I lost my Polish grandmother 3 years ago. I've had Polish food only a handful of times since. I'd been wanting to try U Babci since it opened but had never made the trip. I finally did, and I'm kicking myself that I waited so long. Everything about U Babci felt like a warm hug from my Babcia. The restaurant is quaint and features details that remind me of growing up like pictures of Poland throughout and hanging lace curtains. The food is absolutely delicious and dare I say even better than my grandmother's cooking. The gołabki in particular is to die for! U Babci is so special to me. I cannot recommend it enough and will sing its praises always! read more

Delicious comfort food! First time trying polish food and I'm glad it was at such an authentic spot. Seems to be family run, everyone was very kind. The smell of the food makes you feel like you're in a grandmas kitchen Had the beef goulash, meat pierogi, and blintzes. Blinztes were my favorite, it's like a cheesecake crepe that isn't too sweet. I'll have to come back and try the schnitzel! read more

We got the combo plate and everything was delicious. Our favorite was the stew and the grilled polish sausage. The stew was just the right amount of meat and veggies and the texture was great. The cabbage is a bit fluffy on the inside texture wise for me. The pierogies were good but a bit different. The only other time I've had them was prepared pan fried so that's what I was expecting. We also got the potato dumplings and they were so fluffy. For dessert we tried a plum donut that was a bit dense. The waitress was very attentive. The decor was very interesting to look at. Felt like a small European restaurant. Plenty of parking in this plaza. read more

This place is amazing as always. Coming in late night around 8pm and ordering the cabbage rolls and pierogis so delicious and their alcohol selections are wild. Definitely recommend it. read more

Wow, what a place! Amazing food and drinks. Went with my family tonight and we had potato and cheese pirogi, kielbasa, chicken cutlet, borscht, mashed potatoes, potato pancakes and amazing dessert, including cherry pierogi. If you grew up in Poland or the former USSR, this good will bring tears to your eyes. Bravo, u babci! read more

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This is one of my new fav places to eat!!!!! As someone who does not eat meat or dairy, I was so happy to see so many things on the menu that fit within those bounds. We got the mushroom sauerkraut pierogis, cabbage rolls (they have pork and beef inside of them) with mushroom sauce instead of tomato, potato dumplings, beet soup, and salad sampler. For dessert, we split a plum donut. We also requested a flyer to take pictures of and send to friends and family! The food is made fresh, with love, and so so well! Looking forward to coming back! read more

U Babci - 6 Pierogi - Dumplings Kopytka - Potato Dumplings 3 Small Side Salads - 3 Zestawy Surwek - Polish Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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We have been here twice now, and I am so excited that there is Eastern European - specifically Polish - food that's both authentic and fresh available in Lake Forest. I enjoyed the hunters stew - the Polish sausage served with the bun was also delicious but my favorite part of this restaurant has to be the drinks. read more

U Babci - Beautiful latkes - Polish Near Me - Lake Forest, California

U babci is a quaint and welcoming little restaurant which a selection of authentic polish food and a large drink menu with many options that I've never heard of before. I'm not very familiar with polish food, but based on other reviews as well as comparing the food against google images; the restaurant does appear to serve authentic Polish food. The pictures in the menu accurately reflect what gets served. The Potato Pierogis are an easy recommendation, I'd say hands down my favorite item. The waitress said we could split the order and recommended doing potato along with another flavor. Ordered the meat option and it had an interesting texture, similar to pork floss. It was tasty, but think I'll try a different flavor next time. We also ordered the cabbage rolls, hunter's stew, and the Potato Pancakes with Beef Goulash. The cabbage rolls come with a mild tomato sauce and the inner mixture is a mildly spiced meat mixture. It tasted lean and healthy with a nice balance between the cabbage, stuffing and sauce. The hunter's stew had an assortment of meats and sauerkraut. The flavors were subtle and mild. The Hungarian Beef Goulash had a thick coating of shredded cheese and was far richer than the other dishes we had. The potatoe pancake had a nice char to it and went well with the Goulash. Got the poppy seed cake for dessert, although it's closer to a bread with a sweet layer to it. read more

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I wasn't even planning to stop here, I was just heading to an eyeglass appointment when I noticed the word Babci on a sign. My Babci passed about 2 1/2 years ago, around the same time my mom, my kids' Babi, also passed, so it immediately caught my attention. I had to check it out, wondering if it might be Polish food, and I'm so glad I did. Walking in felt special right away, photos of Poland, flags, and a warm welcoming atmosphere that felt truly authentic. The two girls working there were so kind, and the woman cooking reminded me so much of my own grandmother. It made the whole experience even more meaningful. I ordered the potato and cheese pierogi and the gołąbki, the cabbage rolls, and both were absolutely incredible. It was actually my first time having Polish food since losing my Babci and my mom, and I didn't expect it to hit me the way it did. The flavors brought back so many memories, it was emotional in the best way. This place is something special. The food, the people, the feeling, you can tell it all comes from the heart. I don't live in California anymore, but I'm in SoCal often, and this will definitely be a regular stop for me. I can't recommend it enough. read more

U Babci - Plate of potato and cheese pierogi with sour cream - Polish Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I felt like I was eating at someone's home! U Babci is a warm restaurant that serves amazing Polish comfort food. I have not been to Poland, but I can imagine eat these dishes with family in the middle of winter in a house with warm lighting, warm food, lively banter and heart warming drinks. Dishes made with care. Dishes made with love. Oranzada (Red) - This is a sparkling soda, tastes like a raspberry Italian soda. Had moderate fizz and is sweet but not too sweet. Kompot - Homemade apple juice made of boiled apples and other fruit juices and spices (like a touch of cinnamon and cloves). It looks like like an unfiltered apple cider but is much less sweet than any apple juice you'd get in a store. It's more like a mulled home brew without the alcohol. It's so well balanced. It was sweet with enough apple flavor for me to know it's apple, but not so sweet that could I couldn't have another glass or two or three if I was at a house party. When I got to the bottom of the glass there were two apple wedges that had been slow cooked and were tender and edible. A wonderful drink that they make in house. Highly recommended. Potato Pancakes ($10, $1 extra for each topping/sauce) - This is a meal in itself you only one have one person eating as it's served with five large and thick pan fried potato patties. Generous portions on this one, great for sharing with 3-5 people. Kinda like hash browns, kind of like pancakes, but made of all potato. These were browned on the outside and broke apart easily when cutting. They felt light in my mouth, which is a good thing (as opposed to being heavy and oily). We had them with sour cream and apple sauce, but you can add bacon bits, cheese, caramelized onions, powdered sugar and sweet cream. Combo Plate ($28) - It's huge! You get some of almost everything... 3 Pierogi (you can pick all different if you want... Potato Cheese, Meat, Spinach, Sauerkraut Mushroom), 1 Cabbage Roll, a massive scoop of Hunter's Stew (meat and sauerkraut stew), and a grilled or boiled Kielbasa Sausage (with or without hot dog bun). Just the pierogi themselves are pretty filling. The cabbage roll is a boiled cabbage wrap of minced meat, onions and rice. The filling is light and a joy to eat. The Hunter's Stew adds some sauerkraut heft to the place and it's filled with different meat pieces inside, including sausage. The Kielbasa Sausage on Hot Dog Bun is a meal itself... A thick 7" sausage, grilled and topped with grilled sauerkraut. I added Gulden's Spicy Brown Mustard on top and it was perfect. The servers were friendly and attentive. The restaurant looks homely and welcoming but modern and clean at the same time. There were so many other things that I didn't get to try... Sour Rye Soup, Red Borscht, Polish Pizza, Polish Donut (with Plum, Raspberry, Nutella or Pistachio), the Blintzes. Loved my meal here. Every bite felt like it was made from a handwritten recipe book that had been passed down for generations. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Really looking forward to some good local Polish food after our trip to Krakow, and found U Babci. We have had their food at the Polish festival in Yorba Linda and it is always good. I ended up ordering the combo plate. It was all very good. Our server was friendly and nice to talk to. I'm sure we'll be back. read more

U Babci - Combo plate - Polish Near Me - Lake Forest, California

My friends and I love trying new foods and were super excited to find U Babci to get some Polish food! It's a cute and cozy restaurant with friendly service. We didn't take a close at our receipt until after we left but I noticed they charged us twice for 2 items but my friend called them right away and they issued a refund without any trouble. No harm no foul! We got a bunch of things to share: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls, Potato & Cheese Pierogis, Potato Pancakes, Borscht, Polish Sausage, and the Blintz. We also got a two wines to try and I loved the blackberry wine but my friend's wild strawberry wine was very sweet and almost syrupy and we didn't enjoy that one as much. The standout dishes for me were the cabbage rolls, the polish sausage, and the blintz. The cabbage rolls were hearty and warm, the kind of thing you'd love to eat on a rainy day! The polish sausage was snappy and flavorful. Very juicy and satisfying. The blintz was the absolute favorite dish of the night! A rolled crepe with a light and creamy cheese filling, slightly carmelized with sugar on the outside. The jammy cherries on top were perfect and we all agreed we could have each eaten our own order instead of splitting next time. We really enjoyed getting to try all these different foods and had a great experience. I highly recommend you visit if you're interested in trying something new! read more

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This is a really cute place in an unassuming strip mall with a few of my other favorite restaurants. I've been to this plaza plenty of times but it is easy to miss if you aren't looking for this specifically since it is isn't facing Lake Forest Drive. I think its really cool to have some Polish food here: its not something that is an easy find in this part of Orange County. The menu looks pretty authentic: there are plenty of classic shareable options like the pierogi and placki, and some stews/soup like the goulash and borscht. The decor is really cute, with photos of different cities around Poland, and spacious and cozy enough for a nice homey meal. I think its a little odd to charge extra though for the "condiments" like applesauce or onions, which is $1 extra, so that is probably one area that I would wish change to at least be able to include that when it is such a minor add-on item that usually is expected to come with pierogis. In all, it is a cute find here in Lake Forest and I am happy to have this variety of food so close to home! read more

U Babci - Cute interior and decor - Polish Near Me - Lake Forest, California

European Food has captured my tastes buds! Try something new this week and go to U Babci! This mom and pop owned Polish restaurant is authentic as it comes. The wife still works there and is fit as a fiddle. You will see a picture of her and her husband on the wall from the time they opened the restaurant. There are magnificent pictures of majestic cities within Poland on the wall. Amazing! Service is friendly and everyone who comes in is treated like family. We tried the Cauliflower soup of the day, Golabki Cabbage wrapped rolls, pierogi dumplings, Zestawy Surwek salads and Frytki fries. Everything tasted great! The fries were tasty but made soft and polish ketchup is an acquired taste. It's not Heinz! read more

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Delicious Polish food in Orange County. U Babci translates to "at Grandma's" and true to its name, babcia Teresa, now over 70, is still in the kitchen cooking with all her heart. The owner is an extraordinary woman. She welcomed us as if we'd known each other forever, and her food radiates authenticity. I originally planned to stop in just for pierogi, but we ended up ordering half the menu and left with enough leftovers to relive the experience again at home. So what makes Polish food special? It's born of resourcefulness and tradition. Potatoes, always abundant, are transformed into countless creative dishes. Meat wasn't always plentiful, but when it was, the tougher cuts were stewed for hours until fork tender. Vegetables and herbs play a starring role, ensuring every dish is deeply seasoned. Polish cuisine is comfort food at its finest - rich, soulful, and for me, inseparable from childhood memories. I came to the states at age five, but Polish cooking has always been part of my life. Now, I crave it more than ever, seeking out Polish restaurants wherever I travel. Polish food is hearty, soulful, and steeped in history and tradition. To babcia Teresa, thank you for treating us like family. I'll never forget you. read more

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The food was delicious! Family members were craving stuffed cabbage, rice, meat, etc. inside and this one really satisfied! Service was excellent, it was a wonderful multicultural experience, we had pierogies as well, drinks. This cute family owned restaurant, really does the Polish cuisine proud ! I don't know what else to say. It's nice to be able to give a five star rating, to a wonderful multicultural family owned restaurant. read more

U Babci - Beautiful front - Polish Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I came with a hunger and left either a tummy satisfied to the fullest. I have not tried polish food for the curiosity of me I came on a. Sunday afternoon and had two dishes served one dessert dish with two beers that have been on the radar since i saw a review on this on yelp. I was very satisfied with what I got and two dishes took me to get full which for a normal person one dish is good enough because I have good gluten of a stomach and I felt this much was enough for what I needed for the day. Yum the service girls were lovely and patient and very informative. As the place it's clean and super chill. They got WiFi incase you're there to dine in like I was with a iPad Pro and a need to read while chilling. read more

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Today I visited U Babci for the second time. I drove 40 miles just to come here. After eating today, I honestly felt like this food isn't just worth driving 40 miles for--it's worth driving 40 days for. If you're looking for real, authentic Polish food, this is absolutely the place. It's such an amazing restaurant that it's honestly hard to put into words. Highly, highly recommended! read more

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Cześć! Delicious Polish food! I recommend their meat pierogi & salads ... any paczek (donut) will be homemade & delicious! Can't go wrong with draft Polish beer/piwo! Very cute ambiance... Dziękuję!! read more

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Had a wonderful experience for it being our first time trying polish cuisine. Everything was delicious filled with flavor. Felt like the coziest home cooked meal grandmas make! I tried the: 6 Pierogi Dumplings - I had all 4 flavors (potato & cheese, meat, sauerkraut & mushroom, and spinach) with all 3 toppings (bacon, caramelized onions, and sour cream). They were all delicious! Especially the potato/cheese one and the meat one! Give them a try you won't regret! Cabbage Rolls - the sauce is one of the most delicious sauces from a cabbage roll I've had. The cabbage roll itself was juicy and filling was full of flavor. Had some rice inside too and had a choice to add a side of mash potatoes which were delicious paired with the cabbage rolls! Bigos Hunter's Stew - my partner ordered this dish which I had a chance to try! Wow! That sauerkraut is so good! The meats were tender and dish had great flavor! Cucumber/beet/carrot/coleslaw salad - all these salads were delicious and refreshing! My favorites were the carrot and beet. Best beet and carrot salad I've had! Nalesniki Blintz (dessert) - omg, this dessert was a bite of heaven. It was the fluffiest, mochi-like, filled with the best cream/cheese ever! If you love crepes, you'll love these even more! That cherry sauce on top added that extra touch! Now, for the atmosphere, it was really cozy! Whoever did the interior decor did a great job because it really feels like I'm eating at home. Left with the biggest smile on my face and had the best nap afterwards. Thank you for serving such delicious food! Will definitely be back! ** read more

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A Taste of Poland in Lake Forest: Tucked away in an unassuming Lake Forest plaza is a culinary "gem" offering a warm, nostalgic dining experience reminiscent of a Polish grandmother's (babci) kitchen. From the decor to the service, the restaurant exudes a welcoming atmosphere, but the food is the true star. For those familiar with Eastern European cuisine, the flavors are both authentic and delicious. The decor is quaint, with beautiful photos and chachkis from Poland. They have a variety of beers, including one of the best known, Zywiec on TAP. I love that. My husband is Estonian, we eat a lot of Eastern European food- everything was authentic, delicious, and best described in the comfort of a 'warm hug' . In my opinion, when you come to a Polish restaurant, eating the pierogi is a must. We ordered the variety, because we needed to try them all. There were potato and cheese, sauerkraut and mushroom, meat, and I think, spinach. They were amazing - so tender, pillowy, the dough was so fresh and just melts in the mouth. They are served with a bit of fried onion and sour cream - you definitely have to eat these with sour cream, My husband had the borscht - what a wonderful flavour to this broth, slightly smoky as if cooked with kielbasa in the broth. As typical - stir a bit of sour cream in, YUM. The borscht also has some small dumplings in it. For a more adventurous palate, there is the kaszanka (blood sausage). An acquire taste most definitely, but the quality is excellent. This is served with sauerkraut - I suggest to eat it with mustard or horseradish. Also tried a salad sampler, which was the cucumber salad, beet salad, and carrot salad - all refreshing and light. Last, we had the schnitzel - you can't go wrong. The schnitzel was so tender, cut easily, perfectly thin and crispy, and it was a wonderful recommendation to order them with these small potato dumplings and mushroom sauce. Sometimes, simple food is the best. It's a taste of nostalgia, a taste of home. I hope this charming little place brings in a lot of business. I will for sure will tell everyone I know about it. We can't wait to be back to try their other amazing dishes. The prices are more than reasonable - we would definitely order more if our stomachs allowed! read more

I found a great little Polish restaurant right here in Lake Forest. Super nice people. Great food, beer and wine selection too. It's quite a party tonight for a fundraiser they're doing. read more

U Babci - Holy cow! Look what I found in Lake Forest, a very Poppin Polish restaurant! Great food and beer selection! - Polish Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I love the authentic taste and feel with both food and service. Feels like eating at your family's place. The place is It's super clean and organized. We got the pierogi, cabbage rolls and potato pancakes. Even our baby love the cabbage rolls! read more

U Babci - 6 Pierogi - Dumplings mushroom & sauerkraut - Polish Near Me - Lake Forest, California

The food and service were wonderful. Tasty dishes came out nice and hot! Will definitely be going back. read more

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I was visiting Encinitas and my daughter found Polish restaurant in Orange County,not to far worth to drive,every dish was great I'm Polish and mainly cook Polish dishes and all were as good as my and I'm a good cook,my daughter want pierogi we got almost everything and took leftover home read more

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Great atmosphere and hospitality. Grandma makes each meal. Taste is phenomenal! Main dishes are great and the desserts are delicious!! read more

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Outstanding Polish food. A must try location. Like having Sunday dinner at my wife's Polish grandparents home! Pierogis. Stuffed cabbage, Kielbasa etc read more

So happy I found this place! When you are craving comfort food and something different from Tai or Mediterranean, this is the place. Great service, comfortable atmosphere, and the food was delicious. We got the sample plate and it didn't disappoint!!! read more

First time here with friends. Love love love all the food. Borscht with mushroom dumplings. Three salads. Pistachio donut. Poppyseed cake. All were amazing. . We will be back. Excellent service. Beautifully decorated. read more

U Babci - Interior - Polish Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Located in an unassuming strip mall, U Babci showed me a glimpse of homemade style Polish cuisine. Inside is clean, nice, and bright, with a white interior and natural lighting coming though the entrance windows. I ordered their meal of the day and was able to choose for my meal a pate with bread and cucumber pickles for an appetizer, beat soup with a salad, and a schnitzel. The schnitzel comes with either fries or mashed potatoes but since the mashed potatoes were not available at the moment, I was given the option to pick Silesian dumplings, which I accepted. Since I was unfamiliar with Polish cuisine, I asked the waiter multiple questions when I was ordering, and he was patient and kind enough to answer my questions. He also came over to my table multiple times during my time to check in and see if I was enjoying myself. Pate with bread and pickles: 3.5/5. It was an enjoyable cold appetizer to get my appetite started. It was a very simple dish, and I enjoyed the creaminess and savoriness of the pate that complements the freshing acidity and crunch of the pickle well. I would rate this higher but i did think the pate was a little too mild in flavor. Beat soup: 4/5. I love the tanginess and sweetness despite the soup's simplicity. The dumplings were tasty as well. Side salads: 4.5/5. I was given 3 different salads. The first was a cucumber salad with yogurt and dill, which I thought was very refreshing. The other two were more like coleslaw and I really enjoyed the more acidic tastes. Overall the salads were very refreshing and helped balance the carbs from the meal overall. Schnitzel and Silesian dumplings: 4.5/5. The lightly battered schnitzel had a nice crunch, and despite its thinness, it wasn't dry at all. The lemon slice was added more depth to the simple dish. The Silesian dumplings were so soft and chewy, almost like I was eating mochi. They were filled with cheese, making them savory delights. These dumplings were very filling, and thankfully I still had salad to balance out the heaviness of the dumplings. Definitely worth trying. Overall, I would love to come back and try the other dishes. The service was great, and this meal set for $30 that can feed two people. read more

WOW! Wish I knew about this hidden gem sooner, I stepped right into my Oma's kitchen when I entered. The pierogis were fresh and comforting and the beef goulash made me warm inside. The flavor was out of this world and the staff took care you like family. This is a MUST when you are in the area. read more

U Babci - Polish Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Glad we tried something new! Delicious food with fast and kind service + perfect for a medium hunger level (portions are small to normal sized). Ambiance was peaceful, clean, and pleasant. Friendly servers with very prompt service and our food came out in a couple minutes. We ordered: Zurek-Sour rye soup (10/10) - perfectly balanced with a full rich broth from the sausage and egg flavor but light because of the dill and slight tanginess Bigos- Hunter stew (8.5/10) - Similar to a unique pulled pork with strong spices and kind of like a hot Cole slaw with meat. Yummy, refreshing, but not incredibly impressive. A simple meal to satiate your taste buds. Placki Ziemniaczane - Potato Pancakes (7.5/10) - like hash browns but softer and dark brown colored with unique topping combination options like apple sauce. Definitely looking forward to trying dessert another time. read more

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Small box of a place serving simple Polish food. Service is attentive. Not much to write home about but decent filling food.

Old style polish food cute, quaint and yummy worth the price worth the wait, no shortcuts.

Great food and good customer service and a cozy place. Highly recommend going here and trying their Sour Rye soup. read more

U Babci - Polish Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Very interesting and delicious Polish food! The Golabki, Cabbage Rolls were my favorite. I chose the beef stuffing that came with tomato sauce over the cabbage rolls. The Pierogi, dumplings stuffed with potato & cheese, sauerkraut, and mushrooms were wonderful as well. The Bigos, Hunter's Stew was different from stews I've had. It's a dry kind of stew. Definitely a recommended restaurant for authentic Polish food. Warm and welcoming staff. read more

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U Babci is hands down one of the best hidden gems for authentic Polish food! The flavors are exactly what you'd hope for, rich, comforting, and made with real care. The pierogi were out of this world (perfectly soft dough, generous filling, and just the right seasoning), and the kielbasa tasted fresh and hearty. Every dish felt homemade, like something you'd get straight from a Polish grandmother's kitchen. The staff were warm and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and you leave full and happy. If you're craving authentic Polish comfort food, U Babci is the place to go. We are ordering our Christmas Eve dinner from them I'll definitely be back again and again! read more

If I'm too lazy to make my own cabbage rolls, I'll head on over to the Kosher Bite. Since this Polish place is closer to home, I thought that I'd give it a try. Ordered the beef cabbage rolls, sauerkraut and mushroom pierogi and the borscht. The cabbage rolls were medium sized compared to the monster ones I get at Kosher Bite for the same price. The big difference between the two restaurants is that Kosher Bite actually has some ground beef in them. UBabci's had zilch as far as I could see and taste. The sauerkraut and mushroom pierogi's were OK. The filling was good and the dough wasn't chewy like some I've had. What I didn't realize its that getting fried onions was an add-on. I'm used to that just being part of the deal. My bad on that one. The borscht was the best part of the meal. Instead of chunks of beets, cabbage and onions that I'm used to, they had these nice little dumplings filled with herbs and spices. That littles suprise made it interesting. read more

Amazing. Great atmosphere and authentic polish food. Since coming to California, I have yet to find even one place with "real" polish food. Then my husband took me here and I was instantly transported back to my childhood dinner table, the real flavors of polish home cooking. Please try here, you won't regret it. Everything is delicious, so try the combo menu and taste a little bit of everything. honestly the reminder of home brought tears to my eyes, it was that good. read more

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The food is incredible, we had the schnitzel (one of the best I've had at a restaurant, reminds me of my Oma's), a combo platter that had a sample of a lot of things (sausage, sauerkraut, hunters stew, and their cabbage roll), and we also ordered their potato pancakes. Everything was truly delicious and really tastes homemade in the most complimentary way. The owner and the rest of the girls there are all SO sweet and took a lot of care in how our food was. It's in a cute shop in a strip mall and the interior is very tastefully decorated. read more