, I thought the food was being cooked fresh, wrong !! My husband's dinner, pork shank, was cold and 75% fat, kraut was swimming in shiny grease, mashed potatoes were ice cold, picked up with fork in one clump. We asked for hot mashed potatoes, they took our cold potato clumps off from our plates and back to the kitchen !!! Soup was extra $4, and was bland, like warm water with few noodles and 3 carrot slivers. For their prices, they should give good Polish cooking, they really cut corners on quality and freshness, serving leftovers as fresh. I am Polish and this was not good Polish food. Very disappointed in service and food. They need to improve to be called upscale . read more

Can't say enough about this delicious Polish restaurant. It's our go to restaurant when out. Never had a bad meal and the waitress is so friendly. If you haven't been you must try it. Almost too small for the popularity of it. Sits in a quiet shopping strip so don't let that deceive you. It's one of our top 5 restaurants to go. You won't regret it. You will come away too stuffed to even get to desert. AAA+ read more

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Exelent small polish caffe with great food and drinks.,reasonable price. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere . Highly recommended.

Really nice place here! Ordered two soups: mushroom soup and chicken soup. The creamy mushroom soup was the best I've ever tried. It also have tiny shiitake mushroom chops. The creamy chicken soup was okay, tastes good, but I'm surprised that there actually no chicken in the soup?! And we had three mains: pork meatball, duck breast, and rack of lamb chops. I most like the lamb rack, it was tender and juicy (I took medium), recommended! Duck breast was also nice, the sauce was well beyond my expectations! However, I'm not that into the pork meat ball, but my family like that very much lol. Then dessert, from the recommendation we tried baked plums. I personally love this!! I got some feeling of red wine in the sauce and the sauce make the baked plums tasted much better with ice-cream and cream. Overall this is an excellent place and would go there again if we are coming to the city again. read more

Awesome authentic Polish food. Service is very attentive. White tablecloth adds luxurious feel. I had Zurek soup, Gołąbki with wild mushroom sauce and Golonka with sweet & sour cabbage. Szarlotka for desert. Mojito ( not Polish ) for a drink. My son had baked salmon with mashed potato and steamed broccoli. I gave the whole experience 10 out of 10. read more

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The food is so delicious ,service was outstanding,must try more food the salmon,meatballs, and breaded pork chop is the food I love there is great atmosphere and cute decor. read more

We have visited this establishment on two occasions and have ordered take out. We have found it to be absolutely delicious. We are familiar with polish cuisine and this is definitely a step above. We have tried just about everything on the menu and have never been disappointed. We wish them the best and hope that will continue to be a presence in the community. read more