Today I had lunch at Cracovia Polish-American Grill. At least I think that’s the name. I’m still not totally sure what the exact name of this restaurant is. The menu says “Cracovia – Your Family Restaurant – A Taste of Poland.” When I arrived, about 12:30, there were three other groups of people there. Two of them were speaking Polish and the third group was speaking English. All the other patrons were middle aged or older, and most of them were dressed like they just came here from church.
When I walked in the door with my backpack slung over my shoulder, wearing shorts and sandals, several people turned and stared. And I thought, “This place has only been open two weeks, so how can anyone develop in that short time a sense of ownership of the joint that they would stare at newcomers?”
The dark haired neighbor boy that used to live three doors down was there, as the busboy. He’d just started a couple days ago. There were three waitresses working the place, one of them a trainee. They’d only opened 13 days ago, so I guess everyone’s a bit new. The three waitresses all spoke both Polish and English, and were all in their late teens or early twenties. I’m guessing they grew up in America to Polish-American families, because they all spoke American English fluently.
After I got settled, they brought me a menu, a glass of water, some bread, and a little bowl of white and brown stuff that I’m guessing is pork lard, with a spoon. There was no butter, so I’m guessing the lard’s for the bread. I tried some, and it was OK, but I’m thinking it must be an acquired taste.
I asked the waitresses what they would recommend, since everything on the menu sounded good to me. One suggested the “schabowy” which is her favorite dish, so I decided to go with that. Plus, she said her mother works in the kitchen so she guarantees that it’s good. They asked if I wanted some kind of beetroot salad or pickles, and I went for the pickles.
When it all arrived, I found what I got was a platter with the schabowy on it. That’s basically a schnitzel, a piece of pork pounded flat, breaded, and fried. On the side were two scoops of mashed potatoes with some sauteed onions, and a little garnish. On a separate plate were three halves of dill pickles. It was all yummy, and I ate nearly everything (though I found I didn’t need the 3rd pickle).
They don’t have “to go” menus yet, so I had to ask for the regular menu back so I could write a few things down. For appetizers, they have soups, borscht, and a beef tripe dish. The main courses range from $5.25 to $12.99; I’m not sure if any of them are vegetarian. The menu has a section of side dishes and salads that range from $1.50 to $3.25. They have a desserts section with items called kemowka, rolada, and paczki. (Note: my keyboard doesn’t have the funky characters from the Polish menu, so I’m spelling these things out using the letter in English that looks closest)
They also have the usual soft drinks, plus ginger ale and tonic, orange and cranberry juice, and tea and coffee. They have a few beers to drink: Budweiser, Okocim, Lomza, Zywiec, and Piast. And lastly, the menu had a few California wines.
I asked one of the waitresses how business has been and she said so far they’re more popular for supper than for lunch. Yesterday (a Saturday) they were packed and there were so many customers even at 4 PM that the staff couldn’t have their traditional “family” meal together before the dinner crowd arrives. She said most of them were from the local neighborhood, people who didn’t really know Polish food but wanted to try it out.
And I guess that description fits me, too. It’s not a style of food that I really crave, but I can definitely imagine going back. The food was very tasty, and reasonably priced.
Cracovia Polish-American Grill
8121 W. 94th Avenue
Westminster, CO
303-484-9388
The Wednesday night restaurant on the radio mentioned this restaurant very favorably. The location is good for my husband and I and so we tried it..
What a great surprise..We had the dinner for 2 which gives one a taste (large taste_) of a number of their dishes..Everything was wonderful..I do agree with the above writer that I would have liked butter with my bread, but everything else was very good. It was a new dining experience for us but we will definately go back.
The atomsphere is contempory with candlelight at dinner but not a formal or stuffy feeling..Just right. Value was excellent, but the best part was the food. Even if one is not used to Polish fare–great food is great food. I have already recommended this restaurant to several people. One should try it if you are looking for a charming atomsphere and excellent dining experience.
What you had with your bread was schmaltz; not the healthiest thing for our body, but tastier than butter.
Yeah, my boss, who’s from Poland, filled me in afterward. I didn’t really find it all that tasty, myself, but maybe I didn’t slather it on in sufficient quantities. I only put on about how much butter I’d normally use.
I think they need to move their sides around to match their meals they have a noodle with cabbage meal and their side is a sweet cabbage. Ok when you have noodles with cabble lets service it with something else like the beetroot salad. Also offer a meat with it for a bit more price. As that would of been good paired with their Keilbasa. I was raise with a German grandma and polish adopted aunt and they both cooked almost everything on this menu and i never seen the paring on the table at home. You are totally right that they are trying to omit the butter and I thought it was just me that my food was a bit cold when I went in there for lunch twice. Took my husband in there for dinner, he was no impressed too much.and we live half a block away,. I love it as it was grams cooking. I cook a lot it but, its nice to go have someone else cook it for you at times. I died and went to heave when it opened and I tried it the first week it opened. The one noodle thing I ordered said they were homemade noodles cut in triangles and these noodles were clearly not homemade as they were curly edges and I know my homemade noodles as thats all we eat around here as if grams wasn’t making them I go buy them from the church ladies. Steps down off my soap box now. But, really go give this place a try. I will go back as its really yummy all in all. the beet soup is yummy the pork chop is yummy, the noodles with cabbage is yummy and the keilbasa is to die for. I cant remember names right now as its so early and going to go get a keilbasa sammich today as now im hungry for one. hehe. bye.
I tried to email Michelle to ask if she’d like to turn that comment into its own review, but I haven’t heard back yet. Maybe she entered a bogus email address when she left the comment.
Michelle, based on your feedback, I’ll definitely have to get the kielbasa next time I go. Beet soup sounds a little weird to me, though.
I love, love, love the pork fat that comes with bread. Think of it as “prosciutto bianco”—that’s how Italian restaurants get around the horror that, stateside, generally accompanies the word “lardo.”
I would like to recommend the “bigos” its really quite good. I’m originally from Poland but grew up here in the states (Buffalo). I took my GF to this place as we lived in Broomfield. I was talking to my mom about my craving for her bigos and couldn’t wait for her to mail me hers(shes still in Buffalo) so i googled “Polish food”, anyway i was impressed with my bigos and have come back for more since then. Next time your there give it a try.
5 stars for Cracovia Restaurant! My husband and I went there out of curiosity for dinner, and had a wonderful meal. We ordered the platter for 2, which is a generous two-portion meal that serves a combination of all their yummy food. I would recommend this to anyone, for a date night, and even for lunch. It’s reasonably priced and really, really great food all cooked by the owners themselves.
R.R