I've been there with my friends today and we were little bit disappointed . In that cold weather we expected hot soup instead of lightly warm . The portion were served on large platters However they tiny mini ;-/ not what you expect for that (high) price Service ...so so ....
(2)
Marlena N.
This is a newer place and we decided to give it a try. Their decor is fabulous! I wish the place was a bit bigger inside. The food was delicious and the portions were large. The prices reflect the certain higher end look and feel of the restaurant. This definitely isn't your fast food Pierogi place :)
(5)
Andrzej S.
Finally!!! Polish food that's not boring, blunt and uninspired. I haven't tried everything on the menu yet, but will keep coming back until I do so. If you crave some polish delicacies that don't come from buffet, or deli freezer, you must check this place out, you won't be disappointed ..... Btw, (cream of horseradish soup is a good start)
(5)
Donald F.
I teeter between 4 and 5 stars primarily because the kitchen is the real engine of this establishment. Forward thinking food in an intimate environment (seats 30-40?). We literally did not eat one bad bite. With a lot of modern cuisine repeating itself, it's refreshing to see unique combinations executed both well and playfully.
(5)
Luke S.
The service was excellent. The decor is modern. It is a little gem in the strip mall. The food was very good and authentic. We will return.
(4)
Gregory B.
This is easily the best upscale restaurant in these suburbs. But there are few real alternatives. This place is a revelation, however. It was innovative, perfect. Duck done with excellence. Lordy, the soups! Pierogi? Never like this! Tiny room. Quiet service. Go.
(5)
Happy M.
Very nice little place with a nice simple menu, great food and service. My family and I enjoyed the appetizer (Chanterelle mushrooms), good duck breast (well cooked & beautifully presented) , I had a breaded pork chop, delish. The menu had good selection of fresh fish, like sturgeon, sea bass, salmon and fresh cod. Good small home made desserts and good coffee. We will be back.
(5)
Kasia K.
Today we tried something new: the exquisite taste and elegant food presentation. The white crisp of the table cloth and polish food aroma throughout. Simple, modest and yet modern. It's a perfect meal for a special occasion, romantic couples dinner, an aphrodisiac to a nice evening entertainment. Next time kids must stay home :)
(4)
N n.
The staff is not friendly at all -we came in for dinner and someone finally approached us-we did not have a reservation and they seemed busy -but weird attitude maybe it a polish thing but didn't like the vibe-very eastern block cold here! Go to Retro Bistro a few doors down in the same plaza The staff was great and the food was excellently!
(2)
Dave C.
Excellent Polish Food. Very Authentic and family friendly. I was to that the chef is new and young who prepares dishes that are modern but authentic. Try it. You can't go wrong.
(5)
Katherine P.
This restaurant is spot on! I loved every part of my meal, and the service was absolutely great! It was my dads birthday dinner so we had a pretty big party of 13. The waitress even changed the channel to a kids show for my niece and nephew. When the food came out, It looked very appealing. I'm also 100% polish so this was something different yet very familiar. I can go on forever.... Just go to this resturaunt, you won't regret it whatsoever.
(5)
Annaliese P.
Noticed this place while looking for another restaurant in the area, decided to come back and give it a try; infinitely glad we did! Clean, modern atmosphere inside, excellent service, and extremely fresh and delicious food! We came with a large party for the restaurant (8) and they were extremely accommodating. Our table got the mushroom pastry and grilled cheese appetizers, which everyone loved. Our server also bought us some pate with wheat bread and apple sauce on the house, delicious. I ordered the French cut pork chop with fried potato and cheese balls and onions which I would most definitely recommend. Other favorites were the lobster homemade pierogis, the cod, and the traditional pork chop. For dessert, the apple pie is divine and others at our table really enjoyed the plums! Overall, the food, presentation, atmosphere, and service were all wonderful. I'm looking forward to coming back!
(5)
Ruth G.
Yesterday, my fiance and I tried this place out because it's right down the street and had good reviews. Inside is pretty small, but it looks really nice! We got a couple things and just shared them. We started off with the "Cream of fresh porcini mushrooms with noodles and parsley." It was delicious!! The flavor was a perfect mix of robust and savory. It would be perfect on a chilly day and it was pretty filling! We then had the two types of pierogis, "Potato and cheese dumplings, smoked bacon, sour cream and green onion" and "Roasted spinach and lobster dumplings with cherry tomatoes." The potato were my favorite!!! I honestly have never had a better pierogi and my dad's side is 100% Polish. Both types had the perfect texture and could just melt in your mouth. I'm so glad that we tried this place out and we will most certainly be coming back!!!
(5)
Robin T.
What a pleasant surprise. Brand new "Modern Polish" restaurant. Wanted to check it out. The menu at first glance was .... eh. I ordered the cheese tart w/arugala for my meal. Ed had the crunchy spring salad mix. Both came beautifully presented. Fresh and homemade. Delicious. The ambiance was unexpectedly elegant. Service gracious. The Nuevo twist on traditional Polish works well. We'll be back.... except for dinner next time.
(5)
Patrycja G.
We found this place on yelp and wanted to try it. We are both Polish and very critical about polish food. We went to many places all over the chicago and this one is so far the BEST POLISH restaurant. Food was amazing, very traditional flavors mixed with some fresh modern ideas. Service was awesome as well
(5)
Bgs B.
My wife and I just discovered this place - amazing. We were headed to the Mediterranean restaurant next door, and modern polish cuisine looked more interesting. Not only was the presentation of the food visually amazing, but the food tastes great! The service was very good too. Usually, I have low expectations when going to new restaurants, but this place surpassed all my expectations - probably my favorite restaurant in the area now. I had French cut pork chop with sauerkraut and fried potato balls (I've never had anything like these potato balls before and they were great). Overall this dish was delicious and could definitely be served at a fancy restaurant in downtown - but, the price is very reasonable. My wife had a modern polish schnitzel with vegetables and it was really good too, but I liked my dish more. We are going back tomorrow, since we saw a number of other interesting dishes on the menu (e.g. Baked pork tenderloin with horseradish mashed potatoes, potato pancakes, salads, deserts, etc.). I really hope this places keeps up the good work and becomes successful.
(5)
Elzbieta P.
Very disappointed with Qulinarnia today. I tried everything from their 1 year anniversary menu. Mushroom appetizer was delish but very tiny. Tomato soup was ok. Filet mignon came overcooked and it was just terrible , the fish dish was yummy. Dessert was delicious. I think they need better waitresses. We had I think Marta ( the blonde one) and she wasn't paying to much attention to us. I do understand they were busy but still. I spent $ 120 for dinner of 2 so I would appreciate if she refilled my water or asked if I want another glass of wine and coffee with my dessert. It's loosing money on their end. And what is the deal with the free appetizer they gave to everyone but us? Just because I paid 12.99 for my tiny mushroom plate I don't get their appetizer?
(1)
Vesna N.
Just finished having dinner here with my daughter. The place is beautiful...new, clean and modern. Service was wonderful. Kasia was our server and she was incredibly sweet and genuine and she made us some killer tea! We got the cheese tart, potato and cheese pierogi and chocolate crepes. Cheese tart and pierogis were delicious...made from scratch. We got to meet the chef who is meticulous and cares about cleanliness and quality. No doubt we will be back...and soon!!
(5)
Konrad K.
Finally, a modern take on traditional Polish food!! Great food that is fresh, ideally prepared, and beautifully presented! I could come here with my parents or my girlfriend.l! However, I think we waited a little too long for service hence the 4 stars instead of the 5.
(4)
Steve K.
Entirely a unique concept and flavors, modern Polish cuisine. Steak tartar was excellent and the portion was just right for an appetizer. Potato soup - unique, delicate and outstanding. Pork medalions, classic beef goulash were perfect Service is outstanding and with only ten or so table a very intimate feel. We'll be back.
(5)
Krzysztof S.
Best polish food I've had in a very long time. I just visited another top rated polish restaurant in Chicago, and Qulinarnia is on another level. It is a bit pricey, but the food is really delicious. Polish population has been growing in the Northwest suburbs, and I've been waiting for a good polish restaurant to open up, and it's finally here. I will be visiting often. I had a soup and then pork with some potatoes. I'm a big guy and the portions were completely fine with me.
(5)
R W.
This place was great, my dad and I went here for lunch on a Sunday. The special for Sunday is that you can have dinner for lunch. Our food was great it tasted like a true home cooked meal. I got the beef stew with potato pancakes and it was great. My dad got pork tenderloin and he loved it. Overall I love this place it is great
(5)
Tommy Z.
Came into resturant very nice pretty inside cozy. Only one person working for service as hostess and waitress as well as bartender. Started ordering they will not serve u anything on the lunch menu for dinner for some reason of freshness... Extremely irrelevant if you ask me as a reason for not having polish sausage as a dinner option ridiculous. Anyways ordered the airline chicken and chicken noodle soup my lady ordered pork chops and the soup as well. Not kidding when I say we waited for about 25 minutes just to have the soup come to the table after that. Soup was sub par very watered down nicely decorative looking though. Now to the actual review so about an hour or so passed that we came in and ordered food finally arrived very very hungry at this point. Started eating chicken was tiny pretty looking and lots of vegetables half the chicken was delicious other half dry. Vegetables were very bland tasting. Potatoe pancakes were so so... pork chops were alright after adding hot sauce. All and all over priced for the service and quality of the food and waiting. Will not come back if you want good polish food go to any of the great places on Polska area off Milwaukee Ave worth the drive and you'll at least leave satisfied.
(1)
John S.
I liked this place a lot but with a few somewhat minor quibbles. The food was excellent , delicious. They started the 2 of us out with some yummy pate and applesauce but they only give you 2 small pieces of bread to go with it . I would have liked a bit more bread. I had a bowl of creamy tomato soup and salmon with white asparagus , roasted potatoes and shredded carrots and another vegetable that I did not know what it was. Like I said they were all delicious and the portions of everything but the salmon were very good. The only problem was that while the salmon melted in my mouth it was not a big piece. Maybe 4 oz at the most. I would have liked a larger piece and paid a bit more but the totality of the meal was tasty and filling. The service was friendly and good. The place is small and was pretty crowded. They asked us if we had reservations when we walked in and when we said no our waitress said no problem and seated us right away. I would recommend making a reservation if possible and definitely with a larger party. Our waitress did a good job but she was busy and I had to almost yell to ask her for more water which she immediately brought. They also are very skimpy on the ice for some reason so if you like things cold you need to ask for more. Again she brought ice immediately when I asked for it. I definitely plan to return. I want to try something more traditionally Polish and am hoping that the main course will be bigger than my piece of salmon was. This is a small restaurant in a strip mall and if you weren't looking for I do not think you would know it was there. I get the feeling it's a family run restaurant. (Not sure of this ) They seem to try hard to please but it seems to be a busy place so it will be interesting to see how they do.
(4)
Emily M.
I was skeptical of all the 5 star reviews (is this real?!), but I couldn't agree more. The food was absolutely delicious. I had no idea what to expect of modern polish quinine, but there was something for everyone in my party. If I weren't from Boston, MA I'd recommend it to all my friends - so I'll recommend it to you!
(5)
Agnieszka K.
great family place to eat delicious lunch
(5)
Sarah C.
The food here is out of this world. Make a reservation, because it is small and always very busy (I've been turned away at 5:30 on a Sunday because a table for 2 was not available! They're quite popular!) A small plate of pate and applesauce is brought out as an appetizer, which I found really delicious. The pork chops are amazing, with a side of mushrooms, mashed potatoes, and sauerkraut. My friend tried the pork tenderloin, which was almost as delicious as the pork chop. Finish with the apple pie, which isn't overly sweet. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Andrew G.
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.
(4)
Yana A.
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!
(5)
Bartłomiej B.
A really nice service and Delicious food and I recommendation this little place. Really nice employees. A little bit tiny but nice;)
(5)
Mina H.
So... I am not an expert on Polish food... I have had some incarnation of it at certain points... pirogi maybe. Don't recall going on a bender, so it was probably just okay. Not that I question the 'Modern Polish' description... but maybe I need to explore the menu like Indiana Jones. The food here was very good... makes me want to find validate this definitively modern and cute place. Despite being in a narrow storefront in the middle of a (newer) strip mall.. It's pretty adorbs. The decor and layout are nice, well-thought-out, and the service is very attentive. Our waitress was so sweet. :-) On a Pesceterian deal again... and the salmon did not disappoint. I swapped out the linguine and sauce for vegetables and they were very good... maybe a tad salty... and again not sure broccolini was a Polish staple =) but... will definitely have to try the sea bass next time. Go and check it out... you won't regret it.
(5)
Tim L.
Had dinner on Saturday night with family celebrating my Dad's 100th birthday. Authentic and excellent Polish cuisine. I had the Airline chicken w gnocchi, pesto sauce and asparagus. The sauce was excellent and the pesto was subtle but flavorful. I was concerned about the term "Airline", but don't worry! The herbs were wonderful - I would order it again. Zywiec beer was great too. Could have had some Polish wines but wine list though short was good and reasonably priced. Baked plum dessert was a hit - had a liquor in it that gave it a wonderful flavor. Apple pie was good but didn't quite get to the baked plum level.
(4)
Cory H.
Went here for lunch. Very good and high end polish cuisine. Everything we ate was delicious and you could tell it was made with high quality ingredients. The service was friendly and we will be back!
(5)
Diana M.
Amazing! My mom had recommended this place to try and I'm so very glad that she did. Usually I'm hesitant about going to Polish Restaurants as my past experiences have been kind of plain and ordinary. This restaurant stands out and puts the rest to shame! We started with their smoked salmon/beet appetizer special and it just had an explosion of flavor! I had their classic beef goulash and my mom had the pork tenderloin dish. The food, the presentation and the staff is perfection. Agnes was our server and she had such a warm comforting presence. She offered great suggestions and catered to our every need. I will most definitely come back and highly recommend others to try ASAP!
(5)
Arian M.
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.
(4)
Laura C.
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.
(5)
Agnes K.
Excellent food and great service .So far the best polish cuisine I ever tried. Highly recommend !
(5)
Tony S.
First experience here, small but nice enough place. The staff is incredibly nice. The menu is pretty extensive except for the beer selection. The pace is very relaxed which is nice. Food is very good if you enjoy polish food, it's a good comfort food, the beef goulash with potato was excellent and so were the soups. Prices are not bad but it's all a la carte so it can get expensive. Anyhow not bad and kiddos to our waitress Katarzyna she was excellent!
(3)
Maggie L.
Very good food. There's the close to home comfort food is polish ppl grew up with and there are also some fancy twists on classic dishes with brand new ones all together. Great waitress named Asia! Will come back again for sure. My kids loved it.
(5)
Richelle T.
The best Modern Polish food in town. The potato pancakes was awesome. It was light and crunchy. The apple sauce was a perfect match with the potatoes. The grilled chicken breast with chives was so delicious and moist. Would love to try everything on the menu.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Sandra G.
I've been there with my friends today and we were little bit disappointed . In that cold weather we expected hot soup instead of lightly warm . The portion were served on large platters However they tiny mini ;-/ not what you expect for that (high) price Service ...so so ....
(2)Marlena N.
This is a newer place and we decided to give it a try. Their decor is fabulous! I wish the place was a bit bigger inside. The food was delicious and the portions were large. The prices reflect the certain higher end look and feel of the restaurant. This definitely isn't your fast food Pierogi place :)
(5)Andrzej S.
Finally!!! Polish food that's not boring, blunt and uninspired. I haven't tried everything on the menu yet, but will keep coming back until I do so. If you crave some polish delicacies that don't come from buffet, or deli freezer, you must check this place out, you won't be disappointed ..... Btw, (cream of horseradish soup is a good start)
(5)Donald F.
I teeter between 4 and 5 stars primarily because the kitchen is the real engine of this establishment. Forward thinking food in an intimate environment (seats 30-40?). We literally did not eat one bad bite. With a lot of modern cuisine repeating itself, it's refreshing to see unique combinations executed both well and playfully.
(5)Luke S.
The service was excellent. The decor is modern. It is a little gem in the strip mall. The food was very good and authentic. We will return.
(4)Gregory B.
This is easily the best upscale restaurant in these suburbs. But there are few real alternatives. This place is a revelation, however. It was innovative, perfect. Duck done with excellence. Lordy, the soups! Pierogi? Never like this! Tiny room. Quiet service. Go.
(5)Happy M.
Very nice little place with a nice simple menu, great food and service. My family and I enjoyed the appetizer (Chanterelle mushrooms), good duck breast (well cooked & beautifully presented) , I had a breaded pork chop, delish. The menu had good selection of fresh fish, like sturgeon, sea bass, salmon and fresh cod. Good small home made desserts and good coffee. We will be back.
(5)Kasia K.
Today we tried something new: the exquisite taste and elegant food presentation. The white crisp of the table cloth and polish food aroma throughout. Simple, modest and yet modern. It's a perfect meal for a special occasion, romantic couples dinner, an aphrodisiac to a nice evening entertainment. Next time kids must stay home :)
(4)N n.
The staff is not friendly at all -we came in for dinner and someone finally approached us-we did not have a reservation and they seemed busy -but weird attitude maybe it a polish thing but didn't like the vibe-very eastern block cold here! Go to Retro Bistro a few doors down in the same plaza The staff was great and the food was excellently!
(2)Dave C.
Excellent Polish Food. Very Authentic and family friendly. I was to that the chef is new and young who prepares dishes that are modern but authentic. Try it. You can't go wrong.
(5)Katherine P.
This restaurant is spot on! I loved every part of my meal, and the service was absolutely great! It was my dads birthday dinner so we had a pretty big party of 13. The waitress even changed the channel to a kids show for my niece and nephew. When the food came out, It looked very appealing. I'm also 100% polish so this was something different yet very familiar. I can go on forever.... Just go to this resturaunt, you won't regret it whatsoever.
(5)Annaliese P.
Noticed this place while looking for another restaurant in the area, decided to come back and give it a try; infinitely glad we did! Clean, modern atmosphere inside, excellent service, and extremely fresh and delicious food! We came with a large party for the restaurant (8) and they were extremely accommodating. Our table got the mushroom pastry and grilled cheese appetizers, which everyone loved. Our server also bought us some pate with wheat bread and apple sauce on the house, delicious. I ordered the French cut pork chop with fried potato and cheese balls and onions which I would most definitely recommend. Other favorites were the lobster homemade pierogis, the cod, and the traditional pork chop. For dessert, the apple pie is divine and others at our table really enjoyed the plums! Overall, the food, presentation, atmosphere, and service were all wonderful. I'm looking forward to coming back!
(5)Ruth G.
Yesterday, my fiance and I tried this place out because it's right down the street and had good reviews. Inside is pretty small, but it looks really nice! We got a couple things and just shared them. We started off with the "Cream of fresh porcini mushrooms with noodles and parsley." It was delicious!! The flavor was a perfect mix of robust and savory. It would be perfect on a chilly day and it was pretty filling! We then had the two types of pierogis, "Potato and cheese dumplings, smoked bacon, sour cream and green onion" and "Roasted spinach and lobster dumplings with cherry tomatoes." The potato were my favorite!!! I honestly have never had a better pierogi and my dad's side is 100% Polish. Both types had the perfect texture and could just melt in your mouth. I'm so glad that we tried this place out and we will most certainly be coming back!!!
(5)Robin T.
What a pleasant surprise. Brand new "Modern Polish" restaurant. Wanted to check it out. The menu at first glance was .... eh. I ordered the cheese tart w/arugala for my meal. Ed had the crunchy spring salad mix. Both came beautifully presented. Fresh and homemade. Delicious. The ambiance was unexpectedly elegant. Service gracious. The Nuevo twist on traditional Polish works well. We'll be back.... except for dinner next time.
(5)Patrycja G.
We found this place on yelp and wanted to try it. We are both Polish and very critical about polish food. We went to many places all over the chicago and this one is so far the BEST POLISH restaurant. Food was amazing, very traditional flavors mixed with some fresh modern ideas. Service was awesome as well
(5)Bgs B.
My wife and I just discovered this place - amazing. We were headed to the Mediterranean restaurant next door, and modern polish cuisine looked more interesting. Not only was the presentation of the food visually amazing, but the food tastes great! The service was very good too. Usually, I have low expectations when going to new restaurants, but this place surpassed all my expectations - probably my favorite restaurant in the area now. I had French cut pork chop with sauerkraut and fried potato balls (I've never had anything like these potato balls before and they were great). Overall this dish was delicious and could definitely be served at a fancy restaurant in downtown - but, the price is very reasonable. My wife had a modern polish schnitzel with vegetables and it was really good too, but I liked my dish more. We are going back tomorrow, since we saw a number of other interesting dishes on the menu (e.g. Baked pork tenderloin with horseradish mashed potatoes, potato pancakes, salads, deserts, etc.). I really hope this places keeps up the good work and becomes successful.
(5)Elzbieta P.
Very disappointed with Qulinarnia today. I tried everything from their 1 year anniversary menu. Mushroom appetizer was delish but very tiny. Tomato soup was ok. Filet mignon came overcooked and it was just terrible , the fish dish was yummy. Dessert was delicious. I think they need better waitresses. We had I think Marta ( the blonde one) and she wasn't paying to much attention to us. I do understand they were busy but still. I spent $ 120 for dinner of 2 so I would appreciate if she refilled my water or asked if I want another glass of wine and coffee with my dessert. It's loosing money on their end. And what is the deal with the free appetizer they gave to everyone but us? Just because I paid 12.99 for my tiny mushroom plate I don't get their appetizer?
(1)Vesna N.
Just finished having dinner here with my daughter. The place is beautiful...new, clean and modern. Service was wonderful. Kasia was our server and she was incredibly sweet and genuine and she made us some killer tea! We got the cheese tart, potato and cheese pierogi and chocolate crepes. Cheese tart and pierogis were delicious...made from scratch. We got to meet the chef who is meticulous and cares about cleanliness and quality. No doubt we will be back...and soon!!
(5)Konrad K.
Finally, a modern take on traditional Polish food!! Great food that is fresh, ideally prepared, and beautifully presented! I could come here with my parents or my girlfriend.l! However, I think we waited a little too long for service hence the 4 stars instead of the 5.
(4)Steve K.
Entirely a unique concept and flavors, modern Polish cuisine. Steak tartar was excellent and the portion was just right for an appetizer. Potato soup - unique, delicate and outstanding. Pork medalions, classic beef goulash were perfect Service is outstanding and with only ten or so table a very intimate feel. We'll be back.
(5)Krzysztof S.
Best polish food I've had in a very long time. I just visited another top rated polish restaurant in Chicago, and Qulinarnia is on another level. It is a bit pricey, but the food is really delicious. Polish population has been growing in the Northwest suburbs, and I've been waiting for a good polish restaurant to open up, and it's finally here. I will be visiting often. I had a soup and then pork with some potatoes. I'm a big guy and the portions were completely fine with me.
(5)R W.
This place was great, my dad and I went here for lunch on a Sunday. The special for Sunday is that you can have dinner for lunch. Our food was great it tasted like a true home cooked meal. I got the beef stew with potato pancakes and it was great. My dad got pork tenderloin and he loved it. Overall I love this place it is great
(5)Tommy Z.
Came into resturant very nice pretty inside cozy. Only one person working for service as hostess and waitress as well as bartender. Started ordering they will not serve u anything on the lunch menu for dinner for some reason of freshness... Extremely irrelevant if you ask me as a reason for not having polish sausage as a dinner option ridiculous. Anyways ordered the airline chicken and chicken noodle soup my lady ordered pork chops and the soup as well. Not kidding when I say we waited for about 25 minutes just to have the soup come to the table after that. Soup was sub par very watered down nicely decorative looking though. Now to the actual review so about an hour or so passed that we came in and ordered food finally arrived very very hungry at this point. Started eating chicken was tiny pretty looking and lots of vegetables half the chicken was delicious other half dry. Vegetables were very bland tasting. Potatoe pancakes were so so... pork chops were alright after adding hot sauce. All and all over priced for the service and quality of the food and waiting. Will not come back if you want good polish food go to any of the great places on Polska area off Milwaukee Ave worth the drive and you'll at least leave satisfied.
(1)John S.
I liked this place a lot but with a few somewhat minor quibbles. The food was excellent , delicious. They started the 2 of us out with some yummy pate and applesauce but they only give you 2 small pieces of bread to go with it . I would have liked a bit more bread. I had a bowl of creamy tomato soup and salmon with white asparagus , roasted potatoes and shredded carrots and another vegetable that I did not know what it was. Like I said they were all delicious and the portions of everything but the salmon were very good. The only problem was that while the salmon melted in my mouth it was not a big piece. Maybe 4 oz at the most. I would have liked a larger piece and paid a bit more but the totality of the meal was tasty and filling. The service was friendly and good. The place is small and was pretty crowded. They asked us if we had reservations when we walked in and when we said no our waitress said no problem and seated us right away. I would recommend making a reservation if possible and definitely with a larger party. Our waitress did a good job but she was busy and I had to almost yell to ask her for more water which she immediately brought. They also are very skimpy on the ice for some reason so if you like things cold you need to ask for more. Again she brought ice immediately when I asked for it. I definitely plan to return. I want to try something more traditionally Polish and am hoping that the main course will be bigger than my piece of salmon was. This is a small restaurant in a strip mall and if you weren't looking for I do not think you would know it was there. I get the feeling it's a family run restaurant. (Not sure of this ) They seem to try hard to please but it seems to be a busy place so it will be interesting to see how they do.
(4)Emily M.
I was skeptical of all the 5 star reviews (is this real?!), but I couldn't agree more. The food was absolutely delicious. I had no idea what to expect of modern polish quinine, but there was something for everyone in my party. If I weren't from Boston, MA I'd recommend it to all my friends - so I'll recommend it to you!
(5)Agnieszka K.
great family place to eat delicious lunch
(5)Sarah C.
The food here is out of this world. Make a reservation, because it is small and always very busy (I've been turned away at 5:30 on a Sunday because a table for 2 was not available! They're quite popular!) A small plate of pate and applesauce is brought out as an appetizer, which I found really delicious. The pork chops are amazing, with a side of mushrooms, mashed potatoes, and sauerkraut. My friend tried the pork tenderloin, which was almost as delicious as the pork chop. Finish with the apple pie, which isn't overly sweet. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Andrew G.
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.
(4)Yana A.
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!
(5)Bartłomiej B.
A really nice service and Delicious food and I recommendation this little place. Really nice employees. A little bit tiny but nice;)
(5)Mina H.
So... I am not an expert on Polish food... I have had some incarnation of it at certain points... pirogi maybe. Don't recall going on a bender, so it was probably just okay. Not that I question the 'Modern Polish' description... but maybe I need to explore the menu like Indiana Jones. The food here was very good... makes me want to find validate this definitively modern and cute place. Despite being in a narrow storefront in the middle of a (newer) strip mall.. It's pretty adorbs. The decor and layout are nice, well-thought-out, and the service is very attentive. Our waitress was so sweet. :-) On a Pesceterian deal again... and the salmon did not disappoint. I swapped out the linguine and sauce for vegetables and they were very good... maybe a tad salty... and again not sure broccolini was a Polish staple =) but... will definitely have to try the sea bass next time. Go and check it out... you won't regret it.
(5)Tim L.
Had dinner on Saturday night with family celebrating my Dad's 100th birthday. Authentic and excellent Polish cuisine. I had the Airline chicken w gnocchi, pesto sauce and asparagus. The sauce was excellent and the pesto was subtle but flavorful. I was concerned about the term "Airline", but don't worry! The herbs were wonderful - I would order it again. Zywiec beer was great too. Could have had some Polish wines but wine list though short was good and reasonably priced. Baked plum dessert was a hit - had a liquor in it that gave it a wonderful flavor. Apple pie was good but didn't quite get to the baked plum level.
(4)Cory H.
Went here for lunch. Very good and high end polish cuisine. Everything we ate was delicious and you could tell it was made with high quality ingredients. The service was friendly and we will be back!
(5)Diana M.
Amazing! My mom had recommended this place to try and I'm so very glad that she did. Usually I'm hesitant about going to Polish Restaurants as my past experiences have been kind of plain and ordinary. This restaurant stands out and puts the rest to shame! We started with their smoked salmon/beet appetizer special and it just had an explosion of flavor! I had their classic beef goulash and my mom had the pork tenderloin dish. The food, the presentation and the staff is perfection. Agnes was our server and she had such a warm comforting presence. She offered great suggestions and catered to our every need. I will most definitely come back and highly recommend others to try ASAP!
(5)Arian M.
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.
(4)Laura C.
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.
(5)Agnes K.
Excellent food and great service .So far the best polish cuisine I ever tried. Highly recommend !
(5)Tony S.
First experience here, small but nice enough place. The staff is incredibly nice. The menu is pretty extensive except for the beer selection. The pace is very relaxed which is nice. Food is very good if you enjoy polish food, it's a good comfort food, the beef goulash with potato was excellent and so were the soups. Prices are not bad but it's all a la carte so it can get expensive. Anyhow not bad and kiddos to our waitress Katarzyna she was excellent!
(3)Maggie L.
Very good food. There's the close to home comfort food is polish ppl grew up with and there are also some fancy twists on classic dishes with brand new ones all together. Great waitress named Asia! Will come back again for sure. My kids loved it.
(5)Richelle T.
The best Modern Polish food in town. The potato pancakes was awesome. It was light and crunchy. The apple sauce was a perfect match with the potatoes. The grilled chicken breast with chives was so delicious and moist. Would love to try everything on the menu.
(5)