Unhealthy polish food. ;-) nothing bad, but too heavy for me.
(2)
Gary F.
Gary lives in Dorchester, but Gary was kind of unhappy when he arrived early for his reservation and was kind of sent back onto the street. There are two chairs reserved for waiting purposes, but Gary didn't get the memo on that one. We stood in front of a liquor store for about 15 minutes in the cold. Lesson learned: Not only make reservations, but do not be early. When at 7:09 we were seated for the 7PM reservation, sheGary was a little perturbed. Until the lard spread arrived with the bread. Then, all was tight. Also tight were the potato pancakes, the borscht, the Polish platter, and the goulash (Gary was on an eastern European eatathon) and the beer. It's Zyweic. Chocolate babka cake wasn't 100% like the babka we've seen...which is probably only 4 or 5 loaves so we're not quite experts...but it was so tight and warm and chocolatey and huge. Just what we needed after meats and potatoes and 4 bowls of lard spread spread upon 18 pieces of white bread. Thanks to Cafe Polonia, Gary will be rendering pork fat and spreading it on bread every day for the rest of his life...which might not be a long nor fit one given the whole lard thing , but it will be a happy one.
(4)
Kathy K.
Skip lunch and go hungry - Cafe Polonia has delicious and filling Polish cuisine. This is a small, quaint restaurant with bright wooden furniture just a short walk from the Andrew T. The menu is in Polish and English and the wait staff switches back and forth between the two languages as they serve English and Polish speakers. You can have dishes most people associate with Poland, namely stuffed cabbage and sausage. They also have some really tasty entrees that are less known. Their side dishes are heaven -- lovely potatoes and cucumber salads stood out. They also have a nice collection of Polish beer. Give it a whirl -- you'll leave full and smiling.
(5)
Tom M.
It is a little pricey, and it is a little difficult to get to, but this is hands down one of my favorite places in Boston. Hands down! Not a stupid chain, not anything bad or half done, they strive for perfection and they are outstanding
(5)
Karen W.
was hesitant to go for polish food but this place was fantastic!! service was stellar: daniel was the only person working front of the house and he was great; very efficent, very helpful. highlights: herring filet, pierogi, stuffed cabbage, goat cheese salad and the chocolate babka cake (to die for). oh yeah and the beer! a delicious porter (forget the name). ummm-mmm-mmmm! def will be back anytime i'm in boston.
(5)
Nicole L.
Tiny lil restaurant in the Dorchester area - there're quite a few Eastern european/Baltic type cafes around the area. It's located across from the Andrew train station so it's quite convenient to get there. The restaurant is very small at most sits 20 people. So definitely get a reservation. We got one thanks to our host who's a regular at the restaurant. We were a group of 10 so we got try all the different dishes. For starters, the bacon wrapped scallop, the herring, smoked salmon and caviar, and the kielbasa. All the appetizers were absolutely delicious! For the entrees, the gypsy pancakes with goulash is gotta be the best dish, we also tried the pork cutlet and the polish plate: stuffed cabbage big-O (kielbasa with sauerkraut) and pierogis. The food was just amazing at Cafe Polonia. The waitress was very patient and nice even though we were a buncha drunks after the St Patty's parade. The price is on the high side like $12 for appetizers and $16 for entrees - it adds up if you want to try every thing on the menu!
(5)
Mark D.
the food was very disappointing and customer service left much to be desired!!! I had bought a couple of gift certificates and we had gone there before several times. The gift card had just expired the day before, and even though I had spent the money on it and had been there before, the rude person on the phone refused to even ask the manager about it. She said, Nope, nothing we can do. She acknowledged that they were losing the few customers that even go there anymore, and they were OK with it. So NO MORE, the food is no good and customer service even worse. I'm foreigner myself and it stinks that people like that give the rest of us a bad name!
(1)
Jason M.
My favorite Polish place in the city. Good, hearty, 'on the for real' Polish eats.
(5)
Fred M.
I love this place! I managed to find it in a round about way looking for some fresh keilbasa after the Lithuanian bakery in Brockton closed some years ago. It is a nice place to get some comfort food after visiting the Baltic Deli and the European Deli when you are stocking up on hams, real sauerkraut, and real keilbasa. The place is very small and it feels like another country. Very quaint and the food is great. The parking is not so bad.
(5)
Susan H.
Tired of Italian and Asian we went here wanting something different for dinner. We hit the jackpot. When we first entered we loved the decor it was cozy and beautiful. We were seated very quickly as it was early (glad we came early it filled up fast). The waitress came and brought us this amazing bread and stuff to smear on it that you just have to try to understand. She was very informative as we picked out our dishes and no one was disappointed. The gypsy pancake was awesome, crispy pancakes with delicious goulash inside of them. The Polish feast was yummy, hunters stew,keilbalsa,stuffed cabbage and 2 kinds of pierogis. And the chicken Riesling with this cabbage side dish that blew my mind. This is rich food you do not want to eat it everyday but it is sooooooooo good. There was nothing we did not like about this place right down to the accordion player. If you are in the area make it a point to come here!!!
This is the place to go when you want some authentic Polish plates and beer. The large and tasty portions will satisfy you well, especially during the winter months. This place is cozy and fills up quickly, but once inside it is warm and the service friendly. If you've never had authentic keilbasa before (no, the vacuum sealed kind in the grocery store does not count) go try the array of Polish foods offered at Cafe Polonia, the only Polish restaurant in Boston.
(4)
Stephanie ..
Cheap, huge portions, and YUMMY! Good selection of eastern european beer, the food is filling (I always have leftovers), and the mini chocolate babka for dessert is a must. My brother and I go whenever we miss polish homecooking--and have managed to get a few of our friends hooked on the food as well. The restaurant is right in the Andrew Square, and I've never had trouble finding parking. It can get busy--I've seen lines of locals out the door on weekends--so call ahead to make a reservation. You still may have to wait for a seat because the restaurant is tiny, but they'll try their best to seat you as soon as the next table opens.
(4)
Doika P.
Good food, good ambiance. The key is that this food is unique and cannot be gotten elsewhere in Boston. Very tasty and a lot of different options. The salmon potato pancakes were very good and the meals were very complete. Cherry beer good as well. Not a big place however.
(4)
Betsy C.
I was staying at a nearby hotel, depressed by the food landscape of mall carts and Applebees, when I decided to yelp the area. Thank god for you yelpers- this turned out to be one of the best random dinners I've ever had. Friendly servers, unique drinks (cherry beer!), and delicious entrees- huge and filling. Thanks for helping me locate such a great find!
(4)
Matt D.
Cafe Polonia is the best Polish restaurant in Boston. Its also the only one I know of. The staff is friendly and the potato pancakes are huge and great, BUT some things are underwhelming. The atmosphere is Polish-like and actual Pollacks dine there. Cheers - (not to be redundant) Potato pancakes - Omelets - Try the pork lard spread that comes with the sometimes fresh bread (not for the hung over) - Also try the hot spiced wine in the winter.. its awesome - Pretty much anything fresh is good Jeers - Once I ordered a dumpling special and it took them 40 minutes to defrost it... that was special - Pretty much everything pre-prepared is horrible to mediocre and its hard to determine which is which beforehand - Its somewhat small, so its hit or miss as to whether it will be full or not. Best to call ahead for big groups
(3)
Kaitlin M.
With a warm and cozy environment, Cafe Polonia was a welcome retreat on a cold January night. The waiter was so friendly offering us bread upon arrival and being very timely with drinks, etc. The food was amazing and brought back memories of sitting in my grandmother's kitchen. I had the "polish plate" so I could sample all the wonderful options--the stuffed cabbage was excellent. You could tell the food was all homemade. I will definitely be returning, and probably sooner rather then later.
(5)
Chris S.
This tiny nook of Polish and other eastern European delicacies is a real treasure. The Polish Plate is perfect for the indecisive - it only lacks potato pancakes, which they also make extremely well. Reasonable prices, friendly staff, great beer selection, beautiful decor... I could eat there again and again. Oh wait - I do.
(5)
Kupkake K.
This was my first time trying Polish food so I really don't have anything to compare it to. I had the Kielbasa and Cabbage Stew plate. The kielbasa was excellent and it's all hand-made. As for the cabbage stew is not hearty soup which most americans are accustomed to but it was cook cabbage leaves with spices. We also had potato pancakes which were excellent. Overall the cafe is small with polish artifacts and the server barely spoke english so you know you're getting something authentic. It's great place to try if you looking for some where new to go. I would go again if I'm the area....Prices were good.
(3)
Chris C.
I like eastern European food on cold winter days. The food here definitely sticks to your ribs. A bit over the top was the pork fat spread for bread, but I could not keep myself from eating it. Pierogis and kielbasa were also pretty good. All in all a pleasant experience with good service and solid food. Worth a try if you have never had Polish food too.
(4)
John B.
I had a fantastic meal here last night. We tried to get in on a Saturday without a reservation and we were turned away. We were not allowed to wait, just turned away. I was so shocked that I had to make sure this place was legit. Upon my return (on a Wed.,no crowd) the staff was friendly and helpful. The beer is phenomenal, brewed in Poland and some of the best porter I've ever had. I ordered the Polish plate, which is a little bit of everything (stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, bigos stew, peirogi)...it was delicious. I recommend the boneless pork chop and the potato pancakes with goulage. Simply great authentic polish food.
(4)
Matthew M.
Love it! I moved to Boston back in August, and quite frankly, I'm sick of the culinary dominance of burgers and pizza here. Feeling sad about the lack of variety in Boston's food culture, I read a good review of this place and thought I'd roll the dice. It was great. Overall, the food was extremely hearty and delicious. For example, my girlfriend and I split the "gypsy pancake" which is a ladlefull of very juicy and well seasoned beef goulash sandwiched between two crispy, golden potato pancakes, with a dollop of sour cream on top. Certainly not haute cuisine, but every bit as pleasing.
(5)
Lindsay S.
Wow, what a wonderful, authentic, Polish restaurant! Parking was quite easy, right out front. Small and cozy, the waiter was incredibly friendly and helpful. We started off by ordering wine and beer - great Polish beer selection. We were then given a basket of bread accompanied by lard with caramelized onions. I did not try it, but many people said it was delicious. I ordered the coconut shrimp, potato pancakes, and potato + cheese pierogis. Everything was awesome, and everyone else loved their dishes as well. The couple I was with, who are Czech/Polish and were there recently, said the food was quite good. The only suggestion i have: when you go, order you pierogis boiled, not fried. I assumed that theyd be better fried (what isn't??) and was wrong. Boiled were more authentic, apparently, and i thought actually tasted best. We ended with a strawberry crepe, which was quite good although the filling was a little fake-jelly-ish. Perhaps that's authentic, though?it was still QUITE good. High recommendations overall.
(5)
Keri S.
My husband and I Google-d Polish restaurants in Boston, as we wanted to try something new and hoped we had something authentic in our neighborhood. We found parking on the street right outside (great luck, especially in the winter) and stepped in to the restaurant, which was warm and inviting, and smelled wonderful! The service was fantastic and the food/drink amazing. We enjoyed pierogis, stuffed cabbage and kielbasa, a favorite of both of our grandparents and staples growing up. Thank you for a great experience. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Holly M.
Went to Cafe Polonia last night with a dear friend for my much anticipated birthday dinner...and was not disappointed. Sometimes I really miss the comforts of home (kielbasa, pierogies, and stuffed cabbage) and need a little comfort food. This place truly hits the spot. I had an Okocim Light to start ...love that beer! Then had a deliciously cute kielbasa app and for an entree potato pancakes with sour cream. All of it was beatifully presented and prepared... I think we even saw a woman reminscent of my Polish Babcia cooking in the kitchen. The server was extremely sweet and the decor was perfect. I know where I'm taking my Mom the next time she comes to visit :)
(4)
M M.
The food was good the service was terrible. We went there on a Wed night and after our meals asked for the dessert menu. We were told that the kitchen shuts off the stove at 8:30pm-even for current seated customers! For that reason alone I will never go back there.
(1)
Mike S.
A tiny, adorable restaurant near Andrew Square -- incredibly tasty. Pickle soup or borsht and a plate of pierogies will keep your tummy filled all day.
(5)
Carolyn B.
Now that we have discovered Cafe Polonia, we don't have to wait for the holidays to have great Polish food. We shared a bowl of borscht and a Polish plate. The kielbasa was fresh, dumplings in the soup loaded with mushrooms, everything including the service and atmosphere were terrific. I will be a regular.
(5)
George K.
Get the polish plate and a polish beer and you'll understand.
(5)
Brenden L.
Having traveled Poland and eating some pretty damb good food over there I expected this place to dissapoint me greatly but to my surprise it did not at all. This is traditional fare which means lots of meat, potatoes, beet soup, and bread served with lard. The entrees are decently priced and worth every penny and the soups are to die for. They even have a few Polish beers on hand which is a treat if you've never had the oppurtunity to taste any.
(4)
Steve N.
ok, so i'm a big Polski. this place will make U wish you had a little Polish grandmother when U were growing up. the potato pancakes will make your knees buckle, the perogi are handmade and to die for (xtra sour cream please!) and the stuffed cabbage bring me back to a very happy place. an excellent offering of Polish and Chech beers coupled with gorgeous Polish waitresses make this place truly stand out. go very hungry, leave very happy. be warned the place is TINY and it can get cold near the door when the wind is blowing hard.
(5)
Peter K.
Awesome Polish food, located in the heart of South Boston's "Polish Triangle" My boyfriend and I have become regulars. I learned how to cook Polish food from my mom, and I know that she would be impressed. If you have not had Polish food before, go for the Polish Plate, which gives you a great sample of all Polish favorites - Stuffed Cabbage, Kielbasa, Pierogi's, and Bigos (Sauerkraut stew).
(5)
Brett P.
I went last night for a friend's birthday to this tiny little storefront place in Southie's "Polish Triangle" neighborhood at the edge of Dorchester. We had three appetizers - the smoked salmon potato pancakes, herring filet in oil, and kielbasa twists. The potato pancakes were the table favorite - delicate, not overly oily, topped with a piece of smoked salmon. The herring was dubbed rather bland by one of the herring lovers at the table who favors the more sweet Jewish style of this dish. The kielbasa twists seemed a bit gimmicky, just pieces of grilled kielbasa split halfway up into quarters and twisted, with a dipping mustard on the side. Two of the five people in our party got the Polish plate and judged it a good choice due to both the skillful preparation and variety - a portion of meat stew, stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and kielbasa. Two also got the pierogi dish - about ten small pierogies arranged in a circle on a small plate, topped by a bit of caramelized onion.. The meat variety was good, lightly spiced ground beef, and the cabbage and mushroom variety even better, rich and flavorful, a filling I had not encountered before. My only complaint would be the lack of anything else on the plate. For $15-19 (depending on whether you get the vegetable or meat filling) you'd think they'd put the pierogies on a large plate and throw on a few dollops of sides, like the beet salad I admired on the plate of my friend who had the pork loin. They have a very short but acceptable wine list, but go native and try one of the seven Polish beers available. The Warka Strong was a full-bodied amber lager with a good smack of hops and matched the cuisine very well. A shared chocolate babka for dessert was a rich and tasty ending to the meal. Service was warm, attentive and friendly. There weren't many other tables occupied when we arrived at 7:30, but the restaurant was nearly full by the time we left after 9, interesting because they are only open until 10. The bill was about $40 per person, which included a drink, appetizers, main dish, and shared dessert, so it's not as expensive as many comparable restaurants would be a few miles north in the heart of downtown Boston. For a neighborhood place offering a cuisine not frequently found in Boston, Cafe Polonia is a nice little Polish outpost.
(3)
Melissa W.
Fantastic culinary experience. I grew up with Polish food and have been looking for an authentic polish restaurant. Great find! Beautiful decor as well. The kielbasa is delicious and savory. The potato pancakes are delicate and great with applesauce. I really loved the blood sausage too.
(5)
Timothy H.
Probably one of the best restaurant that I've been to in Boston. If you're a newcomer or new to Polish food, then this place is a must-go! For newcomers I would recommend their Polish plate for an entree, this way you can to sample a little bit of everything on most of their menu. There Polish sausage, meat cabbage lasagna, and steam potato/meat pierogi is guarantee to make you come back for more! I sure did, I went here five times now! Also, they serve you bacon lard as a spread for the freed bread that they serve you. Try it with a little bit of salt and pepper.
(5)
William H.
Very intimate venue in the south Boston Polish district. There's only room for about 20 people. I want to say authentic, but that would imply it's a really good copy. This is the real thing. There's a photo on the wall of the owners with Lech Wałęsa (the president of Poland). The food was great and the man who waited our table (waiter?, chef?, owner? I don't know) was a very nice and friendly man. When we paid and walked out the door he saw and came out to the sidewalk and waved goodbye to us and invited us back. Next time I'm in Boston I'll go out of my way to come again.
(5)
Shadi B.
It was my first time dinning at Polish food restaurant. I will absolutely do it again. This place gives you the perfect combination of home feeling along with delcious food. I loved everything i tried. The "Night Cuttlet" was absolutely amazing. The service was excellent.
(5)
Al F.
Awesome Polish food. Haven't had a good polish meal like this in a long time. Great variety also.
(4)
Ally C.
The service was rather off-putting. When we walked in there were no employees in sight for a few minutes. We decided to seat ourselves at a table in the middle, but since there were only three chairs we pulled over a chair from an empty table. The waitress finally appeared and we asked if we could sit there. She said sure but was a little weird about it. She also only brought three menus and it was impossible to get her attention. I ended up standing up and grabbing another menu from the counter. Passive aggressive or am I overthinking? Bread was complimentary. It was kind of hard and stale. Instead of butter, they had sausage lard to spread on the bread. The food was just okay, rather greasy and heavy. I wouldn't want to have that meal again for the sake of my health and longevity. My friend doesn't eat pork and so I wanted to ask the waitress if my sausage contained pork because he wanted to try my food. We tried to find the waitress. I had to stand up and poke my head over the waitress station to ask her. (For the record, all their sausages have pork.) I guess there wasn't a great tone set at the beginning. When we walked in there was a table at the corner staring at us with wide shocked eyes. I'm not sure why we looked surprising, probably because we were the only non-white people in the restaurant? Otherwise, the ambiance was very cute and honey. I liked the decor and the feel of the interior.
(2)
Le T.
The owner was washing the windows right when we entered. He asked whether we were coming in as if he was surprised to have customers. We weren't sure the food was gonna be good. We found out later that the place was actually very busy. The owner was very kind and polite and even let us take the table that has been reserved the following 1.5 hrs. He politely asks if it's okay for us to leave at about 2pm before the reservation guests arrives. We were fine with it because it's enough time for lunch. We ordered the beet soup and the beef parley soup as our appetizer. Both soup were amazing esp. the mushroom ravioli in the beet soup! We also ordered the blood sausage that has no skins. It sounds gross but it's a healthier version! We also ordered the polish plate and the veal Lichtenstein entree. Overall, very delicious authentic polish food! Hasta la vista!!
(5)
Crystal Z.
I am usually just a lurker on Yelp, but this place really inspired me to leave a review. I want to stop and tell everybody that I see about this tiny little Polish gem. I have only had Polish food a handful of times since it is somewhat of a rarity in the smaller towns that I have previously lived in, but this blew me away. The pierogies were absolutely fantastic. I can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu. Great atmosphere, great service, and above all, great food.
(5)
Timmy L.
Intimidating and unattractive on first description, tender and delicious on first bite. After a particularly enticing episode of Diners, Dives, and Drive-Ins, my girlfriend and I decided to visit Cafe Polonia, an adorably decorated Eastern European oasis in the slightly dangerous Dorchester. Polish food, their specialty, is quite intimidating when described. Kielbasa, Pierogies, and Goulash all sound old-world menacing, not to mention that they give you lard (yes, lard,) to accompany your bread. Although it might not make for the perfect first date, don't be alarmed. The food is much better than what you're imagining and is a pleasant way to experience a new culture. For a little bit of everything, definitely order the Polish Plate. For my favorite dish, try the Gypsy Pancake. Delicate crunchiness on the exterior, rich potato inside with a filling and luxurious soup in between. Just delightful. Although I won't make the journey out here anytime soon, Cafe Polonia was a delightful experience in Polish cuisine.
(5)
Breanne W.
I went here on my recent trip to Boston because of Triple D, I love Diners Drive ins and Dives and well I also love Pierogies so ofcourse this was a must go! It is such a cute little restaurant and the food was amazing! We had the kielbasa twists and the potato and cheese pierogies and everything was fantastic. The service was quick and friendly and the food was hot and delicious. Seriously if you are in the area I totally recommend this place!
(5)
Kaushal M.
I was led to this place after reading the Yelp hint that "vegetarians go nuts after this place". I'm a vegetarian and I did not go nuts after this place. We tried 2 of the 3-4 available items and they were not too good. The potato pancakes are basically deep-fried patties of just mashed potatoes. Even after I squeezed out oil off a single "pancake" using 6 napkins, all I tasted was oil when eating it. I couldn't finish a single pancake of the 4 in the serving. The second item ordered was strawberry crepes. Unlike the crepes we have had before, this crepe was like a mini rolled burrito with strawberries and strawberry jelly. The service was good; we were disappointed with the vegetarian options and the food.
(1)
Abby R.
Best Polish food I've had in Boston, hands down. From the outside it looks like a diner to me, but on the inside it's a small, 5-6 table restaurant done up in a lot of heavy wood decor and nicely decorated. Our waiter looked and sounded like a Polish version of Gerard Depardieu. Which is a good thing. He was incredibly sweet and friendly. We ordered kielbasa and cabbage stew and potato pancakes. I ordered the potato pancakes because I say yes to carbs whenever presented. There were 4 hand-size potato pancakes all neatly and perfectly cooked with just the right amount of crisp and a delicious flavorful soft center. Really great. They come with sour cream and a chunky apple sauce which was delicious but not very plentiful. (I'm sure the waiter would have given me more if I had asked.) The pancakes were fine on their own though. This is not a mark against them by any means, but they were pretty greasy. In a delicious way. I would definitely order them again as an appetizer but a whole meal of them was a bit much. Not that that stopped me from eating them all. The kielbasa looked as good as it tasted. It had fancy little criss-cross cuts in it and was juicy and flavorful and just damn good. The bigos (aka hunter's stew, aka cabbage stew) was not a stew at all but a pile of soft delicious cabbage with a sour tang that was the perfect compliment to the kielbasa. I'm not doing a very good job of explaining it, but trust me on this, you'll want to try it. We went the extra mile and got the chocolate babka cake which is basically a lava cake. It was delicious, but it wasn't the best I've ever had. Totally worth it if you're craving some chocolate though, nothing bad to say about it. The plating on everything we got was exquisite and made me feel like I was in a much fancier place. Despite that, our food came out really quickly, probably only 10-15 minutes after we ordered it. It was also pretty cheap. Both of our meals were only $12, and with the dessert and a soda, the total was about $35. Value, people! I have to go back to try the pierogis....
(5)
Katie W.
Cafe Polonia is a hidden gem. Friendly staff, great atmosphere. We had the borscht, stuffed cabbage, and kielbasa. Would definitely go back.
(5)
Paul A.
Authentic Polish cuisine in a relaxed setting. Great food and a friendly staff. If I were a local this would be a regular stop for me.
(4)
Gábor A.
Potato pancake with goulash:) yummy. If you like Eastern European kitchen, you'll love to eat here! The service is amazing, very kind people.
It started with a phone call to ask if there was a wait. With 15 minutes notice, the very nice host reserved a window table for two for myself and my girlfriend. My mother makes great Polish food so I was excited to see all the rave reviews here about everything. My problem was I couldn't decide which to get! When I explained my problem, our waiter suggested I just create my own entree of a little of each. I can say with certainty that the pierogies, kielbasa, and the potato pancakes are amazing. The service was also excellent. I wanted to try the chocolate lava cake that the table next to me had and loved, but alas I was too full. I will definitely come back here if I'm ever back in Boston.
(5)
Aleh V.
Well... I'm originally from Belarus which is "almost" Poland. And I went there to get some local food I used to. The restaurant is extremely far from being authentic. Probably, the only authentic thing I got there was the "Ukranian Borsch". It was good though. Everything else was leaning towards "what happens to the authentic places when they start targeting global audience". Basically, nearly half of the menu has nothing to do with Poland. The worst situation being with Appetizers and Deserts: Chicken Wings and Chocolate pancakes... yeah... yammy. Do not recommend. I'd look for another 'polish' place.
(2)
James T.
I went here with a friend a few weeks ago; I had the meat Pierogi. It's a bit difficult for me to give an accurate review of their food, because I haven't been to any other Polish restaurants. However based on this dish only, I thought the food was a little bland.
I would have to preface this review by mentioning that any Polish food anyone gives me would have to measure up to my Babci's cooking, which, to me, sets the bar pretty high. That said, Cafe Polonia is a cute little place serving up all the staples of Polish cuisine--barszcz, kielbasa, pierogi, cabbage rolls, potato pancakes, etc. I ordered the Polish plate, a sampler of several dishes. It was tasty, comfort food, nothing too flashy or fancy. The barszcz (beet soup) was very nice--not too sweet, with some tasty mushroom-filled dumplings floating on top. It didn't quite meet the bar set by my grandmother's cooking, but that would have been pretty difficult. It was also a tad more expensive than it should have been, in my opinion. One big minus was the location of the cafe--in a slightly sketchy neighborhood in Dorchester. We went because we had visited Castle Island that morning, but probably wouldn't go out of the way to get there again unless we happened to be in the area. If it were in a nicer area, or closer to home, I would definitely go back again though.
The atmosphere at Cafe Polonia complemented the snowy Boston evening. With only a few tables, the restaurant exuded a European ski lodge with wooden chairs and pillows and rugs on the booths. The service was extremely friendly. (Call ahead for a reservation, was lucky.) The bread came with a type of spread that am still curious to learn what it was. Did a little research to discover it was probably a lard spread called smalec. Sampled some traditional Polish dishes including pierogi, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and cabbage stew. Was surprised to discover the kielbasa and cabbage stew (Polish hunter's stew) was not more of a soup but tasty nonetheless compared to a German sauerkraut. The stuffed cabbage came with a sauce resembling a creamy tomato soup. The pierogi dough was delicate with a mix of potato and meat filling. The star was the kielbasa, with a meaty grilled char that immediately caused the desire to go out and buy some kielbasa for the next day's dinner.
(4)
Mika S.
Delicious! Came here for lunch with my boyfriend and ordered the Smoked Salmon Potato Pancakes and the Polish Plate (with borsch substituted for the Hunter's Stew). Everything was absolutely amazing! Even though i'm not a big fan of cabbage the Stuffed Cabbage ended up being one of my favourites (along with the borsch). A big plus was the freshly baked bread and lard (I think it was lard) that our waitress brought us when we sat down. The restaurant was small and homey, and the waitress was very attentive. Overall, this restaurant deserves a 10/10!
(4)
Miranda S.
I love this place. Excellent food, excellent service. I've been here twice and have gotten the same thing both times - one reason being it was good and the second reason being I went with different people each time - and it was a good option for a first timer. I got the potato pancakes as an appetizer (no salmon) and the polish plate as my meal. The first time I came here was with someone who was half polish - he said the food was very authentic. It's very filling, which is a good thing. I'm looking forward to the leftovers I brought home last night. I like that the polish plate is a little mix of everything. Next time I'll try something else on the menu. The guy dressed in all black that was serving and checking on people while they ate is just wonderful. He's so polite and makes sure you have everything you need. He also asked us how our meal was afterwards, and walked us to the door when we left...which wasn't very far because the restaurant was small, but still. Very nice of him :) I'll be back very soon!
(4)
Kasey S.
We've ordered takeout and dined in (once each). All I can say about this place is it is FABULOUS! Going in for the full experience is much more fun and authentic, but their takeout is the same quality (and sometimes you just gotta eat pierogis on your couch). I highly recommend the potato and cheese pierogis and the potato pancakes. Can't wait until our next visit to try more new things!
(5)
David C.
Dear Cafe Polonia, You had me at "bacon lard spread," but you didn't stop there. Oh no. After slathering the aforementioned lard on the softest of Italian bread, there was the Polish Plate, a ginormous sampling of all things Polish, which, for a mere $16, turned out to be the perfect appetizer for sharing amongst myself and two equally ravenous friends. I could have left happily at that point, but no, you continued to spoil me. The Gypsy Pancake, self-described as a "giant potato pancake filled with Hungarian Goulash, topped with sour cream and parsley," filled me almost to the point of bursting. It was a little burnt, but I will forgive you so long as you promise to keep the Chocolate Babka cake on your dessert menu forever. Love, David C
(4)
Niki M.
Went there for our first time tonight because it came up with good reviews in a search for Polish cuisine. It was delicious! The staff was delightful. Mike was a wonderful waiter and steered us in the right direction for ordering our meals. We will definitely be back. Great bargain for the price and very authentic!
(5)
Will H.
Great service, awesome food. Stuffed cabbage was great.
(5)
Cindy K.
Love it here! I grew up on polish food since my family is straight from Poland. This place is the closest to my familys home cooking and just feels very authentic. I recommend it for sure!
(5)
Natalie G.
Awesome pierogies! I'm vegetarian and the very polite waiter offered that I try all 3 kinds so I could decide which one I liked best. I liked them all very much!
(5)
Elizabeth B.
Love Cafe Polonia. There are very few Polish restaurants in Boston so I was happy to find this gem. I grew up eating Polish food made by my Polish Grandma and this place is comparable. The inside of the restaurant is impeccably clean and just adorable. I love the lard and crackling spread for the bread (seriously, just try it!). I usually order the Polish plate because it gives a nice sampling of some of the classics. However, I've also had the gypsy pancakes which were delicious. Glad this place is here!
(4)
Nik A.
This is a wonderful restaurant. It is small and homey, with authentic decorations. I liked the food but it wasn't my favorite Eastern European food experience. Some dishes were not balanced the way I would prefer (the Potato pancakes). Will be back for sure.
(3)
Donna M.
Was disappointed !! Do not honestly know what all the fuss is about . The borscht was watery beet juice w/ a few pierogi in it for $7!! My main course of pierogi were eh!! Dough pretty thick & fillings just ok. Tasted other dishes at the table, was not impressed. Nice people , but boring food. Really felt that the prices were high for what they serve. $15 for a plate if mediocre pierogi . Will not trust Guy Ferrtti any longer. Glad for the restaurant that a lot of other people seem to like it. Extra star for decent service. 2
(2)
Chris S.
Cafe Polonia is so authentic Pleeps and I are remembering my Granny and my Aunt - killed the pierogis, killed the potato pancakes and pigs n the blanket (no not cocktail dogs) but couldn't plow thru Lithuanian kielbasa. This is the place to eat in Boston!!!!!
(5)
Robert G.
Babka chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and warm chocolate sauce is magnificent. Enjoyed the Polish Dinner.
(4)
A. C.
Probably the most authentic Polish food you will ever get in Boston. If you want real Polish food experience in the US, you will need to go to Chicago. The owner of the restaurant served us and he was surprised to see my husband who is a Polish American (and fluent in Polish). Great potato pancakes, bigos, kiełbasa, and gołąbki (stuffed cabbage). I felt like I was visiting in law's house. They serve other European dishes (central and Eastern only) as well.
(5)
Maria Q.
Looking for a restaurant after visiting the JFK Library - one stop off the T line. Didn t think we would find anything as this neighborhood didn't seem to have much except a pizza place and a dunkin. Coming from Chicago where Polish is standard fare - we were a bit skeptical. We asked if vegetarian and at first she said no but there actually were some nice options and they offered to take the bacon off the top of the potatoe and cheese perogies. Our group had salmon on Potatoe pancakes, very good salad if pear, walnuts, cranberries, goat cheese with a poppy seed salad; and goulash which was fabulous. It was all prepared fresh and attractive plating. We enjoyed it quite a bit. Funny to find this little bit of Poland in South Boston...
(4)
Roxie D.
I was a vegetarian when I ate here, and there were tons of options. The barley soup was deee-lish, and the pierogies were fresh and filling. The blintz was super nummy and a great way to polish off the carb-fest. An awesome place to go for winter comfort food!
(4)
Mason K.
Amazing Polish food. The restaurant is very small, it only holds about 30 people max. For an appetizer I tried the potato pancakes. There were 4 small pancakes that came with some sort of an apple paste and sour cream. The combination of those is amazing. For dinner I had the Polish Plate. It came with 3 pierogów, 2 pieces of kielbasa, gołąbki and a sauerkraut stew with pieces of kielbasa. Everything exceeded my expectations. If I had to choose one part of the meal I did not like it would be the dessert. I tried the chocolate babka cake. It was good but not as good as some other parts of the meal. The price is pretty cheap considering it is the only place in Boston you can get authentic Polish food.
(5)
Alex L.
Filling and delicious. I got the polish plate and left very satisfied. 2 pierogi (not the best I've had but still very good) kielbasa, some very good sauerkraut and stuffed cabbage. Also, the lard spread with the rye bread is a great addition.
(4)
Gary D.
Went for lunch for a second time. This place is very good. I have to say I don't know why I do not eat here more frequently.
(5)
Mary D.
Why is is there not 6 stars?! This place has the most amazing food! My friends and I came to sample the food and we ordered up a storm!!! Literally everything we ordered was incredible! The staff is also so so sweet! This is my new favorite place! We will be back- probably this week!
(5)
Joe R.
I went there with two friends and had a great time. Since we were new to Polish food, we tried three different plates and shared them. They were all great! We ordered the Kielbasa, potato pancakes, and meat pierogies. We also added the goulash with the pierogies. All food was terrific! It's a smaller restaurant and very popular.
(4)
Earl J P.
Outstanding and fairly inexpensive food! Best Polish food I've had. Those wanting to try a bit of everything would be best served with the "Polish Plate". It was a great way to sample 4 different items.
(5)
Terry H.
Didn't care for the pork fat and bacon spread that they serve with the bread! Good kielbasa though!
(3)
Michailia G.
I am so happy I discovered this place! Have no had real authentic polish food since my grandparents passed years ago so when I found this on yelp I was stunned. Could real Polish food exist in s. Boston? The answer was easily yes!!. First let me say I ordered takeout and the girl was so nice on the phone and even nicer when I arrived. I really liked the atmosphere of the place. Now I orders the polish plate which is exactly the three things I wanted. Kielbasa( served over sourkrout) stuffed cabbage and 3 potatoes and cheese pirogies. The moment I tasted the pirogies, and stuffed cabbage was so nostalgic! Exactly the way my grandparents would of made it. I mean exactly. Delicious, fresh, just overall wonderful. A little pricy that's why I only gave it 4 stars but I would definitely return.
(4)
Alice S.
Unfortunately I just don't believe my taste buds can appreciate Polish food. My group had: - Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops (5/5) - Kishka (Blood Sausage) (4/5) - Polish Plate ( Hunter's stew "Bigos" stuffed cabbage, three pierogi and grilled Polish sausage "kielbasa" (1/5) - Potato Pancakes (1/5) I really enjoyed the scallops and kishka, but everything else was not to my liking. It's no fault of the restaurant's - it's just my personal preference. I probably will not be back, but if you like Polish food, then this is a must go.
(2)
SL M.
Took Mom for some Polish food. She was thrilled with its authenticity. I now need to bring her back each time she visits. Borsch, tripe soup, bigo, kielbasa, and pierogi were all great. Super polish beer too! They had to warn me it had a 9.5% ABV. This place is small and caters to a niche crowd. You can find a table. Come here to experience the cuisine without having to travel or get some variety in the midst of the standard Starbucks crowd. Run by a Couple who were very humble and attentive. I highly recommend for a day you want to "mix it up."
(5)
John D.
This place is fantastic. Great service and atmosphere Most important excellent Polish food. We had pierogies, kielbasa, some kind of veal, goulash, and stuffed cabbage. All was fantastic. Can't wait for my next visit to Boston to go back to Cafe Polonia!
(5)
Peter L.
Wonderful dinner at Cafe Polonia! The Polish plate is a must as well as the perogies! The stuffed cabbage brought my girl friend back to her Grandmothers kitchen! Authentic Polish experience! Highly recommended!
(4)
Abhishek M.
Bacon wrapped scallops is the reason I work my ass off to take a vacation to eat food like this. The potato pancakes were great but however a little too oily for me. The beer is great!
(5)
Andrea B.
Cafe Polonia's a cute little Polish place in South Boston, a quick walk from Andrew Station. I came here one rainy Saturday evening with Leah K. There were a couple tables available and we were seated immediately. I have a hunch that the lack of crowd had a lot to do with the rainy, miserable weather, because those 4 and a half stars on Yelp don't lie! Entree sizes are generous and the food is FILLING. I was a little put-off by the bacon lard that came with the bread that was brought to the table, but other than that, everything I tried, I rather enjoyed. I'm obsessed with potato pancakes, so ordering the Gypsy pancake was a no-brainer for me. This gigantic potato monstrosity came with Hungarian goulash and was topped with sour cream. Now, anyone who knows me knows I LOVE me some sour cream. I'll eat it with like, anything. So, as you can imagine, the teeny tiny little dollop that came with this epic pancake was nowhere near enough!! I made my way through just about half of it (yes, it really was that big) before wrapping the rest up and taking it home. We also got the pierogis. You get to choose whether to get them boiled or fried (get 'em fried - duh). They come stuffed with either cheese, potato and cheese, or cabbage and mushroom. Never know what you're gonna get until you bite it and find out! They were decent, but nothing to write home about. The menu features a whole host of tasty entrees, so I will definitely have to come back to try a few more things. We shared the apple crisp for dessert. I don't need to make this review even longer by describing it other than to say it was phenomenal. Oh, but I have to add - when I opened the takeout box to eat the rest of my pancake the next day, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had packed some more sour cream to go with it. SCORE! I'm not gonna lie - I was totally going to give this review three stars, until I saw that extra cream. Love you, Polonia!
(4)
Michael C.
I came in the late afternoon for a lunch. The place was only half full but the young waiter had a hard time keeping up with attending to us on some of the basics, such as giving us water and making any kind of recommendation Here is what we had: Polish Plate - Tradition polish plate. I really liked the flavor combination Potato Pancake - Almost like a big hash brown if you've never had one before
(3)
Chris M.
One of the best restaurants I've ever been. Whoever is cooking that food is doing it with vast amounts of love.
(5)
Scott K.
We ate here earlier tonight. The waiter was friendly, the polish beer was good. We ate the polish plate with had a good selection of various polish food as well as the gypsy pancake followed by an apple crumble. Food servings were huge and everything tasted great!! Be sure to try the apple crisp/crumble.
(5)
Kevin H.
This place is great! I took the hardest polish food critique - my Polish aunt, and we both loved it. The pierogies and the kielbasa were the best! thank you
(5)
Chris B.
I can't even pronounce half the things I ate. But it was all so good. I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant that only served Polish cuisine. Guess there's a first for everything. The restaurant is pretty small and cozy. The server was friendly and helpful as we studied the menu. Overall the food was great and I thought the pricing was on point.
(4)
Megan L.
Phenomenal. Pure Polish and Hungarian food and atmosphere. Service was spectacular. I enjoyed Polish beer for the first time. I had the pierogi (half potato, half cabbage mushroom) with caramelized onion. Amazing. Next time I would asked for more onion. Potato pancake was great. Apple Crisp solid. Service was so good that (as a lone diner I was reading a book) my server asked if I wanted better lighting. Can't wait to return.
(5)
Caroline H.
This place is amazing. Fresh, authentic, mouth watering Polish food. This is a unique restaurant to Boston for a number of reasons. First off, it is warm, cozy and charming inside. There is nothing better than walking into a place such as this after trekking through the snow. When you walk through the front door you immediately feel a soothing warmth from the environment, and the smell of comforting food engulf you. There are not many tables, so if you have a large crowd you might want to consider calling ahead. Starters: smoked salmon- you receive a large portion of this. Well worth it. Entree: whole rainbow trout. Yes, WHOLE. This is one of the few places that I've been to serving this. Simply amazing. Bigos is delicious as well. Dessert: the chocolate cake is really to die for. If you are too full from dinner I really recommend taking this to go :) it's on the small side, but it is so satisfying. This place is a must go. If you have a chance, afterwards check out the little authentic polish deli across the street. AMAZING.
(5)
Ashley G.
Cafe Polonia is right in my neighborhood which is great! I've never had a bad experience here and I've always had super friendly service. Their food is delish! I would recommend the Gypsy pancake (high five if you can finish it!) and the stuffed cabbage is out of this world!
(5)
J. R. H.
Best authentic Polish soups and entrees I have enjoyed in USA since my last visits to Warszawa and Krakow. Service was outstandingly good as well.
(5)
Christine B.
The guy working there, possibly the owner, was very friendly and seemed so please to serve us, it made it that much more enjoyable. We were served a basket of bread, and we started with the kielbasa twists, real Polish kielbasa is the best, it was served with mustard. I had the potato pancakes with apple sauce, sour cream, and goulash. I wish apple sauce was sold like this in jars, I would actually buy it. It had thicker chunks of apple but was soft to eat. My boyfriend had the Polish plate, he is Polish and that is all his mom cooks so if he approved, I know it's good.
(5)
Amanda C.
My boyfriend and I go here whenever we can. The food is delicious and the servers are very friendly. The Vienna Pork Chop is my favorite!
(5)
Chris C.
My dinner group came here for dinner on a Friday in January. RATINGS: Food: 3.75 Service: 2.25 Decor: 2.75 Total: 3.25 CAPSULE REVIEW: Cafe Polonia, while receiving an overall score of 3.25, was regarded as one of the more lackluster FF experiences in recent memory. Between the "terrible service," the food that "seemed to lack flavor," and the decor that was "a little bland," there wasn't much love for Cafe Polonia. "Even Turkish prisons serve bread and water to their 'guests' but not Cafe Polonia." A few lone holdouts held some faith in the food, but these sentiments were tempered by the service. "Excellent food cannot entirely erase the terrible service." One reviewer indicated he'd gladly return... to the Salem location. Sadly, the Salem location has closed. DINER COMMENTS: Very fun night with hearty winter food. -- Wanted to like more than I did. Excellent food cannot entirely erase terrible service and boring decor. Been to both locations. I'd gladly go back to Salem over Boston. -- Kielbasa and saurkraut... yes, please! The pierogies were a little on the mushy side but still flavourful. Service was a little lackluster but allowed for good conversation and an enjoyable evening. Decor was a little bland but wasn't detrimental. -- Overall the food was good, but seemed to lack flavor. Also, I discovered this morning that it was decidedly salty. The portion was more than adequate for a big boy like me; I have the gypsy pancake (potato pancakes with goulash) and I was full after dinner. -- Polish Platter was lukewarm at best. Kielbasa was tough. Pierogi was overcooked and bland. Tomato salad w/mozzarella and avocado was good even for tomatoes being out of season. Sauerkraut was quite good even cold. -- Even Turkish prisons serve bread and water to their "guests" but not Cafe Polonia. My polish pupu platter was a mix of unintentionally hot and cold items. And no apple crisp! On the other hand, the food had a nice homemade quality with fresh ingredients. -- Hole in the wall with Pretty delicious and unique food but utterly terrible service - no water for the table, no offers of refills - just wish the service has been snappier - its not a huge place
(3)
Joe B.
??? I don't understand how this place receives such rave reviews. The food (kielbasa, in this case) tasted like store-bought pre-cooked sausage. The kraut had no real zing and we found the other dishes bland. I've visited Poland 4 times and taken a native Pole to this place. We consider the quality of the food worse than mediocre. That said, the service seemed decent and the people welcoming - hence the third star.
(3)
Jake K.
Small, very small. Recommend you call ahead and get a reservation - even for a party of one. Service was very hands off - if you wanted them there, they would come, otherwise, once your food is out, they leave you alone. The food seems intimidating at first, so if you don't know your Polish foods very well, I recommend the Polish Platter. You'll get stuffed cabbage, kielbasi, pierogis, and some golanka (hunter's stew - lots of sour cabbage). Prices are a bit high, but I thought it was fine for what I got. If you're in southie, this is worth a trip if you're near Dorchester Ave.
(5)
Feodor H.
Located in the South Boston/Dorchester, this Polish/Hungarian place is authentic in every sense of the word. We went there for dinner, lured by the shining of four and a half stars on Yelp. The place was half empty early on a Saturday night, so we sat down and prepared to enjoy the food. We ordered Blood Sausage as an appetizer, followed by Pierogi, Potato Pancakes and Goulash Delight. We waited for a while, and then waited a little more, and started to feel very hungry. It seemed like they could have served the appetizer by now. Then we got all the dishes coming at once - pierogi, pancakes, goulash, which was wonderful. But I wanted to try the blood sausage. Our waitress apologized and said that she had forgotten about that order. She said she could go and "check" on that, but we cancelled it - who needs appetizers when you've already got entrees. Potato pancakes were the best, crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside, they had great taste and texture; overall, perfectly executed dish. Goulash was fine as well, very tasty, although I was not a big fan of bread bowl. Pierogi were just ok. We finished our meal and waited for another 10 minutes before dishes were cleaned up. Then it took another 5 minutes for the waitress to offer us desert menus. This might sound ok, but it was not a busy night at all. We decided to go with Chocolate Babka Cake, but were told they did not have it available. So we got an Apple Crisp, which was ok. We also wanted to get coffee (this is a "cafe" after all), but were told by the waitress that the coffee machine is out of order. We then decided to go with tea, hoping for some authentic polish "herbata", but this turns out to mean a cup of lukewarm water and a Lipton teabag. We asked for a check, which upon inspection had a charge for an appetizer. It took another 10 minutes of waiting before this could be fixed. I also found the interior design heavy-handed. Walls are decorated with fake stonemasonry usually appropriate for the outside, and solid wood chairs are heavy and have high backs, making it impossible to lean back and relax. Overall, I'd rate this dining experience as very authentic. This is especially reflective of the level of service. P.S. There is a polish food store across the street from the cafe. We went in there out of curiosity right after that dinner. They sell, among other things, homemade pierogi stuffed with cheese, cabbage and mushrooms. Hand-packed and frozen in zip-lock bags, they looked suspiciously similar to the ones served in the cafe. We bought a dozen for like $4 (or something, i.e. cheap) and cooked them at home soon thereafter. I have to say, these ones tasted even better.
(3)
Margo R.
I loved Cafe Polonia when I was there a few months ago. It reminded me of my family's cooking. Especially love the rendered lard instead of butter - definitely awesome.
(4)
Iaroslav M.
I've been here once, and I loved it! very authentic, rich in flavors, very attentive wait staff. Try borscht, goulash,and babka for dessert if you want some delicious polish/ukrainian food. they have a great selection of polish beers too! The only eastern European restaurant in Boston I can recommend to my non euro friends
(5)
Megan M.
In preparation for my trip to Boston, I checked Groupon everyday for deals. One night, I was out with my Polish friend, Lindsey, who was going with me to Boston. When we saw the Groupon for Cafe Polonia, we couldn't resist. I can only think of one or two places in Miami that have Polish food, so we were really looking forward to going. We've had enough rice, beans, and plantains! Bring on the kielbasa, pierogis, and borsch! It was a bit far from everywhere else on our itinerary, but it was worth it, and the ride on the T to get there wasn't so bad. A few blocks from the stop, we found this cute little restaurant that looks like it could belong to Lindsey's Polish relative's dining room. We ordered the pierogis, borsch, kielbasa, and potato pancakes. Everything was delicious. I don't typically care for beets, but the borsch was surprisingly good, and I'm always a fan of potato pancakes. The only thing that was a bit off putting was the little cup of lard they served with the bread. I ate my bread plain.... Service was good. A little slow, but we weren't in a rush. Prices were good for the portions, and I definitely recommend ordering a few things for the table and splitting it. We did that, and left stuffed without a huge bill. Cafe Polonia made me wish we had good Polish food here in Miami!
(4)
Ann Marie M.
Yum. The food here is delicious, and authentic! It's a good place to go with 3 or more people so you can try lots of different things. It's a great spot if the wait at 224 is too long- worth a try!
(4)
German G.
This is my favorite restaurant in Boston. Let me list the reasons why: -the bread comes with an addictive (if guilt-inducing) bacon lard spread. -the food is great. It's flavorful and heavy and satisfying, yet doesn't feel like it's loaded with gratuitous oil. I've probably tried half of their entrees and never been disappointed. The polish plate is probably best if it's your first time, but in my experience the gypsy pancake, knight's cutlet, royal duck and others are also great. -portions are huge. If you get one of the big entrees ($16+) you basically have two choices: either pack half of it to go, or unbutton your pants and eat until your belly is about to burst. Part of the reason is that some entrees come with several sides not listed on the menu: things like beet salad, mashed potatoes, cooked apple, sauerkraut, hunter's stew... -the servers are Polish and clearly nice people. E.g.: once I came here for my birthday with some friends, and the waitress spontaneously gave us a free cake for dessert. The only downsides to the place are: first, it's small, so it's a bit risky to come without a reservation. Second, even if you get seats, when the place is crowded the kitchen quickly gets backed up and you may find yourself waiting 1hr+ for your food. To avoid this I've taken to coming either very early (say before 6) or late (after 8).
(5)
Alex R.
It's the best Polish restaurant in Boston. Because it's the only Polish restaurant in Boston. It's OK, not great.
(3)
Zeke B.
My wife and I enjoyed home made pierogies and stuffed cabbage. The place is legit. Decorated like a country cottage, complete with fireplace. Friendly service. I thought my mother might be in the kitchen making the galumpki's.
Delicious. Heavy. Eastern European Bliss. Don't expect any vegetables... or to be able to sleep on your stomach that night. But do expect really great service, authentic Polish food and an adorable atmosphere. And, c'mon, try the bacon and lard. It's incredible.
(4)
David W.
First time to try Polish food, I am not sure if it is a traditional Polish food. but the taste is unique, but not my favor.
(3)
Aoran L.
Awesome place to have Polish food. I had the soup Zurek at Poland when I stayed at my Polish friend's home and loved it so much. Cafe Polonia does not have the soup on the menu. But when I asked the waitress, they told me they could do that for me!! I felt so happy to have the soup again!! The potato pancakes are delicious too. One thing I should recommend is the Zywiec beer!! Try this popular Polish beer from my friend's hometown :)
(5)
Casey C.
This is the first spot we ate in Boston. This little restaurant is amazing! My husband and I shared kielbasa and cabbage stew, and had two polish beers. If I wasn't on a mission to eat my way through Boston in 3 and a 1/2 days then I would be back repeatedly! Tiny place with great service, fabulous food, and awesome Polish beers! Wish I'd thought to take a picture of my food before I devoured it :)
(5)
Andrew K.
Visited once. I have Ukrainian background (Ukraine is bordering Poland), I thought the food wasn't any good. This place is also overpriced, and the service was poor. I am not coming back.
(1)
Crystal S.
I had been wanting to try this place for awhile, as my best friend said it was amazing. Well, he was right and now I am hooked. The absolute BEST pierogis I have had, next to the ones my Babchi made. The cabbage and mushroom are heavenly, I got them fried.
(5)
Tad S.
Sorry. But I was really disappointed. Started with the drink I had, Coke, or so they said it was. No way, I drink it everyday, I can tell Coke from Pepsi; and I don't mind those two. This was different, not sure if Kirkland or shasta, or Diet,as I ordered regular, but waitress insisted it not being diet. Ok, enough about the weird soda. Almost everything we had was short on flavor. It's been weeks since I visited, and sorry, I just could not let this place get away without letting everyone know, polish food is much better than what they serve here. Borsch was runny, and threw in a ton of dill, I get it for the beets, so add more beets than dill. Pierogi, mushrooms and cabbage should have lots of mushrooms, dried, rich in flavor; what I had was missing it all. Potato dumplings, I could not even finish one of them; too dense!! I could build a house with them. Only item I did enjoy, was the blood sausage, but I doubt they made the sausage there; just cut it open heat it up and serve with caramelized onions. I was too afraid to order any dessert. If this is going to be your first time for Polish food, avoid, you do not want to associate this place with Polish cuisine. I left this place scratching my head, and my wife agreed, how the hell did this place have so many stars on yelp? My only comment to her, local polish people, instead of eating here, would stay home and leave reviews. I did not see any polish people eating here...use that as a sign.
(2)
Ro C.
I'm a solid Polish gal who loves some solid Polish food. This was my foray into Polska cuisine that's not my mother's. I thought everything was pretty solid. The waitress wasn't really a waitress. You could tell with her sort of inorganized way. I had pork cutlet and some Polish root vegetables. Loved it. Good stuff. And then I crunched down on something gritty. Uck. No thanks. That doesn't get finished. My strapping fiance has himself a mixed Polish platter, having a little bit of our nation's finest and well known food. A + great taste for him. His soda was a little off, like it had been from a soda bottle gone flat. The father in the booth next to us commented that it was gross as well, so it wasn't just his glass. On the whole, I like that this place reminds me of my grandmother's house. Wood paneled walls, Polska trinkets, and that unsettling doll in a crochetted dress. The place is a little small, and the prices are a bit high for food I'm used to getting served up by my Mamusia.
(3)
Ana R.
We stopped here on a whim for a late lunch - my friend had had good experiences here before, and I was curious. I ordered the porkchop, with fries and gravy. My friend ordered the potato pancake with beef stew. The potato pancake itself was actually really good, and if that was all I'd tasted here, I'd say this was a great rustic place. But the beef stew and the porkchop were both worse than ho-hum. My porkchop came with a stiff scoop of mashed potatoes instead of my fries. I pointed this out to the waiter and my fries came out about ten minutes into the meal, and were greasy and bland. We were the only ones in the restaurant for some time, but service was slow and pretty bad when we actually received it. If the waiter wasn't altogether ignoring us, he was chatting up a storm and interrupting our conversation. It's a small place, max 20 seats, it's sunny and comfortable, but the decor is pretty bad. I won't go back and I wouldn't recommend it. Not much better than frozen food, in my opinion.
(1)
Justin S.
This restaurant is located in South Boston, but sports a very traditional inside with a cobblestone walls, wood floors, and Polish furniture, I was told. The entire staff is Polish except for one waiter who is learning Polish. The typical garnish in Poland is pig lard called szmalec which is absolutely the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted. I think it has beaten the British with their Marmite, and the Aussie's with their Veggimite as the most disgusting garnish for a food (and it's apparently really hard to make good szmalec). But aside from giving you my personal opinion of a food garnish the actual food at the restaurant is wonderful. The pierogi was the best I've ever had, stuffed with either meat or cabbage. I highly recommend the Polish plate which gives you the full variety of the Polish palette, such as kielbasa, pierogi, potatoes cooked 5 ways. I also recommend the beet soup better known as borsch. My friend is Polish and she eats here at every possible opportunity and she has a very picky opinion of food. I also recommend the beer, good varieties of German and Polish. You'll also find much of the food is similar to German cuisine, with which I am personally familiar.
(5)
Mike K.
I don't claim to be an aficionado of polish food, but if this is the best than wow. I had the polish plate, Hungarian potato pancake,and the borscht. It was all amazing. I went there with a friend who is polish and has a babcia from Poland. She said this was very authentic and she loved it too. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Rachel S.
This restaurant is crave-able, as in I will be craving its food soon and often. The food is phenomenal! Went there for lunch today, and ordered the kielbasa and cabbage stew entree. The kielbasa was cooked well - exterior was crispy and interior juicy. The cabbage stew was the real surprise. Flavorful, not overpowering, great compliment. My husband ordered the potato pierogies, fried. Those were also very good. Additionally, enjoyed the pork lard with bacon bits that accompanied the bread basket. Will be back soon!
(5)
Aura S.
Great potato cakes, salad, borscht, sausage! Really enjoyed trying this place! Good service too!
(5)
Adam A.
There is not much that I can say here which hasn't been said already. This is an unbelievable restaurant with delcious food, friendly service, great value, and a cute ambiance. I will elaborate on one item: The almight Gypsy Pancake. It is ridiculously good. Think beef stew between two massive french fry pancakes - but better. The flavors go together perfectly. Everything else I tasted was awesome. I envision myself being back her around once a week, especially in the winter when the hearty food will warm me up.
(5)
Kendall M.
Before coming here, I ignorantly wouldn't have put Poland and culinary in the same sentence. Now I find myself wistfully saying things like "oh I'd love to do a culinary tour of Poland." It's that good. Let me qualify my assessment by saying that I eat a lot of food. When you tell me about that excellent restaurant you ate at last weekend, at the end of your gushing, I ask, "but can I afford to feed myself there?" And while it would be convenient if I preferred quantity over quality, sadly, I only derive satisfaction from the happy marriage of both. In my most recent visit, I devoured half of a Polish Plate (which has Polish sausage with caramelized onions and mustard, stuffed cabbage, and potato dumplings), half a Gypsy Pancake (two Polish potato pancakes stuffed with stew), a Chicken cutlet platter (with some deliciously pickled sides), and 1.5 slices of cake. And the bread, which comes with a lard spread that I asked for seconds of. I'm not really sure where that all went, but it was so good that I just kept putting it away. Absolutely everything, even the sides and sauces, were delicious. Nothing was overlooked. Usually even at a great restaurant and a great meal, you feel something didn't shine as bright as some of your other choices, but literally each component of every dish held to the same scrumptious quality. This is the kind of restaurant where you could close your eyes, poke decisively at random spots on the menu, and do fabulously. The prices, while not keeping within my preferred single dollar sign category, don't feel overblown. It's solidly a $$ venue, but your money goes a long way. I know I said I ate all those things, but the average person will be stuffed upon finishing even one of those dishes to themselves. I also really enjoy the atmosphere (once you get inside and off the street) and the service. I've always been treated warmly there, and always somehow end up sitting cozily by the window on a sunny day. Finally, if you ever have company in the city who you feel might not appreciate some of the more colourful eating options that you yourself usually prefer, this is the kind of restaurant that can safely accommodate grandparents while not boring your inner culinary adventurer. And, after careful consideration, I do believe this is my favorite restaurant in Boston.
(5)
Nick K.
Good Food, I recommend those new to Eastern Europe, to have the variety plate.
(5)
Nicole L.
Absolutely amazing!!!! We take a good friend to a different ethnic restaurant each month for the last couple years and this was by far or favorite place. She is an incredibly picky eater and we were pleasantly surprised. Started with the polish plate as an app. It was a combo of kielbasa, pirogi and stuffed cabbage. All super tasty. Then we (my fiance, my dinner tour buddy and myself) shared the stuffed cabbage, gypsy pancake and boneless pork chop. The stuffed cabbage comes with either a tomato based or mushroom based sauce. Both delish, but I have to give it to the red sauce. The goulash in the gypsy pancake tasted like a delicious beef stew and the potato pancake was cooked perfectly, crispy around the edge, amazing. The pork chop was perfectly crispy. The stuffed cabbage with red sauce and gypsy pancake are a must try. So glad to have leftovers to eat tomorrow!!!! Oh and let's not forget dessert. Babka!!! Perfectly baked chocolate cake with a warm gooey chocolatey middle, topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Best chocolate molten cake I have ever had. Can't believe this place has been around for 14 years and I had never been until tonight.
(5)
Katty H.
This restaurant is still spectacular. Every time someone is in town I take them to this place. My mom, dad, stepmom and mother-in-law all had wonderful experiences here. The first three, all being from Cleveland (and one who makes her own pierogies!) , could compare their meals to equivalents made back home - all well received. My mother-in-law had never had pierogies and fell in love with their pillowy texture. This restaurant is always on the top of my list for "things to do" in Boston! A little side story, my stepmom wanted unsweetened iced tea, but Cafe Polonia didn't have any. So she said, "Oh that's alright, I'll have a cup of hot black tea with a cup of ice and I'll make one myself!" Then behold, the server comes out with a glass of iced tea - which he made himself in the kitchen from hot tea. Didn't have to, but did. So nice!
(5)
Joshua H.
According to a dear friend, who conducted a *pro bono* meta-analysis of my Yelp Reviews, I am due for a four star rating in order to give my ratings a normal distribution, or else...the Mayan prophecies will come true. Oh well, despite the possibility that I am bringing about the world's demise in three months, I highly recommend that you should visit the lovely Cafe Polonia in Southie- FIVE stars worth. The staff was very nice and the whole thing seemed relatively authentic. I ordered the Gypsy Pancake ($16) which was a huge portion of their potato pancakes with goulash between. It was phenomenally delish. Recommend recommend. Recommend. I will say: the food was a tiny bit salty (that's too be expected), and the food was a bit on the expensive side, though by no means outrageous given the huge portion. Overall, however, I will definitely go back if I am in this area before Doomsday.
(5)
Peter K.
A fantastic Polish restaurant! The Polish Plate is the way to go, a sample of everything, and everything is amazing! The pierogis, the kielbasa, the stuffed cabbage, the hunter's stew. Incredible!
(5)
Wilson C.
Every time I come here I can feel my soul purring with happiness. Try the pickle soup if they have it - so so good. I almost always get the gypsy pancake - it's like two giant potato latkes with Hungarian goulash inside, and sour cream and dill on top. The beers are strong, dark and unique and complement the food wonderfully. Polite and prompt service - a must try.
(5)
Loretta C.
The blood sausage and beef tripe soup were sublime! The herring in oil was lovely and the kielbasa was yummy! Nice atmosphere, wonderful waitress...a must-go-back-to restaurant!
(5)
Sarah S.
This is a great whole-in-the-wall restaurant. The decor is quaint and the dining room is extremely clean. The food is delicious and the coffee is nice and strong. The service and atmosphere are very relaxed so you do not feel rushed and can enjoy your entire dining experience at your own pace.
(5)
Mandi M.
Just like Babci used to make. Spectacular Polish food. The Polish rye/lard starter looks questionable, but is very yummy. The stuffed cabbage ("gwumpkies"/gulabki) is spectacular - I prefer the mushroom sauce, since the tomato sauce is thicker than how my mother makes it, but the tomato sauce is good enough, too. The platskis (latkes/potato pancakes) are to die for, especially with sour cream. I highly recommend the gypsy pancake, which is two platskis with goulash in between them. Absolutely heavenly. I don't even have words for how good it is. Polish pupu platter is yummy, and my mother really enjoyed the beet stew (borscht, I guess) with pierogies inside. Be prepared, because they give you a LOT of food. Desserts seem to be pre-made/bought elsewhere, but they're pretty good as well. Good Polish beer selection, too. The service can be sort of iffy at times, but I'm guessing it's because the waitstaff is all foreign and they expect you to flag them down, which is pretty easy, since the place only seats about 20. You'd be crazy not to give it a shot.
Oh, Cafe Polonia... This is starting to become a dangerous love affair. Ahh, this hidden little jewel is the place to go for Eastern European specialties in Boston. Everything about it screams AUTHENTIC (yes, in big capital letters). I absolutely love the restaurant's decor -- It's like being transported back to Europe! Uh oh, I'm starting to get a little sentimental... Why? Cafe Polonia, why must you do this to me?! 'Cuse me while I take a stroll on memory lane... Favorite dishes here are the Potato Pancakes and the Polish Plate, which I'd actually recommend ordering together. The latter is a heaping taste of the restaurant's specialties: Stuffed Cabbage, Kielbasa with Cabbage Stew, and Pierogi. Round it out with an imported Polish beer (they've got a nice little selection) and you've got yourself the perfect meal. Oh, and how can I possibly forget to mention the bread and lard/bacon spread? So indulgent, yet so right. This is not the place to go if you're looking for a "light" meal. The food here is so hearty and comforting -- you'd be doing them a disservice by ordering just a salad. Warning: skinny bitches, stay away.
(5)
Jennifer W.
My husband and I stopped at Cafe Polonia after a long day of travel and wanting a good meal before our 2 hour drive home from the airport - what a delicious find! We were there on a slower night, so we were immediately greeted by a friendly waiter, and he was SO incredibly helpful. He recommended various beers and dishes to go with them, and we were served bread right away. We couldn't decide which dish or combo we wanted, so he offered to come up with a custom dish that had a little bit of everything - potato cakes, pierogies, sausage, and I forget what else. It was PERFECT! It's a small little place, and the decor is of course quite old-europe, but that its part of the charm. We had a delicious meal, great service, and a wonderful experience.
(5)
Vivian C.
A short walk from Andrew Station on the red line stands a small, but bright and cheery place with 28 seats - 7 tables set for 2-6 people each. It has a single private bathroom and a single pleasant waitress. A pile of magazines sit in the corner, and the other two parties in the restaurant at 6pm speak to the waitress in a language I do not understand. I am excessively early for my 6:30pm reservation for 2, yet she welcomes me and seats me at a table for four with a basket of bread and some ice water. The bread and lard is tasty, but I do not eat too much of it. It reminded me of British fried bread that I had attempted to create once after making bacon for breakfast... The restaurant is more than half full by the time my friend arrives shortly after 6:30pm. We end up sharing the Gypsy Pancake $16 (two large potato pancakes sandwiching a goulash of beef and mushrooms in gravy with a nice swirl of sour cream and topped with a little grape tomato) and the Goulash with Potato Dumplings $14 (which came with two cold salads - shredded red beets [sweet] and pickles [sour]). I think we both preferred the Gypsy Pancakes with the crispy potato edges. The beef in the goulash was tender. For dessert we selected the fruit crepe $4, which turned out to be a blueberry version - tasty, not too sweet, nice crispy/tender crepe.
(4)
Daniel B.
When you walk through the door at Cafe Polonia, you step out of Southie and into Eastern Europe. Big, sturdy tables and chairs that are immaculately clean, as was the rest of the dining area. Great decor as well. But the food, oh goodness the food. It was simply incredible and both of those words are important: simple and incredible. I've only been there once, but went with a large group so I got to see many dishes, which was exciting (since I'll be going back, a lot). I had the borscht and stuffed cabbage. The borscht was amazing: a beety, earthy, intensely red broth with mushroom dumplings. The dumplings complemented the soup perfectly. Garnished with parsley, which was noticeable throughout. The stuffed cabbage was quite good, not extraordinary though. It had a very mild flavor, both from the meat and the cabbage. Was served in a simple tomato sauce, which was good for dipping. The lard and bacon mixture for the bread completely blew my mind. From what I saw and heard from the large group, the rest of the food was just as good. The gypsy pancakes (potato pancakes with goulash in the middle) looked amazing as did the Knight's Cut pork loin. I really want to try the pierogi, but there's so much other good stuff to try. So yes, make sure you eat here. Soon, and often.
(5)
Brad S.
A majority of Polish blood is coasting through these veins, but I don't come from a family that really celebrated it while I was growing up. So while it might seem a little odd that the guy coming to Boston for the first time makes his first meal one of kielbasa, pierogis, and stuffed cabbage, I loved absolutely every minute of it. Though offering the food isn't enough - there still has to be a competent cook working in the kitchen, and from the presentation to the flavors, competence was never in question. To summarize, anything that involves the sauerkraut should be shoved into your food hole immediately.
(5)
John S.
This place is small and cozy family operated establishment worth visiting. It has the feel of an authentic restaurant you find on a small street in Europe. The service was friendly and most helpful with suggestions for first timers. The food is excellent and value priced. Selection of beer and wines were all good pairings with the menu. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Jake M.
Oh wait, so it's lard?! That decadent spread that comes with the bread? We were trying to identify it amidst chocking it down as hastily as possible in order that they would bring out more as quickly as possible.... Lard with bacon.... Good God! If everything else here wasn't sufficient for 5 stars, that would push it over the top. But that's just gravy - this one's the easiest 5 star review ever. I'll leave it to the sundry other reviews to go into details. The Lady Friend and I ordered it all - or as much "all" as we could assumed we could reasonably get down. We were almost right on target with our selections - pierogis, kielbasa, stuffed cabbages - the perfect amount for two that would ensure not having to be rolled out the door. We'll be back, and promptly, and severally, for everything we missed. (....lard with bacon..... who knew!)
(5)
Corey L.
Great food, great and ridiculously nice service. Really glad we went
(5)
Heather G.
An entire cup full of lard. Not butter, not spread, JUST LARD. In a basket, with bread, as though it's the most natural thing in the world that lard comes with the bread basket rather than butter. You spread it on the bread as though it's freaking butter! No big deal. And you close your eyes and enjoy the fatty goodness. Guilt free. Any restaurant that starts its meals like that - boldly, unapologetically, and as though that's the most normal thing on earth - is bound to be stellar. While I understand this restaurant gets extremely busy nearly all night every night (the entire restaurant seats about 30), it's absolutely dead in the late afternoon. This was perfect for me at the time, though, because I brought my own entertainment and I was so hungry I am not sure I'd have been able to wait in a crowded restaurant to taste some of what smelled so delicious in the kitchen. The waitress started by recommending us some delicious beer, which is important because the entire selection is Polish and I was in completely unfamiliar territory. Imagine my surprise when she came out with two large mugs of beer for my lunch date and myself. Let's recap: I am eating lard and drinking giant steins of beer while dreaming of the kielbasa sandwich in my near future in an empty restaurant in the middle of the afternoon deep in the heart of southie. Typical Friday. That just happened. We started with some potato pancakes with a thin layer of smoked salmon, chives/dill and cream on top. The potato pancakes were served fresh out of the fryer, and were piping hot and crunchy on the outside, but smooth and creamy inside. The consistency was between mashed potatoes and tater tots, and the combination of hot potato pancakes with cold salmon and cream was actually worked very well. We then ordered some pirogis...pirogi? Is pirogi its own plural? Regardless, had an order that was cooked in oil and onions and filled with...potatoes and cheese? Honestly, they were a bit bland and, as my first pirogi experience in life, kind of disappointing. I thought they were chewy and gluey, and the best flavor came from the fried onions and sour cream they were served with. And then, the reason we came - kielbasa sandwich. The bread alone will keep me coming back. It was crackly and crusty on the outside but squishy inside...sort of like a bahn mi baguette...there had to be some rice flour in there somewhere. The kielbasa was snappy, juicy, and well-seasoned (read: holy garlic), and the sandwich included spicy brown mustard and house-made (so slightly mild) sauerkraut. THIS IS NOT A RESTAURANT YOU GO ON A FIRST DATE, for sure. At least, not a first date you want to end with a first kiss. Else, you may not make it to Date 2. My mom always said the rule of thumb for dinner dates is "if one eats garlic, both must eat garlic", but the flavors in these Polish dishes go well beyond the "both must eat garlic" rule. There will be no kissing afterward. Dads, this could work to your advantage if you have a teenage daughter who is starting to date. Suggest they come here. In all seriousness, this place is delicious. Though we were completely stuffed at the end of our meal, someone (likely a Polish grandmother) started cooking something out back in the kitchen that smelled so good our stomachs began grumbling in hunger all over again. Everything about this place (from the beer list to the composition of the dishes to the price tag to the ambiance to the waitstaff) is completely modest. The food is honest, blue-collar, and solid. These things make it charming and relate-able. And just like that, I am in love. And I never saw it coming.
(5)
Lewis D. W.
Good old Polish cooking! Growing up with my 'Babci' living with us, in a Polish-American household, I was raised on pork chops, kielbasa, capusta, potato pancakes, blini, borsct, etc. etc. - it's amazing I'm still alive! :) I was SO excited to go here - like a visit to my childhood - as my babci passed away in 1986 - and my mom doesn't cook much now as she's getting older - and alas I didn't pick up much of the cooking skills - except my naleszniki, which rock the world! (= blini = crepes) So the food was good but not superb. The whole feeling of the place was nice, homey, very casual - not fancy - the tables were a little messy, the candles weren't lit, etc. - but the service was excellent, prompt and friendly, the bathroom was spotless, overall a great, relaxed atmosphere. Felt like a small eatery in Kracow! (tho I haven't been since 1993.... :( ) I had breaded pork chops which were great - potato pancakes were EXCELLENT and just as good as babci's! - mushroom soup was OK but a little watery and not as full of flavor as it could be. Pierogis were good but not out of this world. Nice selection of Polish beers. I would go again - but it's a straight, good, wholesome, heavy, solid Polish meal - nothing extraordinary or mind-blowing - but certainly does remind me of home!
(4)
Bill M.
This was the case of The Girlfriend. My girlfriend did not have good Polish food, and I brought her there for her birthday. The man that was serving all the food was very friendly and was able to make sure that one thing that was not on the menu (the sour pickle soup) was available for my girlfriend. The food was great, and we left happy. She loved everything about it, and quite frankly, to me, that's all that matters.
(5)
Tyson B.
Amazing! Just like in Poland. The food was perfect and the staff was friendly. My kids liked it too.
(4)
Josephine L.
The only Polish restaurant in the city, Cafe Polonia doesn't disappoint in taste, authenticity or value. Oh, and it's close to the Red Line too. I just love this place. Get: smoked salmon potato pancakes, perogis and kielbasa, the staples of Polish cuisine. I never thought I'd enjoy sauerkraut so much, but I still fantasize about theirs. This stuff reminds me of my Eastern European friends' home cooking back home. Light and hearty at the same time, with the food's subtle, natural flavors shining through. Absolutely delicious. The restaurant isn't big but it feels like a Polish grandmother's living room. Brightly lit, with cozy wooden furniture and decorated with cute, quaint knick-knacks throughout. Anywhere you sit feels like a corner to yourself. Which is great for when you come back over and over again.
(4)
Sandy B.
For what this place tries to do, it does it very well. The place is not spacious and private, but it is cozy and feels very comfortable. It's decorated in a rustic cabin style with beautiful wooden tables, chairs, and benches. It only has a seating capacity of about 30 people, so go during the week and you probably won't have a problem getting in. We dropped by late on a Tuesday night and were seated right away. The restaurant was about half-full though, which was encouraging to see. There was only one girl working the register and dining area, but she did a fantastic job. She was attentive and helpful, but gave us a lot of space. My boyfriend and I told the waitress that we wanted to split an order of the sour pickle soup. She was so sweet, she brought us an order split into two separate bowls. Also, sour pickle soup? Never even heard of it before, but it was lovely! It kind of tasted like pickle juice mixed with a chicken stock, and thickened. There were onions and cucumbers and other yummy things in the soup too. Delicious! I got the gypsy pancake for dinner, which is goulash sandwiched between two potato pancakes. It's as wonderful as it sounds. It was also so filling that I had no room for dessert. Guess that means I have to go back!
(4)
Eric O.
Don't worry if you're unfamiliar with Polish food, you'll leave as a convert. We came in with very little experience and our waitress helped us pick out our dishes based on our tastes. I highly recommend going with the Polish Platter if you're new - the stuffed cabbage is inexplicably good. It's a tiny place, so if you plan on going during busy hours definitely call ahead.
(5)
Jim W.
We had a great meal here last night. I always enjoy any kind of authentic ethnic food so having a true Polish restaurant around is great! Generally a good sign at ethnic restaurants: folks dining here speaking the native tongue. Now I know that Kishkas are not something hanging out of your clothes if you dress inappropriately, as my Mother-in-law had me believing. The food and service were really good although my kids were a little slow to jump on board-they kept sampling this, sampling that, but never really dug into any one item, so maybe not the best place for kids if your kids aren't feeling adventurous. We had perogies with applesauce & sour cream, potato pancakes, an appetizer of scallops wrapped in bacon, and chicken dish ( I can't recall the name). The entree came with mashed potato's and two salads: pickle and beet. I liked it all, but I had the beet salad all to myself. Next time we'll come without the kids and try more adventurous fare. Oh-Schmaltz!-with your bread you get fat with caramelized onions and bacon. You can ask for butter. And I thought schmaltz was just annoying blather as in: "I wish William Shatner would stop with the Kirk-schmaltz already!"
(4)
sammie j.
So, I never tried Polish before(unless you count Costco pierogi samples which are really yummy) and decided to give this a whirl. When I first went into the restaurant, without a reservation, I was amazed by how small it is. It holds max about 20 people. It has a cozy and intimate feeling to it because of the murals hanging off the wall and the wooden tables and chairs. The sole waitress, a Blond, asked my friend and I if we had reservations, on a Sunday night, we said no but she still seated us. The restaurant was actually pretty full with the exception of one open table but again, this is a very small restaurant. We arrived about 2 hours before closing... It took the waitress about 15 minutes, maybe a little more to actually ask what would we like to order. Even though she was busy, she was pretty patient with our indecisiveness about what to order. It took about 30-45 or so minutes to actually get our order. My friend ordered a pierogi with "everything" and salad as her meal, while I ordered pierogi with potatoes and cheese, coconut shrimp and scallops wrapped in bacon. We had built up anticipating of how good these seemingly handmade pierogis were and with the first bite, we were underwhelmed. It tasted bland and a bit doughy. So, we asked the waitress to pan fry it and she was totally cool with it. We thought pan fry would make it taste better but it still was pretty bland. The coconut shrimp was decent but personally, I don't think the marriage of coconut and shrimp work. Also, the sauce it came with was too overwhelmingly sweet and the coconut infusion just didn't work for my taste buds. The scallops wrapped in bacon were OK but to be fair, that's the first time I ate scallops and I rarely eat pork. However, I gave the left overs to my bf and he said the scallops wrapped in bacon were good, but he too thought the pierogis were just OK. Sad but I think the pierogi that they demonstrate at Costco tastes much better, it' thinner and crispier. Additionally, after reading more reviews, I realized bread and lard are the starter but we didn't receive them, but I assume the waitress forgot since she was pretty busy. I didn't try but 1 Polish dish so I am willing to go back and give it another go.
(2)
Julia K.
Cozy, tiny (and I mean TINY - they really need more tables) little hole-in-the-wall near the Andrew T. The menu is limited but the food is hearty, authentic, and tasty. No complaints about that here. You can't go wrong with the pierogi. I'm surprised I found a typical homey little Polish restaurant around the Southie/Dorchester area, but I'm very happy I did. Will definitely be back. If you want to introduce somebody to Polish food without overwhelming them with unfamiliar tastes/organs/whatnot, then this is definitely your best option.
(4)
Kimberley T.
The food was good. The restaurant is extremely small and always packed however we were seated pretty quickly (if not immediately) upon arrival. It took FOREVER for someone to even come over to take our drink order. After ordering drinks/food at the same time, it felt like it took far too long for the drinks o be brought over and the food took awhile. After being served and finishing our meals, it took even longer to receive the cheque. I know two people who frequent this place, so I'm happy to give it another shot when I'm in town again.
(3)
Alex R.
I live right up the street from Cafe Polonia and have been there a number of times. Every time I'm extremely happy with the service and the food. A couple of times they were close to closing and I called up and they still allowed my party to come in! Excellent! The goulash delight is fantastic. Nice flaky biscuit bowl with their delicious goulash. The potato pancakes are great; they're not too greasy with good texture and flavor. The polish plate is a great way to start to get an intro to some of the different items served here. I believe most of the sausage/kielbasa is sourced from up the street at Euromart or another Polish deli, which hand makes their sausage (Euromart is worth a trip on it's own for great bacon, ham, and kielbasa). In any case, they had me with the lard/bacon that's served with the bread. Any place that throws that down as a topping for bread is excellent in my book.
(5)
Sina E.
This tiny place gave us a great dining experience. It's not hard to miss this place, because when we were walking toward it, there was no sign, and it looked like it was just a house. We didn't get reservation for this place, but I would suggest it, because it seats maybe 20 people. We were lucky it wasn't busy, and were seated right away. We tried a variety of dishes, and all of them were great. The polish plate gives you a taste of everything. The stuffed cabbage was delicious. It has rice, meat, and different spices. The dish also comes with pierogi. Pierogi is essentially like dumplings stuffed with variety of stuff like meat, onion, mushroom, etc. "Bigos" is a stew and includes cabbage, meat and sauerkraut. It goes well with the Kielbasa. The interior is bright, and the seats are wooden benches. It really has that comfy, authentic feel to it. When I'm back in Boston, I will definitely come here again, and would highly recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Audra F.
Having seen reviews commenting on the tiny size of this restaurant, I called this morning right when they opened to get a reservation for my wife and I for our anniversary. The man who answered was very apologetic that they were fully booked for the whole night (by 11am!) but when I said it was our anniversary and I'd take any time, he asked if he could call me back while he checked with the night manager. A half hour later, he called with a time within 30 minutes of my original request! I was so delighted. (What I didn't know then was that this was the last day of their Groupon. Perhaps most Tuesdays they aren't this busy, but it was insane tonight!) We arrived early for our reservation and were seated immediately; the host/waiter even thanked us for coming early! The space *is* wicked tiny but cute -- clean blond wood furniture, cozy close but not uncomfortable -- and the staff were super friendly despite the non-stop stream of customers. We didn't know exactly what we wanted but the waiter walked us through the options, made excellent recommendations, and was really patient given it was him and one other person working all the tables and the register. We got the borscht with dumplings (sweet, peppery, scalding hot, divine), sour pickle soup (weird name, awesome taste!), mixed pirogi (cheese, potato, and cabbage, all super tasty and buttery), the potato pancakes (crispy, kind of garlicky, amazing with the applesauce), and the Polish plate (kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, more pierogi, all super savory and nicely spiced). There was a hot spiced wine being offered which we ordered and guzzled down like kids with orange soda. As I said earlier, today was a groupon expiration day, so the place was packed but despite the folks waiting for tables, we never felt rushed. The vibe was really comfortable and I'm so grateful that the staff went out of their way to get us a table when I called this morning.
(5)
Sepide S.
The food was not compatible with our taste at all, it was oily but we loved the chocolate cake, so yummy
(3)
C L S.
One word, delicious!
(4)
Annette A.
Oh Boston, ale jestesz szczliwa! Being 100% Polish, I've spent hours with my grandmother preparing pierogies and can say that the pierogies at Cafe Polonia, whether boiled or fried, are spot-on. Also, kiss your grandmothers if they've got any Polish in them, because pierogi dough is some of the most finicky stuff you've ever worked with! Prepare for a real Eastern European meal, complete with hearty lard spreads, spiced meats and chunky soups. Cafe Polonia is cozy. Eating here is like eating in your aunt's kitchen. It's obviously not a building made to house 100 guests, but that's kind of the charm that comes with European/Slav dining. I would recommend reservations if you absolutely need them, as you may end up having to wait for a table if you show up at a rush hour. The servers have always been sweethearts, patient even when it's busy. This isn't the kind of place where you can complain if business isn't fast enough. Slow down, relax. Your aunt would smack you upside the head if you complained about the done-ness of your burger. Show up here with some friends and a light-hearted dismeanor and you'll be in heaven. It's definitely worth the MBTA ride. Smacznego!
(5)
Karyn V.
We ate dinner at Cafe Polonia over the weekend, and it is now our top place to go to for a delicious inexpensive meal in the Boston area. Located in Andrew Square, Cafe Polonia is tiny and cute. The look and feel of the restaurant brought us back to when we were visiting Warsaw and Krakow a couple of years ago. The menu is written in both Polish and English, and the friendly waitstaff are more than willing to go over the menu with you if you are not familiar with traditional Polish cuisine. We shared an order of the pierogi (potato and cheese, cabbage and mushroom, and meat) as an appetizer ($12). For our entrees my boyfriend ordered the potato pancakes with apple sauce and sour cream ($12), and I ordered the chicken tenders with peppers, onions, and mushrooms ($12). We happily devoured it all, and somehow we were able to share their homemade apple crisp for dessert ($8). Yum! We will definitely be back in the very near future. For those who plan on going, be sure to make a reservation. Cafe Polonia doesn't have a ton of seating and is quite popular on a Saturday night.
(5)
Jed W.
Small place, long wooden benches along one wall and smaller wooden tables with high backed wooden chairs through the rest of the room. Polish pop music on the sound system. I arrived at 4:25 on a weekday end the place was completely empty. I said "just me" and the waiter said "plenty of room for that!" And chuckled. I asked what's good and he said "everything" and then asked if I'd had Polish food before and made a couple suggestions when I said I had. I ended up getting the Polish Plate, an order of potato pancakes with salmon as an appetizer, and blackcurrent juice to drink. The potato pancakes were more fritter then pancake and were served hot with a thin-cut slice of smoked salmon laid on top and a dollop of sour cream on top of that. They were slightly oily but very tasty - crisp on the outside and soft inside. The closest thing I'd had to it before was in a little pub/resteraunt in southern Ireland. Don't know if that's because both cultures rely heavily on potatoes and seafood or because the recipe was brought by one of the many Polish immigrants to Ireland. The Polish combo plate had 1 pirogi, a kielbasa (sausage) with cabbage and mustard, and 3 small Noodle-wrapped dumplings stuffed with cabbage. Everything was delicious.
(5)
Trish M.
First off, this place is adorable without being kitschy. Pros: super friendly & helpful staff, great selection of Polish beers, crazy good apps and soups (we had the herring, kishka, kielbasa, potato pancakes, borsch, mushroom soup and pickle soup). And out of the four entrees ordered, 3 were also delish (the mixed pierogi plate, the Polish plate and the Goulash Delight). Con (and there's only one): I was served possibly the driest piece of pork ever cooked (pork loin in mushroom sauce). It was, however, our first visit; I'll be happy to give another entree a shot when we visit again - which we are sure to do soon!
(5)
Joanna E.
My boyfriend is Polish and we both really enjoyed this restaurant. The potato pancakes were amazing and so were the pierogies. Very authentic Polish food and the inside was small, but very cozy and cute.
(5)
Jason L.
Homemade Polish food in a quaint and homey restaurant is the perfect winter time craving, and probably worth the trek to south boston for those wanting some home cooking. I felt transported to another country, as we we sat in glossy wooden chairs and greeted with bacon lard. We tried as much as we could sample by ordering the Polish Plate and the famous Gypsy Pancake. The gypsy is gigantic, and heavy enough for two. It's perfectly crisped pancakes were filled with a hearty Hungarian goulash that wasn't overly watery like some other pictures I've seen. The novelty wore off halfway through, and probably should not have tried to devour it all by myself. The kielbasa tasted fresh, but in all honesty, it was pretty similar to many other sausages I've had around the city, and with Jacob Wurst down the street from me, I think I'll save the trip next time. The pierogies had a hand-rolled and homemade dough wrapper. Everything else including the stuffed cabbage and sauerkraut were all ok. Nothing was bad, it was just decent euro comfort food, albeit I felt the whole Polish plate was missing some sort of seasoning. Overall, it seems to be the real deal in terms of Polish cuisine (the ex-Polish president ate here), but I wonder if this place benefits more from the fact that its the only Polish restaurant in boston. Food (6/10) Plating (N/A) Decor (3/5) Service (3/5)
(3)
Melissa M.
Something is awry. I've returned at least five times since my last review. I'm completely underwhelmed -- and still hungry. Nothing was as good as it was the first time. I grew up with homemade pierogies and kielbasa. The pierogies had NO TASTE. Seriously, bland. I had her take them back and fry them since they came out boiled -- I'm not a big cook, but even I take the time to fry my pierogies. Boiling pierogies almost ensures a poor consistency, like wet rubber. The waitress did not seem to like me for doing this. I love that they serve Zwyeic beer, but that's about all I love about this place. The sour pickle soup is a good option to try, but I won't be trying Cafe Polonia again.
(2)
James M.
Their wine isn't too expensive, between 20-$35 a bottle. Potato pancakes are delicious, dumplings and goulash are marvelous. Wasn't a fan of the Pork Loin in Mushroom sauce. Was a bit dry.
(4)
Vivian H.
Haven't really had Polish before (except Kielbasa) so was excited to try this place out, since it's like the best representation around, right? It was good (not great).. but again, didn't have lots of past Polish exp to compare it to. LOTS of food -- we ordered the Polish Plate & the Boneless Pork Chop for lunch, both had leftovers. Lots of meat and cabbage. LIKE A LOT.
(3)
Denis L.
Friendly service and nice rustic ambiance here. Pretty much as good as it gets for this type of place. Pierogis great? Check. Sausages great? Check. Good Polish beer selection? Check. What more do you want? I didn't get a chance to try the potato pancake but it looked awesome. Definitely want to try the Gypsy pancake the next time I go. Reasonable prices to boot.
(5)
Nate Y.
Meat! Boy, I do like my meat and Cafe Polonia serves this up in spades. It's a small place so make reservations or be prepared to wait if need be. It was fairly apparent that this little restaurant's reputation had proceeded itself with only our reserved table being available at 7:30. Decor had lots of wood of the pine variety. The rafters, tables, chairs were all made of pine. But never mind the decor, it's the food that you're after here. To begin you have your bread with lard and bacon bits for a spread. This reminded me of when my mom would cook bacon and pour the fat into a jar to be used for later. This is exactly what the spread was. Not for me, but if you need some extra cushion for whatever, be my guest. I had a taste of the salmon potato pancake for an appetizer. Two potato pancakes with smoked salmon on top and dollops of sour cream, mmm, very good. I then had the Polish plate which includes stuffed cabbage, pierogi, and grilled kielbasa. The kielbasa was great, not salty like Hillshire Farms. Pierogi was good and the stuffed cabbage was excellent. I don't usually like cabbage but this I like (probably had to do with the meat stuffed in it). I still had room for dessert so I tried a cheese blintz and it was tasty as well. Although the food isn't fine dining the presentation of each dish was excellent. I also had a traditional Polish beer called Zywiec. As another patron yelled over its between a Budweiser and Stella Atrois. Yes, quite the range, but it's true. It even has a correct temperature indicator in the back which reminded me of Coors (lame), nonetheless it was good enough. Considering there was only one server, she handled things very well with several dining parties and two of them large (ours being five and another with ten). It was only toward the end when we were waiting for our bill it was a bit lacking. She was on the phone taking a break, which was understandable, but even after asking for the bill, she stayed on her phone for another ten minutes or so. Overall a great dining experience for some authentic Polish cuisine. Definitely a solid four stars.
(4)
Jenny N.
Do you love bacon? And sausage? Well, then you'll probably love Cafe Polonia because there's an abundance of both here. Bacon, being a versatile meat product, is used effectively to wrap everything from mushrooms to scallops, mixed with lard to be eaten on bread (I'm not a fan of this spread though), and cooked with stewed cabbage. We started off with two oversized potato pancakes with smoked salmon and sour cream, which were really excellent. Note: The portions are extremely generous, so bring on the stretchy pants... I then moved onto the sausage. The homemade smokey kielbasa is grilled to perfection and served with a heaping pile of sweet and sour cabbage stew (of course, studded with bacon). I surmise that there must be a giant pot of cabbage stewing in the kitchen, and Amanda H. said that Polish people must eat cabbage at every meal like Asians eat rice. Hmm.... I only finished half of my kielbasa/cabbage entree (the rest was devoured by the boyfriend who declared it the best sausage EVER), but I was too stuffed to eat more than 2 bites of dessert. Suffice it to say that it was a hearty meal--perfect for a cold wintry day. Our waitress was really sweet and she let us linger over our meal, digest and converse loudly despite us taking up a large table in her very small restaurant. I really enjoyed the homey atmosphere and admired the sturdy pine furnishings. Who knew one could find a little slice of Polish culture in Dorchester? The even play polka music here! But reservations are key here. As we dined, we saw many people come in from the cold only to be turned away. Don't make that mistake!
(4)
Finn M.
My trip to Cafe Polonia was very hit-and-miss. I got the borsch (beet soup) on the recommendations of other Yelpers, and it was very delicious, warm, sweet, and tasting strongly of delicious beet goodness. I'd never had polish borsch before, so I wasn't expecting something quite so thin, though: it was all broth, and not a trace of solid food to be found. Delicious to be sure, but $6 for vegetable broth seems a bit steep. The blood sausage, which came ground up on the plate (not in sausage form) was VERY oily -- I'm not finicky about that sort of thing, but it was clear that they cooked the sausage up in a lot of oil and then just dumped the whole thing onto the plate. Oil was coming out the sides of the sausage pile and running onto the plate. Huddled amidst the oily taste were damning tones of metal, the hallmark of bad blood sausage. It just wasn't appetizing at all. Entrees were stuffed cabbage (tomato sauce) and pierogies (meat). The stuffed cabbage was delicious: the tomato sauce was thick and rich, with a subtle sweetness that begged for chunks of bread to lap the leftovers up with. The cabbage was cooked perfectly: firm enough to withstand handling, but soft enough to yield to the edge of a fork, without a tough or gamey bit to be found. I found the meat pierogies to be a bit lacking, but only in the flavor department. I got mine boiled; I found the texture to be wonderful, and I, too, have to question "Melissa M" for her criticism that the pierogies "came out boiled." Pierogies are ALWAYS boiled; having them fried in a little bit of butter afterwards is cool, if that's your thing, but a boiled pierogi is not an error, it's authentic. The filling could use a little more love, as it just wasn't very flavorful, though it was smooth and pleasant on the tongue. I've seen a couple people indicate that getting sauce is an option, but I didn't realize this; the bits of onion it came with were heavenly, and salvaged the dish from snoozeville. For dessert, we tried the bobka (of course!) and the apple cake. Both were great. I love apple pastries as much as the next person, but was pleased to find that the name held true here: it was indeed a cake, only it had a layer of delicious baked apples in it. The bobka was rich, and the warm chocolate in the middle... yeah, that's a winner (though sadly, they were out of ice cream!). It was a VERY slow night at the restaurant; Kasia served us and was definitely a joy. She only paid attention to us when I made eye contact with her, but I appreciated that, since we were clearly taking our time, and were in no rush to leave (nor was she in a rush to wait many other tables). Excellent service, and a very cute restaurant. I just wish they'd done a few more things right in the food prep. Next time, I'll be getting something with potatoes.
(3)
Teri L.
It was my birthday and damnit! I wanted polish food that was so used to when I was married. My son really enjoyed this restaurant so he made reservations and off we went. The dining room was very small but for some reason worked very nicely for our 6 people party. Maybe because it was 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon? dunno but made me happy. The decor was simple, clean lines and cute. Joey ordered apps of blood sausage (Kishka) and Kielbasa Twists. I'm just not a fan of Kishka so I tried a microscopic portion followed by 1/2 glass of diet soda. I'm good with that. The twists were crispy and delicious! Main entrees: John, Mandah and Matt had jumbo potato pancake that were soo crispy and tender with a dropped egg on top and sour cream. I wanted to eat it all but I don't think John would have appreciated that. I had stuffed cabbage (Golabki) Could have used more sauce inside the filling but it was very good. Jess had Polish Plate which had 1 stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and pierogies. She seemed to enjoy it all. Joey had Goulash with dumplings. Big positive there too! Now since it was my birthday I needed chocolate and this chocolate babka with melted chocolate inside was amazing! It wasn't sickeningly sweet so it was perfect after a great meal. Very solid 4 and whenever the need for Polish food arises I will come back to Cafe Polonia!!!
(4)
Raymond L.
Don't let the size of the restaurant fool you, its actually a pretty good place to eat at Though we ordered what the menu said "Best appetizer in Poland" which is fish fillet with onions apparently, the fish is actually served raw...but the waiter clarified that in Poland, the dish is served raw, hence all the onions on the fish...but its not their fault, you either love them or you don't I ordered a Steaks Tips, which I enjoyed a lot. It's very tender and juicy and totally worth the 12 bucks...not to mention it is very filling. I'd come here again in the future
(4)
Tony K.
This is the real deal for Polish food. I grew up on this stuff and its really hard to find anywhere, let alone in Boston. To be honest, the only place outside my mother's kitchen I have found food this good is in Williamsburg/Greenpoint Brooklyn and I think Cafe Polonia is better. I went on a weeknight and the place was pretty dead. The (Polish) waitress was nice, speedy, and helpful. I ordered a bunch of old favorites - fresh kielbasa (smothered in onions plus horseradish! yes!), pierogi, and stuffed cabbage - and we shared everything family style. There were lots more items on the traditional menu that I will be coming back for including potato pancakes and cabbage stew. They had a whole contemporary menu too which I can hardly imagine ever getting to with all the stellar classics. If you have never had Polish you need to come here to try it! If you love Polish food you need to come here! Basically, everyone should probably eat here.
(5)
Eric S.
Good Pierogis fried..nt steamed..Not a fan of the stuffed cabbage no taste but the sausage kabob is delish and the bread and butter goes well with their food..Probaby will try other items but nt sure when i'll frequent the area
(4)
Suzanne L.
So delicious. I felt like I was back home at Babcia's, with less guilt-tripping to eat more. Always ask what the soup of the day was. In our case, it was pickle soup and it was phenomenal. I also recommend the Polish Platter, as others have said - you get to sample a variety of things and figure out what you want to order more of. The gołąbki (stuffed cabbage) were my favorite. Everything else was very good, too. They give you smalec (bacon fat) instead of butter to put on your bread. Try not to eat too much of that before your actual meal. Actually, go ahead and eat it - none of this is health food and you will invariably leave stuffed. Service was great and I LOVE the decor. Do consider making a reservation if you're coming at peak times, as there are not a lot of seats.
(5)
Barry L.
I love these finds! Small ethnic polish fare with attention to details. A small restaurant with seating for about 30. Walking in your eyes are drawn to the unique chairs at the tables and how well thought out the layout is. First impression was the owner has a lot of love and soul in this place. I enjoyed the polish plate with hunter's stew, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa sausage (with mustard) and two pierogi. The stuffed cabbage and pierogi were amazing. The pierogi were perfectly boiled with carmelized onions that was simply amazing. The service was wonderful. Friendly and attentive. Atmosphere was wonderful and I felt like I was in Europe. This place is close to Boston Logan and was easy to find. For travelers do yourself a favor and check this place out before leaving Boston!
(5)
Kevin L.
Came here on a Thursday night with a group of 10 and they were nice enough to give us a reservation despite the small size of the restaurant. Cafe Polonia has a nice home-y feel to it but it can get a little cold in there. The service was phenomenal as well. Highlights of the night included pan fried potato & cheese pierogis, potato dumplings, stuffed cabbage, sobieski cutlet. and the apple tart This was my first time having authentic polish food and I thought it was alright. All the dishes seemed really similar, consisting of lots of goulash and potatoes. The goulash was a little too salty for me, so everything started tasting salty...eg the gypsy pancake.
(3)
Tasty Bee Review S.
Wonderful place. A hidden gem. It reminded me European cafes (of course, you will say, it is Polish..). The cute atmosphere (wooden design, bunches of wheat on walls, ethnic pieces of decor) - it is so adorable. I wouldn't change a thing in this place! The guy was by himself serving all tables (I guess, the waitress didn't show up), and he was really good and fast, and apologized many times with a smile (which was not needed actually, because everything was perfect). It was already packed when we came, with 1 table just emptied for us. And customers kept coming and coming nonstop, and there were not enough tables for sitting. We ordered traditional dish (polish potatoes pancakes with a cup of goulyash, sour pickles soup, breaded mushrooms) and beer Tyske. Loved it all except for mushrooms. That was enough for 2 of us. We don't eat a lot (we eat less than typical american restaurant plate) Please note that the beer size is larger than regular american beer size, so we shared. The taste was great, you could feel the liveliness of it. The bill was 40$. It is great to have that kind of place for diversity reason. I literally felt flashback (being back in Eastern Europe). And I wish there were more of those kind of cafes/restaurants in Boston. That's what makes Boston special.
(5)
Tuy Anh P.
Opened over a decade ago, this Polish based dining establishment stays true to it's root serving locals and visitors daily. Some of the best Eastern European cuisine is found at this spot and I always make a pit stop when driving through Boston. Traditional and homemade faire, some of the classic you'll find here include the Borsch Beet Soup, the Polish Plate, Goulash Delight and we can't forget about the delicious Potato and Gypsy Pancakes! Some of the best comfort and homestyle foods that will satisfy all appetites. The atmosphere is cozy and traditionally European. Not to forget, they also serve some of the richest desserts in town.. consider the Chocolate Lava Cakes, Apple Crisp and Coffee.
(5)
Janie G.
Tucked away in this Dorchester/South Boston neighborhood this cute little authentic Polish place delivered exactly what we were in search for on a cold rainy day. Blood sausage appetizer was tasty and homemade. The pierogies were delicious I only wish they were a little bigger. Less dough and more filling. Beef tripe soup had the softest melt in your mouth strips of tripe. I seriously don't know how they got it so tender. Hubby had the sour pickle soup...sounds gross right? Nope! Sooo tasty, why haven't I had this before? Yum yum, definitely going back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Suzanne G.
I didn't exactly know what Polish food was before coming here, but now I know that I really, REALLY like Polish food. It's hearty comfort food that you can tell was cooked with love. My favorites are the pierogi, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, gypsy pancake, and the goulash delight (a beef stew in a bread bowl). I bet everything is amazing though. You'll want to make reservations, this place gets crowded for a reason!
(5)
Kim J.
Excellent place for traditional Polish food! Service was friendly and fast. Tried the Polish plate which was a good sampling of traditional dishes including Hunter's stew, stuffed cabbage, three pierogies, and grilled Polish sausage . Tried the beef tripe soup and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Finished my meal off with the hot apple crisp which was one of the best I've had away from home!! Small and quaint. Not for large groups but small intimate gatherings instead. Highly recommend.
(5)
Raisa S.
This is one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a while, it has all the European hospitality we need more of around here. There were 3 of us and we decided to order a few things and share them. Our server, who I also think was the owner was so great. He was very attentive, and genuinely cared about our experience and if we enjoyed everything. We started off with the Kielbasa twists, which were fresh and tasty. for our meals we shared the pierogis, stuffed cabbage and potato pancakes. The pierogis were definitely the highlight of my meal even though everything was good. These are one of my favorite foods and this could have been the best I've ever had. We were so full and satisfied but couldn't say no to a molten chocolate cake. I regret nothing about this. Such a cute restaurant, great service and food that's out of this world. Check it out!!
(5)
Tom V.
This place was so good that I went here twice on my 3 day trip to Boston. I was largely unacquainted with Polish food so this was an awesome experience. Fairly priced, huge portions, from what I can gather incredibly authentic. Kind of a whole in the wall sort of place, but definitely worth the trip.
(5)
Julie R.
This place is amazing!! We had never eaten Polish food and came here on Guy Fieri's recommendation from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (DDD) show. It's a cute little quaint place (seats about 25-30 people max), still within Boston's city limits, but kind of close to a sketchy area. So I would probably say if you're taking the T, don't go at night cause it's a few blocks away. We went with some friends so we shared two appetizers - the smoked salmon potato pancakes and the breaded mushrooms, both were good, but nothing amazing to rave about. Now for the entree my husband and I decided to share the Polish Plate, which pretty much has a little of everything. It comes with hunters stew, stuffed cabbage, 3 pierogies, and grilled polish sausage kielbasa. The hunters stew was good, but not the star of the plate in my opinion. I was a little hesitant about the stuffed cabbage, but it was amazing, nicely seasoned and juicy and so was the kielbasa!!! They gave us three different flavored pierogies and they were all good too. If you've never had Polish food this is definitely a great way to get a taste of it all, and it just tastes so amazing that you can't go wrong (unless you don't eat pork ). Service was good overall and the food came out pretty quickly. This place was our favorite DDD recommended restaurant in Boston. Would most definitely recommend to anyone wanting to have or even try Polish food for the first time like we did. We will definitely be back whenever we return to Boston!
(5)
Merly M.
Prior to visiting Cafe Polonia, my taste buds knew nothing of Polish food. I knew what it was, what their most popular dishes were, and that it was basically hearty, comfort food, but I had never had REAL Polish food. Now that I have, I've got to say...it was gooooood. It was everything I thought it would be. Hearty, saucy, meaty, and full of comfort. I ordered the Polish Plate, so I could "Try it all!" (as their menu encouraged) and was very satisfied. Everything on the plate was good. Surprisingly, my favorite item on the plate was the Stuffed Cabbage. It was just so beefy and delicious! My least favorite thing on the plate was the Hunter's Stew, mainly because I wasn't sure what I was eating and there was something in it that was giving it a unique texture. Pierogies were delicious, as was the kielbasa. The man in the table next to me ordered the same plate, and was raving about how good it was too. The place itself is pretty small and intimate, with dim lighting. It really makes you feel like you're in an Old World restaurant. The waitress/hostess/only employee that was ever visible sort of took care of everyone, and she was extremely nice and very attentive. The food also came out quickly. I really have no complaints about this place; it was a great find on our trip to Boston and one I definitely recommend visiting.
(5)
Kianna C.
I used to say I hated European food. I just assumed most of it was bland and was boiled cabbage and sausage dishes. But wow was I wrong when it came to Polish food. I saw the boston episode of Triple D that showed this restaurant and it was food I had never seen or had before but it looked good. In particular, the meat pierogi. It was one of the best things I've ever ordered. My boyfriend ordered the potato dumplings and the amount I tried was wonderful. It's a good dish if you can't have pork bc it's beef, potatoes, cabbage and beets. The pierogis do have pork. I would order both again when I return to that cafe. Even though I'd like to try something new, those dishes were phenomenal. Even the dessert was amazing! Chocolate Babka was reminiscent of a molten lava cake. Another plus is the atmosphere of the cafe and how close it is to the subway. Just hop off Andrew station and its a very short walk. I would recommend and rave about this place to everyone I know.
(5)
Yelena Y.
I had the perogies. They were good. I wish i had ordered what my friends ate, dishes with more variety like the keilbasa, or some porkchop with egg on it, but that's my fault. I just found the food a little bland, but it might be a cultural thing. Overall great food.
(4)
Nancy C.
I went to Cafe Polonia in Aug. The best Polish food I have ever had. The beef piergoi is out of the world. I also loved the Hunter stew. Make sure you stop to Cafe Polonia it is worth heading to.
(5)
David C.
Yes, I stopped here because I'm somewhat of a Food Network geek and saw this place on "Triple D" Pulling up, I wasn't 100% sold. It wasn't very busy even for a Wednesday evening. It's very small but warm and inviting. I was greeted immediately and the server was very reserved but very polite and welcoming with a smile that wouldn't stop. So.... first impression from the first few minutes washed away any concerns. The menu isn't huge but big enough to satisfy a variety of tastes. I ordered the "Kielbasa Twists " appetizer and Meat Perrogies for my traditional Polish entree. The appetizer was so simple but so terrific and clever! Sliced and deep fried into shapes that are like a meaty flower. Brown mustard and mixed greens add to the texture, freshness and flavor. Perrogies were fried and were so buttery and subtle but very tasty and filling! The meat filling was smooth and melts in your mouth. I was too full for dessert but the options looked tempting. Prices aren't cheap but not fine dining prices either, so I left feeling I got my money's worth. The experience felt like I was welcomed into someone's home for a hearty, traditional Eastern European meal.
(4)
Thomas S.
I went for a date and was a little worried about the location once we parked. Whatever. Once you're inside, it's like the others say, it looks like you're in Poland - it's great! The food is like stuff you've had before, just much, much better. Apparently a little old Polish lady cooks it all from scratch out back, and it tastes that way. The waiter was the only staff there, and he was super helpful, recommending beers and dishes that were amazing. We had the sour pickle soup (unbelievably good), mushroom soup (not quite as good, but still delicious), potato pancakes and Polish platter. Plenty of food for the two of us, reasonably priced, I would definitely go back.
(5)
Sarah C.
It was a bitter cold night in Boston and we wanted some serious comfort food. One of my girlfriend's suggested Cafe Polonia, home cooking like her babka use to make - sure to stick to our ribs and keep the cold out. We found this little hole in the wall restaurant at the end of Dot ave among Catholic schools and neighborhood bakeries. We had made a reservation - as we had a bunch of people with us and were glad we did. This is a tiny little place with about 10 tables in one big room. The tables are close together and there is no room to wait if you can't be seated right away. On a bitter night as that night was, we did not want to have to wait outside in the cold for a table! I loved the decor. It was traditional and yet modern. Loved the light color of the wood they chose for the restaurant - it opens up the whole room. It was decorated with knickknacks that you would see at your grandparents house but was not kitschy. We all sat down and ordered a round of fun polish and eastern european beers, yum! They even had a really interested hot spiced beer for the cold weather. It was a great combination of mulled cider and lager, tasty! The rest of the evening just went from bad to worse...and I'm not sure who to blame about it. It was a Friday night and somehow there was only one waiter on. ONE waiter to clean the tables, seat the guests, take the orders, fill the beers and bring the food out. This waiter (gosh I wish that I remembered his name!) worked his butt off. He was amazing, but it was just too much work for one person. What manager/owner allowed this to happen? This means that we have to wait 3x for a refill of beer, and everytime someone waiting outside popped their heads inside to see if the table they wanted was cleared a blast of freezing air hit us. We ended up just wearing our coats the whole time. All of this would be forgiven (and totally understanding that it was not this waiters fault he was all alone) if our food has come out and been amazingly tasty - but it wasn't. The general feeling was the food was mushy and bland. We got the bread and butter when we sat down (it was actual lard with nuts in it haha) but the bread was hard as a rock. We ordered a few orders of the kielbasa twists as an app. They were slightly rubbery and not spicy at all. It almost tasted like a hot dog and not like a polish sausage. I ordered a full order of pierogis - 3 of each the cheese, onions and cabbage and mushroom. They tasted like store bought pastry with fillings. Not the polish homecooking I was thinking. I had to dunk each one in sour cream to get any flavor. I have very little experience with eastern european food except for the few days I spent in Prague on a back-packing trip, but I don't believe this is how Polish food was suppose to be. Did we get them on an off night where they were just overwhelmed and slopped food out? maybe. But still left disappointed... at least the beer was good...
(3)
Greg j.
One of my favorites this place is a unique hidden jewel . Located next to Andrew square your doing your self a disservice by not going here. Very nice decor my guess since I've never been there is what a resteraunt in Poland looks so authentic that i expected ivan putski to bring me my food lol .And the food is amazing I've tried almost every thing on the menu the goulash was good but mostly broth . My two favorites were the perogi sampler and the kilbasa with sauerkraut and the potato pancake were great too .
(5)
Karen B.
The food was very good. We had the Polish plate which offers a nice variety of various authentic Polish dishes. The restaurant is small (only 6 tables) but clean and welcoming - very European. The service was very good and the waitstaff was friendly. My only complaint was that the temperature in the restaurant was very cold. It was in the 40's outside but felt colder in the restaurant. We were at a window seat, so that may have contributed to the chill.
(5)
Luckie L.
A hole in the wall joint with horrible street parking but with excellent food.. The decor is very contemporary with what looks like polish antiques scattered all around.. Nice wood table and even the chairs were wooden (no cushion).. I had the scallops wrapped with bacon sitting on top of spinach and romaine lettuce as an appetizer.. In which I must say was cooked to perfection.. I had the veal cutlet for an entree with mash potato, pickles, and beets for sides.. The veal was lightly breaded and a bit over cooked but overall, a excellent entree.. I'm definitely going to dine here again and a must try for first timers..
(4)
Deanna D.
We loved Cafe Polonia! The restaurant is very cute, cozy, and well decorated. The waitress was very nice and the service was fast and friendly. She explained the beer selection and made grate recommendations. The food was delicious! We got the Pierogi's and Gypsy Pancake and Crepes for desert. All the dishes were very well seasoned, tasty and authentic. The pierogi was as good as my friend (who is Polish) home made ones! We loved everything about this restaurant. We will definitely be back and bring all our friends. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for authentic Polish food and great ambiance!
(5)
Jonathan M.
Great place for a cold fall night when you're hungry for some stick to your ribs Polish food! Went on a Friday night, little bit of a wait but the waiter who also was the host was very accomodating.. Great Polish beer selection..I got the Polish pilsner and she got the warm spiced beer which was so good I wish I got myself one! Appetizers: Bread w pork lard- Good Potato Pancakes- very good but needed some salt Kielbasa Twisties- Very tasty Dinner Polish Plate- combo of pierogies, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, and a pork laden sauercraut...The whole thing gets a Ten! Stuffed Cabbage- with creamy mushroom sauce, very large portion, she took home half Dessert Dutch Apple Chocolate Babka- better than anything I've had at Finale, I would go back for this alone!
(4)
Erica M.
As a 100% Polish person, this place is as close as your going to get to eating in your Babcia's kitchen!! Have eaten there numerous times when I don't feel like slaving in the kitchen to make golabki by hand. Favorite items on the menu are the beet soup, pickle soup (!!!) and the Polish Plate, which is like a sampler of all the classic Polish dishes. DON'T FORGET ABOUT BRUNCH!! They recently started doing brunch on Sundays! Was there yesterday (1/10/10) and had the potato pancakes topped with bacon and sunny side up eggs. So yummy. The potato pancakes were crispy and potato-y and one can every go wrong with bacon! Check out Cafe Polonia!
(5)
Cherie C.
Such a fabulous place! It's small, so make a reservation if you want to go on a weekend. The service is very friendly; if you aren't familiar with the food or the beer, they'll help you out. They'll also provide a pronunciation if you like. They have a good selection of Polish beers, so if you drink you should try some Zywiec or Okocim. We had a kielbasa appetizer, made with delicious smoked kielbasa. Believe me when I tell you that not all kielbasa is of the same quality. Try this and you'll understand. It's a simple menu item, but they elevated it with the presentation, cut in a sort of exploding firecracker shape and served on mixed greens. Beautiful and delicious. Before dinner you'll get a basket of fresh slices of rye bread. You'll also get a plastic ramekin of what I thought was butter with bits of nuts in it. We soon realized it was cold fat with bits of bacon. Really, it's just another fat like butter, I suppose. But not good for those with cholesterol issues. My boyfriend loved it but I did not. I ordered zurek, an soup made from a base of sour rye. It's an Easter tradition. It was wonderful, sprinkled with fresh dill, sour and hearty but not too heavy. But my boyfriends forest mushroom soup was sublime. Hands down the best mushroom soup I have ever had, and I've eaten a lot of mushroom soup. Rich and flavorful and everything a soup should be. I ordered a boneless pork chop as my entree. It came with a cold beet salad that was excellent and a delicous sweet cabbage stew. Again, a simple pork chop was elevated to new status by using excellent meat and preparing it with care. It took me a while to try this place since the menu online didn't seem that exciting. Now that I've been there, I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Pauline S.
I have been recently introduced to the total delicousness of Polish food and this place was like a capstone course to my months of sampling and learning. Went here with my 100% Polish boyfriend and his parents and the very fact that they were pleased speaks volumes. Our server was friendly and gracious and everything seemed like they went back there and had a Polish grandma whip it up. For a vegetarian this menu is a happy challenge, but I have to say Polish food isn't exactly vegetarian friendly in general so I just had to work around that :) Borscht=YUM Definitely worth venturing to this kind of unsavory neighborhood to sample. Note: it's definitely a teeny little place so best for dates/a small family kind of thing. All in all I loved it and hopefully you will too.
(5)
Ellen C.
This is another treasure that I wouldn't have known about if I hadn't read about it on Yelp. They even had a People On Yelp Love Us sticker on the window (as well as a Phantom Gourmet and Zagat). Ditto what others said about its cute decor and about it being SMALL. It's quaint and it's easy to get to. We went mid-week and got there right as they opened at 11:00, so we were the only ones there. The waitress was very polite and attentive. The food was excellent. I wish I lived closer so that I could go more often. EDIT (for all of you who are mentioning the lard served with the bread): Lard - real lard, not the partially hydrogenated stuff - is healthier than butter. It has half the saturated fat (bad stuff) of butter and twice as much monounsaturated fat (the good fat) as butter. Eat it with a clear conscience.
(5)
Daniel R.
Well, what can I say... Meh. I've experienced better. This place is very clean and relaxing, and the smell inside almost made me pass out from happiness. The service was good and could always be found in the small dinning area. On the other hand, my meal was the exact opposite of what I expected. The bread they gave me before my meal seemed like it was baked a couple of days ago. My steak tips were overcooked - hard and salty. The mashed potatoes were bland and dry. The mixed vegetables, well, they emptied an entire salt shaker on 'em. This meal was a disappointment. I can't imagine the food is quite this bad on the regular. This mush have been an off night. Too bad I'll probably never know, though.
(2)
Evan E.
I'm an American who spent a year living in Eastern Europe. My entire experience was of the highest quality and authenticity. The ingredients were great, the dishes were well prepared and the beer selection was very authentic (albiet beer from that region tends not to be the most complex). I look forward to going back and would recommend it to anyone.
(5)
C. S.
Just went back with my bud the other day... just as good as before! The two of us split four entrees... I'm not a big person, that took a concerted effort... I've still got a food baby two days later. So good.
(5)
Eve S.
Get a Polish cookbook and make your own dinner. I was so let down by this place. Tasteless white bread, came first. Waitress was pleasant but not easy to understand, and everything we needed, we had to call her for. We were one of two tables occupied. We asked for kilebasa plate, stuffed cabbage and potato pancake. Out comes two pancakes, medium in size, some stale potato chips (huh??) and a dinky portion of kilebasa. Then the stuffed cabbage. Overcooked, cabbage was almost nonexistent, filled with a meat that had neither flavor or texture, that's probably what my cat rejects when I crack a can for him. A plop of tomato sauce on top. Then dessert. Blintz filled with canned blueberry pie filling. This looks like Polish food, but believe me, it isn't Polish food.
(1)
Al C.
Awesome ....outstanding food.
(5)
Kari C.
In Krakow Poland I had the best meal of my life. I came back to the states and thought it could never ever be replicated. Cafe Polonia proved me wrong. On there menu I found my much longed for fried potato pancakes sandwiching Hungarian goulash. I was in heaven. While wasn't quite as phenomenal as the original, their Gypsy Pancake was the most amazing thing I've had in Boston. The restaurant is quite small, about six tables, so call ahead to check. Their wait staff is very pleasant (and Polish). Grab yourself a Polish beer, order some pierogi and soak in the feeling of Grandma's dining room.
(5)
Mandy D.
My friend and I came because his German teacher told him that it has great food - and she was right! We started with the salmon potato pancakes, they were amazing and the scallops wrapped in bacon - also great. For dinner we split the Cafe Polonia sample plate, it had kielbasa, sauerkraut, perogis, and cabbage - everything was amazing! The price is right too! A great find! We will be back!
(5)
Billie M.
Now, I'm no linguist, but I'm pretty certain that zupa grzybowa lasu translates into heaven in Polish. Or something of the sort. The forest mushroom soup that Polonia is offering as a special is so amazing, my last dining companion was a little frightened as I slurped my way through a cup of it in record time. And thank someone upstairs for the soup, because it managed to distract me from heaping unholy amounts of bacon studded lard into my mouth before my meal came out. Seriously, bacon studded lard on slices of white bread...who knew a heart attack tasted so good? Entrees are delicious and hearty, perfect for a chilly New England night, but not necessarily a place I'd go on a hot summer day. I mean, if you want to sweat out kielbasa and cabbage, more power to you, but I'll keep Polonia as a stuffed and warm, time to go to bed dining option. The fried pork tenderloin in pounded thin and deliciously greasy, topped with cold beet salad to sop up some of the oil, it's a chewy, crunchy, tangy delight. The veal tenderloin has more flavor than the pork, but tends to be on the drier side, still the ubiquitous cold beet salad evens this out as well. Pierogis are homemade and taste it, and really, who can mess up pasta like dough stuffed with cheese and potatoes and meat? I prefer them boiled, but I wouldn't kick the pan fried ones out of bed youknowwhatImean? Last, we get to the kielbasa. I could honestly eat kielbasa morning, noon, and night. And while I appreciate that Healthy Choice has made a pretty tasty turkey version so that I can still make it up my stairs without having to take a rest halfway through, sometimes you need the real deal. And this is the real deal. The outside has the perfect snap, giving way to an inside of hot, soft, smoky meat magic. While I typically enjoy the friendly and accommodating wait staff here, I'm glad they are savvy enough to stay far away from the table while I am enjoying this delight. Snapping jaws and glaring side eyes are not the way to make friends. Rumor (or, I guess fact) has it that their sister-deli across the street sells the kielbasa for home consumption, but I love the vibe at Polonia so much that I haven't quite made it over to check it out. So, looking for a warm, friendly, neighborhood place that will warm your feet, your belly, and the cockles of your heart? Run, don't walk (trust me on the cardio) over to Polonia. Nie ma za co!
(5)
Meg P.
I live down the street from Cafe Polonia and have been there several times in the past few months. Being half Polish, I brought both my parents on their separate visits, and they both loved it. It has great ambience, a very sweet staff, and the food is about as authentic as you can possibly get without homemade Polish food. The pierogi are almost as good as the 12 pounds of them I ate when in Poland...and that's good enough for me. The stuffed cabbage and the kielbasa are also very good - and all the meat they serve is available across the street at the deli that operates the restaurant! I love it there and will continue to go back. Also, the spread they serve with the bread is in fact lard - it also has pork in it. However, like other reviewers have said, it's not unhealthy. If you can get over the name and the texture, it's no worse for you than butter. It's traditional Polish - so if you want authentic, that's what you get!
(4)
Kai L.
A very cozy and small restaurant. It felt almost like dining at a friend's home. It's always a good idea to reserve before hand, especially if you are going there on weekends. I am a semi-vegetarian, so the choices at Cafe Polonia were not that many. I did choose the rainbow trout dish. It was pretty good, perfectly grilled with a nice flavor from the stuffing. The only downside is that it is a bit dry. The pierogi is pretty flavorful and my friends did say the stuffed cabbage was very good (has meat though). The cheese cake is a MUST try. Definitely one of the top three cheese cakes I had so far (and I am a dessert snob). We also had the herring fillet on oil. I really liked it. It was fresh, tasteful, and refreshing. But it pretty much has to be eaten with the raw onion to bring out the flavor. It may be acquired taste for some. Just another warning, we were a bit curious about what spread it was served with the bread. We thought that it was lard. It tasted good, but as soon as we suspected it was lard, we sort of stopped using the spread. Judge by yourself and you may like the flavor.
(4)
Art F.
This is our third visit to Cafe Polonia. I am hesitant to give 5 stars for any service, but this place deserves it. Right from the moment we entered the door the service was friendly and attentive. The food is always great and served as you want it. The waiter even asked if we wanted different music (we asked for Polish music and got it) and if we wanted more light. The ambiance is very much like eating at your Polish friend's house. Best time to eat here is during the week when reservations are seldom necessary as opposed to weekends when you do need to call ahead. Food is very reasonably priced and it seems to be frequented by locals as opposed to the touristy places closer to downtown Boston.
(5)
Renee M.
Absolutely AMAZING! Like many of the other reviewers I am half Polish, grew up on Polish cuisine and I thought the food here was absolutely delicious. I came with a couple of friends on a Saturday night and we called ahead for reservations because I knew how popular this place was. We walked in and surprisingly it was not crowded at all and we got seated right away. It is quite small inside and also extremely cute and quaint. The waitress was adorable and friendly as well. My friends and I ordered the kielbasa, stuffed cabbage and pierogis and all shared. Everything was great- I remember the stuffed cabbage being particularly delicious (and very very stuffed!). We also ordered Polish beers (I can't remember which kinds, and even if I did I probably wouldn't be able to spell them out for the life of me) which I thought were also very very good. Overall GREAT experience... I plan on bringing my parents here the next time they're in town.
(5)
King C.
Cafe Polonia has excellent wait staff and an amazingly quick turnaround, especially on a 100% packed Friday night. Unfortunately, the food was underwhelming. I had the Austrian pork chop and my date had the Polish sampler. Both lacked flavor. I'm glad I tried it once, but I probably won't try it again.
(3)
Aga K.
Kinda mixed feelings about this place, as a 'Polak' i would expect a little bit more mind blowing attitude from traditional dishes, also i think for portions that they serve place is a bit overpriced. Service...some days great, some very unenthusiastic. also a bit dissapointed with fruit crepes, they are suppose to be stuffed with real fruit and not fruit jam!
(3)
Lauren V.
Better book your angioplasty in advance because at Cafe Polonia, you will want to keep eating and eating and eating... Previously a kielbasa virgin, I decided to shed my deep-seated fear of losing face in front of family and friends and actually loving it after resisting it for 25 years, I opted for the kielbasa sandwich. It was amazingly delicious. It was also amazingly large...and amazingly rewarding 8 hours and 10 beers later. Although the food doesn't appear to be a work of art, my stomach is (luckily) blind and didn't seem to mind the lack of presentation one bit. The food (my sandwich and pieces from my date's Polish plate) was delicious and hearty. I definitely recommend a beer (Zywiec) to cut through the unhealthy delectableness you will most certainly ingest. As for the actual establishment, it is tiny, modest and clean. The tables are fairly close so it is not a place to hold private discussions. Conversely, I ended up chatting with a friendly co-patron who was from Poland (another star for attracting authentic Poles). At one point, my date went to the bathroom and my new Polish friend tried to set me up with his son...who was sitting right next to him. Awkward. We snapped some pics together and he seemed to be okay with the fact that I would not be dating his son in the near future. Anyways, the service is fairly quick and the waitress was friendly. We were able to find parking on the street so I am not sure how public transportation factors in to a Cafe Polonia experience. Cafe Polonia provided the perfect start to a cold, winter Saturday drinkfest. Highly recommended (with or without the apres-boozing).
(5)
Steve L.
Love this place, almost as good as the pierogis I make...almost Everyone I've taken to this restaurant ends up loving it, definitely worth trying... especially the Polish platter. The seating arrangement is a bit tight, but the decorations and benches always remind me of when I went to Zakopane .... luckily they don't serve sheep cheese here.
(4)
Scott D.
Very good authentic Polish cuisine for reasonable prices. This is a smaller cafe-style place. Seating is limited and if you go during busier dinner-hours (6pm to 8pm) I think you may be pressed to get seated. The kitchen is partially open to the dining area, but not distracting or loud. While small, the seats aren't packed tight so it's comfortable. The interior is freshly painted, clean, and appealing. The service is excellent, prompt, and casual yet friendly. Polonia offers a combination of very tradtional Polish food with more mainstream "Americanized" offerings. I highly recommend trying the traditional foods, they are done right. Hunter's stew (like a ghoulash), potato pancakes with salmon, kishka (a blood sausage), and of course kielbasa... all very tasty, not overly greasy or heavy, and fresh. The one thing I have to try is the Beet Tripe soup... some day soon! Highly recommended, and even for a casual date-night. One word of warning: parking can be tight in the Andrew Square area.
(4)
Kelly J.
I went here with my sister and husband. All of us loved it! I don't think you will find a lot of Polish restaurants in Boston besides this one so luckily it is delicious! My sister and I grew up in a totally Polish family and this was fairly close to the dishes we grew up loving as kids. Cute and cozy atmosphere, great food and excellent service! I will definitely be coming back for more!
(5)
Katherine D.
My mom loves to feel cosmopolitan so when shes coming to visit me in the "big-city" i like to make her feel like shes experiencing new and grand things. for her last visit I suggested she come on Yelp and pick the place for us to visit, and this was her choice. its not quite cosmopolitain or grand, but the tiny little place kind of does have a nice ambience. i do remember there was some weird wooden booth set up but other than that pretty cute. they served us bread upon being seated served with straight-up bacon grease as a spread. i find that disgusting. i got the duck dish, which was decent, and my mom got some sort of polish platter which she for the most part enjoyed. it as good enough, but i definitely wont be back unless mom drags me.
(3)
Jessica R.
For some other cities I would give this place 4 stars, but as far as Boston goes, I think this is hands down the best Polish food you are going to find. I grew up in a Polish family and all of this was very close to the home cooking I grew up loving oh so much. Great food, great dessert, great service. I will be back many times. Also, in regards to someone below stating that their borsch was all broth, possibly that was an error the kitchen made that night. Mine had about five delicious stuffed dumplings in it.
(5)
Nicole N.
What a wonderful place! A quaint restaurant in South Boston with great ambiance and delicious food. My partner and I went on a Tuesday, so it was pretty empty. Apparently not many people have discovered this gem! We were seated right away and the waitress was lovely, attentive and patient. My partner is of Polish descent so he had some high expectations for the food. I have very little experience with Polish food, having only had pierogi and Kielbasa, so I had no expectations at all. My partner had the Polish Plate, which was a sampler of pierogis, kielbasa and 'Bigos'. I had the Breast of Duck. Both dishes were exquisite! My partner was very pleased with all 3 items on his dish. I sampled all 3 of them and I can say that the pierogis were fresh, the kielbasa was succulent and the 'bigos', which don't look delicious, were pleasantly surprising and fantastic! My dish was just as pleasing. The duck was tender and moist, the potatoes were flavorful (a touch dry, but the sour cream they provide took care of that), the asparagus was cooked to perfection and had an added butter-lemon zest that I had not expected. Also, a side of shredded beets was added to the dish (it wasn't in the description but came with it). I don't like beets, and let me tell you that these beets were tasty! The Polish Beer selection was bottled. My only wish is that they had their beers on tap. The waitress made some wonderful recommendations and both beers my partner and I had (one a Pilsner, one a stout) were fantastic though bottled. They come in these awesome mugs that are hefty and match the feel of the restaurant. We were too full to have dessert and coffee. There was plenty of food left over for both of us to have a light lunch the next day. All in all, a wonderful experience. I want to head back and try more of their traditional dishes. While we were eating there, 3 Polish couples came in to dine and were chatting up the waitress in Polish. I'm guessing that this means the rest of their traditional dishes are just as good as the ones we had! For anyone who likes European fare, this restaurant is a must!
(5)
Thomas M.
I really enjoyed the meal, service and atmosphere at this place. I will look to return soon!
(4)
Jack M.
Not bad. Had lunch here last Saturday. Small place - maybe 20 seats. Cute - quaint. They recently repainted / redecorated. Guess due to their popularity they are making more $ and can afford it! We had a bunch of different things: potato pancakes with smoked salmon, breaded mushrooms, kielbasa, glumpkes, pierogis, and a potato pancake thing that had like beef stew in it. I won't bore you with the details on the food - but it was all very .... SAVORY. I liked the glumpkes best - nice and fresh. The pierogis had a super-thick dough which was a bit much for me but they were still good. But everything just tasted very ... meaty / savory? Weird to explain. Service was pretty slow - even with no other customers there! But - it's ok - we expected it so we didn't care. I don't know if we'd go back - I can't say we had anything that really jumped out at us. But it was pretty good.
(4)
Hillary M.
Tasterrific! It is like eating at my grandparent's house but being served by the super cute and friendly girl next door. The cooking just tastes so homemade. It is reallllllly tasty. I wouldn't recommended eating every meal here, it is also pretty fatty, but it is the perfect fare for a wintry Boston evening. The warm spiced wine, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa (both regular and spiced), mustard, pickles, and perogis are delish! I had the goulash and wasn't so keen on it - but the grandparent's goulash I'm used to is of the Hungarian persuasion, not Polish. We were all surprised by how good the Cabernet was. Looking forward to returning some blustery night when I just don't feel like cooking and want some food to warm my belly.
(4)
Jeffrey C.
Was here one winter night. If you need a good hearty meal, this is the place. Excellent perogies, bigos, and kilbasa. try the sampler plate if you're not familiar with Polish food. Great beer and pilsners too.
(3)
Christine S.
The meat pierogies I had at this place were almost as good as the ones I had in Poland. When I moved to the Boston area a few months ago I googled Polish Restaurants in Boston and was soo excited to find this place. It's very cosy (might have to wait a little bit for a table, but it's worth it) and it is very nicely decorated. I had the borsch & pierogi and washed it down with a Zywiec- i was so glad to see they served polish beer too! Can't wait to go back! FYI- the wine & liquor store in Davis Square sells Zywiev, Okociem and a few other Polish brews in the international beer section!
It's hard to call a restaurant the best anything in the city, when it is in fact the ONLY restaurant of its kind in the city. A perfect example is Cafe Polonia. One bit of advice that is crucial when it comes to dining at Cafe Polonia: MAKE RESERVATIONS! Holy beejesus if I hadn't made reservations, we would have been shit out of luck. This place really reminded me of Joe's grandparents (they are polish) and our waitress (who was the only waitress) was very nice and accommodating, even though she got a little slow in the end Joe and I wanted to try a little bit of everything, so we ordered the following: kielbasa, blood pudding, potato pancakes, and pierogies. The kielbasa was juicy and crisp, and some of the best I have had. The blood pudding was a little disappointing, it was good yes, but I didn't expect it to be shredded. Now, onto what makes things truly Polish, pierogies and potato pancakes. I really like both, BUT, they were not the best, not by far. I have had much better in both Salem and Toronto. We even managed to fit some dessert in the mix, and the apple crisp was very tasty, and I stole a bite of the cheesecake, and it is definitely not NY style. So, yes, Cafe Polonia is the best Polish food in the city, but really, by default because it is the ONLY Polish food in the city. But that doesn't mean I won't come back.
(4)
F. C.
Come for both the food and the atmosphere. I love the fact that dining here feels like having dinner in someone's dining room. It's small and cozy and the pace of dinner is very relaxed. There's only ever one waitress and it takes a bit of time to order and be served, but I love that. Come with a few friends and make an evening of it. The food makes me happy. I'm a vegetarian, so I'm limited to peirogi and potato pancakes, but that's absolutely fine with me. Both are fantastic and if you ask nicely you can even get a combo plate of the two.
(4)
Michal P.
Love this place before my mom moved to the US from Poland this was my only way to get some polish food. This is the only Polish place in Boston and I don't really care because there isn't much more that anyone else could do. The food is top notch the waitresses are polish and very pleasant and helpful. You can also try some of the best beer there.
(5)
Marilyn T.
The lard for the bread is warming. The place is small and homey feeling, which suits it perfectly. Because it's so small, service is very attentive. I loved the borscht and potato pancakes. Everything is a bit heavy, but that's how it's supposed to be. Everything seems very authentic, and it just leaves you with a warm, satisfied feeling. It's perfect for a winter meal.
(4)
Moomin T.
I would give this place four stars except for one reason: the prices. The prices are ridiculous. However, the food is quite good. I'd say the pierogi are pretty top-notch. The potato pancakes--eh--I've had better. The lard spread for the bread: yummy, don't be grossed out by it. It's just like solid gravy. But what on earth is this place thinking charging you $16 for a plate of potato pancakes at lunchtime? This is insanity. If they lowered their prices, I have a strong feeling they'd draw in many more patrons and have a better business.
(3)
Renee G.
So. I'm half Polish. If you knew what the G. in Renee G. stood for, or if you ever had the chance to witness my mind-boggling tolerance for vodka, that much would be obvious. However, my non-Polish mother did most of the cooking in our house, so unless the babcia was visiting, Hillshire Farms kielbasa was about as Polish as it got save for holidays. I had wanted to go to Cafe Polonia forever and ever, to experience the traditional foodways of my fatherland, but it wasn't until I was already headed to the neighborhood to pick up fresh kielbasa for Thanksgiving brunch (boiled and eaten with horseradish, it will certainly wake you up) that I finally had the chance to go. It was worth the wait. First, let me say that I am slightly disturbed at how much I liked the lard spread. My fellow culinary adventurer/best friend Gilian switched over to butter pretty much immediately, but come on - it had BACON in it. To start, we split the potato pancakes with smoked salmon and sour cream, which were fantastic - just like the ones grandma used to make when mom was out of town (mom is opposed to seafood - I know, imagine growing up in such a sorry excuse for a household). Then we split a plate of pierogis, mixed between potato and cheese and cabbage and mushroom - the cabbage and mushroom were better, FYI, but the potato and cheese didn't exactly go unfinished. Then, of course, the grilled fresh kielbasa (because no Polish meal is complete without kielbasa), served with caramelized onions, spicy mustard, and horseradish - so, so so good. For dessert, we split the chocolate babka cake. The menu describes it as "traditional babka filled with warm chocolate, served with a scoop of ice cream," and I can't see how this is accurate because it bore no resemblance to any traditional babka I've even had (babka is a dense, slightly sweet bread often scented with citrus zest and studded with golden raisins, and this was decidedly not that) but it was warm and gooey in the middle and hit the spot. Best of all, the whole meal plus a beer each amounted to barely $30 per person, and we were stuffed. I get sent to Andrew Square before every Catholic holiday to procure the traditional foodstuffs, and you can bet I will be making Cafe Polonia an integral part of every trip.
(5)
John.Chris V.
So delicious, perfect comfort food for a cold rainy eve, cabbage, pirogis, homemade soups/breads. Not the ideal choice for the dieting gal/guy. Excellent polish beer assortment.
(4)
Kristin N.
Love it. I currently have a list of people I need to bring here, one at a time so I have a good excuse to keep coming back. The people are so nice, the dcor is so cute and the food...the food is SO GOOD. The only reason you should be afraid of Polish food is if you don't want to gain like 5 pounds from becoming addicted to it! They have traditional as well as American dishes on their menu so bring your food-phobic friends; they'll find something they like. You can also rent out the whole restaurant for functions. Pretty sweet! Oh and POLKA BRUNCH ON SUNDAYS! I don't even know what that is but it sounds wicked fun!
(5)
Judith Z.
Food was clearly made in-house. Potato pancakes were awesome. Kielbasa is crisp and delicious. Can't go wrong here! I only say it's not good for groups because it looks like the place only seats about 30.
(5)
Kerrie F.
Although I cannot lay claim to any Polish ancestry and had little experience with Polish food, I have yet to leave this place an unsatisfied customer. Since frequenting this establisment (almost two years now), I find myself often subject to cravings of various Polish dishes, especially in the cold fall/winter months. One of the great things about this place is that it offers both traditional Polish food, as well as American staples as well. Although I would never come to Cafe Polonia to have anything other than Polish food, it is nice to have those options in the event that you may need to persuade picky eaters to come here with you so that you can actually enjoy food of substance. Because I've only had the traditional meals, I can only recommend in that arena. The Kielbasa twists are a great appetizer to start with, as they are extemely tasty, but also proportionate to what an appetizer should be so that you can actually enjoy your entree. For meals, the potato pancakes are excellent and they occasionally offer a giant potato pancake special that also comes with eggs, ham, and goulash. Both are excellent. My favorite entree, though, is the potato and cheese pierogis. Seriously, I could eat this things like candy and never stop. I get them boiled, as fried food tends to sit heavily in my stomach for many hours. For drinks, they have a solid selection of wines, but my favorite beverage by far is the Zywiec Polish beer. The mix of this beer with the pierogis make for a perfect combination. If, for whatever reason, you are in the mood for dessert, go for the Chocolate Bubka Cake, it is to die for. The only negative thing I can say about this place is that there was one occasion where I received awful service from a really rude waiter. I've only seen him there once and haven't seen him there since, so I am not even sure if he is still there. Other than that, my other experiences have been overwhelmingly positive with the waitstaff and food service. The restaurant itself is kind of small, but I think that adds to the charm of this place. There is only street parking as well, but I actually enjoy it because there is also an excellent Polish market across the street where one can buy additional products to take home for later enjoyment.
(5)
Julia W.
I have to admit that I am always a happy camper when a restaurant serves kielbasa, my favorite meat product on earth. But holy god did this place blow me out of the water! I happened to be in Dorchester and a friend and I went to Cafe Polonia for lunch. It was like a little yellow building beacon on light in a typical Dorchester neighborhood. After much drooling over the appetizers, I stuck with the Polish plate: kielbasa, pierogis, stuffed cabbage, oh my! Absolutley fantastic. I was almost brought to tears by how awesome the food was. I even offered to live in a closet in the restaurant if they promised to throw me kielbasa one in awhile. Anyway, A++++++! Highly recommend.
(5)
Marly T.
First time trying Polish food and it was pretty good. I ordered the Polish plate which had the stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, and two other things (I don't know what it was called). It was pretty good. The waiter gave me the strongest beer they had. It was like 9% alcohol in it. It was pretty tasty but dark. We would come back and try other dishes.
(4)
Tyler S.
Great place to eat!! The restaurant is so authentic and the food is delicious
(5)
Victoria J.
Alright. Granted this place has NOTHING on my Babcia's cooking, it does satisfy my cravings for flavors from the homeland when Babcia is an ocean away. The soups are great - what I miss the most living in the States. The entrees are always good - simple, Polish homecooking. Just not as good as my Babcia's. There's plenty of Polish beer, in bottles and drafts. The decor is very typical "Goral." It's decorated like a wooden log house in the mountains of Poland. The chairs and tables look like they were carved out of wood and remind me a bit of being at my grandparents' place in Poland knocking back a couple of beers by the fire. I'm not sure if I love this place because it's awesome or because it reminds me of home and good times. Probably a little of both. Still - My Babcia could burn this place to the ground with her cooking.
(4)
Paul B.
On a return visit I decided to branch off the Polish plate and ordered the Gypsy Pancake. I am still dreaming about it. Two large potato pancakes sandwiching goulash. Jaw droppingly delicious. My three friends and I were lucky to get any food. Every seat was filled when we arrived, sans reservations. The server said Sorry, but just then, a couple left a four top and we were in the right place at the right time.
(4)
Cecilia L.
Here I am yelping Cafe Polonia tipsy on Zywiec with happy Polish music playing in my head. I had lots of fun here, but the meaty, heavy cuisine isn't something I could do regularly. Bf and I have lived down the street for months, but only came in today, a rainy Saturday, for lunch. There was just one table left as all the others were filled with Polish neighborhood folk. It's small, cute and bright, with warm blond woods and that music making me want to just leap up in folk dance. The waitress started us with bread and what looked like bacon bits suspended in Crisco. When I asked what it was, she cheerfully replied, "Lard." Bf dug right in, but I hesitated. I love to try new foods, but my tongue curdles if I get a piece of meat with a bit of fat on it. While I was deciding whether I could bring myself to try it, he suddenly stopped chewing. He ran for the bathroom to spit. Reminded him too much of a childhood camping trip in which his group got lost and had to survive for a day on lard. I knew then that I couldn't do it. Do drink the Zywiec, an awesome Polish beer that comes in huge bottles for $5. I got the kielbasa sandwich ($10) and bf the Polish plate ($16). The sandwich was massive, at least a foot long stuffed with enormous hunks of kielbasa. I actually had to take half the meat out to fit it in my mouth. Polish plate consists of kielbasa with sauerkraut, bigos cabbage stew and pierogies. The pierogies were delicious. The "cabbage" stew was more like a thin wrapper of cabbage stuffed with tons of meat, and the sauerkraut and the sauteed onions accompanying the pierogies were flecked with bacon. If you love meat, Cafe Polonia is your kind of place. UPDATE: Okay now it's the same evening, and the boy and I have been sleeping for like four hours. This is heavy stuff, people.
(4)
Molly S.
From now on, I am ONLY eating Polish food. Cafe Polonia brings me back to a happy place and warm memories of my Polish step-grandma. And the service was excellent too!
(5)
Traveling B.
This place was fandiddlytastic. Wow, I have tried to get here a couple of times, but it was always so busy. I lucked out and got a reservation on a quiet night, and what a breath of fresh air. The staff was very friendly and the atmosphere is incredibly warm, so even before we had ordered we were talking about what a nice place to find in such an odd part of town. Then,,, we ordered,,,,,, I a sandwich, the sig O' the polish plate (of course the most expensive thing on the menu). Ahhh the sandwich, I know I know, how do you describe a sandwich without just saying it's a sandwich, well this one is worth my weak attempt. The bread on my sandwich was extremely light, yet slightly toasted on the outside, it actually seemed to melt in my mouth with the sandwich, creating one of those ever so rare sandwich tasting sandwiches, not just bread and meat. The Kraut, delicious, the Kielbasa moist, supple and no charring or burnt-ness in sight, add a slight amount of mustard that just gave a kick, not a take over and you have the divine experience I had. The Polish plate was also absolutely incredible (according to the O' with the full mouth, "Yum", the pierogies,,,excellent, and the O' was extremely fond of the stuffed cabbage as well, and for the O' to be happy with food it has to be good, trust me. My favorite thing about this place, cheap cheap cheap!!!! We had our two meals, two sodas, a coffee, and a dessert and it barely breached 30 bucks. So you get incredible hometwon charm, incredible staff and service, and incredible food for 30 bucks. It def gets my 5 star
(5)
Lisa C.
I want to give this place 4 stars but my meal was only ok. I went here with Jacob W. on a whim, wanting to try a new restaurant and a new cuisine. Jacob got a polish beer while we savored the delicious potato pancakes with smoked salmon. Yum! I also had the borsch. I've never had Polish borsch before and i was really surprised that it was all broth with no beets or other vegetables in it. For my entree I had the pierogis which were obviously better than frozen ones but not particularly flavorful. Jacob W. got the kielbasa with stewed cabbage which he thought (I think we agreed) was absolutely delicious. The restaurant itself is so cute and it's obviously a very family-oriented restaurant which is always nice to see. I think the food was a little bit pricey for what it was which leads to me demoting down to 3 stars.
(3)
Susan N.
I hate Polish food. Sausage is just not for me, at least not the edible kind. So why 5 stars? They have a few other Eastern European dishes that you cannot get anywhere in Boston. The mushroom soup is delicious and the gypsy pancakes are out of this world. Just make sure you get it with goulash. Oh how I miss you, sweet goulash. The pancakes are quite tasty themselves. Having grown up with somewhat of an Eastern European diet, I can get very picky about food. Polonia did not let me down.
(5)
John O.
Hands down, this is my favorite restaurant in the city. Give me a Polish Plate and a bottle of Zywiec and I'm a very happy man. The dining room is tiny with only something like eight tables, so make reservations. It can get mobbed, and the poor waitress a bit harried, but she's a total sweetheart, so be patient. The food is so worth the wait. And their stuffed cabbage blows Zaftigs' out of the water.
(5)
Ben K.
Just went for lunch today. So I decided that I wanted to go out to lunch today, because it was restaurant week, but then began reading reviews on Yelp for restaurant-week menus, and was not impressed at all. So, I decided to stick to my neighborhood and try a new place. That's where Cafe Polonia comes in; after reading all these rave reviews, I HAD to go. I'm giving Cafe Polonia 4.5 stars, but I'll round up to 5. Here's the good: -Waitress was really friendly and adorable and guided me through the menu -Fresh rye bread with that lard-crispy-bacon-caramelized onion-dip (if there is one food that equates to sin, it's this) -Potato pancake was A+ (waitress gave me a free side) -Entree "Polish Plate": kielbasa (really crispy and flavorful), cabbage stew (sweet and sour-- yum), stuffed cabbage, and pierogi (EXACTLY the same as my friend's Polish grandmother makes) The not-so-good: -Dessert: blueberry crêpe. The crêpe itself was good, but then they kinda screwed it up by squirting Hershey's syrup and store-bought whipped cream over the top. But certainly edible... next time I'll just get it w/o the chocolate and whipped cream. -Waitress gave me the check before offering me dessert All in all, LOVED this place. Also seems like a great spot for a date.
(5)
Jeff M.
I went here for lunch twice last summer. I honestly felt like some of the food was not fresh and may have been pre-prepared a day or so in advance. However I cannot tell.
(3)
Jeff M.
When I used to live in Boston and I didn't have a car, I'd literally have to beg peers to drive me to this place to get my Polish fix. When I finally had a car in Boston, I tried to eat here once a month. This is one of my favorite hideouts in Boston. The kielbasa sandwich is perfect. The pierogis are fantastic. Even the bread to start is delicious. I've only had excellent experiences here. Whenever I hear the word "kielbasa," I immediately think of this place.
(5)
Sheila S.
Good service, great food, even a cute waitress who makes good beer recommendations. We had the smoked salmon potato pancakes, borscht, and perogies. Everything was pure Yum.
(5)
Mike C.
Oh my. I'd never had Polish food before, but I will be eating it again. It's like the most comforting of comfort foods. The restaurant's very cute, and the single server was very helpful, especially when it came to helping me choose a beer. I don't know the real name of the "Chicken Dance" song, but it played twice while my girlfriend and I were there.
(4)
Randy M.
Went here for my birthday and the food was fantastic. I'm not eastern european but was with my gf who's family is from that part of the world and says that this stuff is pretty close to the real thing. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Meg M.
Oh Cafe Polonia. I love you. I really do. I'm upping my review to 5 stars as a result of my dinner date with Mark here last night. We were laying around with growling tummies trying to decide what kind of food would rouse us from my warm apartment and foodless fridge and out into the snow storm that was squalling around the streets of Southie. After a rough day for both of us we didn't want to go to any of crowded bars on Broadway (as walkable as they are). Suddenly it hit me: Cafe Polonia! Usually quiet and always cozy I knew it would be the perfect place for us to go grab some yummy food. Mark had never had Polish food so I thought we should jump on the chance to expose him to yet another culinary adventure. When we arrived at Cafe Polonia we were able to easily grab a spot right on the street directly in front of the restaurant. There was one other couple finishing up but otherwise, the adorable space was completely void of people. After about 10 minutes, we were alone in the restaurant and we couldn't have been happier about it. The waiter let us know about their drink offerings and I decided to try the traditional Polish spiced wine. It was hot and delicious and warmed my belly instantly. Mark left me to the ordering while he kept his brave face on and his 16 oz. Zwyiec beer in hand. I ordered the kielbasa twists, the pierogi, and the potato pancakes with beef goulash. Everything came out together like we asked and it was all delicious. The pierogi are boiled perfectly and stuffed to perfection with cabbage, mushroom, cheese and potato and topped with bits of delicious cured bacon. The kilebasa is perfection and served with some mustard for dipping. MMMM. The potato pancakes are a generous portion and the beef goulash was one of our favorite items of the night. We ate pretty much everything on the plates and then sat back to finish our drinks. When the waited mentioned a dessert menu, I thought I'd take a little looksie. The description of the traditional chocolate Babka cake was enough to make me find JUST ENOUGH room to squeeze it in. When this dessert arrived it looked like the most beautiful thing we have ever seen. The ice cream on top of this dark, rich, wonderful bundt cake was light fluffy and perfectly sweet. We both had forgotten how full we were and devoured it within 5 minutes. I could have eaten another I think. We talked about that babka all the way home. So all in all what I'm getting at here is that you should get on the redline. take it to Andrew, walk across the intersection and settle yourself into this amazing little gem. You will be really happy you did. The only thing I would take a pass on in this place is the lard and bacon they serve in your bread basket. Its horrid. But I guess some people go nuts for it. Its just not my thing.
(5)
Victor P.
Delicious and authentic polish food. Everything on the menu is delicious. Gypsy potato pancakes are just like the ones I had in Krakow, Poland! And the polish plate is excellent. Has a little bit of everything I love about polish cuisine - kielbasa, perogis, bigos, and stuff cabbage. So yummy!!
(5)
Kris H.
Polonia is the type of restaurant that brings you back to childhood. Eating the food that my grandmother cooked is a great way keep both boday and soul warm in the cold winter weather. Went yesterday, for the second time, for lunch and started with the pickle soup. I know that it may not sound like the best thing that you have tried, but TRY IT!!! If you like pickles, even a little bit, this soup is for you! It is briney and warm and just delicious. The potato pancakes are great too. I have brought a couple of friends there and everyone enjoyed their food. The restaurant is very small. There seems to always be some on street parking available.
(4)
Katherine B.
The food, service, ambiance, everything about this place is incredible. The menus are written in both English and Polish which is lovely and the waitstaff is all bilingual as well. There is a large variety of appetizers, soups and salads, specials, entrees, beverages and desserts on the menu. The food is delicious and authentic (I can vouch for this coming from a Polish family full of cooks and having lived in Poland). They have all my favorite beers imported from Poland including but not limited to Zywiec (pale Lager and the Porter), Okocim and Warka. They also have wines. The traditional, heavy oak furniture was handmade by the owner and adds to the homey feel of Poland. I've been here with my family, with friends, with people of all ages and no one has ever been disappointed. It is a small restaurant so I'd recommend calling for reservations for larger parties, especially on busy days. This place is just magnificent I very highly recommend it! Smacznego!
(5)
Christine R.
Being part Polish, I grew up eating kielbasa, saurkraut, pickled beets, and such. So when I saw the Groupon for this restaurant, I knew I had to check it out with my brother. I ordered the Pickle soup and Polish plate. My brother had the Fresh Kielbasa plate. We shared also some Potato pancakes with applesauce. The soup was probably one of the best soups I ever had. Its basically a potato soup with pickles. Strange combination but so delicious. The bread served at our table was great dipped in the soup and was good by itself as well. Our potato pancakes came up next and they were so good. The applesauce was to die for. Then my meal, the Polish plate was amazing. Best kielbasa I ever had. The stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and Hunter's stew were all great. I saved half of my meal for leftovers as well a potato pancake making a delicious meal the next day. My brother also enjoyed his dish. The staff were kind, attentive, and quick. Orders came in rather quickly. The place is small and cute. Nice wooden tables and chairs. Though I wish the restaurant had a sign in front. Its very small and I only knew it was the place because of the zagat sign on the window. Not far from the restaurant is a European shop which carries the same stuff they serve at the restaurant. I got myself some Plum pierogies as I never had such. Curious to try it out. They also carry the Pickle soup, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, a variety of pierogies, baked goodies, and such. I definitely will return for more food. I recommend this restaurant to everyone and will definitely come back again.
(5)
Julie R.
This was the first Polish restaurant my boyfriend and I had been too and we will definitely be back. It resembles a lodge inside and is very cozy. I made a reservation for a Sunday night and was glad I did cause the place was full when we arrived and our cute table for 2 at the window was waiting. The meal started off with the breadbasket and the side of lard with bacon. I had checked the reviews on yelp before we went so knew what that was. I thought it was different but was good. Try to order off the traditional menu for the hard core Polish stuff. For dinner we got the: Herring fillet in oil appetizer: Sliced herring on a bed of greens with diced onions. Very authentic. Salty, but squeeze some lemon on top to sweeten it up. Gypsy Pancake: A giant potato pancake filled with Hungarian Goulash and topped with sour cream. This was my entree and was enormous. The inside was loaded with goulash and tasted great with the pancake and sour cream. Polish Plate: Bigos (stuffed cabbage), pierogies, and kielbasa with sauerkraut. This came out as a large portion also. I tried everything on it. Great variety. Excellent Kielbasa. They haven a large selection of Polish beers. The server happily recommended a few. It was very busy during our dinner and there was only one server for the whole place so service was slow. It's a good idea to make a reservation no matter when you go. The place only has a few tables and I saw a few parties get turned away cause they were full.
(4)
Nicole C.
My grandparents are from the Ukraine, so I grew up eating a variation of a lot of the things that Cafe Polonia offers on their menu. My husband and I had gone here quite a while ago and enjoyed it so much, that I thought I'd bring my parents while they were here in Boston for a visit. Honestly, I was nervous to take my father who had truly grown up on that type of food. Even though theirs was a bit different than what my Grandmother would prepare - we all loved our food and just had a great time in the little polish restaurant. My grandmother is no longer with us, and although we try to replicate her food, we don't have it nearly enough. It's nice to know that there is a place we can go for it - a place that does it well. We went traditional, ordering the borscht w/ mushroom dumplings, stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and potato pancakes. Ask for mushroom sauce over the pierogies, as opposed to the little sour cream cup - it's fabulous. Not only is the food really good, it's a comforting atmosphere - small, cozy, and friendly. Make reservations. I was glad I did, as there were several walk-ins that they had to turn away. Because it is such a tiny little place - there is no waiting area. There are two chairs they will pull up for you, but it will be uncomfortable for you, and those eating at tables so close to you. Call ahead and enjoy!
(5)
Michael B.
One of our favorite restaurants in Boston! Every dish is prepared perfectly. The potato pancakes are to die for -- try them with mustard or horseradish if you ever get tired of having them with sour cream, applesauce, or goulash. They really care about the quality of what they're serving here.
(5)
Paola C.
I have no idea how I have no reviewed this place yet!!!!! I mean, I'm polish and go here at least once a month here!! The place has good ol' homemade Polish cooking, just like Babcia used to (babcia = grandma). It delicious and literally tastes just like mom would make! Traditional dishes with amazing flavor! When you walk in it feels like you're walking into old world Poland, the type of place you'd find in the countryside. I truly feel like I'm back in Poland when I come into this place and its amazing to just get away. The place is teeny and has maybe like 6 tables but at the same time its worth the wait if you have a wait (altho there isnt a place to wait which is why one of the people who wrote a review was probably turned away, because you would have crowded the place even more). The waitresses are friendly although not extremely attentive but that's because its the Polish way for waitresses to leave you be and eat your food and when you need them you'll get them (at least that's been my experience from eating hundreds of times in Poland). Try the pierogi or the pyzy or the nalesniki or the kotlety.... actually just try the dinner plate because it has a little bit of the best polish stuff! then for dessert get the nalesniki (basically crepes/blintzes filled with either farmers cheese or fruits, id go with fruits for dessert) or try the szarlotka which is a take of apple cobbler and apple pie and an apple crisp all together but its delicious (dont forget the vanilla ice cream!!) It's a traditional place with a meat and potatoes kind of feel which is traditional polish... its an amazing place and you'll feel like home... the only downfall - the chairs are wooden (for that old feeling) so they can be a bit uncomfortable but just ask for a pillow under your butt and you'll be fine!! DEFINITELY GO!!! PS - get some polish beer while you're there... one of the only places you'll find some!! Zywiec and Okocim are my faves!
(5)
Amy O.
This is the one and only Polish restaurant in Boston and it is delightful! Polish food is definitely comfort food; hearty, rich dishes providing you with a full stomach more so than to keep your blood pressure down, meaning, lots of pork, cabbage and potatoes. The first thing the waitresses will serve you is schmaltz, which is sort of this pork-fat with onions that you slather on your bread like pate. I passed on that but my dinner-companion raved about it's evil deliciousness. I ordered the Sobieski cutlet, which is basically a giant chicken cutlet that was really wonderful with light breading. We also shared the Polish plate, which I suggest if you are there for the first time. You really get a variety of all Poland has to offer: Hunters stew, Bigo's (pork stuffed cabbage), Pierogi's (crepes stuffed with cheese and meat) and Kielbasa (Polish sausage). Yes, it is definitely NOT heart-smart, but it is damn substantial. Wash it all down with a Polish beer and follow it with a Szarlotka (apple cake). The place is tiny but cozy and warm, with lots of lovely blonde-wood tables and Polish folk art. The only reason why I give this 4 stars instead of 5 is the location is sort of off-the-beaten-path and I think parking can be a challenge (we took the T to Andrew). I really recommend checking out this place on a cold winter's day. You'll never want to leave.
(4)
Ioan B.
Nice place for polish food, I would give it a 3.5 stars if I had the choice.
(3)
Nick S.
My wife and I strolled into Polonia on Friday night. It is a small room, but it has a fun, cozy feel to it. My wife's family is from Kazakhstan (sorry about the spelling) and this felt like we had visited there- same wood- same smell- same food and so on. In that respect it is really fun. There is care put into the restaurant, but with that said there were two things that will likely hold me from further stars. I.) Price Point: Compared to the attention to detail and taste factor from the restaurant right down the street (Dbars!) you are just paying too much for the taste your are getting- probably 3-4 dollars too expensive. II.) It was Friday night, and we got in ahead of people, so we were fine, but we could see that having 1 Young Man working EVERYTHING was way too difficult for him and customer service was clearly compromised. That all said, my wife and i agreed that it might be a fun place to bring our parents in the winter- just as a 1 time thing-
(3)
Emily M.
I remember going to Cafe Polonia with my family and my sister's new boyfriend for my fourteenth birthday. My 20th just passed, and my sister's boyfriend has stuck around, and I guess Cafe Polonia is the great love of my early life, 'cause it stuck around for another six birthdays, too. I got six family members to look at the online menu and come up with a list to call in an order for pick up. This thing was freaky long -- everybody wanted to order at least two things so there were something like twenty-one dishes on my list before I even picked up the phone. Called and got the waiter. This dude was so Polish, and so patient. He seemed bashful and nervous that I was crank calling him since the list was so long but I told him it was my birthday and he was giggly and excited for me (love). I thought it'd be a miracle if he got it all right -- and he did! We went in a half hour later, had to wait something like 20 more minutes for the food (understandble, they had a few customers and we ordered like half the things on the menu) and he packaged and labeled EVERYTHING PERFECTLY -- each dish had its own little perfect-for-transit-package with hand written labels in Sharpie like "asparagus (for breast of duck entree)." We were also kindly seated by the same waiter as we waited and he gave us bread and lard to go with our order. The packing job he did took us all the way to Quincy with no spills. I enjoyed my Pickle Soup and Mushroom Soup in perfect birthday bliss. (By the way, if you've never had pickle soup before, and it's the soup of the day, totally get it -- briny from pickles and starchy from potatoes, dill & sour cream?-- SO. GOOD.). I've never been let down by this place. Their typical Polish stand-bys have always been great. The Hungarian Goulash is also a trip.. if you have time, they'll bake a bread bowl over a clay pot of goulash for you and bring it out like a little hot air balloon for you to rip off and feast from. If you don't like the decor I don't know what to do for you. Pine everything. And it works so well. I'm making a yelp account just for you, Cafe Polonia. 6 years strong! :*
(5)
Kenneth C.
Delicious stuffed cabbage rolls. Awesome beef tripe soup and beet soup. Slow service with long wait times, but it's worth it.
(4)
Kristen C.
i'm not sure if i want to give it a full 5 stars.. but it's more than 4... so... 5 it is. location isn't so awesome... but the food is. luckily there is easy to find parking on the street. small, intimate place. and for right now the only polish place in the boston area. which is surprising considering cambridge and places around have every ethnicity you could imagine. but anyway... being half polish - i've had most of the items on the menu made authentically by my mother and grandmother, so it's a lot to live up to. given that. the food was great. (not as good as home - but better than frozen pierogis) and a unique beer selection. will definitely be back. and very happy to know that they will be opening a bigger location up in salem with offerings of hungarian, russian, etc. we'll be back, don't you worry cafe polonia.
(5)
Good M.
Polish dishes are authentic, fantastic and filling. Prices are great too. Dining area is a hole in the wall but comforting. Service however was lacking, our server also forgot to put on deodorant that night. Would go back again.
(4)
Eric S.
I'm a huge fan of Cafe Polonia. I almost don't want to write a review because I want to keep it as much of a secret as possible. I use to make monthly trips to Cafe Polonia for lunch when I worked downtown, but now that I don't get downtown as much I really miss and crave the great Polish food! I am half Polish and make a point to drag visitors to this restaurant when they feel adventurous enough. I usually go for the Golabkis (cabbage roles) and of course the pierogis, but you can't go wrong with their polish plate where you get a little of everything. Don't forget to wash it down with a crisp Polish Lager. So if you are unfamiliar with Polish food, treat yourself and check out Cafe Polonia
(5)
Russ D.
Just go! Everything is amazing. Food cooked in lard? Doesn't get any better than that. Glad to see there is a place you can eat real, natural food - not made that that toxic vegetable/canola oil crap! Yes people that's right, saturated is not - and never has been - unhealthly for you. No science has ever supported it. Anyways off my soapbox. Go eat. Enjoy.
(5)
K M.
Awesome crepes, salads, and potato pancakes.
(5)
Tod K.
Not particularly my taste of food. The pork lard appetizer dip was the least appetizing.
(1)
Amber L.
This place is amazing! Not since I went to Poland several years ago have I had such good Polish food. Unlike a lot of my friends I do not have a Polish grandmother to cook for me whenever I visit home and have been reduced to buying frozen pierogis whenever I've had a craving. Now I have Cafe Polonia! Unfortunately I did not go late enough to get the smalec but they do have it! Also, they have this rich cherry juice that is a must try. I will definitely be returning here.
(5)
Lena G.
The beet soup and meat perogies are two of the few items worth getting at this place. Everything else is overpriced, and there are a few items on the menu that are not Polish at all, such as chicken fingers. But I should emphasize that the beet soup and meat perogies are indeed very good, so they get 5 stars for that alone.
(5)
Damon I.
I'm not a health nut, but America's food-guilt culture compels me to eat more healthfully than I might if I were left to my own primitive, nescient id. So, my heart understandably winced at the meal's harbinger - dinner bread with bacon lard spread O: I just turned off my conscience for the night and had a great meal in a great atmosphere. Cafe Polonia is a brightly lit, rustic ski lodge inside. There's not a whole lot of seating, so plan ahead. I started with a beer, and not being Polish, I took the waitress's recommendation for the most popular choice, Zywiec. While fresh tasting and crisp, I suspected that this beer *might* be the Budweiser of Poland so I ordered some others to sample. Lingering satisfaction was found with the Lezajsk, a more interesting suggestion with a fruity, floral finish. My dinner partner and I shared a perogie appetizer and then took turns sharing main courses. The potato pancakes with applesauce and sour cream had a tongue delighting texture. I ordered the warm and comforting Goulash which was a Polish beef stew served in a bread bowl. Were it not for the waitress's intervention, I'd have stabbed the bread bowl like a popover. Don't be a hero - ask for help. Previously, I've ordered the Polish plate which comes with a sampling of kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, and perogies. It's a great dish to try if you're indecisive like me. Everything at Cafe Polonia is rich in flavor and the experience is made even richer by partaking on a cold, wet night. If you're not a calorie counter, Cafe Polonia is an easy trip from downtown on the Redline that should not be missed.
(4)
Brady B.
Fantastic! After reading the reviews and realizing that this place is a 10 minute walk from my apartment, I had to check it out. SO glad I did. My two friends/neighbors and I took a walk over to Cafe Polonia tonight after I blabbed to them how I was interested in trying this restaurant. One of the two is a true foodie while the other isn't so much, but loves pierogies. What we came to find was that, as many reviewers have stated was a cute, dining room ambiance and our Polish waitress simply could not have been any sweeter or more cute in her demeanor. To me that's 4 stars alone. And the food....we started with kielbasa twists, which were creatively sliced kielbasa with a wonderful mustard dip. The pierogi lover had fried potato and cheese pierogis which were so delicious (I'm used to the frozen kind from Shaw's). My other friend had the Polish combo...3 boiled pierogies, kielbasa, sauerkraut and stuffed cabbage...all delicious w/ the exception that I HATE sauerkraut, but he loved it. Now it's my turn, I had the gypsy pancake (love the name) which was 2 very ample sized potato pancakes with beef goulash in between them and topped with sour cream. All I can say is that my 2 friends agreed that it was the best dish at our table. I can only agree myself. This was my first time dining at a Polish restaurant and it will become a regular part of Brady's favorite restaurants.
(5)
Ozzy Z.
Cafe Polonia was my first foray into Polish food, and I must say, I can't believe it took me 21 years to try a pierogi. The food was absolutely delicious, and while it is quite heavy on the stomach (and the calories), you won't be thinking about any of that after scarfing down your stuffed cabbage and pierogis, and finishing it off with one of their delicious desserts. Now, this place is very popular, and also very tiny, so don't be surprised if you're turned away because of how busy it is. This has happened to me before, and I was shocked the first time because I had never been told to "Come back tomorrow" by a hostess at a restaurant before (those were her actual words). I can understand why though, as the food is delicious, and the environment is very cozy. It really feels more like you're eating in some Polish family's kitchen, as opposed to a restaurant. I definitely think everyone should check this place out at some point or other. It's less than a 5 minute walk from the Andrew stop on the red line.
(5)
Graham C.
Okay, went here with my brother and my friend. I wasn't aware there were hot Polish women, but now I am. That was a treat. I'm not sure why I had some visions of a woman with a hairy mole stirring my goulash. This place is small, like real small. It's not crowded though, which is nice. And they have a terrific selection of Polish and Czech beers. We each had two, which accounted for our higher than expected tab. But at only $4 a piece, it really didn't break the bank. If you've never had polish food, then you should get the polish plate which is like a sampler. I personally got the kielbasa plate and some potato pancakes. It was awesome. Though it's a good thing I am single, because at this very moment I'm producing enough natural gas to power the City of Worcester. I'm in talks with NStar, so lemme know your needs over the next few weeks. Good place, great food at the right price.
(4)
Margaret O.
Great food, great service. Very reasonable prices. Traditional home make cooking, polish kitchen. I love this place. When ever I am in Boston I always go there. I am recommending to fry knight's cutlet
(5)
Ally C.
The service was rather off-putting. When we walked in there were no employees in sight for a few minutes. We decided to seat ourselves at a table in the middle, but since there were only three chairs we pulled over a chair from an empty table. The waitress finally appeared and we asked if we could sit there. She said sure but was a little weird about it. She also only brought three menus and it was impossible to get her attention. I ended up standing up and grabbing another menu from the counter. Passive aggressive or am I overthinking? Bread was complimentary. It was kind of hard and stale. Instead of butter, they had sausage lard to spread on the bread. The food was just okay, rather greasy and heavy. I wouldn't want to have that meal again for the sake of my health and longevity. My friend doesn't eat pork and so I wanted to ask the waitress if my sausage contained pork because he wanted to try my food. We tried to find the waitress. I had to stand up and poke my head over the waitress station to ask her. (For the record, all their sausages have pork.) I guess there wasn't a great tone set at the beginning. When we walked in there was a table at the corner staring at us with wide shocked eyes. I'm not sure why we looked surprising, probably because we were the only non-white people in the restaurant? Otherwise, the ambiance was very cute and honey. I liked the decor and the feel of the interior.
(2)
Le T.
The owner was washing the windows right when we entered. He asked whether we were coming in as if he was surprised to have customers. We weren't sure the food was gonna be good. We found out later that the place was actually very busy. The owner was very kind and polite and even let us take the table that has been reserved the following 1.5 hrs. He politely asks if it's okay for us to leave at about 2pm before the reservation guests arrives. We were fine with it because it's enough time for lunch. We ordered the beet soup and the beef parley soup as our appetizer. Both soup were amazing esp. the mushroom ravioli in the beet soup! We also ordered the blood sausage that has no skins. It sounds gross but it's a healthier version! We also ordered the polish plate and the veal Lichtenstein entree. Overall, very delicious authentic polish food! Hasta la vista!!
(5)
Crystal Z.
I am usually just a lurker on Yelp, but this place really inspired me to leave a review. I want to stop and tell everybody that I see about this tiny little Polish gem. I have only had Polish food a handful of times since it is somewhat of a rarity in the smaller towns that I have previously lived in, but this blew me away. The pierogies were absolutely fantastic. I can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu. Great atmosphere, great service, and above all, great food.
(5)
Timothy H.
Probably one of the best restaurant that I've been to in Boston. If you're a newcomer or new to Polish food, then this place is a must-go! For newcomers I would recommend their Polish plate for an entree, this way you can to sample a little bit of everything on most of their menu. There Polish sausage, meat cabbage lasagna, and steam potato/meat pierogi is guarantee to make you come back for more! I sure did, I went here five times now! Also, they serve you bacon lard as a spread for the freed bread that they serve you. Try it with a little bit of salt and pepper.
(5)
Timmy L.
Intimidating and unattractive on first description, tender and delicious on first bite. After a particularly enticing episode of Diners, Dives, and Drive-Ins, my girlfriend and I decided to visit Cafe Polonia, an adorably decorated Eastern European oasis in the slightly dangerous Dorchester. Polish food, their specialty, is quite intimidating when described. Kielbasa, Pierogies, and Goulash all sound old-world menacing, not to mention that they give you lard (yes, lard,) to accompany your bread. Although it might not make for the perfect first date, don't be alarmed. The food is much better than what you're imagining and is a pleasant way to experience a new culture. For a little bit of everything, definitely order the Polish Plate. For my favorite dish, try the Gypsy Pancake. Delicate crunchiness on the exterior, rich potato inside with a filling and luxurious soup in between. Just delightful. Although I won't make the journey out here anytime soon, Cafe Polonia was a delightful experience in Polish cuisine.
(5)
Breanne W.
I went here on my recent trip to Boston because of Triple D, I love Diners Drive ins and Dives and well I also love Pierogies so ofcourse this was a must go! It is such a cute little restaurant and the food was amazing! We had the kielbasa twists and the potato and cheese pierogies and everything was fantastic. The service was quick and friendly and the food was hot and delicious. Seriously if you are in the area I totally recommend this place!
(5)
Kaushal M.
I was led to this place after reading the Yelp hint that "vegetarians go nuts after this place". I'm a vegetarian and I did not go nuts after this place. We tried 2 of the 3-4 available items and they were not too good. The potato pancakes are basically deep-fried patties of just mashed potatoes. Even after I squeezed out oil off a single "pancake" using 6 napkins, all I tasted was oil when eating it. I couldn't finish a single pancake of the 4 in the serving. The second item ordered was strawberry crepes. Unlike the crepes we have had before, this crepe was like a mini rolled burrito with strawberries and strawberry jelly. The service was good; we were disappointed with the vegetarian options and the food.
Fantastic culinary experience. I grew up with Polish food and have been looking for an authentic polish restaurant. Great find! Beautiful decor as well. The kielbasa is delicious and savory. The potato pancakes are delicate and great with applesauce. I really loved the blood sausage too.
(5)
Abby R.
Best Polish food I've had in Boston, hands down. From the outside it looks like a diner to me, but on the inside it's a small, 5-6 table restaurant done up in a lot of heavy wood decor and nicely decorated. Our waiter looked and sounded like a Polish version of Gerard Depardieu. Which is a good thing. He was incredibly sweet and friendly. We ordered kielbasa and cabbage stew and potato pancakes. I ordered the potato pancakes because I say yes to carbs whenever presented. There were 4 hand-size potato pancakes all neatly and perfectly cooked with just the right amount of crisp and a delicious flavorful soft center. Really great. They come with sour cream and a chunky apple sauce which was delicious but not very plentiful. (I'm sure the waiter would have given me more if I had asked.) The pancakes were fine on their own though. This is not a mark against them by any means, but they were pretty greasy. In a delicious way. I would definitely order them again as an appetizer but a whole meal of them was a bit much. Not that that stopped me from eating them all. The kielbasa looked as good as it tasted. It had fancy little criss-cross cuts in it and was juicy and flavorful and just damn good. The bigos (aka hunter's stew, aka cabbage stew) was not a stew at all but a pile of soft delicious cabbage with a sour tang that was the perfect compliment to the kielbasa. I'm not doing a very good job of explaining it, but trust me on this, you'll want to try it. We went the extra mile and got the chocolate babka cake which is basically a lava cake. It was delicious, but it wasn't the best I've ever had. Totally worth it if you're craving some chocolate though, nothing bad to say about it. The plating on everything we got was exquisite and made me feel like I was in a much fancier place. Despite that, our food came out really quickly, probably only 10-15 minutes after we ordered it. It was also pretty cheap. Both of our meals were only $12, and with the dessert and a soda, the total was about $35. Value, people! I have to go back to try the pierogis....
(5)
Katie W.
Cafe Polonia is a hidden gem. Friendly staff, great atmosphere. We had the borscht, stuffed cabbage, and kielbasa. Would definitely go back.
(5)
Paul A.
Authentic Polish cuisine in a relaxed setting. Great food and a friendly staff. If I were a local this would be a regular stop for me.
(4)
Gábor A.
Potato pancake with goulash:) yummy. If you like Eastern European kitchen, you'll love to eat here! The service is amazing, very kind people.
(5)
William H.
Very intimate venue in the south Boston Polish district. There's only room for about 20 people. I want to say authentic, but that would imply it's a really good copy. This is the real thing. There's a photo on the wall of the owners with Lech Wałęsa (the president of Poland). The food was great and the man who waited our table (waiter?, chef?, owner? I don't know) was a very nice and friendly man. When we paid and walked out the door he saw and came out to the sidewalk and waved goodbye to us and invited us back. Next time I'm in Boston I'll go out of my way to come again.
It started with a phone call to ask if there was a wait. With 15 minutes notice, the very nice host reserved a window table for two for myself and my girlfriend. My mother makes great Polish food so I was excited to see all the rave reviews here about everything. My problem was I couldn't decide which to get! When I explained my problem, our waiter suggested I just create my own entree of a little of each. I can say with certainty that the pierogies, kielbasa, and the potato pancakes are amazing. The service was also excellent. I wanted to try the chocolate lava cake that the table next to me had and loved, but alas I was too full. I will definitely come back here if I'm ever back in Boston.
(5)
Aleh V.
Well... I'm originally from Belarus which is "almost" Poland. And I went there to get some local food I used to. The restaurant is extremely far from being authentic. Probably, the only authentic thing I got there was the "Ukranian Borsch". It was good though. Everything else was leaning towards "what happens to the authentic places when they start targeting global audience". Basically, nearly half of the menu has nothing to do with Poland. The worst situation being with Appetizers and Deserts: Chicken Wings and Chocolate pancakes... yeah... yammy. Do not recommend. I'd look for another 'polish' place.
(2)
James T.
I went here with a friend a few weeks ago; I had the meat Pierogi. It's a bit difficult for me to give an accurate review of their food, because I haven't been to any other Polish restaurants. However based on this dish only, I thought the food was a little bland.
(3)
Shadi B.
It was my first time dinning at Polish food restaurant. I will absolutely do it again. This place gives you the perfect combination of home feeling along with delcious food. I loved everything i tried. The "Night Cuttlet" was absolutely amazing. The service was excellent.
(5)
Sandy D.
I would have to preface this review by mentioning that any Polish food anyone gives me would have to measure up to my Babci's cooking, which, to me, sets the bar pretty high. That said, Cafe Polonia is a cute little place serving up all the staples of Polish cuisine--barszcz, kielbasa, pierogi, cabbage rolls, potato pancakes, etc. I ordered the Polish plate, a sampler of several dishes. It was tasty, comfort food, nothing too flashy or fancy. The barszcz (beet soup) was very nice--not too sweet, with some tasty mushroom-filled dumplings floating on top. It didn't quite meet the bar set by my grandmother's cooking, but that would have been pretty difficult. It was also a tad more expensive than it should have been, in my opinion. One big minus was the location of the cafe--in a slightly sketchy neighborhood in Dorchester. We went because we had visited Castle Island that morning, but probably wouldn't go out of the way to get there again unless we happened to be in the area. If it were in a nicer area, or closer to home, I would definitely go back again though.
The atmosphere at Cafe Polonia complemented the snowy Boston evening. With only a few tables, the restaurant exuded a European ski lodge with wooden chairs and pillows and rugs on the booths. The service was extremely friendly. (Call ahead for a reservation, was lucky.) The bread came with a type of spread that am still curious to learn what it was. Did a little research to discover it was probably a lard spread called smalec. Sampled some traditional Polish dishes including pierogi, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and cabbage stew. Was surprised to discover the kielbasa and cabbage stew (Polish hunter's stew) was not more of a soup but tasty nonetheless compared to a German sauerkraut. The stuffed cabbage came with a sauce resembling a creamy tomato soup. The pierogi dough was delicate with a mix of potato and meat filling. The star was the kielbasa, with a meaty grilled char that immediately caused the desire to go out and buy some kielbasa for the next day's dinner.
(4)
Peter K.
Awesome Polish food, located in the heart of South Boston's "Polish Triangle" My boyfriend and I have become regulars. I learned how to cook Polish food from my mom, and I know that she would be impressed. If you have not had Polish food before, go for the Polish Plate, which gives you a great sample of all Polish favorites - Stuffed Cabbage, Kielbasa, Pierogi's, and Bigos (Sauerkraut stew).
(5)
Brett P.
I went last night for a friend's birthday to this tiny little storefront place in Southie's "Polish Triangle" neighborhood at the edge of Dorchester. We had three appetizers - the smoked salmon potato pancakes, herring filet in oil, and kielbasa twists. The potato pancakes were the table favorite - delicate, not overly oily, topped with a piece of smoked salmon. The herring was dubbed rather bland by one of the herring lovers at the table who favors the more sweet Jewish style of this dish. The kielbasa twists seemed a bit gimmicky, just pieces of grilled kielbasa split halfway up into quarters and twisted, with a dipping mustard on the side. Two of the five people in our party got the Polish plate and judged it a good choice due to both the skillful preparation and variety - a portion of meat stew, stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and kielbasa. Two also got the pierogi dish - about ten small pierogies arranged in a circle on a small plate, topped by a bit of caramelized onion.. The meat variety was good, lightly spiced ground beef, and the cabbage and mushroom variety even better, rich and flavorful, a filling I had not encountered before. My only complaint would be the lack of anything else on the plate. For $15-19 (depending on whether you get the vegetable or meat filling) you'd think they'd put the pierogies on a large plate and throw on a few dollops of sides, like the beet salad I admired on the plate of my friend who had the pork loin. They have a very short but acceptable wine list, but go native and try one of the seven Polish beers available. The Warka Strong was a full-bodied amber lager with a good smack of hops and matched the cuisine very well. A shared chocolate babka for dessert was a rich and tasty ending to the meal. Service was warm, attentive and friendly. There weren't many other tables occupied when we arrived at 7:30, but the restaurant was nearly full by the time we left after 9, interesting because they are only open until 10. The bill was about $40 per person, which included a drink, appetizers, main dish, and shared dessert, so it's not as expensive as many comparable restaurants would be a few miles north in the heart of downtown Boston. For a neighborhood place offering a cuisine not frequently found in Boston, Cafe Polonia is a nice little Polish outpost.
(3)
Suzanne L.
So delicious. I felt like I was back home at Babcia's, with less guilt-tripping to eat more. Always ask what the soup of the day was. In our case, it was pickle soup and it was phenomenal. I also recommend the Polish Platter, as others have said - you get to sample a variety of things and figure out what you want to order more of. The gołąbki (stuffed cabbage) were my favorite. Everything else was very good, too. They give you smalec (bacon fat) instead of butter to put on your bread. Try not to eat too much of that before your actual meal. Actually, go ahead and eat it - none of this is health food and you will invariably leave stuffed. Service was great and I LOVE the decor. Do consider making a reservation if you're coming at peak times, as there are not a lot of seats.
(5)
Barry L.
I love these finds! Small ethnic polish fare with attention to details. A small restaurant with seating for about 30. Walking in your eyes are drawn to the unique chairs at the tables and how well thought out the layout is. First impression was the owner has a lot of love and soul in this place. I enjoyed the polish plate with hunter's stew, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa sausage (with mustard) and two pierogi. The stuffed cabbage and pierogi were amazing. The pierogi were perfectly boiled with carmelized onions that was simply amazing. The service was wonderful. Friendly and attentive. Atmosphere was wonderful and I felt like I was in Europe. This place is close to Boston Logan and was easy to find. For travelers do yourself a favor and check this place out before leaving Boston!
(5)
Kevin L.
Came here on a Thursday night with a group of 10 and they were nice enough to give us a reservation despite the small size of the restaurant. Cafe Polonia has a nice home-y feel to it but it can get a little cold in there. The service was phenomenal as well. Highlights of the night included pan fried potato & cheese pierogis, potato dumplings, stuffed cabbage, sobieski cutlet. and the apple tart This was my first time having authentic polish food and I thought it was alright. All the dishes seemed really similar, consisting of lots of goulash and potatoes. The goulash was a little too salty for me, so everything started tasting salty...eg the gypsy pancake.
(3)
Tasty Bee Review S.
Wonderful place. A hidden gem. It reminded me European cafes (of course, you will say, it is Polish..). The cute atmosphere (wooden design, bunches of wheat on walls, ethnic pieces of decor) - it is so adorable. I wouldn't change a thing in this place! The guy was by himself serving all tables (I guess, the waitress didn't show up), and he was really good and fast, and apologized many times with a smile (which was not needed actually, because everything was perfect). It was already packed when we came, with 1 table just emptied for us. And customers kept coming and coming nonstop, and there were not enough tables for sitting. We ordered traditional dish (polish potatoes pancakes with a cup of goulyash, sour pickles soup, breaded mushrooms) and beer Tyske. Loved it all except for mushrooms. That was enough for 2 of us. We don't eat a lot (we eat less than typical american restaurant plate) Please note that the beer size is larger than regular american beer size, so we shared. The taste was great, you could feel the liveliness of it. The bill was 40$. It is great to have that kind of place for diversity reason. I literally felt flashback (being back in Eastern Europe). And I wish there were more of those kind of cafes/restaurants in Boston. That's what makes Boston special.
(5)
Tuy Anh P.
Opened over a decade ago, this Polish based dining establishment stays true to it's root serving locals and visitors daily. Some of the best Eastern European cuisine is found at this spot and I always make a pit stop when driving through Boston. Traditional and homemade faire, some of the classic you'll find here include the Borsch Beet Soup, the Polish Plate, Goulash Delight and we can't forget about the delicious Potato and Gypsy Pancakes! Some of the best comfort and homestyle foods that will satisfy all appetites. The atmosphere is cozy and traditionally European. Not to forget, they also serve some of the richest desserts in town.. consider the Chocolate Lava Cakes, Apple Crisp and Coffee.
(5)
Janie G.
Tucked away in this Dorchester/South Boston neighborhood this cute little authentic Polish place delivered exactly what we were in search for on a cold rainy day. Blood sausage appetizer was tasty and homemade. The pierogies were delicious I only wish they were a little bigger. Less dough and more filling. Beef tripe soup had the softest melt in your mouth strips of tripe. I seriously don't know how they got it so tender. Hubby had the sour pickle soup...sounds gross right? Nope! Sooo tasty, why haven't I had this before? Yum yum, definitely going back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Suzanne G.
I didn't exactly know what Polish food was before coming here, but now I know that I really, REALLY like Polish food. It's hearty comfort food that you can tell was cooked with love. My favorites are the pierogi, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, gypsy pancake, and the goulash delight (a beef stew in a bread bowl). I bet everything is amazing though. You'll want to make reservations, this place gets crowded for a reason!
(5)
Kim J.
Excellent place for traditional Polish food! Service was friendly and fast. Tried the Polish plate which was a good sampling of traditional dishes including Hunter's stew, stuffed cabbage, three pierogies, and grilled Polish sausage . Tried the beef tripe soup and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Finished my meal off with the hot apple crisp which was one of the best I've had away from home!! Small and quaint. Not for large groups but small intimate gatherings instead. Highly recommend.
(5)
Raisa S.
This is one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a while, it has all the European hospitality we need more of around here. There were 3 of us and we decided to order a few things and share them. Our server, who I also think was the owner was so great. He was very attentive, and genuinely cared about our experience and if we enjoyed everything. We started off with the Kielbasa twists, which were fresh and tasty. for our meals we shared the pierogis, stuffed cabbage and potato pancakes. The pierogis were definitely the highlight of my meal even though everything was good. These are one of my favorite foods and this could have been the best I've ever had. We were so full and satisfied but couldn't say no to a molten chocolate cake. I regret nothing about this. Such a cute restaurant, great service and food that's out of this world. Check it out!!
(5)
Tom V.
This place was so good that I went here twice on my 3 day trip to Boston. I was largely unacquainted with Polish food so this was an awesome experience. Fairly priced, huge portions, from what I can gather incredibly authentic. Kind of a whole in the wall sort of place, but definitely worth the trip.
(5)
Julie R.
This place is amazing!! We had never eaten Polish food and came here on Guy Fieri's recommendation from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (DDD) show. It's a cute little quaint place (seats about 25-30 people max), still within Boston's city limits, but kind of close to a sketchy area. So I would probably say if you're taking the T, don't go at night cause it's a few blocks away. We went with some friends so we shared two appetizers - the smoked salmon potato pancakes and the breaded mushrooms, both were good, but nothing amazing to rave about. Now for the entree my husband and I decided to share the Polish Plate, which pretty much has a little of everything. It comes with hunters stew, stuffed cabbage, 3 pierogies, and grilled polish sausage kielbasa. The hunters stew was good, but not the star of the plate in my opinion. I was a little hesitant about the stuffed cabbage, but it was amazing, nicely seasoned and juicy and so was the kielbasa!!! They gave us three different flavored pierogies and they were all good too. If you've never had Polish food this is definitely a great way to get a taste of it all, and it just tastes so amazing that you can't go wrong (unless you don't eat pork ). Service was good overall and the food came out pretty quickly. This place was our favorite DDD recommended restaurant in Boston. Would most definitely recommend to anyone wanting to have or even try Polish food for the first time like we did. We will definitely be back whenever we return to Boston!
(5)
Merly M.
Prior to visiting Cafe Polonia, my taste buds knew nothing of Polish food. I knew what it was, what their most popular dishes were, and that it was basically hearty, comfort food, but I had never had REAL Polish food. Now that I have, I've got to say...it was gooooood. It was everything I thought it would be. Hearty, saucy, meaty, and full of comfort. I ordered the Polish Plate, so I could "Try it all!" (as their menu encouraged) and was very satisfied. Everything on the plate was good. Surprisingly, my favorite item on the plate was the Stuffed Cabbage. It was just so beefy and delicious! My least favorite thing on the plate was the Hunter's Stew, mainly because I wasn't sure what I was eating and there was something in it that was giving it a unique texture. Pierogies were delicious, as was the kielbasa. The man in the table next to me ordered the same plate, and was raving about how good it was too. The place itself is pretty small and intimate, with dim lighting. It really makes you feel like you're in an Old World restaurant. The waitress/hostess/only employee that was ever visible sort of took care of everyone, and she was extremely nice and very attentive. The food also came out quickly. I really have no complaints about this place; it was a great find on our trip to Boston and one I definitely recommend visiting.
(5)
Elizabeth B.
Love Cafe Polonia. There are very few Polish restaurants in Boston so I was happy to find this gem. I grew up eating Polish food made by my Polish Grandma and this place is comparable. The inside of the restaurant is impeccably clean and just adorable. I love the lard and crackling spread for the bread (seriously, just try it!). I usually order the Polish plate because it gives a nice sampling of some of the classics. However, I've also had the gypsy pancakes which were delicious. Glad this place is here!
(4)
Kianna C.
I used to say I hated European food. I just assumed most of it was bland and was boiled cabbage and sausage dishes. But wow was I wrong when it came to Polish food. I saw the boston episode of Triple D that showed this restaurant and it was food I had never seen or had before but it looked good. In particular, the meat pierogi. It was one of the best things I've ever ordered. My boyfriend ordered the potato dumplings and the amount I tried was wonderful. It's a good dish if you can't have pork bc it's beef, potatoes, cabbage and beets. The pierogis do have pork. I would order both again when I return to that cafe. Even though I'd like to try something new, those dishes were phenomenal. Even the dessert was amazing! Chocolate Babka was reminiscent of a molten lava cake. Another plus is the atmosphere of the cafe and how close it is to the subway. Just hop off Andrew station and its a very short walk. I would recommend and rave about this place to everyone I know.
(5)
Yelena Y.
I had the perogies. They were good. I wish i had ordered what my friends ate, dishes with more variety like the keilbasa, or some porkchop with egg on it, but that's my fault. I just found the food a little bland, but it might be a cultural thing. Overall great food.
(4)
Nancy C.
I went to Cafe Polonia in Aug. The best Polish food I have ever had. The beef piergoi is out of the world. I also loved the Hunter stew. Make sure you stop to Cafe Polonia it is worth heading to.
(5)
David C.
Yes, I stopped here because I'm somewhat of a Food Network geek and saw this place on "Triple D" Pulling up, I wasn't 100% sold. It wasn't very busy even for a Wednesday evening. It's very small but warm and inviting. I was greeted immediately and the server was very reserved but very polite and welcoming with a smile that wouldn't stop. So.... first impression from the first few minutes washed away any concerns. The menu isn't huge but big enough to satisfy a variety of tastes. I ordered the "Kielbasa Twists " appetizer and Meat Perrogies for my traditional Polish entree. The appetizer was so simple but so terrific and clever! Sliced and deep fried into shapes that are like a meaty flower. Brown mustard and mixed greens add to the texture, freshness and flavor. Perrogies were fried and were so buttery and subtle but very tasty and filling! The meat filling was smooth and melts in your mouth. I was too full for dessert but the options looked tempting. Prices aren't cheap but not fine dining prices either, so I left feeling I got my money's worth. The experience felt like I was welcomed into someone's home for a hearty, traditional Eastern European meal.
(4)
Al F.
Awesome Polish food. Haven't had a good polish meal like this in a long time. Great variety also.
(4)
Mika S.
Delicious! Came here for lunch with my boyfriend and ordered the Smoked Salmon Potato Pancakes and the Polish Plate (with borsch substituted for the Hunter's Stew). Everything was absolutely amazing! Even though i'm not a big fan of cabbage the Stuffed Cabbage ended up being one of my favourites (along with the borsch). A big plus was the freshly baked bread and lard (I think it was lard) that our waitress brought us when we sat down. The restaurant was small and homey, and the waitress was very attentive. Overall, this restaurant deserves a 10/10!
(4)
Miranda S.
I love this place. Excellent food, excellent service. I've been here twice and have gotten the same thing both times - one reason being it was good and the second reason being I went with different people each time - and it was a good option for a first timer. I got the potato pancakes as an appetizer (no salmon) and the polish plate as my meal. The first time I came here was with someone who was half polish - he said the food was very authentic. It's very filling, which is a good thing. I'm looking forward to the leftovers I brought home last night. I like that the polish plate is a little mix of everything. Next time I'll try something else on the menu. The guy dressed in all black that was serving and checking on people while they ate is just wonderful. He's so polite and makes sure you have everything you need. He also asked us how our meal was afterwards, and walked us to the door when we left...which wasn't very far because the restaurant was small, but still. Very nice of him :) I'll be back very soon!
(4)
Kasey S.
We've ordered takeout and dined in (once each). All I can say about this place is it is FABULOUS! Going in for the full experience is much more fun and authentic, but their takeout is the same quality (and sometimes you just gotta eat pierogis on your couch). I highly recommend the potato and cheese pierogis and the potato pancakes. Can't wait until our next visit to try more new things!
(5)
David C.
Dear Cafe Polonia, You had me at "bacon lard spread," but you didn't stop there. Oh no. After slathering the aforementioned lard on the softest of Italian bread, there was the Polish Plate, a ginormous sampling of all things Polish, which, for a mere $16, turned out to be the perfect appetizer for sharing amongst myself and two equally ravenous friends. I could have left happily at that point, but no, you continued to spoil me. The Gypsy Pancake, self-described as a "giant potato pancake filled with Hungarian Goulash, topped with sour cream and parsley," filled me almost to the point of bursting. It was a little burnt, but I will forgive you so long as you promise to keep the Chocolate Babka cake on your dessert menu forever. Love, David C
(4)
Niki M.
Went there for our first time tonight because it came up with good reviews in a search for Polish cuisine. It was delicious! The staff was delightful. Mike was a wonderful waiter and steered us in the right direction for ordering our meals. We will definitely be back. Great bargain for the price and very authentic!
(5)
Will H.
Great service, awesome food. Stuffed cabbage was great.
(5)
Cindy K.
Love it here! I grew up on polish food since my family is straight from Poland. This place is the closest to my familys home cooking and just feels very authentic. I recommend it for sure!
(5)
Natalie G.
Awesome pierogies! I'm vegetarian and the very polite waiter offered that I try all 3 kinds so I could decide which one I liked best. I liked them all very much!
(5)
Nik A.
This is a wonderful restaurant. It is small and homey, with authentic decorations. I liked the food but it wasn't my favorite Eastern European food experience. Some dishes were not balanced the way I would prefer (the Potato pancakes). Will be back for sure.
(3)
Donna M.
Was disappointed !! Do not honestly know what all the fuss is about . The borscht was watery beet juice w/ a few pierogi in it for $7!! My main course of pierogi were eh!! Dough pretty thick & fillings just ok. Tasted other dishes at the table, was not impressed. Nice people , but boring food. Really felt that the prices were high for what they serve. $15 for a plate if mediocre pierogi . Will not trust Guy Ferrtti any longer. Glad for the restaurant that a lot of other people seem to like it. Extra star for decent service. 2
(2)
Chris S.
Cafe Polonia is so authentic Pleeps and I are remembering my Granny and my Aunt - killed the pierogis, killed the potato pancakes and pigs n the blanket (no not cocktail dogs) but couldn't plow thru Lithuanian kielbasa. This is the place to eat in Boston!!!!!
(5)
Robert G.
Babka chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and warm chocolate sauce is magnificent. Enjoyed the Polish Dinner.
(4)
A. C.
Probably the most authentic Polish food you will ever get in Boston. If you want real Polish food experience in the US, you will need to go to Chicago. The owner of the restaurant served us and he was surprised to see my husband who is a Polish American (and fluent in Polish). Great potato pancakes, bigos, kiełbasa, and gołąbki (stuffed cabbage). I felt like I was visiting in law's house. They serve other European dishes (central and Eastern only) as well.
(5)
Maria Q.
Looking for a restaurant after visiting the JFK Library - one stop off the T line. Didn t think we would find anything as this neighborhood didn't seem to have much except a pizza place and a dunkin. Coming from Chicago where Polish is standard fare - we were a bit skeptical. We asked if vegetarian and at first she said no but there actually were some nice options and they offered to take the bacon off the top of the potatoe and cheese perogies. Our group had salmon on Potatoe pancakes, very good salad if pear, walnuts, cranberries, goat cheese with a poppy seed salad; and goulash which was fabulous. It was all prepared fresh and attractive plating. We enjoyed it quite a bit. Funny to find this little bit of Poland in South Boston...
(4)
Roxie D.
I was a vegetarian when I ate here, and there were tons of options. The barley soup was deee-lish, and the pierogies were fresh and filling. The blintz was super nummy and a great way to polish off the carb-fest. An awesome place to go for winter comfort food!
(4)
Mason K.
Amazing Polish food. The restaurant is very small, it only holds about 30 people max. For an appetizer I tried the potato pancakes. There were 4 small pancakes that came with some sort of an apple paste and sour cream. The combination of those is amazing. For dinner I had the Polish Plate. It came with 3 pierogów, 2 pieces of kielbasa, gołąbki and a sauerkraut stew with pieces of kielbasa. Everything exceeded my expectations. If I had to choose one part of the meal I did not like it would be the dessert. I tried the chocolate babka cake. It was good but not as good as some other parts of the meal. The price is pretty cheap considering it is the only place in Boston you can get authentic Polish food.
(5)
Alex L.
Filling and delicious. I got the polish plate and left very satisfied. 2 pierogi (not the best I've had but still very good) kielbasa, some very good sauerkraut and stuffed cabbage. Also, the lard spread with the rye bread is a great addition.
(4)
Gary D.
Went for lunch for a second time. This place is very good. I have to say I don't know why I do not eat here more frequently.
(5)
Mary D.
Why is is there not 6 stars?! This place has the most amazing food! My friends and I came to sample the food and we ordered up a storm!!! Literally everything we ordered was incredible! The staff is also so so sweet! This is my new favorite place! We will be back- probably this week!
(5)
Joe R.
I went there with two friends and had a great time. Since we were new to Polish food, we tried three different plates and shared them. They were all great! We ordered the Kielbasa, potato pancakes, and meat pierogies. We also added the goulash with the pierogies. All food was terrific! It's a smaller restaurant and very popular.
(4)
Earl J P.
Outstanding and fairly inexpensive food! Best Polish food I've had. Those wanting to try a bit of everything would be best served with the "Polish Plate". It was a great way to sample 4 different items.
(5)
Terry H.
Didn't care for the pork fat and bacon spread that they serve with the bread! Good kielbasa though!
(3)
Michailia G.
I am so happy I discovered this place! Have no had real authentic polish food since my grandparents passed years ago so when I found this on yelp I was stunned. Could real Polish food exist in s. Boston? The answer was easily yes!!. First let me say I ordered takeout and the girl was so nice on the phone and even nicer when I arrived. I really liked the atmosphere of the place. Now I orders the polish plate which is exactly the three things I wanted. Kielbasa( served over sourkrout) stuffed cabbage and 3 potatoes and cheese pirogies. The moment I tasted the pirogies, and stuffed cabbage was so nostalgic! Exactly the way my grandparents would of made it. I mean exactly. Delicious, fresh, just overall wonderful. A little pricy that's why I only gave it 4 stars but I would definitely return.
(4)
Alice S.
Unfortunately I just don't believe my taste buds can appreciate Polish food. My group had: - Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops (5/5) - Kishka (Blood Sausage) (4/5) - Polish Plate ( Hunter's stew "Bigos" stuffed cabbage, three pierogi and grilled Polish sausage "kielbasa" (1/5) - Potato Pancakes (1/5) I really enjoyed the scallops and kishka, but everything else was not to my liking. It's no fault of the restaurant's - it's just my personal preference. I probably will not be back, but if you like Polish food, then this is a must go.
(2)
SL M.
Took Mom for some Polish food. She was thrilled with its authenticity. I now need to bring her back each time she visits. Borsch, tripe soup, bigo, kielbasa, and pierogi were all great. Super polish beer too! They had to warn me it had a 9.5% ABV. This place is small and caters to a niche crowd. You can find a table. Come here to experience the cuisine without having to travel or get some variety in the midst of the standard Starbucks crowd. Run by a Couple who were very humble and attentive. I highly recommend for a day you want to "mix it up."
(5)
John D.
This place is fantastic. Great service and atmosphere Most important excellent Polish food. We had pierogies, kielbasa, some kind of veal, goulash, and stuffed cabbage. All was fantastic. Can't wait for my next visit to Boston to go back to Cafe Polonia!
(5)
Peter L.
Wonderful dinner at Cafe Polonia! The Polish plate is a must as well as the perogies! The stuffed cabbage brought my girl friend back to her Grandmothers kitchen! Authentic Polish experience! Highly recommended!
(4)
Abhishek M.
Bacon wrapped scallops is the reason I work my ass off to take a vacation to eat food like this. The potato pancakes were great but however a little too oily for me. The beer is great!
(5)
Megan L.
Phenomenal. Pure Polish and Hungarian food and atmosphere. Service was spectacular. I enjoyed Polish beer for the first time. I had the pierogi (half potato, half cabbage mushroom) with caramelized onion. Amazing. Next time I would asked for more onion. Potato pancake was great. Apple Crisp solid. Service was so good that (as a lone diner I was reading a book) my server asked if I wanted better lighting. Can't wait to return.
(5)
Christine B.
The guy working there, possibly the owner, was very friendly and seemed so please to serve us, it made it that much more enjoyable. We were served a basket of bread, and we started with the kielbasa twists, real Polish kielbasa is the best, it was served with mustard. I had the potato pancakes with apple sauce, sour cream, and goulash. I wish apple sauce was sold like this in jars, I would actually buy it. It had thicker chunks of apple but was soft to eat. My boyfriend had the Polish plate, he is Polish and that is all his mom cooks so if he approved, I know it's good.
(5)
Amanda C.
My boyfriend and I go here whenever we can. The food is delicious and the servers are very friendly. The Vienna Pork Chop is my favorite!
(5)
Andrea B.
Cafe Polonia's a cute little Polish place in South Boston, a quick walk from Andrew Station. I came here one rainy Saturday evening with Leah K. There were a couple tables available and we were seated immediately. I have a hunch that the lack of crowd had a lot to do with the rainy, miserable weather, because those 4 and a half stars on Yelp don't lie! Entree sizes are generous and the food is FILLING. I was a little put-off by the bacon lard that came with the bread that was brought to the table, but other than that, everything I tried, I rather enjoyed. I'm obsessed with potato pancakes, so ordering the Gypsy pancake was a no-brainer for me. This gigantic potato monstrosity came with Hungarian goulash and was topped with sour cream. Now, anyone who knows me knows I LOVE me some sour cream. I'll eat it with like, anything. So, as you can imagine, the teeny tiny little dollop that came with this epic pancake was nowhere near enough!! I made my way through just about half of it (yes, it really was that big) before wrapping the rest up and taking it home. We also got the pierogis. You get to choose whether to get them boiled or fried (get 'em fried - duh). They come stuffed with either cheese, potato and cheese, or cabbage and mushroom. Never know what you're gonna get until you bite it and find out! They were decent, but nothing to write home about. The menu features a whole host of tasty entrees, so I will definitely have to come back to try a few more things. We shared the apple crisp for dessert. I don't need to make this review even longer by describing it other than to say it was phenomenal. Oh, but I have to add - when I opened the takeout box to eat the rest of my pancake the next day, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had packed some more sour cream to go with it. SCORE! I'm not gonna lie - I was totally going to give this review three stars, until I saw that extra cream. Love you, Polonia!
(4)
Michael C.
I came in the late afternoon for a lunch. The place was only half full but the young waiter had a hard time keeping up with attending to us on some of the basics, such as giving us water and making any kind of recommendation Here is what we had: Polish Plate - Tradition polish plate. I really liked the flavor combination Potato Pancake - Almost like a big hash brown if you've never had one before
(3)
Chris M.
One of the best restaurants I've ever been. Whoever is cooking that food is doing it with vast amounts of love.
(5)
Scott K.
We ate here earlier tonight. The waiter was friendly, the polish beer was good. We ate the polish plate with had a good selection of various polish food as well as the gypsy pancake followed by an apple crumble. Food servings were huge and everything tasted great!! Be sure to try the apple crisp/crumble.
(5)
Kevin H.
This place is great! I took the hardest polish food critique - my Polish aunt, and we both loved it. The pierogies and the kielbasa were the best! thank you
(5)
Chris B.
I can't even pronounce half the things I ate. But it was all so good. I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant that only served Polish cuisine. Guess there's a first for everything. The restaurant is pretty small and cozy. The server was friendly and helpful as we studied the menu. Overall the food was great and I thought the pricing was on point.
(4)
Caroline H.
This place is amazing. Fresh, authentic, mouth watering Polish food. This is a unique restaurant to Boston for a number of reasons. First off, it is warm, cozy and charming inside. There is nothing better than walking into a place such as this after trekking through the snow. When you walk through the front door you immediately feel a soothing warmth from the environment, and the smell of comforting food engulf you. There are not many tables, so if you have a large crowd you might want to consider calling ahead. Starters: smoked salmon- you receive a large portion of this. Well worth it. Entree: whole rainbow trout. Yes, WHOLE. This is one of the few places that I've been to serving this. Simply amazing. Bigos is delicious as well. Dessert: the chocolate cake is really to die for. If you are too full from dinner I really recommend taking this to go :) it's on the small side, but it is so satisfying. This place is a must go. If you have a chance, afterwards check out the little authentic polish deli across the street. AMAZING.
(5)
Ashley G.
Cafe Polonia is right in my neighborhood which is great! I've never had a bad experience here and I've always had super friendly service. Their food is delish! I would recommend the Gypsy pancake (high five if you can finish it!) and the stuffed cabbage is out of this world!
(5)
J. R. H.
Best authentic Polish soups and entrees I have enjoyed in USA since my last visits to Warszawa and Krakow. Service was outstandingly good as well.
(5)
Megan M.
In preparation for my trip to Boston, I checked Groupon everyday for deals. One night, I was out with my Polish friend, Lindsey, who was going with me to Boston. When we saw the Groupon for Cafe Polonia, we couldn't resist. I can only think of one or two places in Miami that have Polish food, so we were really looking forward to going. We've had enough rice, beans, and plantains! Bring on the kielbasa, pierogis, and borsch! It was a bit far from everywhere else on our itinerary, but it was worth it, and the ride on the T to get there wasn't so bad. A few blocks from the stop, we found this cute little restaurant that looks like it could belong to Lindsey's Polish relative's dining room. We ordered the pierogis, borsch, kielbasa, and potato pancakes. Everything was delicious. I don't typically care for beets, but the borsch was surprisingly good, and I'm always a fan of potato pancakes. The only thing that was a bit off putting was the little cup of lard they served with the bread. I ate my bread plain.... Service was good. A little slow, but we weren't in a rush. Prices were good for the portions, and I definitely recommend ordering a few things for the table and splitting it. We did that, and left stuffed without a huge bill. Cafe Polonia made me wish we had good Polish food here in Miami!
(4)
Ann Marie M.
Yum. The food here is delicious, and authentic! It's a good place to go with 3 or more people so you can try lots of different things. It's a great spot if the wait at 224 is too long- worth a try!
(4)
Chris C.
My dinner group came here for dinner on a Friday in January. RATINGS: Food: 3.75 Service: 2.25 Decor: 2.75 Total: 3.25 CAPSULE REVIEW: Cafe Polonia, while receiving an overall score of 3.25, was regarded as one of the more lackluster FF experiences in recent memory. Between the "terrible service," the food that "seemed to lack flavor," and the decor that was "a little bland," there wasn't much love for Cafe Polonia. "Even Turkish prisons serve bread and water to their 'guests' but not Cafe Polonia." A few lone holdouts held some faith in the food, but these sentiments were tempered by the service. "Excellent food cannot entirely erase the terrible service." One reviewer indicated he'd gladly return... to the Salem location. Sadly, the Salem location has closed. DINER COMMENTS: Very fun night with hearty winter food. -- Wanted to like more than I did. Excellent food cannot entirely erase terrible service and boring decor. Been to both locations. I'd gladly go back to Salem over Boston. -- Kielbasa and saurkraut... yes, please! The pierogies were a little on the mushy side but still flavourful. Service was a little lackluster but allowed for good conversation and an enjoyable evening. Decor was a little bland but wasn't detrimental. -- Overall the food was good, but seemed to lack flavor. Also, I discovered this morning that it was decidedly salty. The portion was more than adequate for a big boy like me; I have the gypsy pancake (potato pancakes with goulash) and I was full after dinner. -- Polish Platter was lukewarm at best. Kielbasa was tough. Pierogi was overcooked and bland. Tomato salad w/mozzarella and avocado was good even for tomatoes being out of season. Sauerkraut was quite good even cold. -- Even Turkish prisons serve bread and water to their "guests" but not Cafe Polonia. My polish pupu platter was a mix of unintentionally hot and cold items. And no apple crisp! On the other hand, the food had a nice homemade quality with fresh ingredients. -- Hole in the wall with Pretty delicious and unique food but utterly terrible service - no water for the table, no offers of refills - just wish the service has been snappier - its not a huge place
(3)
Joe B.
??? I don't understand how this place receives such rave reviews. The food (kielbasa, in this case) tasted like store-bought pre-cooked sausage. The kraut had no real zing and we found the other dishes bland. I've visited Poland 4 times and taken a native Pole to this place. We consider the quality of the food worse than mediocre. That said, the service seemed decent and the people welcoming - hence the third star.
(3)
Jake K.
Small, very small. Recommend you call ahead and get a reservation - even for a party of one. Service was very hands off - if you wanted them there, they would come, otherwise, once your food is out, they leave you alone. The food seems intimidating at first, so if you don't know your Polish foods very well, I recommend the Polish Platter. You'll get stuffed cabbage, kielbasi, pierogis, and some golanka (hunter's stew - lots of sour cabbage). Prices are a bit high, but I thought it was fine for what I got. If you're in southie, this is worth a trip if you're near Dorchester Ave.
(5)
Feodor H.
Located in the South Boston/Dorchester, this Polish/Hungarian place is authentic in every sense of the word. We went there for dinner, lured by the shining of four and a half stars on Yelp. The place was half empty early on a Saturday night, so we sat down and prepared to enjoy the food. We ordered Blood Sausage as an appetizer, followed by Pierogi, Potato Pancakes and Goulash Delight. We waited for a while, and then waited a little more, and started to feel very hungry. It seemed like they could have served the appetizer by now. Then we got all the dishes coming at once - pierogi, pancakes, goulash, which was wonderful. But I wanted to try the blood sausage. Our waitress apologized and said that she had forgotten about that order. She said she could go and "check" on that, but we cancelled it - who needs appetizers when you've already got entrees. Potato pancakes were the best, crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside, they had great taste and texture; overall, perfectly executed dish. Goulash was fine as well, very tasty, although I was not a big fan of bread bowl. Pierogi were just ok. We finished our meal and waited for another 10 minutes before dishes were cleaned up. Then it took another 5 minutes for the waitress to offer us desert menus. This might sound ok, but it was not a busy night at all. We decided to go with Chocolate Babka Cake, but were told they did not have it available. So we got an Apple Crisp, which was ok. We also wanted to get coffee (this is a "cafe" after all), but were told by the waitress that the coffee machine is out of order. We then decided to go with tea, hoping for some authentic polish "herbata", but this turns out to mean a cup of lukewarm water and a Lipton teabag. We asked for a check, which upon inspection had a charge for an appetizer. It took another 10 minutes of waiting before this could be fixed. I also found the interior design heavy-handed. Walls are decorated with fake stonemasonry usually appropriate for the outside, and solid wood chairs are heavy and have high backs, making it impossible to lean back and relax. Overall, I'd rate this dining experience as very authentic. This is especially reflective of the level of service. P.S. There is a polish food store across the street from the cafe. We went in there out of curiosity right after that dinner. They sell, among other things, homemade pierogi stuffed with cheese, cabbage and mushrooms. Hand-packed and frozen in zip-lock bags, they looked suspiciously similar to the ones served in the cafe. We bought a dozen for like $4 (or something, i.e. cheap) and cooked them at home soon thereafter. I have to say, these ones tasted even better.
(3)
Margo R.
I loved Cafe Polonia when I was there a few months ago. It reminded me of my family's cooking. Especially love the rendered lard instead of butter - definitely awesome.
(4)
Aoran L.
Awesome place to have Polish food. I had the soup Zurek at Poland when I stayed at my Polish friend's home and loved it so much. Cafe Polonia does not have the soup on the menu. But when I asked the waitress, they told me they could do that for me!! I felt so happy to have the soup again!! The potato pancakes are delicious too. One thing I should recommend is the Zywiec beer!! Try this popular Polish beer from my friend's hometown :)
(5)
German G.
This is my favorite restaurant in Boston. Let me list the reasons why: -the bread comes with an addictive (if guilt-inducing) bacon lard spread. -the food is great. It's flavorful and heavy and satisfying, yet doesn't feel like it's loaded with gratuitous oil. I've probably tried half of their entrees and never been disappointed. The polish plate is probably best if it's your first time, but in my experience the gypsy pancake, knight's cutlet, royal duck and others are also great. -portions are huge. If you get one of the big entrees ($16+) you basically have two choices: either pack half of it to go, or unbutton your pants and eat until your belly is about to burst. Part of the reason is that some entrees come with several sides not listed on the menu: things like beet salad, mashed potatoes, cooked apple, sauerkraut, hunter's stew... -the servers are Polish and clearly nice people. E.g.: once I came here for my birthday with some friends, and the waitress spontaneously gave us a free cake for dessert. The only downsides to the place are: first, it's small, so it's a bit risky to come without a reservation. Second, even if you get seats, when the place is crowded the kitchen quickly gets backed up and you may find yourself waiting 1hr+ for your food. To avoid this I've taken to coming either very early (say before 6) or late (after 8).
(5)
Alex R.
It's the best Polish restaurant in Boston. Because it's the only Polish restaurant in Boston. It's OK, not great.
(3)
Zeke B.
My wife and I enjoyed home made pierogies and stuffed cabbage. The place is legit. Decorated like a country cottage, complete with fireplace. Friendly service. I thought my mother might be in the kitchen making the galumpki's.
Delicious. Heavy. Eastern European Bliss. Don't expect any vegetables... or to be able to sleep on your stomach that night. But do expect really great service, authentic Polish food and an adorable atmosphere. And, c'mon, try the bacon and lard. It's incredible.
(4)
David W.
First time to try Polish food, I am not sure if it is a traditional Polish food. but the taste is unique, but not my favor.
(3)
Casey C.
This is the first spot we ate in Boston. This little restaurant is amazing! My husband and I shared kielbasa and cabbage stew, and had two polish beers. If I wasn't on a mission to eat my way through Boston in 3 and a 1/2 days then I would be back repeatedly! Tiny place with great service, fabulous food, and awesome Polish beers! Wish I'd thought to take a picture of my food before I devoured it :)
(5)
Tad S.
Sorry. But I was really disappointed. Started with the drink I had, Coke, or so they said it was. No way, I drink it everyday, I can tell Coke from Pepsi; and I don't mind those two. This was different, not sure if Kirkland or shasta, or Diet,as I ordered regular, but waitress insisted it not being diet. Ok, enough about the weird soda. Almost everything we had was short on flavor. It's been weeks since I visited, and sorry, I just could not let this place get away without letting everyone know, polish food is much better than what they serve here. Borsch was runny, and threw in a ton of dill, I get it for the beets, so add more beets than dill. Pierogi, mushrooms and cabbage should have lots of mushrooms, dried, rich in flavor; what I had was missing it all. Potato dumplings, I could not even finish one of them; too dense!! I could build a house with them. Only item I did enjoy, was the blood sausage, but I doubt they made the sausage there; just cut it open heat it up and serve with caramelized onions. I was too afraid to order any dessert. If this is going to be your first time for Polish food, avoid, you do not want to associate this place with Polish cuisine. I left this place scratching my head, and my wife agreed, how the hell did this place have so many stars on yelp? My only comment to her, local polish people, instead of eating here, would stay home and leave reviews. I did not see any polish people eating here...use that as a sign.
(2)
Ro C.
I'm a solid Polish gal who loves some solid Polish food. This was my foray into Polska cuisine that's not my mother's. I thought everything was pretty solid. The waitress wasn't really a waitress. You could tell with her sort of inorganized way. I had pork cutlet and some Polish root vegetables. Loved it. Good stuff. And then I crunched down on something gritty. Uck. No thanks. That doesn't get finished. My strapping fiance has himself a mixed Polish platter, having a little bit of our nation's finest and well known food. A + great taste for him. His soda was a little off, like it had been from a soda bottle gone flat. The father in the booth next to us commented that it was gross as well, so it wasn't just his glass. On the whole, I like that this place reminds me of my grandmother's house. Wood paneled walls, Polska trinkets, and that unsettling doll in a crochetted dress. The place is a little small, and the prices are a bit high for food I'm used to getting served up by my Mamusia.
(3)
Aura S.
Great potato cakes, salad, borscht, sausage! Really enjoyed trying this place! Good service too!
(5)
Ana R.
We stopped here on a whim for a late lunch - my friend had had good experiences here before, and I was curious. I ordered the porkchop, with fries and gravy. My friend ordered the potato pancake with beef stew. The potato pancake itself was actually really good, and if that was all I'd tasted here, I'd say this was a great rustic place. But the beef stew and the porkchop were both worse than ho-hum. My porkchop came with a stiff scoop of mashed potatoes instead of my fries. I pointed this out to the waiter and my fries came out about ten minutes into the meal, and were greasy and bland. We were the only ones in the restaurant for some time, but service was slow and pretty bad when we actually received it. If the waiter wasn't altogether ignoring us, he was chatting up a storm and interrupting our conversation. It's a small place, max 20 seats, it's sunny and comfortable, but the decor is pretty bad. I won't go back and I wouldn't recommend it. Not much better than frozen food, in my opinion.
(1)
Iaroslav M.
I've been here once, and I loved it! very authentic, rich in flavors, very attentive wait staff. Try borscht, goulash,and babka for dessert if you want some delicious polish/ukrainian food. they have a great selection of polish beers too! The only eastern European restaurant in Boston I can recommend to my non euro friends
(5)
Justin S.
This restaurant is located in South Boston, but sports a very traditional inside with a cobblestone walls, wood floors, and Polish furniture, I was told. The entire staff is Polish except for one waiter who is learning Polish. The typical garnish in Poland is pig lard called szmalec which is absolutely the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted. I think it has beaten the British with their Marmite, and the Aussie's with their Veggimite as the most disgusting garnish for a food (and it's apparently really hard to make good szmalec). But aside from giving you my personal opinion of a food garnish the actual food at the restaurant is wonderful. The pierogi was the best I've ever had, stuffed with either meat or cabbage. I highly recommend the Polish plate which gives you the full variety of the Polish palette, such as kielbasa, pierogi, potatoes cooked 5 ways. I also recommend the beet soup better known as borsch. My friend is Polish and she eats here at every possible opportunity and she has a very picky opinion of food. I also recommend the beer, good varieties of German and Polish. You'll also find much of the food is similar to German cuisine, with which I am personally familiar.
(5)
Mike K.
I don't claim to be an aficionado of polish food, but if this is the best than wow. I had the polish plate, Hungarian potato pancake,and the borscht. It was all amazing. I went there with a friend who is polish and has a babcia from Poland. She said this was very authentic and she loved it too. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Rachel S.
This restaurant is crave-able, as in I will be craving its food soon and often. The food is phenomenal! Went there for lunch today, and ordered the kielbasa and cabbage stew entree. The kielbasa was cooked well - exterior was crispy and interior juicy. The cabbage stew was the real surprise. Flavorful, not overpowering, great compliment. My husband ordered the potato pierogies, fried. Those were also very good. Additionally, enjoyed the pork lard with bacon bits that accompanied the bread basket. Will be back soon!
(5)
Kendall M.
Before coming here, I ignorantly wouldn't have put Poland and culinary in the same sentence. Now I find myself wistfully saying things like "oh I'd love to do a culinary tour of Poland." It's that good. Let me qualify my assessment by saying that I eat a lot of food. When you tell me about that excellent restaurant you ate at last weekend, at the end of your gushing, I ask, "but can I afford to feed myself there?" And while it would be convenient if I preferred quantity over quality, sadly, I only derive satisfaction from the happy marriage of both. In my most recent visit, I devoured half of a Polish Plate (which has Polish sausage with caramelized onions and mustard, stuffed cabbage, and potato dumplings), half a Gypsy Pancake (two Polish potato pancakes stuffed with stew), a Chicken cutlet platter (with some deliciously pickled sides), and 1.5 slices of cake. And the bread, which comes with a lard spread that I asked for seconds of. I'm not really sure where that all went, but it was so good that I just kept putting it away. Absolutely everything, even the sides and sauces, were delicious. Nothing was overlooked. Usually even at a great restaurant and a great meal, you feel something didn't shine as bright as some of your other choices, but literally each component of every dish held to the same scrumptious quality. This is the kind of restaurant where you could close your eyes, poke decisively at random spots on the menu, and do fabulously. The prices, while not keeping within my preferred single dollar sign category, don't feel overblown. It's solidly a $$ venue, but your money goes a long way. I know I said I ate all those things, but the average person will be stuffed upon finishing even one of those dishes to themselves. I also really enjoy the atmosphere (once you get inside and off the street) and the service. I've always been treated warmly there, and always somehow end up sitting cozily by the window on a sunny day. Finally, if you ever have company in the city who you feel might not appreciate some of the more colourful eating options that you yourself usually prefer, this is the kind of restaurant that can safely accommodate grandparents while not boring your inner culinary adventurer. And, after careful consideration, I do believe this is my favorite restaurant in Boston.
(5)
Nick K.
Good Food, I recommend those new to Eastern Europe, to have the variety plate.
(5)
Nicole L.
Absolutely amazing!!!! We take a good friend to a different ethnic restaurant each month for the last couple years and this was by far or favorite place. She is an incredibly picky eater and we were pleasantly surprised. Started with the polish plate as an app. It was a combo of kielbasa, pirogi and stuffed cabbage. All super tasty. Then we (my fiance, my dinner tour buddy and myself) shared the stuffed cabbage, gypsy pancake and boneless pork chop. The stuffed cabbage comes with either a tomato based or mushroom based sauce. Both delish, but I have to give it to the red sauce. The goulash in the gypsy pancake tasted like a delicious beef stew and the potato pancake was cooked perfectly, crispy around the edge, amazing. The pork chop was perfectly crispy. The stuffed cabbage with red sauce and gypsy pancake are a must try. So glad to have leftovers to eat tomorrow!!!! Oh and let's not forget dessert. Babka!!! Perfectly baked chocolate cake with a warm gooey chocolatey middle, topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Best chocolate molten cake I have ever had. Can't believe this place has been around for 14 years and I had never been until tonight.
(5)
Katty H.
This restaurant is still spectacular. Every time someone is in town I take them to this place. My mom, dad, stepmom and mother-in-law all had wonderful experiences here. The first three, all being from Cleveland (and one who makes her own pierogies!) , could compare their meals to equivalents made back home - all well received. My mother-in-law had never had pierogies and fell in love with their pillowy texture. This restaurant is always on the top of my list for "things to do" in Boston! A little side story, my stepmom wanted unsweetened iced tea, but Cafe Polonia didn't have any. So she said, "Oh that's alright, I'll have a cup of hot black tea with a cup of ice and I'll make one myself!" Then behold, the server comes out with a glass of iced tea - which he made himself in the kitchen from hot tea. Didn't have to, but did. So nice!
(5)
Joshua H.
According to a dear friend, who conducted a *pro bono* meta-analysis of my Yelp Reviews, I am due for a four star rating in order to give my ratings a normal distribution, or else...the Mayan prophecies will come true. Oh well, despite the possibility that I am bringing about the world's demise in three months, I highly recommend that you should visit the lovely Cafe Polonia in Southie- FIVE stars worth. The staff was very nice and the whole thing seemed relatively authentic. I ordered the Gypsy Pancake ($16) which was a huge portion of their potato pancakes with goulash between. It was phenomenally delish. Recommend recommend. Recommend. I will say: the food was a tiny bit salty (that's too be expected), and the food was a bit on the expensive side, though by no means outrageous given the huge portion. Overall, however, I will definitely go back if I am in this area before Doomsday.
(5)
Peter K.
A fantastic Polish restaurant! The Polish Plate is the way to go, a sample of everything, and everything is amazing! The pierogis, the kielbasa, the stuffed cabbage, the hunter's stew. Incredible!
(5)
Wilson C.
Every time I come here I can feel my soul purring with happiness. Try the pickle soup if they have it - so so good. I almost always get the gypsy pancake - it's like two giant potato latkes with Hungarian goulash inside, and sour cream and dill on top. The beers are strong, dark and unique and complement the food wonderfully. Polite and prompt service - a must try.
(5)
Loretta C.
The blood sausage and beef tripe soup were sublime! The herring in oil was lovely and the kielbasa was yummy! Nice atmosphere, wonderful waitress...a must-go-back-to restaurant!
(5)
Sarah S.
This is a great whole-in-the-wall restaurant. The decor is quaint and the dining room is extremely clean. The food is delicious and the coffee is nice and strong. The service and atmosphere are very relaxed so you do not feel rushed and can enjoy your entire dining experience at your own pace.
(5)
Mandi M.
Just like Babci used to make. Spectacular Polish food. The Polish rye/lard starter looks questionable, but is very yummy. The stuffed cabbage ("gwumpkies"/gulabki) is spectacular - I prefer the mushroom sauce, since the tomato sauce is thicker than how my mother makes it, but the tomato sauce is good enough, too. The platskis (latkes/potato pancakes) are to die for, especially with sour cream. I highly recommend the gypsy pancake, which is two platskis with goulash in between them. Absolutely heavenly. I don't even have words for how good it is. Polish pupu platter is yummy, and my mother really enjoyed the beet stew (borscht, I guess) with pierogies inside. Be prepared, because they give you a LOT of food. Desserts seem to be pre-made/bought elsewhere, but they're pretty good as well. Good Polish beer selection, too. The service can be sort of iffy at times, but I'm guessing it's because the waitstaff is all foreign and they expect you to flag them down, which is pretty easy, since the place only seats about 20. You'd be crazy not to give it a shot.
There is not much that I can say here which hasn't been said already. This is an unbelievable restaurant with delcious food, friendly service, great value, and a cute ambiance. I will elaborate on one item: The almight Gypsy Pancake. It is ridiculously good. Think beef stew between two massive french fry pancakes - but better. The flavors go together perfectly. Everything else I tasted was awesome. I envision myself being back her around once a week, especially in the winter when the hearty food will warm me up.
(5)
Sue H.
Oh, Cafe Polonia... This is starting to become a dangerous love affair. Ahh, this hidden little jewel is the place to go for Eastern European specialties in Boston. Everything about it screams AUTHENTIC (yes, in big capital letters). I absolutely love the restaurant's decor -- It's like being transported back to Europe! Uh oh, I'm starting to get a little sentimental... Why? Cafe Polonia, why must you do this to me?! 'Cuse me while I take a stroll on memory lane... Favorite dishes here are the Potato Pancakes and the Polish Plate, which I'd actually recommend ordering together. The latter is a heaping taste of the restaurant's specialties: Stuffed Cabbage, Kielbasa with Cabbage Stew, and Pierogi. Round it out with an imported Polish beer (they've got a nice little selection) and you've got yourself the perfect meal. Oh, and how can I possibly forget to mention the bread and lard/bacon spread? So indulgent, yet so right. This is not the place to go if you're looking for a "light" meal. The food here is so hearty and comforting -- you'd be doing them a disservice by ordering just a salad. Warning: skinny bitches, stay away.
(5)
Jennifer W.
My husband and I stopped at Cafe Polonia after a long day of travel and wanting a good meal before our 2 hour drive home from the airport - what a delicious find! We were there on a slower night, so we were immediately greeted by a friendly waiter, and he was SO incredibly helpful. He recommended various beers and dishes to go with them, and we were served bread right away. We couldn't decide which dish or combo we wanted, so he offered to come up with a custom dish that had a little bit of everything - potato cakes, pierogies, sausage, and I forget what else. It was PERFECT! It's a small little place, and the decor is of course quite old-europe, but that its part of the charm. We had a delicious meal, great service, and a wonderful experience.
(5)
John S.
This place is small and cozy family operated establishment worth visiting. It has the feel of an authentic restaurant you find on a small street in Europe. The service was friendly and most helpful with suggestions for first timers. The food is excellent and value priced. Selection of beer and wines were all good pairings with the menu. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Vivian C.
A short walk from Andrew Station on the red line stands a small, but bright and cheery place with 28 seats - 7 tables set for 2-6 people each. It has a single private bathroom and a single pleasant waitress. A pile of magazines sit in the corner, and the other two parties in the restaurant at 6pm speak to the waitress in a language I do not understand. I am excessively early for my 6:30pm reservation for 2, yet she welcomes me and seats me at a table for four with a basket of bread and some ice water. The bread and lard is tasty, but I do not eat too much of it. It reminded me of British fried bread that I had attempted to create once after making bacon for breakfast... The restaurant is more than half full by the time my friend arrives shortly after 6:30pm. We end up sharing the Gypsy Pancake $16 (two large potato pancakes sandwiching a goulash of beef and mushrooms in gravy with a nice swirl of sour cream and topped with a little grape tomato) and the Goulash with Potato Dumplings $14 (which came with two cold salads - shredded red beets [sweet] and pickles [sour]). I think we both preferred the Gypsy Pancakes with the crispy potato edges. The beef in the goulash was tender. For dessert we selected the fruit crepe $4, which turned out to be a blueberry version - tasty, not too sweet, nice crispy/tender crepe.
(4)
Daniel B.
When you walk through the door at Cafe Polonia, you step out of Southie and into Eastern Europe. Big, sturdy tables and chairs that are immaculately clean, as was the rest of the dining area. Great decor as well. But the food, oh goodness the food. It was simply incredible and both of those words are important: simple and incredible. I've only been there once, but went with a large group so I got to see many dishes, which was exciting (since I'll be going back, a lot). I had the borscht and stuffed cabbage. The borscht was amazing: a beety, earthy, intensely red broth with mushroom dumplings. The dumplings complemented the soup perfectly. Garnished with parsley, which was noticeable throughout. The stuffed cabbage was quite good, not extraordinary though. It had a very mild flavor, both from the meat and the cabbage. Was served in a simple tomato sauce, which was good for dipping. The lard and bacon mixture for the bread completely blew my mind. From what I saw and heard from the large group, the rest of the food was just as good. The gypsy pancakes (potato pancakes with goulash in the middle) looked amazing as did the Knight's Cut pork loin. I really want to try the pierogi, but there's so much other good stuff to try. So yes, make sure you eat here. Soon, and often.
(5)
Brad S.
A majority of Polish blood is coasting through these veins, but I don't come from a family that really celebrated it while I was growing up. So while it might seem a little odd that the guy coming to Boston for the first time makes his first meal one of kielbasa, pierogis, and stuffed cabbage, I loved absolutely every minute of it. Though offering the food isn't enough - there still has to be a competent cook working in the kitchen, and from the presentation to the flavors, competence was never in question. To summarize, anything that involves the sauerkraut should be shoved into your food hole immediately.
(5)
Jake M.
Oh wait, so it's lard?! That decadent spread that comes with the bread? We were trying to identify it amidst chocking it down as hastily as possible in order that they would bring out more as quickly as possible.... Lard with bacon.... Good God! If everything else here wasn't sufficient for 5 stars, that would push it over the top. But that's just gravy - this one's the easiest 5 star review ever. I'll leave it to the sundry other reviews to go into details. The Lady Friend and I ordered it all - or as much "all" as we could assumed we could reasonably get down. We were almost right on target with our selections - pierogis, kielbasa, stuffed cabbages - the perfect amount for two that would ensure not having to be rolled out the door. We'll be back, and promptly, and severally, for everything we missed. (....lard with bacon..... who knew!)
(5)
Jim W.
We had a great meal here last night. I always enjoy any kind of authentic ethnic food so having a true Polish restaurant around is great! Generally a good sign at ethnic restaurants: folks dining here speaking the native tongue. Now I know that Kishkas are not something hanging out of your clothes if you dress inappropriately, as my Mother-in-law had me believing. The food and service were really good although my kids were a little slow to jump on board-they kept sampling this, sampling that, but never really dug into any one item, so maybe not the best place for kids if your kids aren't feeling adventurous. We had perogies with applesauce & sour cream, potato pancakes, an appetizer of scallops wrapped in bacon, and chicken dish ( I can't recall the name). The entree came with mashed potato's and two salads: pickle and beet. I liked it all, but I had the beet salad all to myself. Next time we'll come without the kids and try more adventurous fare. Oh-Schmaltz!-with your bread you get fat with caramelized onions and bacon. You can ask for butter. And I thought schmaltz was just annoying blather as in: "I wish William Shatner would stop with the Kirk-schmaltz already!"
(4)
Alex R.
I live right up the street from Cafe Polonia and have been there a number of times. Every time I'm extremely happy with the service and the food. A couple of times they were close to closing and I called up and they still allowed my party to come in! Excellent! The goulash delight is fantastic. Nice flaky biscuit bowl with their delicious goulash. The potato pancakes are great; they're not too greasy with good texture and flavor. The polish plate is a great way to start to get an intro to some of the different items served here. I believe most of the sausage/kielbasa is sourced from up the street at Euromart or another Polish deli, which hand makes their sausage (Euromart is worth a trip on it's own for great bacon, ham, and kielbasa). In any case, they had me with the lard/bacon that's served with the bread. Any place that throws that down as a topping for bread is excellent in my book.
(5)
Sina E.
This tiny place gave us a great dining experience. It's not hard to miss this place, because when we were walking toward it, there was no sign, and it looked like it was just a house. We didn't get reservation for this place, but I would suggest it, because it seats maybe 20 people. We were lucky it wasn't busy, and were seated right away. We tried a variety of dishes, and all of them were great. The polish plate gives you a taste of everything. The stuffed cabbage was delicious. It has rice, meat, and different spices. The dish also comes with pierogi. Pierogi is essentially like dumplings stuffed with variety of stuff like meat, onion, mushroom, etc. "Bigos" is a stew and includes cabbage, meat and sauerkraut. It goes well with the Kielbasa. The interior is bright, and the seats are wooden benches. It really has that comfy, authentic feel to it. When I'm back in Boston, I will definitely come here again, and would highly recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Audra F.
Having seen reviews commenting on the tiny size of this restaurant, I called this morning right when they opened to get a reservation for my wife and I for our anniversary. The man who answered was very apologetic that they were fully booked for the whole night (by 11am!) but when I said it was our anniversary and I'd take any time, he asked if he could call me back while he checked with the night manager. A half hour later, he called with a time within 30 minutes of my original request! I was so delighted. (What I didn't know then was that this was the last day of their Groupon. Perhaps most Tuesdays they aren't this busy, but it was insane tonight!) We arrived early for our reservation and were seated immediately; the host/waiter even thanked us for coming early! The space *is* wicked tiny but cute -- clean blond wood furniture, cozy close but not uncomfortable -- and the staff were super friendly despite the non-stop stream of customers. We didn't know exactly what we wanted but the waiter walked us through the options, made excellent recommendations, and was really patient given it was him and one other person working all the tables and the register. We got the borscht with dumplings (sweet, peppery, scalding hot, divine), sour pickle soup (weird name, awesome taste!), mixed pirogi (cheese, potato, and cabbage, all super tasty and buttery), the potato pancakes (crispy, kind of garlicky, amazing with the applesauce), and the Polish plate (kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, more pierogi, all super savory and nicely spiced). There was a hot spiced wine being offered which we ordered and guzzled down like kids with orange soda. As I said earlier, today was a groupon expiration day, so the place was packed but despite the folks waiting for tables, we never felt rushed. The vibe was really comfortable and I'm so grateful that the staff went out of their way to get us a table when I called this morning.
(5)
Sepide S.
The food was not compatible with our taste at all, it was oily but we loved the chocolate cake, so yummy
(3)
C L S.
One word, delicious!
(4)
Annette A.
Oh Boston, ale jestesz szczliwa! Being 100% Polish, I've spent hours with my grandmother preparing pierogies and can say that the pierogies at Cafe Polonia, whether boiled or fried, are spot-on. Also, kiss your grandmothers if they've got any Polish in them, because pierogi dough is some of the most finicky stuff you've ever worked with! Prepare for a real Eastern European meal, complete with hearty lard spreads, spiced meats and chunky soups. Cafe Polonia is cozy. Eating here is like eating in your aunt's kitchen. It's obviously not a building made to house 100 guests, but that's kind of the charm that comes with European/Slav dining. I would recommend reservations if you absolutely need them, as you may end up having to wait for a table if you show up at a rush hour. The servers have always been sweethearts, patient even when it's busy. This isn't the kind of place where you can complain if business isn't fast enough. Slow down, relax. Your aunt would smack you upside the head if you complained about the done-ness of your burger. Show up here with some friends and a light-hearted dismeanor and you'll be in heaven. It's definitely worth the MBTA ride. Smacznego!
(5)
Karyn V.
We ate dinner at Cafe Polonia over the weekend, and it is now our top place to go to for a delicious inexpensive meal in the Boston area. Located in Andrew Square, Cafe Polonia is tiny and cute. The look and feel of the restaurant brought us back to when we were visiting Warsaw and Krakow a couple of years ago. The menu is written in both Polish and English, and the friendly waitstaff are more than willing to go over the menu with you if you are not familiar with traditional Polish cuisine. We shared an order of the pierogi (potato and cheese, cabbage and mushroom, and meat) as an appetizer ($12). For our entrees my boyfriend ordered the potato pancakes with apple sauce and sour cream ($12), and I ordered the chicken tenders with peppers, onions, and mushrooms ($12). We happily devoured it all, and somehow we were able to share their homemade apple crisp for dessert ($8). Yum! We will definitely be back in the very near future. For those who plan on going, be sure to make a reservation. Cafe Polonia doesn't have a ton of seating and is quite popular on a Saturday night.
(5)
Jed W.
Small place, long wooden benches along one wall and smaller wooden tables with high backed wooden chairs through the rest of the room. Polish pop music on the sound system. I arrived at 4:25 on a weekday end the place was completely empty. I said "just me" and the waiter said "plenty of room for that!" And chuckled. I asked what's good and he said "everything" and then asked if I'd had Polish food before and made a couple suggestions when I said I had. I ended up getting the Polish Plate, an order of potato pancakes with salmon as an appetizer, and blackcurrent juice to drink. The potato pancakes were more fritter then pancake and were served hot with a thin-cut slice of smoked salmon laid on top and a dollop of sour cream on top of that. They were slightly oily but very tasty - crisp on the outside and soft inside. The closest thing I'd had to it before was in a little pub/resteraunt in southern Ireland. Don't know if that's because both cultures rely heavily on potatoes and seafood or because the recipe was brought by one of the many Polish immigrants to Ireland. The Polish combo plate had 1 pirogi, a kielbasa (sausage) with cabbage and mustard, and 3 small Noodle-wrapped dumplings stuffed with cabbage. Everything was delicious.
(5)
Trish M.
First off, this place is adorable without being kitschy. Pros: super friendly & helpful staff, great selection of Polish beers, crazy good apps and soups (we had the herring, kishka, kielbasa, potato pancakes, borsch, mushroom soup and pickle soup). And out of the four entrees ordered, 3 were also delish (the mixed pierogi plate, the Polish plate and the Goulash Delight). Con (and there's only one): I was served possibly the driest piece of pork ever cooked (pork loin in mushroom sauce). It was, however, our first visit; I'll be happy to give another entree a shot when we visit again - which we are sure to do soon!
(5)
Joanna E.
My boyfriend is Polish and we both really enjoyed this restaurant. The potato pancakes were amazing and so were the pierogies. Very authentic Polish food and the inside was small, but very cozy and cute.
(5)
Jason L.
Homemade Polish food in a quaint and homey restaurant is the perfect winter time craving, and probably worth the trek to south boston for those wanting some home cooking. I felt transported to another country, as we we sat in glossy wooden chairs and greeted with bacon lard. We tried as much as we could sample by ordering the Polish Plate and the famous Gypsy Pancake. The gypsy is gigantic, and heavy enough for two. It's perfectly crisped pancakes were filled with a hearty Hungarian goulash that wasn't overly watery like some other pictures I've seen. The novelty wore off halfway through, and probably should not have tried to devour it all by myself. The kielbasa tasted fresh, but in all honesty, it was pretty similar to many other sausages I've had around the city, and with Jacob Wurst down the street from me, I think I'll save the trip next time. The pierogies had a hand-rolled and homemade dough wrapper. Everything else including the stuffed cabbage and sauerkraut were all ok. Nothing was bad, it was just decent euro comfort food, albeit I felt the whole Polish plate was missing some sort of seasoning. Overall, it seems to be the real deal in terms of Polish cuisine (the ex-Polish president ate here), but I wonder if this place benefits more from the fact that its the only Polish restaurant in boston. Food (6/10) Plating (N/A) Decor (3/5) Service (3/5)
(3)
Melissa M.
Something is awry. I've returned at least five times since my last review. I'm completely underwhelmed -- and still hungry. Nothing was as good as it was the first time. I grew up with homemade pierogies and kielbasa. The pierogies had NO TASTE. Seriously, bland. I had her take them back and fry them since they came out boiled -- I'm not a big cook, but even I take the time to fry my pierogies. Boiling pierogies almost ensures a poor consistency, like wet rubber. The waitress did not seem to like me for doing this. I love that they serve Zwyeic beer, but that's about all I love about this place. The sour pickle soup is a good option to try, but I won't be trying Cafe Polonia again.
(2)
James M.
Their wine isn't too expensive, between 20-$35 a bottle. Potato pancakes are delicious, dumplings and goulash are marvelous. Wasn't a fan of the Pork Loin in Mushroom sauce. Was a bit dry.
(4)
Vivian H.
Haven't really had Polish before (except Kielbasa) so was excited to try this place out, since it's like the best representation around, right? It was good (not great).. but again, didn't have lots of past Polish exp to compare it to. LOTS of food -- we ordered the Polish Plate & the Boneless Pork Chop for lunch, both had leftovers. Lots of meat and cabbage. LIKE A LOT.
(3)
Denis L.
Friendly service and nice rustic ambiance here. Pretty much as good as it gets for this type of place. Pierogis great? Check. Sausages great? Check. Good Polish beer selection? Check. What more do you want? I didn't get a chance to try the potato pancake but it looked awesome. Definitely want to try the Gypsy pancake the next time I go. Reasonable prices to boot.
(5)
Nate Y.
Meat! Boy, I do like my meat and Cafe Polonia serves this up in spades. It's a small place so make reservations or be prepared to wait if need be. It was fairly apparent that this little restaurant's reputation had proceeded itself with only our reserved table being available at 7:30. Decor had lots of wood of the pine variety. The rafters, tables, chairs were all made of pine. But never mind the decor, it's the food that you're after here. To begin you have your bread with lard and bacon bits for a spread. This reminded me of when my mom would cook bacon and pour the fat into a jar to be used for later. This is exactly what the spread was. Not for me, but if you need some extra cushion for whatever, be my guest. I had a taste of the salmon potato pancake for an appetizer. Two potato pancakes with smoked salmon on top and dollops of sour cream, mmm, very good. I then had the Polish plate which includes stuffed cabbage, pierogi, and grilled kielbasa. The kielbasa was great, not salty like Hillshire Farms. Pierogi was good and the stuffed cabbage was excellent. I don't usually like cabbage but this I like (probably had to do with the meat stuffed in it). I still had room for dessert so I tried a cheese blintz and it was tasty as well. Although the food isn't fine dining the presentation of each dish was excellent. I also had a traditional Polish beer called Zywiec. As another patron yelled over its between a Budweiser and Stella Atrois. Yes, quite the range, but it's true. It even has a correct temperature indicator in the back which reminded me of Coors (lame), nonetheless it was good enough. Considering there was only one server, she handled things very well with several dining parties and two of them large (ours being five and another with ten). It was only toward the end when we were waiting for our bill it was a bit lacking. She was on the phone taking a break, which was understandable, but even after asking for the bill, she stayed on her phone for another ten minutes or so. Overall a great dining experience for some authentic Polish cuisine. Definitely a solid four stars.
(4)
Jenny N.
Do you love bacon? And sausage? Well, then you'll probably love Cafe Polonia because there's an abundance of both here. Bacon, being a versatile meat product, is used effectively to wrap everything from mushrooms to scallops, mixed with lard to be eaten on bread (I'm not a fan of this spread though), and cooked with stewed cabbage. We started off with two oversized potato pancakes with smoked salmon and sour cream, which were really excellent. Note: The portions are extremely generous, so bring on the stretchy pants... I then moved onto the sausage. The homemade smokey kielbasa is grilled to perfection and served with a heaping pile of sweet and sour cabbage stew (of course, studded with bacon). I surmise that there must be a giant pot of cabbage stewing in the kitchen, and Amanda H. said that Polish people must eat cabbage at every meal like Asians eat rice. Hmm.... I only finished half of my kielbasa/cabbage entree (the rest was devoured by the boyfriend who declared it the best sausage EVER), but I was too stuffed to eat more than 2 bites of dessert. Suffice it to say that it was a hearty meal--perfect for a cold wintry day. Our waitress was really sweet and she let us linger over our meal, digest and converse loudly despite us taking up a large table in her very small restaurant. I really enjoyed the homey atmosphere and admired the sturdy pine furnishings. Who knew one could find a little slice of Polish culture in Dorchester? The even play polka music here! But reservations are key here. As we dined, we saw many people come in from the cold only to be turned away. Don't make that mistake!
(4)
Finn M.
My trip to Cafe Polonia was very hit-and-miss. I got the borsch (beet soup) on the recommendations of other Yelpers, and it was very delicious, warm, sweet, and tasting strongly of delicious beet goodness. I'd never had polish borsch before, so I wasn't expecting something quite so thin, though: it was all broth, and not a trace of solid food to be found. Delicious to be sure, but $6 for vegetable broth seems a bit steep. The blood sausage, which came ground up on the plate (not in sausage form) was VERY oily -- I'm not finicky about that sort of thing, but it was clear that they cooked the sausage up in a lot of oil and then just dumped the whole thing onto the plate. Oil was coming out the sides of the sausage pile and running onto the plate. Huddled amidst the oily taste were damning tones of metal, the hallmark of bad blood sausage. It just wasn't appetizing at all. Entrees were stuffed cabbage (tomato sauce) and pierogies (meat). The stuffed cabbage was delicious: the tomato sauce was thick and rich, with a subtle sweetness that begged for chunks of bread to lap the leftovers up with. The cabbage was cooked perfectly: firm enough to withstand handling, but soft enough to yield to the edge of a fork, without a tough or gamey bit to be found. I found the meat pierogies to be a bit lacking, but only in the flavor department. I got mine boiled; I found the texture to be wonderful, and I, too, have to question "Melissa M" for her criticism that the pierogies "came out boiled." Pierogies are ALWAYS boiled; having them fried in a little bit of butter afterwards is cool, if that's your thing, but a boiled pierogi is not an error, it's authentic. The filling could use a little more love, as it just wasn't very flavorful, though it was smooth and pleasant on the tongue. I've seen a couple people indicate that getting sauce is an option, but I didn't realize this; the bits of onion it came with were heavenly, and salvaged the dish from snoozeville. For dessert, we tried the bobka (of course!) and the apple cake. Both were great. I love apple pastries as much as the next person, but was pleased to find that the name held true here: it was indeed a cake, only it had a layer of delicious baked apples in it. The bobka was rich, and the warm chocolate in the middle... yeah, that's a winner (though sadly, they were out of ice cream!). It was a VERY slow night at the restaurant; Kasia served us and was definitely a joy. She only paid attention to us when I made eye contact with her, but I appreciated that, since we were clearly taking our time, and were in no rush to leave (nor was she in a rush to wait many other tables). Excellent service, and a very cute restaurant. I just wish they'd done a few more things right in the food prep. Next time, I'll be getting something with potatoes.
(3)
Karen B.
The food was very good. We had the Polish plate which offers a nice variety of various authentic Polish dishes. The restaurant is small (only 6 tables) but clean and welcoming - very European. The service was very good and the waitstaff was friendly. My only complaint was that the temperature in the restaurant was very cold. It was in the 40's outside but felt colder in the restaurant. We were at a window seat, so that may have contributed to the chill.
(5)
Teri L.
It was my birthday and damnit! I wanted polish food that was so used to when I was married. My son really enjoyed this restaurant so he made reservations and off we went. The dining room was very small but for some reason worked very nicely for our 6 people party. Maybe because it was 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon? dunno but made me happy. The decor was simple, clean lines and cute. Joey ordered apps of blood sausage (Kishka) and Kielbasa Twists. I'm just not a fan of Kishka so I tried a microscopic portion followed by 1/2 glass of diet soda. I'm good with that. The twists were crispy and delicious! Main entrees: John, Mandah and Matt had jumbo potato pancake that were soo crispy and tender with a dropped egg on top and sour cream. I wanted to eat it all but I don't think John would have appreciated that. I had stuffed cabbage (Golabki) Could have used more sauce inside the filling but it was very good. Jess had Polish Plate which had 1 stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and pierogies. She seemed to enjoy it all. Joey had Goulash with dumplings. Big positive there too! Now since it was my birthday I needed chocolate and this chocolate babka with melted chocolate inside was amazing! It wasn't sickeningly sweet so it was perfect after a great meal. Very solid 4 and whenever the need for Polish food arises I will come back to Cafe Polonia!!!
(4)
Raymond L.
Don't let the size of the restaurant fool you, its actually a pretty good place to eat at Though we ordered what the menu said "Best appetizer in Poland" which is fish fillet with onions apparently, the fish is actually served raw...but the waiter clarified that in Poland, the dish is served raw, hence all the onions on the fish...but its not their fault, you either love them or you don't I ordered a Steaks Tips, which I enjoyed a lot. It's very tender and juicy and totally worth the 12 bucks...not to mention it is very filling. I'd come here again in the future
(4)
Tony K.
This is the real deal for Polish food. I grew up on this stuff and its really hard to find anywhere, let alone in Boston. To be honest, the only place outside my mother's kitchen I have found food this good is in Williamsburg/Greenpoint Brooklyn and I think Cafe Polonia is better. I went on a weeknight and the place was pretty dead. The (Polish) waitress was nice, speedy, and helpful. I ordered a bunch of old favorites - fresh kielbasa (smothered in onions plus horseradish! yes!), pierogi, and stuffed cabbage - and we shared everything family style. There were lots more items on the traditional menu that I will be coming back for including potato pancakes and cabbage stew. They had a whole contemporary menu too which I can hardly imagine ever getting to with all the stellar classics. If you have never had Polish you need to come here to try it! If you love Polish food you need to come here! Basically, everyone should probably eat here.
(5)
Eric S.
Good Pierogis fried..nt steamed..Not a fan of the stuffed cabbage no taste but the sausage kabob is delish and the bread and butter goes well with their food..Probaby will try other items but nt sure when i'll frequent the area
(4)
Sarah C.
It was a bitter cold night in Boston and we wanted some serious comfort food. One of my girlfriend's suggested Cafe Polonia, home cooking like her babka use to make - sure to stick to our ribs and keep the cold out. We found this little hole in the wall restaurant at the end of Dot ave among Catholic schools and neighborhood bakeries. We had made a reservation - as we had a bunch of people with us and were glad we did. This is a tiny little place with about 10 tables in one big room. The tables are close together and there is no room to wait if you can't be seated right away. On a bitter night as that night was, we did not want to have to wait outside in the cold for a table! I loved the decor. It was traditional and yet modern. Loved the light color of the wood they chose for the restaurant - it opens up the whole room. It was decorated with knickknacks that you would see at your grandparents house but was not kitschy. We all sat down and ordered a round of fun polish and eastern european beers, yum! They even had a really interested hot spiced beer for the cold weather. It was a great combination of mulled cider and lager, tasty! The rest of the evening just went from bad to worse...and I'm not sure who to blame about it. It was a Friday night and somehow there was only one waiter on. ONE waiter to clean the tables, seat the guests, take the orders, fill the beers and bring the food out. This waiter (gosh I wish that I remembered his name!) worked his butt off. He was amazing, but it was just too much work for one person. What manager/owner allowed this to happen? This means that we have to wait 3x for a refill of beer, and everytime someone waiting outside popped their heads inside to see if the table they wanted was cleared a blast of freezing air hit us. We ended up just wearing our coats the whole time. All of this would be forgiven (and totally understanding that it was not this waiters fault he was all alone) if our food has come out and been amazingly tasty - but it wasn't. The general feeling was the food was mushy and bland. We got the bread and butter when we sat down (it was actual lard with nuts in it haha) but the bread was hard as a rock. We ordered a few orders of the kielbasa twists as an app. They were slightly rubbery and not spicy at all. It almost tasted like a hot dog and not like a polish sausage. I ordered a full order of pierogis - 3 of each the cheese, onions and cabbage and mushroom. They tasted like store bought pastry with fillings. Not the polish homecooking I was thinking. I had to dunk each one in sour cream to get any flavor. I have very little experience with eastern european food except for the few days I spent in Prague on a back-packing trip, but I don't believe this is how Polish food was suppose to be. Did we get them on an off night where they were just overwhelmed and slopped food out? maybe. But still left disappointed... at least the beer was good...
(3)
Greg j.
One of my favorites this place is a unique hidden jewel . Located next to Andrew square your doing your self a disservice by not going here. Very nice decor my guess since I've never been there is what a resteraunt in Poland looks so authentic that i expected ivan putski to bring me my food lol .And the food is amazing I've tried almost every thing on the menu the goulash was good but mostly broth . My two favorites were the perogi sampler and the kilbasa with sauerkraut and the potato pancake were great too .
(5)
Luckie L.
A hole in the wall joint with horrible street parking but with excellent food.. The decor is very contemporary with what looks like polish antiques scattered all around.. Nice wood table and even the chairs were wooden (no cushion).. I had the scallops wrapped with bacon sitting on top of spinach and romaine lettuce as an appetizer.. In which I must say was cooked to perfection.. I had the veal cutlet for an entree with mash potato, pickles, and beets for sides.. The veal was lightly breaded and a bit over cooked but overall, a excellent entree.. I'm definitely going to dine here again and a must try for first timers..
(4)
Deanna D.
We loved Cafe Polonia! The restaurant is very cute, cozy, and well decorated. The waitress was very nice and the service was fast and friendly. She explained the beer selection and made grate recommendations. The food was delicious! We got the Pierogi's and Gypsy Pancake and Crepes for desert. All the dishes were very well seasoned, tasty and authentic. The pierogi was as good as my friend (who is Polish) home made ones! We loved everything about this restaurant. We will definitely be back and bring all our friends. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for authentic Polish food and great ambiance!
(5)
Jonathan M.
Great place for a cold fall night when you're hungry for some stick to your ribs Polish food! Went on a Friday night, little bit of a wait but the waiter who also was the host was very accomodating.. Great Polish beer selection..I got the Polish pilsner and she got the warm spiced beer which was so good I wish I got myself one! Appetizers: Bread w pork lard- Good Potato Pancakes- very good but needed some salt Kielbasa Twisties- Very tasty Dinner Polish Plate- combo of pierogies, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, and a pork laden sauercraut...The whole thing gets a Ten! Stuffed Cabbage- with creamy mushroom sauce, very large portion, she took home half Dessert Dutch Apple Chocolate Babka- better than anything I've had at Finale, I would go back for this alone!
(4)
Erica M.
As a 100% Polish person, this place is as close as your going to get to eating in your Babcia's kitchen!! Have eaten there numerous times when I don't feel like slaving in the kitchen to make golabki by hand. Favorite items on the menu are the beet soup, pickle soup (!!!) and the Polish Plate, which is like a sampler of all the classic Polish dishes. DON'T FORGET ABOUT BRUNCH!! They recently started doing brunch on Sundays! Was there yesterday (1/10/10) and had the potato pancakes topped with bacon and sunny side up eggs. So yummy. The potato pancakes were crispy and potato-y and one can every go wrong with bacon! Check out Cafe Polonia!
(5)
Moomin T.
I would give this place four stars except for one reason: the prices. The prices are ridiculous. However, the food is quite good. I'd say the pierogi are pretty top-notch. The potato pancakes--eh--I've had better. The lard spread for the bread: yummy, don't be grossed out by it. It's just like solid gravy. But what on earth is this place thinking charging you $16 for a plate of potato pancakes at lunchtime? This is insanity. If they lowered their prices, I have a strong feeling they'd draw in many more patrons and have a better business.
(3)
Cherie C.
Such a fabulous place! It's small, so make a reservation if you want to go on a weekend. The service is very friendly; if you aren't familiar with the food or the beer, they'll help you out. They'll also provide a pronunciation if you like. They have a good selection of Polish beers, so if you drink you should try some Zywiec or Okocim. We had a kielbasa appetizer, made with delicious smoked kielbasa. Believe me when I tell you that not all kielbasa is of the same quality. Try this and you'll understand. It's a simple menu item, but they elevated it with the presentation, cut in a sort of exploding firecracker shape and served on mixed greens. Beautiful and delicious. Before dinner you'll get a basket of fresh slices of rye bread. You'll also get a plastic ramekin of what I thought was butter with bits of nuts in it. We soon realized it was cold fat with bits of bacon. Really, it's just another fat like butter, I suppose. But not good for those with cholesterol issues. My boyfriend loved it but I did not. I ordered zurek, an soup made from a base of sour rye. It's an Easter tradition. It was wonderful, sprinkled with fresh dill, sour and hearty but not too heavy. But my boyfriends forest mushroom soup was sublime. Hands down the best mushroom soup I have ever had, and I've eaten a lot of mushroom soup. Rich and flavorful and everything a soup should be. I ordered a boneless pork chop as my entree. It came with a cold beet salad that was excellent and a delicous sweet cabbage stew. Again, a simple pork chop was elevated to new status by using excellent meat and preparing it with care. It took me a while to try this place since the menu online didn't seem that exciting. Now that I've been there, I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Pauline S.
I have been recently introduced to the total delicousness of Polish food and this place was like a capstone course to my months of sampling and learning. Went here with my 100% Polish boyfriend and his parents and the very fact that they were pleased speaks volumes. Our server was friendly and gracious and everything seemed like they went back there and had a Polish grandma whip it up. For a vegetarian this menu is a happy challenge, but I have to say Polish food isn't exactly vegetarian friendly in general so I just had to work around that :) Borscht=YUM Definitely worth venturing to this kind of unsavory neighborhood to sample. Note: it's definitely a teeny little place so best for dates/a small family kind of thing. All in all I loved it and hopefully you will too.
(5)
Ellen C.
This is another treasure that I wouldn't have known about if I hadn't read about it on Yelp. They even had a People On Yelp Love Us sticker on the window (as well as a Phantom Gourmet and Zagat). Ditto what others said about its cute decor and about it being SMALL. It's quaint and it's easy to get to. We went mid-week and got there right as they opened at 11:00, so we were the only ones there. The waitress was very polite and attentive. The food was excellent. I wish I lived closer so that I could go more often. EDIT (for all of you who are mentioning the lard served with the bread): Lard - real lard, not the partially hydrogenated stuff - is healthier than butter. It has half the saturated fat (bad stuff) of butter and twice as much monounsaturated fat (the good fat) as butter. Eat it with a clear conscience.
(5)
Daniel R.
Well, what can I say... Meh. I've experienced better. This place is very clean and relaxing, and the smell inside almost made me pass out from happiness. The service was good and could always be found in the small dinning area. On the other hand, my meal was the exact opposite of what I expected. The bread they gave me before my meal seemed like it was baked a couple of days ago. My steak tips were overcooked - hard and salty. The mashed potatoes were bland and dry. The mixed vegetables, well, they emptied an entire salt shaker on 'em. This meal was a disappointment. I can't imagine the food is quite this bad on the regular. This mush have been an off night. Too bad I'll probably never know, though.
(2)
Evan E.
I'm an American who spent a year living in Eastern Europe. My entire experience was of the highest quality and authenticity. The ingredients were great, the dishes were well prepared and the beer selection was very authentic (albiet beer from that region tends not to be the most complex). I look forward to going back and would recommend it to anyone.
(5)
C. S.
Just went back with my bud the other day... just as good as before! The two of us split four entrees... I'm not a big person, that took a concerted effort... I've still got a food baby two days later. So good.
(5)
Eve S.
Get a Polish cookbook and make your own dinner. I was so let down by this place. Tasteless white bread, came first. Waitress was pleasant but not easy to understand, and everything we needed, we had to call her for. We were one of two tables occupied. We asked for kilebasa plate, stuffed cabbage and potato pancake. Out comes two pancakes, medium in size, some stale potato chips (huh??) and a dinky portion of kilebasa. Then the stuffed cabbage. Overcooked, cabbage was almost nonexistent, filled with a meat that had neither flavor or texture, that's probably what my cat rejects when I crack a can for him. A plop of tomato sauce on top. Then dessert. Blintz filled with canned blueberry pie filling. This looks like Polish food, but believe me, it isn't Polish food.
(1)
Al C.
Awesome ....outstanding food.
(5)
Kari C.
In Krakow Poland I had the best meal of my life. I came back to the states and thought it could never ever be replicated. Cafe Polonia proved me wrong. On there menu I found my much longed for fried potato pancakes sandwiching Hungarian goulash. I was in heaven. While wasn't quite as phenomenal as the original, their Gypsy Pancake was the most amazing thing I've had in Boston. The restaurant is quite small, about six tables, so call ahead to check. Their wait staff is very pleasant (and Polish). Grab yourself a Polish beer, order some pierogi and soak in the feeling of Grandma's dining room.
(5)
Mandy D.
My friend and I came because his German teacher told him that it has great food - and she was right! We started with the salmon potato pancakes, they were amazing and the scallops wrapped in bacon - also great. For dinner we split the Cafe Polonia sample plate, it had kielbasa, sauerkraut, perogis, and cabbage - everything was amazing! The price is right too! A great find! We will be back!
(5)
Billie M.
Now, I'm no linguist, but I'm pretty certain that zupa grzybowa lasu translates into heaven in Polish. Or something of the sort. The forest mushroom soup that Polonia is offering as a special is so amazing, my last dining companion was a little frightened as I slurped my way through a cup of it in record time. And thank someone upstairs for the soup, because it managed to distract me from heaping unholy amounts of bacon studded lard into my mouth before my meal came out. Seriously, bacon studded lard on slices of white bread...who knew a heart attack tasted so good? Entrees are delicious and hearty, perfect for a chilly New England night, but not necessarily a place I'd go on a hot summer day. I mean, if you want to sweat out kielbasa and cabbage, more power to you, but I'll keep Polonia as a stuffed and warm, time to go to bed dining option. The fried pork tenderloin in pounded thin and deliciously greasy, topped with cold beet salad to sop up some of the oil, it's a chewy, crunchy, tangy delight. The veal tenderloin has more flavor than the pork, but tends to be on the drier side, still the ubiquitous cold beet salad evens this out as well. Pierogis are homemade and taste it, and really, who can mess up pasta like dough stuffed with cheese and potatoes and meat? I prefer them boiled, but I wouldn't kick the pan fried ones out of bed youknowwhatImean? Last, we get to the kielbasa. I could honestly eat kielbasa morning, noon, and night. And while I appreciate that Healthy Choice has made a pretty tasty turkey version so that I can still make it up my stairs without having to take a rest halfway through, sometimes you need the real deal. And this is the real deal. The outside has the perfect snap, giving way to an inside of hot, soft, smoky meat magic. While I typically enjoy the friendly and accommodating wait staff here, I'm glad they are savvy enough to stay far away from the table while I am enjoying this delight. Snapping jaws and glaring side eyes are not the way to make friends. Rumor (or, I guess fact) has it that their sister-deli across the street sells the kielbasa for home consumption, but I love the vibe at Polonia so much that I haven't quite made it over to check it out. So, looking for a warm, friendly, neighborhood place that will warm your feet, your belly, and the cockles of your heart? Run, don't walk (trust me on the cardio) over to Polonia. Nie ma za co!
(5)
Meg P.
I live down the street from Cafe Polonia and have been there several times in the past few months. Being half Polish, I brought both my parents on their separate visits, and they both loved it. It has great ambience, a very sweet staff, and the food is about as authentic as you can possibly get without homemade Polish food. The pierogi are almost as good as the 12 pounds of them I ate when in Poland...and that's good enough for me. The stuffed cabbage and the kielbasa are also very good - and all the meat they serve is available across the street at the deli that operates the restaurant! I love it there and will continue to go back. Also, the spread they serve with the bread is in fact lard - it also has pork in it. However, like other reviewers have said, it's not unhealthy. If you can get over the name and the texture, it's no worse for you than butter. It's traditional Polish - so if you want authentic, that's what you get!
(4)
Kai L.
A very cozy and small restaurant. It felt almost like dining at a friend's home. It's always a good idea to reserve before hand, especially if you are going there on weekends. I am a semi-vegetarian, so the choices at Cafe Polonia were not that many. I did choose the rainbow trout dish. It was pretty good, perfectly grilled with a nice flavor from the stuffing. The only downside is that it is a bit dry. The pierogi is pretty flavorful and my friends did say the stuffed cabbage was very good (has meat though). The cheese cake is a MUST try. Definitely one of the top three cheese cakes I had so far (and I am a dessert snob). We also had the herring fillet on oil. I really liked it. It was fresh, tasteful, and refreshing. But it pretty much has to be eaten with the raw onion to bring out the flavor. It may be acquired taste for some. Just another warning, we were a bit curious about what spread it was served with the bread. We thought that it was lard. It tasted good, but as soon as we suspected it was lard, we sort of stopped using the spread. Judge by yourself and you may like the flavor.
(4)
Art F.
This is our third visit to Cafe Polonia. I am hesitant to give 5 stars for any service, but this place deserves it. Right from the moment we entered the door the service was friendly and attentive. The food is always great and served as you want it. The waiter even asked if we wanted different music (we asked for Polish music and got it) and if we wanted more light. The ambiance is very much like eating at your Polish friend's house. Best time to eat here is during the week when reservations are seldom necessary as opposed to weekends when you do need to call ahead. Food is very reasonably priced and it seems to be frequented by locals as opposed to the touristy places closer to downtown Boston.
(5)
Renee M.
Absolutely AMAZING! Like many of the other reviewers I am half Polish, grew up on Polish cuisine and I thought the food here was absolutely delicious. I came with a couple of friends on a Saturday night and we called ahead for reservations because I knew how popular this place was. We walked in and surprisingly it was not crowded at all and we got seated right away. It is quite small inside and also extremely cute and quaint. The waitress was adorable and friendly as well. My friends and I ordered the kielbasa, stuffed cabbage and pierogis and all shared. Everything was great- I remember the stuffed cabbage being particularly delicious (and very very stuffed!). We also ordered Polish beers (I can't remember which kinds, and even if I did I probably wouldn't be able to spell them out for the life of me) which I thought were also very very good. Overall GREAT experience... I plan on bringing my parents here the next time they're in town.
(5)
Marilyn T.
The lard for the bread is warming. The place is small and homey feeling, which suits it perfectly. Because it's so small, service is very attentive. I loved the borscht and potato pancakes. Everything is a bit heavy, but that's how it's supposed to be. Everything seems very authentic, and it just leaves you with a warm, satisfied feeling. It's perfect for a winter meal.
(4)
Lauren V.
Better book your angioplasty in advance because at Cafe Polonia, you will want to keep eating and eating and eating... Previously a kielbasa virgin, I decided to shed my deep-seated fear of losing face in front of family and friends and actually loving it after resisting it for 25 years, I opted for the kielbasa sandwich. It was amazingly delicious. It was also amazingly large...and amazingly rewarding 8 hours and 10 beers later. Although the food doesn't appear to be a work of art, my stomach is (luckily) blind and didn't seem to mind the lack of presentation one bit. The food (my sandwich and pieces from my date's Polish plate) was delicious and hearty. I definitely recommend a beer (Zywiec) to cut through the unhealthy delectableness you will most certainly ingest. As for the actual establishment, it is tiny, modest and clean. The tables are fairly close so it is not a place to hold private discussions. Conversely, I ended up chatting with a friendly co-patron who was from Poland (another star for attracting authentic Poles). At one point, my date went to the bathroom and my new Polish friend tried to set me up with his son...who was sitting right next to him. Awkward. We snapped some pics together and he seemed to be okay with the fact that I would not be dating his son in the near future. Anyways, the service is fairly quick and the waitress was friendly. We were able to find parking on the street so I am not sure how public transportation factors in to a Cafe Polonia experience. Cafe Polonia provided the perfect start to a cold, winter Saturday drinkfest. Highly recommended (with or without the apres-boozing).
(5)
Graham C.
Okay, went here with my brother and my friend. I wasn't aware there were hot Polish women, but now I am. That was a treat. I'm not sure why I had some visions of a woman with a hairy mole stirring my goulash. This place is small, like real small. It's not crowded though, which is nice. And they have a terrific selection of Polish and Czech beers. We each had two, which accounted for our higher than expected tab. But at only $4 a piece, it really didn't break the bank. If you've never had polish food, then you should get the polish plate which is like a sampler. I personally got the kielbasa plate and some potato pancakes. It was awesome. Though it's a good thing I am single, because at this very moment I'm producing enough natural gas to power the City of Worcester. I'm in talks with NStar, so lemme know your needs over the next few weeks. Good place, great food at the right price.
(4)
Margaret O.
Great food, great service. Very reasonable prices. Traditional home make cooking, polish kitchen. I love this place. When ever I am in Boston I always go there. I am recommending to fry knight's cutlet
(5)
Alissa J.
Unhealthy polish food. ;-) nothing bad, but too heavy for me.
(2)
Gary F.
Gary lives in Dorchester, but Gary was kind of unhappy when he arrived early for his reservation and was kind of sent back onto the street. There are two chairs reserved for waiting purposes, but Gary didn't get the memo on that one. We stood in front of a liquor store for about 15 minutes in the cold. Lesson learned: Not only make reservations, but do not be early. When at 7:09 we were seated for the 7PM reservation, sheGary was a little perturbed. Until the lard spread arrived with the bread. Then, all was tight. Also tight were the potato pancakes, the borscht, the Polish platter, and the goulash (Gary was on an eastern European eatathon) and the beer. It's Zyweic. Chocolate babka cake wasn't 100% like the babka we've seen...which is probably only 4 or 5 loaves so we're not quite experts...but it was so tight and warm and chocolatey and huge. Just what we needed after meats and potatoes and 4 bowls of lard spread spread upon 18 pieces of white bread. Thanks to Cafe Polonia, Gary will be rendering pork fat and spreading it on bread every day for the rest of his life...which might not be a long nor fit one given the whole lard thing , but it will be a happy one.
(4)
Kathy K.
Skip lunch and go hungry - Cafe Polonia has delicious and filling Polish cuisine. This is a small, quaint restaurant with bright wooden furniture just a short walk from the Andrew T. The menu is in Polish and English and the wait staff switches back and forth between the two languages as they serve English and Polish speakers. You can have dishes most people associate with Poland, namely stuffed cabbage and sausage. They also have some really tasty entrees that are less known. Their side dishes are heaven -- lovely potatoes and cucumber salads stood out. They also have a nice collection of Polish beer. Give it a whirl -- you'll leave full and smiling.
(5)
Tom M.
It is a little pricey, and it is a little difficult to get to, but this is hands down one of my favorite places in Boston. Hands down! Not a stupid chain, not anything bad or half done, they strive for perfection and they are outstanding
(5)
Karen W.
was hesitant to go for polish food but this place was fantastic!! service was stellar: daniel was the only person working front of the house and he was great; very efficent, very helpful. highlights: herring filet, pierogi, stuffed cabbage, goat cheese salad and the chocolate babka cake (to die for). oh yeah and the beer! a delicious porter (forget the name). ummm-mmm-mmmm! def will be back anytime i'm in boston.
(5)
Nicole L.
Tiny lil restaurant in the Dorchester area - there're quite a few Eastern european/Baltic type cafes around the area. It's located across from the Andrew train station so it's quite convenient to get there. The restaurant is very small at most sits 20 people. So definitely get a reservation. We got one thanks to our host who's a regular at the restaurant. We were a group of 10 so we got try all the different dishes. For starters, the bacon wrapped scallop, the herring, smoked salmon and caviar, and the kielbasa. All the appetizers were absolutely delicious! For the entrees, the gypsy pancakes with goulash is gotta be the best dish, we also tried the pork cutlet and the polish plate: stuffed cabbage big-O (kielbasa with sauerkraut) and pierogis. The food was just amazing at Cafe Polonia. The waitress was very patient and nice even though we were a buncha drunks after the St Patty's parade. The price is on the high side like $12 for appetizers and $16 for entrees - it adds up if you want to try every thing on the menu!
(5)
Mark D.
the food was very disappointing and customer service left much to be desired!!! I had bought a couple of gift certificates and we had gone there before several times. The gift card had just expired the day before, and even though I had spent the money on it and had been there before, the rude person on the phone refused to even ask the manager about it. She said, Nope, nothing we can do. She acknowledged that they were losing the few customers that even go there anymore, and they were OK with it. So NO MORE, the food is no good and customer service even worse. I'm foreigner myself and it stinks that people like that give the rest of us a bad name!
(1)
Jason M.
My favorite Polish place in the city. Good, hearty, 'on the for real' Polish eats.
(5)
Fred M.
I love this place! I managed to find it in a round about way looking for some fresh keilbasa after the Lithuanian bakery in Brockton closed some years ago. It is a nice place to get some comfort food after visiting the Baltic Deli and the European Deli when you are stocking up on hams, real sauerkraut, and real keilbasa. The place is very small and it feels like another country. Very quaint and the food is great. The parking is not so bad.
(5)
Susan H.
Tired of Italian and Asian we went here wanting something different for dinner. We hit the jackpot. When we first entered we loved the decor it was cozy and beautiful. We were seated very quickly as it was early (glad we came early it filled up fast). The waitress came and brought us this amazing bread and stuff to smear on it that you just have to try to understand. She was very informative as we picked out our dishes and no one was disappointed. The gypsy pancake was awesome, crispy pancakes with delicious goulash inside of them. The Polish feast was yummy, hunters stew,keilbalsa,stuffed cabbage and 2 kinds of pierogis. And the chicken Riesling with this cabbage side dish that blew my mind. This is rich food you do not want to eat it everyday but it is sooooooooo good. There was nothing we did not like about this place right down to the accordion player. If you are in the area make it a point to come here!!!
This is the place to go when you want some authentic Polish plates and beer. The large and tasty portions will satisfy you well, especially during the winter months. This place is cozy and fills up quickly, but once inside it is warm and the service friendly. If you've never had authentic keilbasa before (no, the vacuum sealed kind in the grocery store does not count) go try the array of Polish foods offered at Cafe Polonia, the only Polish restaurant in Boston.
(4)
Stephanie ..
Cheap, huge portions, and YUMMY! Good selection of eastern european beer, the food is filling (I always have leftovers), and the mini chocolate babka for dessert is a must. My brother and I go whenever we miss polish homecooking--and have managed to get a few of our friends hooked on the food as well. The restaurant is right in the Andrew Square, and I've never had trouble finding parking. It can get busy--I've seen lines of locals out the door on weekends--so call ahead to make a reservation. You still may have to wait for a seat because the restaurant is tiny, but they'll try their best to seat you as soon as the next table opens.
(4)
Doika P.
Good food, good ambiance. The key is that this food is unique and cannot be gotten elsewhere in Boston. Very tasty and a lot of different options. The salmon potato pancakes were very good and the meals were very complete. Cherry beer good as well. Not a big place however.
(4)
Betsy C.
I was staying at a nearby hotel, depressed by the food landscape of mall carts and Applebees, when I decided to yelp the area. Thank god for you yelpers- this turned out to be one of the best random dinners I've ever had. Friendly servers, unique drinks (cherry beer!), and delicious entrees- huge and filling. Thanks for helping me locate such a great find!
(4)
Matt D.
Cafe Polonia is the best Polish restaurant in Boston. Its also the only one I know of. The staff is friendly and the potato pancakes are huge and great, BUT some things are underwhelming. The atmosphere is Polish-like and actual Pollacks dine there. Cheers - (not to be redundant) Potato pancakes - Omelets - Try the pork lard spread that comes with the sometimes fresh bread (not for the hung over) - Also try the hot spiced wine in the winter.. its awesome - Pretty much anything fresh is good Jeers - Once I ordered a dumpling special and it took them 40 minutes to defrost it... that was special - Pretty much everything pre-prepared is horrible to mediocre and its hard to determine which is which beforehand - Its somewhat small, so its hit or miss as to whether it will be full or not. Best to call ahead for big groups
(3)
Kaitlin M.
With a warm and cozy environment, Cafe Polonia was a welcome retreat on a cold January night. The waiter was so friendly offering us bread upon arrival and being very timely with drinks, etc. The food was amazing and brought back memories of sitting in my grandmother's kitchen. I had the "polish plate" so I could sample all the wonderful options--the stuffed cabbage was excellent. You could tell the food was all homemade. I will definitely be returning, and probably sooner rather then later.
(5)
Chris S.
This tiny nook of Polish and other eastern European delicacies is a real treasure. The Polish Plate is perfect for the indecisive - it only lacks potato pancakes, which they also make extremely well. Reasonable prices, friendly staff, great beer selection, beautiful decor... I could eat there again and again. Oh wait - I do.
(5)
Kupkake K.
This was my first time trying Polish food so I really don't have anything to compare it to. I had the Kielbasa and Cabbage Stew plate. The kielbasa was excellent and it's all hand-made. As for the cabbage stew is not hearty soup which most americans are accustomed to but it was cook cabbage leaves with spices. We also had potato pancakes which were excellent. Overall the cafe is small with polish artifacts and the server barely spoke english so you know you're getting something authentic. It's great place to try if you looking for some where new to go. I would go again if I'm the area....Prices were good.
(3)
Chris C.
I like eastern European food on cold winter days. The food here definitely sticks to your ribs. A bit over the top was the pork fat spread for bread, but I could not keep myself from eating it. Pierogis and kielbasa were also pretty good. All in all a pleasant experience with good service and solid food. Worth a try if you have never had Polish food too.
(4)
John B.
I had a fantastic meal here last night. We tried to get in on a Saturday without a reservation and we were turned away. We were not allowed to wait, just turned away. I was so shocked that I had to make sure this place was legit. Upon my return (on a Wed.,no crowd) the staff was friendly and helpful. The beer is phenomenal, brewed in Poland and some of the best porter I've ever had. I ordered the Polish plate, which is a little bit of everything (stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, bigos stew, peirogi)...it was delicious. I recommend the boneless pork chop and the potato pancakes with goulage. Simply great authentic polish food.
(4)
Matthew M.
Love it! I moved to Boston back in August, and quite frankly, I'm sick of the culinary dominance of burgers and pizza here. Feeling sad about the lack of variety in Boston's food culture, I read a good review of this place and thought I'd roll the dice. It was great. Overall, the food was extremely hearty and delicious. For example, my girlfriend and I split the "gypsy pancake" which is a ladlefull of very juicy and well seasoned beef goulash sandwiched between two crispy, golden potato pancakes, with a dollop of sour cream on top. Certainly not haute cuisine, but every bit as pleasing.
(5)
Lindsay S.
Wow, what a wonderful, authentic, Polish restaurant! Parking was quite easy, right out front. Small and cozy, the waiter was incredibly friendly and helpful. We started off by ordering wine and beer - great Polish beer selection. We were then given a basket of bread accompanied by lard with caramelized onions. I did not try it, but many people said it was delicious. I ordered the coconut shrimp, potato pancakes, and potato + cheese pierogis. Everything was awesome, and everyone else loved their dishes as well. The couple I was with, who are Czech/Polish and were there recently, said the food was quite good. The only suggestion i have: when you go, order you pierogis boiled, not fried. I assumed that theyd be better fried (what isn't??) and was wrong. Boiled were more authentic, apparently, and i thought actually tasted best. We ended with a strawberry crepe, which was quite good although the filling was a little fake-jelly-ish. Perhaps that's authentic, though?it was still QUITE good. High recommendations overall.
(5)
Keri S.
My husband and I Google-d Polish restaurants in Boston, as we wanted to try something new and hoped we had something authentic in our neighborhood. We found parking on the street right outside (great luck, especially in the winter) and stepped in to the restaurant, which was warm and inviting, and smelled wonderful! The service was fantastic and the food/drink amazing. We enjoyed pierogis, stuffed cabbage and kielbasa, a favorite of both of our grandparents and staples growing up. Thank you for a great experience. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Holly M.
Went to Cafe Polonia last night with a dear friend for my much anticipated birthday dinner...and was not disappointed. Sometimes I really miss the comforts of home (kielbasa, pierogies, and stuffed cabbage) and need a little comfort food. This place truly hits the spot. I had an Okocim Light to start ...love that beer! Then had a deliciously cute kielbasa app and for an entree potato pancakes with sour cream. All of it was beatifully presented and prepared... I think we even saw a woman reminscent of my Polish Babcia cooking in the kitchen. The server was extremely sweet and the decor was perfect. I know where I'm taking my Mom the next time she comes to visit :)
(4)
M M.
The food was good the service was terrible. We went there on a Wed night and after our meals asked for the dessert menu. We were told that the kitchen shuts off the stove at 8:30pm-even for current seated customers! For that reason alone I will never go back there.
(1)
Mike S.
A tiny, adorable restaurant near Andrew Square -- incredibly tasty. Pickle soup or borsht and a plate of pierogies will keep your tummy filled all day.
(5)
Carolyn B.
Now that we have discovered Cafe Polonia, we don't have to wait for the holidays to have great Polish food. We shared a bowl of borscht and a Polish plate. The kielbasa was fresh, dumplings in the soup loaded with mushrooms, everything including the service and atmosphere were terrific. I will be a regular.
(5)
George K.
Get the polish plate and a polish beer and you'll understand.
(5)
Brenden L.
Having traveled Poland and eating some pretty damb good food over there I expected this place to dissapoint me greatly but to my surprise it did not at all. This is traditional fare which means lots of meat, potatoes, beet soup, and bread served with lard. The entrees are decently priced and worth every penny and the soups are to die for. They even have a few Polish beers on hand which is a treat if you've never had the oppurtunity to taste any.
(4)
Steve N.
ok, so i'm a big Polski. this place will make U wish you had a little Polish grandmother when U were growing up. the potato pancakes will make your knees buckle, the perogi are handmade and to die for (xtra sour cream please!) and the stuffed cabbage bring me back to a very happy place. an excellent offering of Polish and Chech beers coupled with gorgeous Polish waitresses make this place truly stand out. go very hungry, leave very happy. be warned the place is TINY and it can get cold near the door when the wind is blowing hard.
(5)
Steve L.
Love this place, almost as good as the pierogis I make...almost Everyone I've taken to this restaurant ends up loving it, definitely worth trying... especially the Polish platter. The seating arrangement is a bit tight, but the decorations and benches always remind me of when I went to Zakopane .... luckily they don't serve sheep cheese here.
(4)
Scott D.
Very good authentic Polish cuisine for reasonable prices. This is a smaller cafe-style place. Seating is limited and if you go during busier dinner-hours (6pm to 8pm) I think you may be pressed to get seated. The kitchen is partially open to the dining area, but not distracting or loud. While small, the seats aren't packed tight so it's comfortable. The interior is freshly painted, clean, and appealing. The service is excellent, prompt, and casual yet friendly. Polonia offers a combination of very tradtional Polish food with more mainstream "Americanized" offerings. I highly recommend trying the traditional foods, they are done right. Hunter's stew (like a ghoulash), potato pancakes with salmon, kishka (a blood sausage), and of course kielbasa... all very tasty, not overly greasy or heavy, and fresh. The one thing I have to try is the Beet Tripe soup... some day soon! Highly recommended, and even for a casual date-night. One word of warning: parking can be tight in the Andrew Square area.
(4)
Kelly J.
I went here with my sister and husband. All of us loved it! I don't think you will find a lot of Polish restaurants in Boston besides this one so luckily it is delicious! My sister and I grew up in a totally Polish family and this was fairly close to the dishes we grew up loving as kids. Cute and cozy atmosphere, great food and excellent service! I will definitely be coming back for more!
(5)
Katherine D.
My mom loves to feel cosmopolitan so when shes coming to visit me in the "big-city" i like to make her feel like shes experiencing new and grand things. for her last visit I suggested she come on Yelp and pick the place for us to visit, and this was her choice. its not quite cosmopolitain or grand, but the tiny little place kind of does have a nice ambience. i do remember there was some weird wooden booth set up but other than that pretty cute. they served us bread upon being seated served with straight-up bacon grease as a spread. i find that disgusting. i got the duck dish, which was decent, and my mom got some sort of polish platter which she for the most part enjoyed. it as good enough, but i definitely wont be back unless mom drags me.
(3)
Jessica R.
For some other cities I would give this place 4 stars, but as far as Boston goes, I think this is hands down the best Polish food you are going to find. I grew up in a Polish family and all of this was very close to the home cooking I grew up loving oh so much. Great food, great dessert, great service. I will be back many times. Also, in regards to someone below stating that their borsch was all broth, possibly that was an error the kitchen made that night. Mine had about five delicious stuffed dumplings in it.
(5)
Nicole N.
What a wonderful place! A quaint restaurant in South Boston with great ambiance and delicious food. My partner and I went on a Tuesday, so it was pretty empty. Apparently not many people have discovered this gem! We were seated right away and the waitress was lovely, attentive and patient. My partner is of Polish descent so he had some high expectations for the food. I have very little experience with Polish food, having only had pierogi and Kielbasa, so I had no expectations at all. My partner had the Polish Plate, which was a sampler of pierogis, kielbasa and 'Bigos'. I had the Breast of Duck. Both dishes were exquisite! My partner was very pleased with all 3 items on his dish. I sampled all 3 of them and I can say that the pierogis were fresh, the kielbasa was succulent and the 'bigos', which don't look delicious, were pleasantly surprising and fantastic! My dish was just as pleasing. The duck was tender and moist, the potatoes were flavorful (a touch dry, but the sour cream they provide took care of that), the asparagus was cooked to perfection and had an added butter-lemon zest that I had not expected. Also, a side of shredded beets was added to the dish (it wasn't in the description but came with it). I don't like beets, and let me tell you that these beets were tasty! The Polish Beer selection was bottled. My only wish is that they had their beers on tap. The waitress made some wonderful recommendations and both beers my partner and I had (one a Pilsner, one a stout) were fantastic though bottled. They come in these awesome mugs that are hefty and match the feel of the restaurant. We were too full to have dessert and coffee. There was plenty of food left over for both of us to have a light lunch the next day. All in all, a wonderful experience. I want to head back and try more of their traditional dishes. While we were eating there, 3 Polish couples came in to dine and were chatting up the waitress in Polish. I'm guessing that this means the rest of their traditional dishes are just as good as the ones we had! For anyone who likes European fare, this restaurant is a must!
(5)
Thomas M.
I really enjoyed the meal, service and atmosphere at this place. I will look to return soon!
(4)
Jack M.
Not bad. Had lunch here last Saturday. Small place - maybe 20 seats. Cute - quaint. They recently repainted / redecorated. Guess due to their popularity they are making more $ and can afford it! We had a bunch of different things: potato pancakes with smoked salmon, breaded mushrooms, kielbasa, glumpkes, pierogis, and a potato pancake thing that had like beef stew in it. I won't bore you with the details on the food - but it was all very .... SAVORY. I liked the glumpkes best - nice and fresh. The pierogis had a super-thick dough which was a bit much for me but they were still good. But everything just tasted very ... meaty / savory? Weird to explain. Service was pretty slow - even with no other customers there! But - it's ok - we expected it so we didn't care. I don't know if we'd go back - I can't say we had anything that really jumped out at us. But it was pretty good.
(4)
Hillary M.
Tasterrific! It is like eating at my grandparent's house but being served by the super cute and friendly girl next door. The cooking just tastes so homemade. It is reallllllly tasty. I wouldn't recommended eating every meal here, it is also pretty fatty, but it is the perfect fare for a wintry Boston evening. The warm spiced wine, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa (both regular and spiced), mustard, pickles, and perogis are delish! I had the goulash and wasn't so keen on it - but the grandparent's goulash I'm used to is of the Hungarian persuasion, not Polish. We were all surprised by how good the Cabernet was. Looking forward to returning some blustery night when I just don't feel like cooking and want some food to warm my belly.
(4)
Jeffrey C.
Was here one winter night. If you need a good hearty meal, this is the place. Excellent perogies, bigos, and kilbasa. try the sampler plate if you're not familiar with Polish food. Great beer and pilsners too.
(3)
Christine S.
The meat pierogies I had at this place were almost as good as the ones I had in Poland. When I moved to the Boston area a few months ago I googled Polish Restaurants in Boston and was soo excited to find this place. It's very cosy (might have to wait a little bit for a table, but it's worth it) and it is very nicely decorated. I had the borsch & pierogi and washed it down with a Zywiec- i was so glad to see they served polish beer too! Can't wait to go back! FYI- the wine & liquor store in Davis Square sells Zywiev, Okociem and a few other Polish brews in the international beer section!
It's hard to call a restaurant the best anything in the city, when it is in fact the ONLY restaurant of its kind in the city. A perfect example is Cafe Polonia. One bit of advice that is crucial when it comes to dining at Cafe Polonia: MAKE RESERVATIONS! Holy beejesus if I hadn't made reservations, we would have been shit out of luck. This place really reminded me of Joe's grandparents (they are polish) and our waitress (who was the only waitress) was very nice and accommodating, even though she got a little slow in the end Joe and I wanted to try a little bit of everything, so we ordered the following: kielbasa, blood pudding, potato pancakes, and pierogies. The kielbasa was juicy and crisp, and some of the best I have had. The blood pudding was a little disappointing, it was good yes, but I didn't expect it to be shredded. Now, onto what makes things truly Polish, pierogies and potato pancakes. I really like both, BUT, they were not the best, not by far. I have had much better in both Salem and Toronto. We even managed to fit some dessert in the mix, and the apple crisp was very tasty, and I stole a bite of the cheesecake, and it is definitely not NY style. So, yes, Cafe Polonia is the best Polish food in the city, but really, by default because it is the ONLY Polish food in the city. But that doesn't mean I won't come back.
(4)
F. C.
Come for both the food and the atmosphere. I love the fact that dining here feels like having dinner in someone's dining room. It's small and cozy and the pace of dinner is very relaxed. There's only ever one waitress and it takes a bit of time to order and be served, but I love that. Come with a few friends and make an evening of it. The food makes me happy. I'm a vegetarian, so I'm limited to peirogi and potato pancakes, but that's absolutely fine with me. Both are fantastic and if you ask nicely you can even get a combo plate of the two.
(4)
Michal P.
Love this place before my mom moved to the US from Poland this was my only way to get some polish food. This is the only Polish place in Boston and I don't really care because there isn't much more that anyone else could do. The food is top notch the waitresses are polish and very pleasant and helpful. You can also try some of the best beer there.
(5)
Kristin N.
Love it. I currently have a list of people I need to bring here, one at a time so I have a good excuse to keep coming back. The people are so nice, the dcor is so cute and the food...the food is SO GOOD. The only reason you should be afraid of Polish food is if you don't want to gain like 5 pounds from becoming addicted to it! They have traditional as well as American dishes on their menu so bring your food-phobic friends; they'll find something they like. You can also rent out the whole restaurant for functions. Pretty sweet! Oh and POLKA BRUNCH ON SUNDAYS! I don't even know what that is but it sounds wicked fun!
(5)
Judith Z.
Food was clearly made in-house. Potato pancakes were awesome. Kielbasa is crisp and delicious. Can't go wrong here! I only say it's not good for groups because it looks like the place only seats about 30.
(5)
Renee G.
So. I'm half Polish. If you knew what the G. in Renee G. stood for, or if you ever had the chance to witness my mind-boggling tolerance for vodka, that much would be obvious. However, my non-Polish mother did most of the cooking in our house, so unless the babcia was visiting, Hillshire Farms kielbasa was about as Polish as it got save for holidays. I had wanted to go to Cafe Polonia forever and ever, to experience the traditional foodways of my fatherland, but it wasn't until I was already headed to the neighborhood to pick up fresh kielbasa for Thanksgiving brunch (boiled and eaten with horseradish, it will certainly wake you up) that I finally had the chance to go. It was worth the wait. First, let me say that I am slightly disturbed at how much I liked the lard spread. My fellow culinary adventurer/best friend Gilian switched over to butter pretty much immediately, but come on - it had BACON in it. To start, we split the potato pancakes with smoked salmon and sour cream, which were fantastic - just like the ones grandma used to make when mom was out of town (mom is opposed to seafood - I know, imagine growing up in such a sorry excuse for a household). Then we split a plate of pierogis, mixed between potato and cheese and cabbage and mushroom - the cabbage and mushroom were better, FYI, but the potato and cheese didn't exactly go unfinished. Then, of course, the grilled fresh kielbasa (because no Polish meal is complete without kielbasa), served with caramelized onions, spicy mustard, and horseradish - so, so so good. For dessert, we split the chocolate babka cake. The menu describes it as "traditional babka filled with warm chocolate, served with a scoop of ice cream," and I can't see how this is accurate because it bore no resemblance to any traditional babka I've even had (babka is a dense, slightly sweet bread often scented with citrus zest and studded with golden raisins, and this was decidedly not that) but it was warm and gooey in the middle and hit the spot. Best of all, the whole meal plus a beer each amounted to barely $30 per person, and we were stuffed. I get sent to Andrew Square before every Catholic holiday to procure the traditional foodstuffs, and you can bet I will be making Cafe Polonia an integral part of every trip.
(5)
King C.
Cafe Polonia has excellent wait staff and an amazingly quick turnaround, especially on a 100% packed Friday night. Unfortunately, the food was underwhelming. I had the Austrian pork chop and my date had the Polish sampler. Both lacked flavor. I'm glad I tried it once, but I probably won't try it again.
(3)
Aga K.
Kinda mixed feelings about this place, as a 'Polak' i would expect a little bit more mind blowing attitude from traditional dishes, also i think for portions that they serve place is a bit overpriced. Service...some days great, some very unenthusiastic. also a bit dissapointed with fruit crepes, they are suppose to be stuffed with real fruit and not fruit jam!
(3)
Tyler S.
Great place to eat!! The restaurant is so authentic and the food is delicious
(5)
John.Chris V.
So delicious, perfect comfort food for a cold rainy eve, cabbage, pirogis, homemade soups/breads. Not the ideal choice for the dieting gal/guy. Excellent polish beer assortment.
(4)
Kerrie F.
Although I cannot lay claim to any Polish ancestry and had little experience with Polish food, I have yet to leave this place an unsatisfied customer. Since frequenting this establisment (almost two years now), I find myself often subject to cravings of various Polish dishes, especially in the cold fall/winter months. One of the great things about this place is that it offers both traditional Polish food, as well as American staples as well. Although I would never come to Cafe Polonia to have anything other than Polish food, it is nice to have those options in the event that you may need to persuade picky eaters to come here with you so that you can actually enjoy food of substance. Because I've only had the traditional meals, I can only recommend in that arena. The Kielbasa twists are a great appetizer to start with, as they are extemely tasty, but also proportionate to what an appetizer should be so that you can actually enjoy your entree. For meals, the potato pancakes are excellent and they occasionally offer a giant potato pancake special that also comes with eggs, ham, and goulash. Both are excellent. My favorite entree, though, is the potato and cheese pierogis. Seriously, I could eat this things like candy and never stop. I get them boiled, as fried food tends to sit heavily in my stomach for many hours. For drinks, they have a solid selection of wines, but my favorite beverage by far is the Zywiec Polish beer. The mix of this beer with the pierogis make for a perfect combination. If, for whatever reason, you are in the mood for dessert, go for the Chocolate Bubka Cake, it is to die for. The only negative thing I can say about this place is that there was one occasion where I received awful service from a really rude waiter. I've only seen him there once and haven't seen him there since, so I am not even sure if he is still there. Other than that, my other experiences have been overwhelmingly positive with the waitstaff and food service. The restaurant itself is kind of small, but I think that adds to the charm of this place. There is only street parking as well, but I actually enjoy it because there is also an excellent Polish market across the street where one can buy additional products to take home for later enjoyment.
(5)
Julia W.
I have to admit that I am always a happy camper when a restaurant serves kielbasa, my favorite meat product on earth. But holy god did this place blow me out of the water! I happened to be in Dorchester and a friend and I went to Cafe Polonia for lunch. It was like a little yellow building beacon on light in a typical Dorchester neighborhood. After much drooling over the appetizers, I stuck with the Polish plate: kielbasa, pierogis, stuffed cabbage, oh my! Absolutley fantastic. I was almost brought to tears by how awesome the food was. I even offered to live in a closet in the restaurant if they promised to throw me kielbasa one in awhile. Anyway, A++++++! Highly recommend.
(5)
Marly T.
First time trying Polish food and it was pretty good. I ordered the Polish plate which had the stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, and two other things (I don't know what it was called). It was pretty good. The waiter gave me the strongest beer they had. It was like 9% alcohol in it. It was pretty tasty but dark. We would come back and try other dishes.
(4)
Victoria J.
Alright. Granted this place has NOTHING on my Babcia's cooking, it does satisfy my cravings for flavors from the homeland when Babcia is an ocean away. The soups are great - what I miss the most living in the States. The entrees are always good - simple, Polish homecooking. Just not as good as my Babcia's. There's plenty of Polish beer, in bottles and drafts. The decor is very typical "Goral." It's decorated like a wooden log house in the mountains of Poland. The chairs and tables look like they were carved out of wood and remind me a bit of being at my grandparents' place in Poland knocking back a couple of beers by the fire. I'm not sure if I love this place because it's awesome or because it reminds me of home and good times. Probably a little of both. Still - My Babcia could burn this place to the ground with her cooking.
(4)
Paul B.
On a return visit I decided to branch off the Polish plate and ordered the Gypsy Pancake. I am still dreaming about it. Two large potato pancakes sandwiching goulash. Jaw droppingly delicious. My three friends and I were lucky to get any food. Every seat was filled when we arrived, sans reservations. The server said Sorry, but just then, a couple left a four top and we were in the right place at the right time.
(4)
Cecilia L.
Here I am yelping Cafe Polonia tipsy on Zywiec with happy Polish music playing in my head. I had lots of fun here, but the meaty, heavy cuisine isn't something I could do regularly. Bf and I have lived down the street for months, but only came in today, a rainy Saturday, for lunch. There was just one table left as all the others were filled with Polish neighborhood folk. It's small, cute and bright, with warm blond woods and that music making me want to just leap up in folk dance. The waitress started us with bread and what looked like bacon bits suspended in Crisco. When I asked what it was, she cheerfully replied, "Lard." Bf dug right in, but I hesitated. I love to try new foods, but my tongue curdles if I get a piece of meat with a bit of fat on it. While I was deciding whether I could bring myself to try it, he suddenly stopped chewing. He ran for the bathroom to spit. Reminded him too much of a childhood camping trip in which his group got lost and had to survive for a day on lard. I knew then that I couldn't do it. Do drink the Zywiec, an awesome Polish beer that comes in huge bottles for $5. I got the kielbasa sandwich ($10) and bf the Polish plate ($16). The sandwich was massive, at least a foot long stuffed with enormous hunks of kielbasa. I actually had to take half the meat out to fit it in my mouth. Polish plate consists of kielbasa with sauerkraut, bigos cabbage stew and pierogies. The pierogies were delicious. The "cabbage" stew was more like a thin wrapper of cabbage stuffed with tons of meat, and the sauerkraut and the sauteed onions accompanying the pierogies were flecked with bacon. If you love meat, Cafe Polonia is your kind of place. UPDATE: Okay now it's the same evening, and the boy and I have been sleeping for like four hours. This is heavy stuff, people.
(4)
Molly S.
From now on, I am ONLY eating Polish food. Cafe Polonia brings me back to a happy place and warm memories of my Polish step-grandma. And the service was excellent too!
(5)
Traveling B.
This place was fandiddlytastic. Wow, I have tried to get here a couple of times, but it was always so busy. I lucked out and got a reservation on a quiet night, and what a breath of fresh air. The staff was very friendly and the atmosphere is incredibly warm, so even before we had ordered we were talking about what a nice place to find in such an odd part of town. Then,,, we ordered,,,,,, I a sandwich, the sig O' the polish plate (of course the most expensive thing on the menu). Ahhh the sandwich, I know I know, how do you describe a sandwich without just saying it's a sandwich, well this one is worth my weak attempt. The bread on my sandwich was extremely light, yet slightly toasted on the outside, it actually seemed to melt in my mouth with the sandwich, creating one of those ever so rare sandwich tasting sandwiches, not just bread and meat. The Kraut, delicious, the Kielbasa moist, supple and no charring or burnt-ness in sight, add a slight amount of mustard that just gave a kick, not a take over and you have the divine experience I had. The Polish plate was also absolutely incredible (according to the O' with the full mouth, "Yum", the pierogies,,,excellent, and the O' was extremely fond of the stuffed cabbage as well, and for the O' to be happy with food it has to be good, trust me. My favorite thing about this place, cheap cheap cheap!!!! We had our two meals, two sodas, a coffee, and a dessert and it barely breached 30 bucks. So you get incredible hometwon charm, incredible staff and service, and incredible food for 30 bucks. It def gets my 5 star
(5)
Lisa C.
I want to give this place 4 stars but my meal was only ok. I went here with Jacob W. on a whim, wanting to try a new restaurant and a new cuisine. Jacob got a polish beer while we savored the delicious potato pancakes with smoked salmon. Yum! I also had the borsch. I've never had Polish borsch before and i was really surprised that it was all broth with no beets or other vegetables in it. For my entree I had the pierogis which were obviously better than frozen ones but not particularly flavorful. Jacob W. got the kielbasa with stewed cabbage which he thought (I think we agreed) was absolutely delicious. The restaurant itself is so cute and it's obviously a very family-oriented restaurant which is always nice to see. I think the food was a little bit pricey for what it was which leads to me demoting down to 3 stars.
(3)
Susan N.
I hate Polish food. Sausage is just not for me, at least not the edible kind. So why 5 stars? They have a few other Eastern European dishes that you cannot get anywhere in Boston. The mushroom soup is delicious and the gypsy pancakes are out of this world. Just make sure you get it with goulash. Oh how I miss you, sweet goulash. The pancakes are quite tasty themselves. Having grown up with somewhat of an Eastern European diet, I can get very picky about food. Polonia did not let me down.
(5)
John O.
Hands down, this is my favorite restaurant in the city. Give me a Polish Plate and a bottle of Zywiec and I'm a very happy man. The dining room is tiny with only something like eight tables, so make reservations. It can get mobbed, and the poor waitress a bit harried, but she's a total sweetheart, so be patient. The food is so worth the wait. And their stuffed cabbage blows Zaftigs' out of the water.
(5)
Ben K.
Just went for lunch today. So I decided that I wanted to go out to lunch today, because it was restaurant week, but then began reading reviews on Yelp for restaurant-week menus, and was not impressed at all. So, I decided to stick to my neighborhood and try a new place. That's where Cafe Polonia comes in; after reading all these rave reviews, I HAD to go. I'm giving Cafe Polonia 4.5 stars, but I'll round up to 5. Here's the good: -Waitress was really friendly and adorable and guided me through the menu -Fresh rye bread with that lard-crispy-bacon-caramelized onion-dip (if there is one food that equates to sin, it's this) -Potato pancake was A+ (waitress gave me a free side) -Entree "Polish Plate": kielbasa (really crispy and flavorful), cabbage stew (sweet and sour-- yum), stuffed cabbage, and pierogi (EXACTLY the same as my friend's Polish grandmother makes) The not-so-good: -Dessert: blueberry crêpe. The crêpe itself was good, but then they kinda screwed it up by squirting Hershey's syrup and store-bought whipped cream over the top. But certainly edible... next time I'll just get it w/o the chocolate and whipped cream. -Waitress gave me the check before offering me dessert All in all, LOVED this place. Also seems like a great spot for a date.
(5)
Jeff M.
I went here for lunch twice last summer. I honestly felt like some of the food was not fresh and may have been pre-prepared a day or so in advance. However I cannot tell.
(3)
Jeff M.
When I used to live in Boston and I didn't have a car, I'd literally have to beg peers to drive me to this place to get my Polish fix. When I finally had a car in Boston, I tried to eat here once a month. This is one of my favorite hideouts in Boston. The kielbasa sandwich is perfect. The pierogis are fantastic. Even the bread to start is delicious. I've only had excellent experiences here. Whenever I hear the word "kielbasa," I immediately think of this place.
(5)
Sheila S.
Good service, great food, even a cute waitress who makes good beer recommendations. We had the smoked salmon potato pancakes, borscht, and perogies. Everything was pure Yum.
(5)
Mike C.
Oh my. I'd never had Polish food before, but I will be eating it again. It's like the most comforting of comfort foods. The restaurant's very cute, and the single server was very helpful, especially when it came to helping me choose a beer. I don't know the real name of the "Chicken Dance" song, but it played twice while my girlfriend and I were there.
(4)
Randy M.
Went here for my birthday and the food was fantastic. I'm not eastern european but was with my gf who's family is from that part of the world and says that this stuff is pretty close to the real thing. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Meg M.
Oh Cafe Polonia. I love you. I really do. I'm upping my review to 5 stars as a result of my dinner date with Mark here last night. We were laying around with growling tummies trying to decide what kind of food would rouse us from my warm apartment and foodless fridge and out into the snow storm that was squalling around the streets of Southie. After a rough day for both of us we didn't want to go to any of crowded bars on Broadway (as walkable as they are). Suddenly it hit me: Cafe Polonia! Usually quiet and always cozy I knew it would be the perfect place for us to go grab some yummy food. Mark had never had Polish food so I thought we should jump on the chance to expose him to yet another culinary adventure. When we arrived at Cafe Polonia we were able to easily grab a spot right on the street directly in front of the restaurant. There was one other couple finishing up but otherwise, the adorable space was completely void of people. After about 10 minutes, we were alone in the restaurant and we couldn't have been happier about it. The waiter let us know about their drink offerings and I decided to try the traditional Polish spiced wine. It was hot and delicious and warmed my belly instantly. Mark left me to the ordering while he kept his brave face on and his 16 oz. Zwyiec beer in hand. I ordered the kielbasa twists, the pierogi, and the potato pancakes with beef goulash. Everything came out together like we asked and it was all delicious. The pierogi are boiled perfectly and stuffed to perfection with cabbage, mushroom, cheese and potato and topped with bits of delicious cured bacon. The kilebasa is perfection and served with some mustard for dipping. MMMM. The potato pancakes are a generous portion and the beef goulash was one of our favorite items of the night. We ate pretty much everything on the plates and then sat back to finish our drinks. When the waited mentioned a dessert menu, I thought I'd take a little looksie. The description of the traditional chocolate Babka cake was enough to make me find JUST ENOUGH room to squeeze it in. When this dessert arrived it looked like the most beautiful thing we have ever seen. The ice cream on top of this dark, rich, wonderful bundt cake was light fluffy and perfectly sweet. We both had forgotten how full we were and devoured it within 5 minutes. I could have eaten another I think. We talked about that babka all the way home. So all in all what I'm getting at here is that you should get on the redline. take it to Andrew, walk across the intersection and settle yourself into this amazing little gem. You will be really happy you did. The only thing I would take a pass on in this place is the lard and bacon they serve in your bread basket. Its horrid. But I guess some people go nuts for it. Its just not my thing.
(5)
Victor P.
Delicious and authentic polish food. Everything on the menu is delicious. Gypsy potato pancakes are just like the ones I had in Krakow, Poland! And the polish plate is excellent. Has a little bit of everything I love about polish cuisine - kielbasa, perogis, bigos, and stuff cabbage. So yummy!!
(5)
Kris H.
Polonia is the type of restaurant that brings you back to childhood. Eating the food that my grandmother cooked is a great way keep both boday and soul warm in the cold winter weather. Went yesterday, for the second time, for lunch and started with the pickle soup. I know that it may not sound like the best thing that you have tried, but TRY IT!!! If you like pickles, even a little bit, this soup is for you! It is briney and warm and just delicious. The potato pancakes are great too. I have brought a couple of friends there and everyone enjoyed their food. The restaurant is very small. There seems to always be some on street parking available.
(4)
Katherine B.
The food, service, ambiance, everything about this place is incredible. The menus are written in both English and Polish which is lovely and the waitstaff is all bilingual as well. There is a large variety of appetizers, soups and salads, specials, entrees, beverages and desserts on the menu. The food is delicious and authentic (I can vouch for this coming from a Polish family full of cooks and having lived in Poland). They have all my favorite beers imported from Poland including but not limited to Zywiec (pale Lager and the Porter), Okocim and Warka. They also have wines. The traditional, heavy oak furniture was handmade by the owner and adds to the homey feel of Poland. I've been here with my family, with friends, with people of all ages and no one has ever been disappointed. It is a small restaurant so I'd recommend calling for reservations for larger parties, especially on busy days. This place is just magnificent I very highly recommend it! Smacznego!
(5)
Christine R.
Being part Polish, I grew up eating kielbasa, saurkraut, pickled beets, and such. So when I saw the Groupon for this restaurant, I knew I had to check it out with my brother. I ordered the Pickle soup and Polish plate. My brother had the Fresh Kielbasa plate. We shared also some Potato pancakes with applesauce. The soup was probably one of the best soups I ever had. Its basically a potato soup with pickles. Strange combination but so delicious. The bread served at our table was great dipped in the soup and was good by itself as well. Our potato pancakes came up next and they were so good. The applesauce was to die for. Then my meal, the Polish plate was amazing. Best kielbasa I ever had. The stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and Hunter's stew were all great. I saved half of my meal for leftovers as well a potato pancake making a delicious meal the next day. My brother also enjoyed his dish. The staff were kind, attentive, and quick. Orders came in rather quickly. The place is small and cute. Nice wooden tables and chairs. Though I wish the restaurant had a sign in front. Its very small and I only knew it was the place because of the zagat sign on the window. Not far from the restaurant is a European shop which carries the same stuff they serve at the restaurant. I got myself some Plum pierogies as I never had such. Curious to try it out. They also carry the Pickle soup, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, a variety of pierogies, baked goodies, and such. I definitely will return for more food. I recommend this restaurant to everyone and will definitely come back again.
(5)
Julie R.
This was the first Polish restaurant my boyfriend and I had been too and we will definitely be back. It resembles a lodge inside and is very cozy. I made a reservation for a Sunday night and was glad I did cause the place was full when we arrived and our cute table for 2 at the window was waiting. The meal started off with the breadbasket and the side of lard with bacon. I had checked the reviews on yelp before we went so knew what that was. I thought it was different but was good. Try to order off the traditional menu for the hard core Polish stuff. For dinner we got the: Herring fillet in oil appetizer: Sliced herring on a bed of greens with diced onions. Very authentic. Salty, but squeeze some lemon on top to sweeten it up. Gypsy Pancake: A giant potato pancake filled with Hungarian Goulash and topped with sour cream. This was my entree and was enormous. The inside was loaded with goulash and tasted great with the pancake and sour cream. Polish Plate: Bigos (stuffed cabbage), pierogies, and kielbasa with sauerkraut. This came out as a large portion also. I tried everything on it. Great variety. Excellent Kielbasa. They haven a large selection of Polish beers. The server happily recommended a few. It was very busy during our dinner and there was only one server for the whole place so service was slow. It's a good idea to make a reservation no matter when you go. The place only has a few tables and I saw a few parties get turned away cause they were full.
(4)
Nicole C.
My grandparents are from the Ukraine, so I grew up eating a variation of a lot of the things that Cafe Polonia offers on their menu. My husband and I had gone here quite a while ago and enjoyed it so much, that I thought I'd bring my parents while they were here in Boston for a visit. Honestly, I was nervous to take my father who had truly grown up on that type of food. Even though theirs was a bit different than what my Grandmother would prepare - we all loved our food and just had a great time in the little polish restaurant. My grandmother is no longer with us, and although we try to replicate her food, we don't have it nearly enough. It's nice to know that there is a place we can go for it - a place that does it well. We went traditional, ordering the borscht w/ mushroom dumplings, stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and potato pancakes. Ask for mushroom sauce over the pierogies, as opposed to the little sour cream cup - it's fabulous. Not only is the food really good, it's a comforting atmosphere - small, cozy, and friendly. Make reservations. I was glad I did, as there were several walk-ins that they had to turn away. Because it is such a tiny little place - there is no waiting area. There are two chairs they will pull up for you, but it will be uncomfortable for you, and those eating at tables so close to you. Call ahead and enjoy!
(5)
Tod K.
Not particularly my taste of food. The pork lard appetizer dip was the least appetizing.
(1)
Amber L.
This place is amazing! Not since I went to Poland several years ago have I had such good Polish food. Unlike a lot of my friends I do not have a Polish grandmother to cook for me whenever I visit home and have been reduced to buying frozen pierogis whenever I've had a craving. Now I have Cafe Polonia! Unfortunately I did not go late enough to get the smalec but they do have it! Also, they have this rich cherry juice that is a must try. I will definitely be returning here.
(5)
Paola C.
I have no idea how I have no reviewed this place yet!!!!! I mean, I'm polish and go here at least once a month here!! The place has good ol' homemade Polish cooking, just like Babcia used to (babcia = grandma). It delicious and literally tastes just like mom would make! Traditional dishes with amazing flavor! When you walk in it feels like you're walking into old world Poland, the type of place you'd find in the countryside. I truly feel like I'm back in Poland when I come into this place and its amazing to just get away. The place is teeny and has maybe like 6 tables but at the same time its worth the wait if you have a wait (altho there isnt a place to wait which is why one of the people who wrote a review was probably turned away, because you would have crowded the place even more). The waitresses are friendly although not extremely attentive but that's because its the Polish way for waitresses to leave you be and eat your food and when you need them you'll get them (at least that's been my experience from eating hundreds of times in Poland). Try the pierogi or the pyzy or the nalesniki or the kotlety.... actually just try the dinner plate because it has a little bit of the best polish stuff! then for dessert get the nalesniki (basically crepes/blintzes filled with either farmers cheese or fruits, id go with fruits for dessert) or try the szarlotka which is a take of apple cobbler and apple pie and an apple crisp all together but its delicious (dont forget the vanilla ice cream!!) It's a traditional place with a meat and potatoes kind of feel which is traditional polish... its an amazing place and you'll feel like home... the only downfall - the chairs are wooden (for that old feeling) so they can be a bit uncomfortable but just ask for a pillow under your butt and you'll be fine!! DEFINITELY GO!!! PS - get some polish beer while you're there... one of the only places you'll find some!! Zywiec and Okocim are my faves!
(5)
Amy O.
This is the one and only Polish restaurant in Boston and it is delightful! Polish food is definitely comfort food; hearty, rich dishes providing you with a full stomach more so than to keep your blood pressure down, meaning, lots of pork, cabbage and potatoes. The first thing the waitresses will serve you is schmaltz, which is sort of this pork-fat with onions that you slather on your bread like pate. I passed on that but my dinner-companion raved about it's evil deliciousness. I ordered the Sobieski cutlet, which is basically a giant chicken cutlet that was really wonderful with light breading. We also shared the Polish plate, which I suggest if you are there for the first time. You really get a variety of all Poland has to offer: Hunters stew, Bigo's (pork stuffed cabbage), Pierogi's (crepes stuffed with cheese and meat) and Kielbasa (Polish sausage). Yes, it is definitely NOT heart-smart, but it is damn substantial. Wash it all down with a Polish beer and follow it with a Szarlotka (apple cake). The place is tiny but cozy and warm, with lots of lovely blonde-wood tables and Polish folk art. The only reason why I give this 4 stars instead of 5 is the location is sort of off-the-beaten-path and I think parking can be a challenge (we took the T to Andrew). I really recommend checking out this place on a cold winter's day. You'll never want to leave.
(4)
Ioan B.
Nice place for polish food, I would give it a 3.5 stars if I had the choice.
(3)
Nick S.
My wife and I strolled into Polonia on Friday night. It is a small room, but it has a fun, cozy feel to it. My wife's family is from Kazakhstan (sorry about the spelling) and this felt like we had visited there- same wood- same smell- same food and so on. In that respect it is really fun. There is care put into the restaurant, but with that said there were two things that will likely hold me from further stars. I.) Price Point: Compared to the attention to detail and taste factor from the restaurant right down the street (Dbars!) you are just paying too much for the taste your are getting- probably 3-4 dollars too expensive. II.) It was Friday night, and we got in ahead of people, so we were fine, but we could see that having 1 Young Man working EVERYTHING was way too difficult for him and customer service was clearly compromised. That all said, my wife and i agreed that it might be a fun place to bring our parents in the winter- just as a 1 time thing-
(3)
Emily M.
I remember going to Cafe Polonia with my family and my sister's new boyfriend for my fourteenth birthday. My 20th just passed, and my sister's boyfriend has stuck around, and I guess Cafe Polonia is the great love of my early life, 'cause it stuck around for another six birthdays, too. I got six family members to look at the online menu and come up with a list to call in an order for pick up. This thing was freaky long -- everybody wanted to order at least two things so there were something like twenty-one dishes on my list before I even picked up the phone. Called and got the waiter. This dude was so Polish, and so patient. He seemed bashful and nervous that I was crank calling him since the list was so long but I told him it was my birthday and he was giggly and excited for me (love). I thought it'd be a miracle if he got it all right -- and he did! We went in a half hour later, had to wait something like 20 more minutes for the food (understandble, they had a few customers and we ordered like half the things on the menu) and he packaged and labeled EVERYTHING PERFECTLY -- each dish had its own little perfect-for-transit-package with hand written labels in Sharpie like "asparagus (for breast of duck entree)." We were also kindly seated by the same waiter as we waited and he gave us bread and lard to go with our order. The packing job he did took us all the way to Quincy with no spills. I enjoyed my Pickle Soup and Mushroom Soup in perfect birthday bliss. (By the way, if you've never had pickle soup before, and it's the soup of the day, totally get it -- briny from pickles and starchy from potatoes, dill & sour cream?-- SO. GOOD.). I've never been let down by this place. Their typical Polish stand-bys have always been great. The Hungarian Goulash is also a trip.. if you have time, they'll bake a bread bowl over a clay pot of goulash for you and bring it out like a little hot air balloon for you to rip off and feast from. If you don't like the decor I don't know what to do for you. Pine everything. And it works so well. I'm making a yelp account just for you, Cafe Polonia. 6 years strong! :*
(5)
Kenneth C.
Delicious stuffed cabbage rolls. Awesome beef tripe soup and beet soup. Slow service with long wait times, but it's worth it.
(4)
Kristen C.
i'm not sure if i want to give it a full 5 stars.. but it's more than 4... so... 5 it is. location isn't so awesome... but the food is. luckily there is easy to find parking on the street. small, intimate place. and for right now the only polish place in the boston area. which is surprising considering cambridge and places around have every ethnicity you could imagine. but anyway... being half polish - i've had most of the items on the menu made authentically by my mother and grandmother, so it's a lot to live up to. given that. the food was great. (not as good as home - but better than frozen pierogis) and a unique beer selection. will definitely be back. and very happy to know that they will be opening a bigger location up in salem with offerings of hungarian, russian, etc. we'll be back, don't you worry cafe polonia.
(5)
Good M.
Polish dishes are authentic, fantastic and filling. Prices are great too. Dining area is a hole in the wall but comforting. Service however was lacking, our server also forgot to put on deodorant that night. Would go back again.
(4)
Eric S.
I'm a huge fan of Cafe Polonia. I almost don't want to write a review because I want to keep it as much of a secret as possible. I use to make monthly trips to Cafe Polonia for lunch when I worked downtown, but now that I don't get downtown as much I really miss and crave the great Polish food! I am half Polish and make a point to drag visitors to this restaurant when they feel adventurous enough. I usually go for the Golabkis (cabbage roles) and of course the pierogis, but you can't go wrong with their polish plate where you get a little of everything. Don't forget to wash it down with a crisp Polish Lager. So if you are unfamiliar with Polish food, treat yourself and check out Cafe Polonia
(5)
Russ D.
Just go! Everything is amazing. Food cooked in lard? Doesn't get any better than that. Glad to see there is a place you can eat real, natural food - not made that that toxic vegetable/canola oil crap! Yes people that's right, saturated is not - and never has been - unhealthly for you. No science has ever supported it. Anyways off my soapbox. Go eat. Enjoy.
(5)
K M.
Awesome crepes, salads, and potato pancakes.
(5)
Lena G.
The beet soup and meat perogies are two of the few items worth getting at this place. Everything else is overpriced, and there are a few items on the menu that are not Polish at all, such as chicken fingers. But I should emphasize that the beet soup and meat perogies are indeed very good, so they get 5 stars for that alone.
(5)
Michael B.
One of our favorite restaurants in Boston! Every dish is prepared perfectly. The potato pancakes are to die for -- try them with mustard or horseradish if you ever get tired of having them with sour cream, applesauce, or goulash. They really care about the quality of what they're serving here.
(5)
Damon I.
I'm not a health nut, but America's food-guilt culture compels me to eat more healthfully than I might if I were left to my own primitive, nescient id. So, my heart understandably winced at the meal's harbinger - dinner bread with bacon lard spread O: I just turned off my conscience for the night and had a great meal in a great atmosphere. Cafe Polonia is a brightly lit, rustic ski lodge inside. There's not a whole lot of seating, so plan ahead. I started with a beer, and not being Polish, I took the waitress's recommendation for the most popular choice, Zywiec. While fresh tasting and crisp, I suspected that this beer *might* be the Budweiser of Poland so I ordered some others to sample. Lingering satisfaction was found with the Lezajsk, a more interesting suggestion with a fruity, floral finish. My dinner partner and I shared a perogie appetizer and then took turns sharing main courses. The potato pancakes with applesauce and sour cream had a tongue delighting texture. I ordered the warm and comforting Goulash which was a Polish beef stew served in a bread bowl. Were it not for the waitress's intervention, I'd have stabbed the bread bowl like a popover. Don't be a hero - ask for help. Previously, I've ordered the Polish plate which comes with a sampling of kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, and perogies. It's a great dish to try if you're indecisive like me. Everything at Cafe Polonia is rich in flavor and the experience is made even richer by partaking on a cold, wet night. If you're not a calorie counter, Cafe Polonia is an easy trip from downtown on the Redline that should not be missed.
(4)
Brady B.
Fantastic! After reading the reviews and realizing that this place is a 10 minute walk from my apartment, I had to check it out. SO glad I did. My two friends/neighbors and I took a walk over to Cafe Polonia tonight after I blabbed to them how I was interested in trying this restaurant. One of the two is a true foodie while the other isn't so much, but loves pierogies. What we came to find was that, as many reviewers have stated was a cute, dining room ambiance and our Polish waitress simply could not have been any sweeter or more cute in her demeanor. To me that's 4 stars alone. And the food....we started with kielbasa twists, which were creatively sliced kielbasa with a wonderful mustard dip. The pierogi lover had fried potato and cheese pierogis which were so delicious (I'm used to the frozen kind from Shaw's). My other friend had the Polish combo...3 boiled pierogies, kielbasa, sauerkraut and stuffed cabbage...all delicious w/ the exception that I HATE sauerkraut, but he loved it. Now it's my turn, I had the gypsy pancake (love the name) which was 2 very ample sized potato pancakes with beef goulash in between them and topped with sour cream. All I can say is that my 2 friends agreed that it was the best dish at our table. I can only agree myself. This was my first time dining at a Polish restaurant and it will become a regular part of Brady's favorite restaurants.
(5)
Ozzy Z.
Cafe Polonia was my first foray into Polish food, and I must say, I can't believe it took me 21 years to try a pierogi. The food was absolutely delicious, and while it is quite heavy on the stomach (and the calories), you won't be thinking about any of that after scarfing down your stuffed cabbage and pierogis, and finishing it off with one of their delicious desserts. Now, this place is very popular, and also very tiny, so don't be surprised if you're turned away because of how busy it is. This has happened to me before, and I was shocked the first time because I had never been told to "Come back tomorrow" by a hostess at a restaurant before (those were her actual words). I can understand why though, as the food is delicious, and the environment is very cozy. It really feels more like you're eating in some Polish family's kitchen, as opposed to a restaurant. I definitely think everyone should check this place out at some point or other. It's less than a 5 minute walk from the Andrew stop on the red line.
(5)
Corey L.
Great food, great and ridiculously nice service. Really glad we went
(5)
Andrew K.
Visited once. I have Ukrainian background (Ukraine is bordering Poland), I thought the food wasn't any good. This place is also overpriced, and the service was poor. I am not coming back.
(1)
Crystal S.
I had been wanting to try this place for awhile, as my best friend said it was amazing. Well, he was right and now I am hooked. The absolute BEST pierogis I have had, next to the ones my Babchi made. The cabbage and mushroom are heavenly, I got them fried.
(5)
Lewis D. W.
Good old Polish cooking! Growing up with my 'Babci' living with us, in a Polish-American household, I was raised on pork chops, kielbasa, capusta, potato pancakes, blini, borsct, etc. etc. - it's amazing I'm still alive! :) I was SO excited to go here - like a visit to my childhood - as my babci passed away in 1986 - and my mom doesn't cook much now as she's getting older - and alas I didn't pick up much of the cooking skills - except my naleszniki, which rock the world! (= blini = crepes) So the food was good but not superb. The whole feeling of the place was nice, homey, very casual - not fancy - the tables were a little messy, the candles weren't lit, etc. - but the service was excellent, prompt and friendly, the bathroom was spotless, overall a great, relaxed atmosphere. Felt like a small eatery in Kracow! (tho I haven't been since 1993.... :( ) I had breaded pork chops which were great - potato pancakes were EXCELLENT and just as good as babci's! - mushroom soup was OK but a little watery and not as full of flavor as it could be. Pierogis were good but not out of this world. Nice selection of Polish beers. I would go again - but it's a straight, good, wholesome, heavy, solid Polish meal - nothing extraordinary or mind-blowing - but certainly does remind me of home!
(4)
Bill M.
This was the case of The Girlfriend. My girlfriend did not have good Polish food, and I brought her there for her birthday. The man that was serving all the food was very friendly and was able to make sure that one thing that was not on the menu (the sour pickle soup) was available for my girlfriend. The food was great, and we left happy. She loved everything about it, and quite frankly, to me, that's all that matters.
(5)
Tyson B.
Amazing! Just like in Poland. The food was perfect and the staff was friendly. My kids liked it too.
(4)
Heather G.
An entire cup full of lard. Not butter, not spread, JUST LARD. In a basket, with bread, as though it's the most natural thing in the world that lard comes with the bread basket rather than butter. You spread it on the bread as though it's freaking butter! No big deal. And you close your eyes and enjoy the fatty goodness. Guilt free. Any restaurant that starts its meals like that - boldly, unapologetically, and as though that's the most normal thing on earth - is bound to be stellar. While I understand this restaurant gets extremely busy nearly all night every night (the entire restaurant seats about 30), it's absolutely dead in the late afternoon. This was perfect for me at the time, though, because I brought my own entertainment and I was so hungry I am not sure I'd have been able to wait in a crowded restaurant to taste some of what smelled so delicious in the kitchen. The waitress started by recommending us some delicious beer, which is important because the entire selection is Polish and I was in completely unfamiliar territory. Imagine my surprise when she came out with two large mugs of beer for my lunch date and myself. Let's recap: I am eating lard and drinking giant steins of beer while dreaming of the kielbasa sandwich in my near future in an empty restaurant in the middle of the afternoon deep in the heart of southie. Typical Friday. That just happened. We started with some potato pancakes with a thin layer of smoked salmon, chives/dill and cream on top. The potato pancakes were served fresh out of the fryer, and were piping hot and crunchy on the outside, but smooth and creamy inside. The consistency was between mashed potatoes and tater tots, and the combination of hot potato pancakes with cold salmon and cream was actually worked very well. We then ordered some pirogis...pirogi? Is pirogi its own plural? Regardless, had an order that was cooked in oil and onions and filled with...potatoes and cheese? Honestly, they were a bit bland and, as my first pirogi experience in life, kind of disappointing. I thought they were chewy and gluey, and the best flavor came from the fried onions and sour cream they were served with. And then, the reason we came - kielbasa sandwich. The bread alone will keep me coming back. It was crackly and crusty on the outside but squishy inside...sort of like a bahn mi baguette...there had to be some rice flour in there somewhere. The kielbasa was snappy, juicy, and well-seasoned (read: holy garlic), and the sandwich included spicy brown mustard and house-made (so slightly mild) sauerkraut. THIS IS NOT A RESTAURANT YOU GO ON A FIRST DATE, for sure. At least, not a first date you want to end with a first kiss. Else, you may not make it to Date 2. My mom always said the rule of thumb for dinner dates is "if one eats garlic, both must eat garlic", but the flavors in these Polish dishes go well beyond the "both must eat garlic" rule. There will be no kissing afterward. Dads, this could work to your advantage if you have a teenage daughter who is starting to date. Suggest they come here. In all seriousness, this place is delicious. Though we were completely stuffed at the end of our meal, someone (likely a Polish grandmother) started cooking something out back in the kitchen that smelled so good our stomachs began grumbling in hunger all over again. Everything about this place (from the beer list to the composition of the dishes to the price tag to the ambiance to the waitstaff) is completely modest. The food is honest, blue-collar, and solid. These things make it charming and relate-able. And just like that, I am in love. And I never saw it coming.
(5)
Josephine L.
The only Polish restaurant in the city, Cafe Polonia doesn't disappoint in taste, authenticity or value. Oh, and it's close to the Red Line too. I just love this place. Get: smoked salmon potato pancakes, perogis and kielbasa, the staples of Polish cuisine. I never thought I'd enjoy sauerkraut so much, but I still fantasize about theirs. This stuff reminds me of my Eastern European friends' home cooking back home. Light and hearty at the same time, with the food's subtle, natural flavors shining through. Absolutely delicious. The restaurant isn't big but it feels like a Polish grandmother's living room. Brightly lit, with cozy wooden furniture and decorated with cute, quaint knick-knacks throughout. Anywhere you sit feels like a corner to yourself. Which is great for when you come back over and over again.
(4)
Sandy B.
For what this place tries to do, it does it very well. The place is not spacious and private, but it is cozy and feels very comfortable. It's decorated in a rustic cabin style with beautiful wooden tables, chairs, and benches. It only has a seating capacity of about 30 people, so go during the week and you probably won't have a problem getting in. We dropped by late on a Tuesday night and were seated right away. The restaurant was about half-full though, which was encouraging to see. There was only one girl working the register and dining area, but she did a fantastic job. She was attentive and helpful, but gave us a lot of space. My boyfriend and I told the waitress that we wanted to split an order of the sour pickle soup. She was so sweet, she brought us an order split into two separate bowls. Also, sour pickle soup? Never even heard of it before, but it was lovely! It kind of tasted like pickle juice mixed with a chicken stock, and thickened. There were onions and cucumbers and other yummy things in the soup too. Delicious! I got the gypsy pancake for dinner, which is goulash sandwiched between two potato pancakes. It's as wonderful as it sounds. It was also so filling that I had no room for dessert. Guess that means I have to go back!
(4)
Eric O.
Don't worry if you're unfamiliar with Polish food, you'll leave as a convert. We came in with very little experience and our waitress helped us pick out our dishes based on our tastes. I highly recommend going with the Polish Platter if you're new - the stuffed cabbage is inexplicably good. It's a tiny place, so if you plan on going during busy hours definitely call ahead.
(5)
Thomas S.
I went for a date and was a little worried about the location once we parked. Whatever. Once you're inside, it's like the others say, it looks like you're in Poland - it's great! The food is like stuff you've had before, just much, much better. Apparently a little old Polish lady cooks it all from scratch out back, and it tastes that way. The waiter was the only staff there, and he was super helpful, recommending beers and dishes that were amazing. We had the sour pickle soup (unbelievably good), mushroom soup (not quite as good, but still delicious), potato pancakes and Polish platter. Plenty of food for the two of us, reasonably priced, I would definitely go back.
(5)
sammie j.
So, I never tried Polish before(unless you count Costco pierogi samples which are really yummy) and decided to give this a whirl. When I first went into the restaurant, without a reservation, I was amazed by how small it is. It holds max about 20 people. It has a cozy and intimate feeling to it because of the murals hanging off the wall and the wooden tables and chairs. The sole waitress, a Blond, asked my friend and I if we had reservations, on a Sunday night, we said no but she still seated us. The restaurant was actually pretty full with the exception of one open table but again, this is a very small restaurant. We arrived about 2 hours before closing... It took the waitress about 15 minutes, maybe a little more to actually ask what would we like to order. Even though she was busy, she was pretty patient with our indecisiveness about what to order. It took about 30-45 or so minutes to actually get our order. My friend ordered a pierogi with "everything" and salad as her meal, while I ordered pierogi with potatoes and cheese, coconut shrimp and scallops wrapped in bacon. We had built up anticipating of how good these seemingly handmade pierogis were and with the first bite, we were underwhelmed. It tasted bland and a bit doughy. So, we asked the waitress to pan fry it and she was totally cool with it. We thought pan fry would make it taste better but it still was pretty bland. The coconut shrimp was decent but personally, I don't think the marriage of coconut and shrimp work. Also, the sauce it came with was too overwhelmingly sweet and the coconut infusion just didn't work for my taste buds. The scallops wrapped in bacon were OK but to be fair, that's the first time I ate scallops and I rarely eat pork. However, I gave the left overs to my bf and he said the scallops wrapped in bacon were good, but he too thought the pierogis were just OK. Sad but I think the pierogi that they demonstrate at Costco tastes much better, it' thinner and crispier. Additionally, after reading more reviews, I realized bread and lard are the starter but we didn't receive them, but I assume the waitress forgot since she was pretty busy. I didn't try but 1 Polish dish so I am willing to go back and give it another go.
(2)
Julia K.
Cozy, tiny (and I mean TINY - they really need more tables) little hole-in-the-wall near the Andrew T. The menu is limited but the food is hearty, authentic, and tasty. No complaints about that here. You can't go wrong with the pierogi. I'm surprised I found a typical homey little Polish restaurant around the Southie/Dorchester area, but I'm very happy I did. Will definitely be back. If you want to introduce somebody to Polish food without overwhelming them with unfamiliar tastes/organs/whatnot, then this is definitely your best option.
(4)
Kimberley T.
The food was good. The restaurant is extremely small and always packed however we were seated pretty quickly (if not immediately) upon arrival. It took FOREVER for someone to even come over to take our drink order. After ordering drinks/food at the same time, it felt like it took far too long for the drinks o be brought over and the food took awhile. After being served and finishing our meals, it took even longer to receive the cheque. I know two people who frequent this place, so I'm happy to give it another shot when I'm in town again.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Alissa J.
Unhealthy polish food. ;-) nothing bad, but too heavy for me.
(2)Gary F.
Gary lives in Dorchester, but Gary was kind of unhappy when he arrived early for his reservation and was kind of sent back onto the street. There are two chairs reserved for waiting purposes, but Gary didn't get the memo on that one. We stood in front of a liquor store for about 15 minutes in the cold. Lesson learned: Not only make reservations, but do not be early. When at 7:09 we were seated for the 7PM reservation, sheGary was a little perturbed. Until the lard spread arrived with the bread. Then, all was tight. Also tight were the potato pancakes, the borscht, the Polish platter, and the goulash (Gary was on an eastern European eatathon) and the beer. It's Zyweic. Chocolate babka cake wasn't 100% like the babka we've seen...which is probably only 4 or 5 loaves so we're not quite experts...but it was so tight and warm and chocolatey and huge. Just what we needed after meats and potatoes and 4 bowls of lard spread spread upon 18 pieces of white bread. Thanks to Cafe Polonia, Gary will be rendering pork fat and spreading it on bread every day for the rest of his life...which might not be a long nor fit one given the whole lard thing , but it will be a happy one.
(4)Kathy K.
Skip lunch and go hungry - Cafe Polonia has delicious and filling Polish cuisine. This is a small, quaint restaurant with bright wooden furniture just a short walk from the Andrew T. The menu is in Polish and English and the wait staff switches back and forth between the two languages as they serve English and Polish speakers. You can have dishes most people associate with Poland, namely stuffed cabbage and sausage. They also have some really tasty entrees that are less known. Their side dishes are heaven -- lovely potatoes and cucumber salads stood out. They also have a nice collection of Polish beer. Give it a whirl -- you'll leave full and smiling.
(5)Tom M.
It is a little pricey, and it is a little difficult to get to, but this is hands down one of my favorite places in Boston. Hands down! Not a stupid chain, not anything bad or half done, they strive for perfection and they are outstanding
(5)Karen W.
was hesitant to go for polish food but this place was fantastic!! service was stellar: daniel was the only person working front of the house and he was great; very efficent, very helpful. highlights: herring filet, pierogi, stuffed cabbage, goat cheese salad and the chocolate babka cake (to die for). oh yeah and the beer! a delicious porter (forget the name). ummm-mmm-mmmm! def will be back anytime i'm in boston.
(5)Nicole L.
Tiny lil restaurant in the Dorchester area - there're quite a few Eastern european/Baltic type cafes around the area. It's located across from the Andrew train station so it's quite convenient to get there. The restaurant is very small at most sits 20 people. So definitely get a reservation. We got one thanks to our host who's a regular at the restaurant. We were a group of 10 so we got try all the different dishes. For starters, the bacon wrapped scallop, the herring, smoked salmon and caviar, and the kielbasa. All the appetizers were absolutely delicious! For the entrees, the gypsy pancakes with goulash is gotta be the best dish, we also tried the pork cutlet and the polish plate: stuffed cabbage big-O (kielbasa with sauerkraut) and pierogis. The food was just amazing at Cafe Polonia. The waitress was very patient and nice even though we were a buncha drunks after the St Patty's parade. The price is on the high side like $12 for appetizers and $16 for entrees - it adds up if you want to try every thing on the menu!
(5)Mark D.
the food was very disappointing and customer service left much to be desired!!! I had bought a couple of gift certificates and we had gone there before several times. The gift card had just expired the day before, and even though I had spent the money on it and had been there before, the rude person on the phone refused to even ask the manager about it. She said, Nope, nothing we can do. She acknowledged that they were losing the few customers that even go there anymore, and they were OK with it. So NO MORE, the food is no good and customer service even worse. I'm foreigner myself and it stinks that people like that give the rest of us a bad name!
(1)Jason M.
My favorite Polish place in the city. Good, hearty, 'on the for real' Polish eats.
(5)Fred M.
I love this place! I managed to find it in a round about way looking for some fresh keilbasa after the Lithuanian bakery in Brockton closed some years ago. It is a nice place to get some comfort food after visiting the Baltic Deli and the European Deli when you are stocking up on hams, real sauerkraut, and real keilbasa. The place is very small and it feels like another country. Very quaint and the food is great. The parking is not so bad.
(5)Susan H.
Tired of Italian and Asian we went here wanting something different for dinner. We hit the jackpot. When we first entered we loved the decor it was cozy and beautiful. We were seated very quickly as it was early (glad we came early it filled up fast). The waitress came and brought us this amazing bread and stuff to smear on it that you just have to try to understand. She was very informative as we picked out our dishes and no one was disappointed. The gypsy pancake was awesome, crispy pancakes with delicious goulash inside of them. The Polish feast was yummy, hunters stew,keilbalsa,stuffed cabbage and 2 kinds of pierogis. And the chicken Riesling with this cabbage side dish that blew my mind. This is rich food you do not want to eat it everyday but it is sooooooooo good. There was nothing we did not like about this place right down to the accordion player. If you are in the area make it a point to come here!!!
(5)Kassia K.
I grew up in a Polish family in a heavily Polish area of the Midwest and it took 20 years and 800 miles before I finally ate delicious Polish food. The kielbasa and kiszka of my youth has nothing on Café Polonia. They serve you bread and LARD, friends. The menu is meat-heavy - sorry, vegetarians - and includes staples like borscht (Polish-style, with none of that sour cream stuff), pierogi, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, blintzes, babka cake, as well as a nice variety of daily specials. They also have a great selection of Polish beers. While getting there can be a bit of a trek depending on where you live in the city, it's well worth the effort. There's a Polish deli/grocery store nearby that's worth the trip, too.
(5)Erin H.
This is the place to go when you want some authentic Polish plates and beer. The large and tasty portions will satisfy you well, especially during the winter months. This place is cozy and fills up quickly, but once inside it is warm and the service friendly. If you've never had authentic keilbasa before (no, the vacuum sealed kind in the grocery store does not count) go try the array of Polish foods offered at Cafe Polonia, the only Polish restaurant in Boston.
(4)Stephanie ..
Cheap, huge portions, and YUMMY! Good selection of eastern european beer, the food is filling (I always have leftovers), and the mini chocolate babka for dessert is a must. My brother and I go whenever we miss polish homecooking--and have managed to get a few of our friends hooked on the food as well. The restaurant is right in the Andrew Square, and I've never had trouble finding parking. It can get busy--I've seen lines of locals out the door on weekends--so call ahead to make a reservation. You still may have to wait for a seat because the restaurant is tiny, but they'll try their best to seat you as soon as the next table opens.
(4)Doika P.
Good food, good ambiance. The key is that this food is unique and cannot be gotten elsewhere in Boston. Very tasty and a lot of different options. The salmon potato pancakes were very good and the meals were very complete. Cherry beer good as well. Not a big place however.
(4)Betsy C.
I was staying at a nearby hotel, depressed by the food landscape of mall carts and Applebees, when I decided to yelp the area. Thank god for you yelpers- this turned out to be one of the best random dinners I've ever had. Friendly servers, unique drinks (cherry beer!), and delicious entrees- huge and filling. Thanks for helping me locate such a great find!
(4)Matt D.
Cafe Polonia is the best Polish restaurant in Boston. Its also the only one I know of. The staff is friendly and the potato pancakes are huge and great, BUT some things are underwhelming. The atmosphere is Polish-like and actual Pollacks dine there. Cheers - (not to be redundant) Potato pancakes - Omelets - Try the pork lard spread that comes with the sometimes fresh bread (not for the hung over) - Also try the hot spiced wine in the winter.. its awesome - Pretty much anything fresh is good Jeers - Once I ordered a dumpling special and it took them 40 minutes to defrost it... that was special - Pretty much everything pre-prepared is horrible to mediocre and its hard to determine which is which beforehand - Its somewhat small, so its hit or miss as to whether it will be full or not. Best to call ahead for big groups
(3)Kaitlin M.
With a warm and cozy environment, Cafe Polonia was a welcome retreat on a cold January night. The waiter was so friendly offering us bread upon arrival and being very timely with drinks, etc. The food was amazing and brought back memories of sitting in my grandmother's kitchen. I had the "polish plate" so I could sample all the wonderful options--the stuffed cabbage was excellent. You could tell the food was all homemade. I will definitely be returning, and probably sooner rather then later.
(5)Chris S.
This tiny nook of Polish and other eastern European delicacies is a real treasure. The Polish Plate is perfect for the indecisive - it only lacks potato pancakes, which they also make extremely well. Reasonable prices, friendly staff, great beer selection, beautiful decor... I could eat there again and again. Oh wait - I do.
(5)Kupkake K.
This was my first time trying Polish food so I really don't have anything to compare it to. I had the Kielbasa and Cabbage Stew plate. The kielbasa was excellent and it's all hand-made. As for the cabbage stew is not hearty soup which most americans are accustomed to but it was cook cabbage leaves with spices. We also had potato pancakes which were excellent. Overall the cafe is small with polish artifacts and the server barely spoke english so you know you're getting something authentic. It's great place to try if you looking for some where new to go. I would go again if I'm the area....Prices were good.
(3)Chris C.
I like eastern European food on cold winter days. The food here definitely sticks to your ribs. A bit over the top was the pork fat spread for bread, but I could not keep myself from eating it. Pierogis and kielbasa were also pretty good. All in all a pleasant experience with good service and solid food. Worth a try if you have never had Polish food too.
(4)John B.
I had a fantastic meal here last night. We tried to get in on a Saturday without a reservation and we were turned away. We were not allowed to wait, just turned away. I was so shocked that I had to make sure this place was legit. Upon my return (on a Wed.,no crowd) the staff was friendly and helpful. The beer is phenomenal, brewed in Poland and some of the best porter I've ever had. I ordered the Polish plate, which is a little bit of everything (stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, bigos stew, peirogi)...it was delicious. I recommend the boneless pork chop and the potato pancakes with goulage. Simply great authentic polish food.
(4)Matthew M.
Love it! I moved to Boston back in August, and quite frankly, I'm sick of the culinary dominance of burgers and pizza here. Feeling sad about the lack of variety in Boston's food culture, I read a good review of this place and thought I'd roll the dice. It was great. Overall, the food was extremely hearty and delicious. For example, my girlfriend and I split the "gypsy pancake" which is a ladlefull of very juicy and well seasoned beef goulash sandwiched between two crispy, golden potato pancakes, with a dollop of sour cream on top. Certainly not haute cuisine, but every bit as pleasing.
(5)Lindsay S.
Wow, what a wonderful, authentic, Polish restaurant! Parking was quite easy, right out front. Small and cozy, the waiter was incredibly friendly and helpful. We started off by ordering wine and beer - great Polish beer selection. We were then given a basket of bread accompanied by lard with caramelized onions. I did not try it, but many people said it was delicious. I ordered the coconut shrimp, potato pancakes, and potato + cheese pierogis. Everything was awesome, and everyone else loved their dishes as well. The couple I was with, who are Czech/Polish and were there recently, said the food was quite good. The only suggestion i have: when you go, order you pierogis boiled, not fried. I assumed that theyd be better fried (what isn't??) and was wrong. Boiled were more authentic, apparently, and i thought actually tasted best. We ended with a strawberry crepe, which was quite good although the filling was a little fake-jelly-ish. Perhaps that's authentic, though?it was still QUITE good. High recommendations overall.
(5)Keri S.
My husband and I Google-d Polish restaurants in Boston, as we wanted to try something new and hoped we had something authentic in our neighborhood. We found parking on the street right outside (great luck, especially in the winter) and stepped in to the restaurant, which was warm and inviting, and smelled wonderful! The service was fantastic and the food/drink amazing. We enjoyed pierogis, stuffed cabbage and kielbasa, a favorite of both of our grandparents and staples growing up. Thank you for a great experience. We will definitely be back!
(5)Holly M.
Went to Cafe Polonia last night with a dear friend for my much anticipated birthday dinner...and was not disappointed. Sometimes I really miss the comforts of home (kielbasa, pierogies, and stuffed cabbage) and need a little comfort food. This place truly hits the spot. I had an Okocim Light to start ...love that beer! Then had a deliciously cute kielbasa app and for an entree potato pancakes with sour cream. All of it was beatifully presented and prepared... I think we even saw a woman reminscent of my Polish Babcia cooking in the kitchen. The server was extremely sweet and the decor was perfect. I know where I'm taking my Mom the next time she comes to visit :)
(4)M M.
The food was good the service was terrible. We went there on a Wed night and after our meals asked for the dessert menu. We were told that the kitchen shuts off the stove at 8:30pm-even for current seated customers! For that reason alone I will never go back there.
(1)Mike S.
A tiny, adorable restaurant near Andrew Square -- incredibly tasty. Pickle soup or borsht and a plate of pierogies will keep your tummy filled all day.
(5)Carolyn B.
Now that we have discovered Cafe Polonia, we don't have to wait for the holidays to have great Polish food. We shared a bowl of borscht and a Polish plate. The kielbasa was fresh, dumplings in the soup loaded with mushrooms, everything including the service and atmosphere were terrific. I will be a regular.
(5)George K.
Get the polish plate and a polish beer and you'll understand.
(5)Brenden L.
Having traveled Poland and eating some pretty damb good food over there I expected this place to dissapoint me greatly but to my surprise it did not at all. This is traditional fare which means lots of meat, potatoes, beet soup, and bread served with lard. The entrees are decently priced and worth every penny and the soups are to die for. They even have a few Polish beers on hand which is a treat if you've never had the oppurtunity to taste any.
(4)Steve N.
ok, so i'm a big Polski. this place will make U wish you had a little Polish grandmother when U were growing up. the potato pancakes will make your knees buckle, the perogi are handmade and to die for (xtra sour cream please!) and the stuffed cabbage bring me back to a very happy place. an excellent offering of Polish and Chech beers coupled with gorgeous Polish waitresses make this place truly stand out. go very hungry, leave very happy. be warned the place is TINY and it can get cold near the door when the wind is blowing hard.
(5)Peter K.
Awesome Polish food, located in the heart of South Boston's "Polish Triangle" My boyfriend and I have become regulars. I learned how to cook Polish food from my mom, and I know that she would be impressed. If you have not had Polish food before, go for the Polish Plate, which gives you a great sample of all Polish favorites - Stuffed Cabbage, Kielbasa, Pierogi's, and Bigos (Sauerkraut stew).
(5)Brett P.
I went last night for a friend's birthday to this tiny little storefront place in Southie's "Polish Triangle" neighborhood at the edge of Dorchester. We had three appetizers - the smoked salmon potato pancakes, herring filet in oil, and kielbasa twists. The potato pancakes were the table favorite - delicate, not overly oily, topped with a piece of smoked salmon. The herring was dubbed rather bland by one of the herring lovers at the table who favors the more sweet Jewish style of this dish. The kielbasa twists seemed a bit gimmicky, just pieces of grilled kielbasa split halfway up into quarters and twisted, with a dipping mustard on the side. Two of the five people in our party got the Polish plate and judged it a good choice due to both the skillful preparation and variety - a portion of meat stew, stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and kielbasa. Two also got the pierogi dish - about ten small pierogies arranged in a circle on a small plate, topped by a bit of caramelized onion.. The meat variety was good, lightly spiced ground beef, and the cabbage and mushroom variety even better, rich and flavorful, a filling I had not encountered before. My only complaint would be the lack of anything else on the plate. For $15-19 (depending on whether you get the vegetable or meat filling) you'd think they'd put the pierogies on a large plate and throw on a few dollops of sides, like the beet salad I admired on the plate of my friend who had the pork loin. They have a very short but acceptable wine list, but go native and try one of the seven Polish beers available. The Warka Strong was a full-bodied amber lager with a good smack of hops and matched the cuisine very well. A shared chocolate babka for dessert was a rich and tasty ending to the meal. Service was warm, attentive and friendly. There weren't many other tables occupied when we arrived at 7:30, but the restaurant was nearly full by the time we left after 9, interesting because they are only open until 10. The bill was about $40 per person, which included a drink, appetizers, main dish, and shared dessert, so it's not as expensive as many comparable restaurants would be a few miles north in the heart of downtown Boston. For a neighborhood place offering a cuisine not frequently found in Boston, Cafe Polonia is a nice little Polish outpost.
(3)Melissa W.
Fantastic culinary experience. I grew up with Polish food and have been looking for an authentic polish restaurant. Great find! Beautiful decor as well. The kielbasa is delicious and savory. The potato pancakes are delicate and great with applesauce. I really loved the blood sausage too.
(5)Timothy H.
Probably one of the best restaurant that I've been to in Boston. If you're a newcomer or new to Polish food, then this place is a must-go! For newcomers I would recommend their Polish plate for an entree, this way you can to sample a little bit of everything on most of their menu. There Polish sausage, meat cabbage lasagna, and steam potato/meat pierogi is guarantee to make you come back for more! I sure did, I went here five times now! Also, they serve you bacon lard as a spread for the freed bread that they serve you. Try it with a little bit of salt and pepper.
(5)William H.
Very intimate venue in the south Boston Polish district. There's only room for about 20 people. I want to say authentic, but that would imply it's a really good copy. This is the real thing. There's a photo on the wall of the owners with Lech Wałęsa (the president of Poland). The food was great and the man who waited our table (waiter?, chef?, owner? I don't know) was a very nice and friendly man. When we paid and walked out the door he saw and came out to the sidewalk and waved goodbye to us and invited us back. Next time I'm in Boston I'll go out of my way to come again.
(5)Shadi B.
It was my first time dinning at Polish food restaurant. I will absolutely do it again. This place gives you the perfect combination of home feeling along with delcious food. I loved everything i tried. The "Night Cuttlet" was absolutely amazing. The service was excellent.
(5)Al F.
Awesome Polish food. Haven't had a good polish meal like this in a long time. Great variety also.
(4)Ally C.
The service was rather off-putting. When we walked in there were no employees in sight for a few minutes. We decided to seat ourselves at a table in the middle, but since there were only three chairs we pulled over a chair from an empty table. The waitress finally appeared and we asked if we could sit there. She said sure but was a little weird about it. She also only brought three menus and it was impossible to get her attention. I ended up standing up and grabbing another menu from the counter. Passive aggressive or am I overthinking? Bread was complimentary. It was kind of hard and stale. Instead of butter, they had sausage lard to spread on the bread. The food was just okay, rather greasy and heavy. I wouldn't want to have that meal again for the sake of my health and longevity. My friend doesn't eat pork and so I wanted to ask the waitress if my sausage contained pork because he wanted to try my food. We tried to find the waitress. I had to stand up and poke my head over the waitress station to ask her. (For the record, all their sausages have pork.) I guess there wasn't a great tone set at the beginning. When we walked in there was a table at the corner staring at us with wide shocked eyes. I'm not sure why we looked surprising, probably because we were the only non-white people in the restaurant? Otherwise, the ambiance was very cute and honey. I liked the decor and the feel of the interior.
(2)Le T.
The owner was washing the windows right when we entered. He asked whether we were coming in as if he was surprised to have customers. We weren't sure the food was gonna be good. We found out later that the place was actually very busy. The owner was very kind and polite and even let us take the table that has been reserved the following 1.5 hrs. He politely asks if it's okay for us to leave at about 2pm before the reservation guests arrives. We were fine with it because it's enough time for lunch. We ordered the beet soup and the beef parley soup as our appetizer. Both soup were amazing esp. the mushroom ravioli in the beet soup! We also ordered the blood sausage that has no skins. It sounds gross but it's a healthier version! We also ordered the polish plate and the veal Lichtenstein entree. Overall, very delicious authentic polish food! Hasta la vista!!
(5)Crystal Z.
I am usually just a lurker on Yelp, but this place really inspired me to leave a review. I want to stop and tell everybody that I see about this tiny little Polish gem. I have only had Polish food a handful of times since it is somewhat of a rarity in the smaller towns that I have previously lived in, but this blew me away. The pierogies were absolutely fantastic. I can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu. Great atmosphere, great service, and above all, great food.
(5)Timmy L.
Intimidating and unattractive on first description, tender and delicious on first bite. After a particularly enticing episode of Diners, Dives, and Drive-Ins, my girlfriend and I decided to visit Cafe Polonia, an adorably decorated Eastern European oasis in the slightly dangerous Dorchester. Polish food, their specialty, is quite intimidating when described. Kielbasa, Pierogies, and Goulash all sound old-world menacing, not to mention that they give you lard (yes, lard,) to accompany your bread. Although it might not make for the perfect first date, don't be alarmed. The food is much better than what you're imagining and is a pleasant way to experience a new culture. For a little bit of everything, definitely order the Polish Plate. For my favorite dish, try the Gypsy Pancake. Delicate crunchiness on the exterior, rich potato inside with a filling and luxurious soup in between. Just delightful. Although I won't make the journey out here anytime soon, Cafe Polonia was a delightful experience in Polish cuisine.
(5)Breanne W.
I went here on my recent trip to Boston because of Triple D, I love Diners Drive ins and Dives and well I also love Pierogies so ofcourse this was a must go! It is such a cute little restaurant and the food was amazing! We had the kielbasa twists and the potato and cheese pierogies and everything was fantastic. The service was quick and friendly and the food was hot and delicious. Seriously if you are in the area I totally recommend this place!
(5)Kaushal M.
I was led to this place after reading the Yelp hint that "vegetarians go nuts after this place". I'm a vegetarian and I did not go nuts after this place. We tried 2 of the 3-4 available items and they were not too good. The potato pancakes are basically deep-fried patties of just mashed potatoes. Even after I squeezed out oil off a single "pancake" using 6 napkins, all I tasted was oil when eating it. I couldn't finish a single pancake of the 4 in the serving. The second item ordered was strawberry crepes. Unlike the crepes we have had before, this crepe was like a mini rolled burrito with strawberries and strawberry jelly. The service was good; we were disappointed with the vegetarian options and the food.
(1)Abby R.
Best Polish food I've had in Boston, hands down. From the outside it looks like a diner to me, but on the inside it's a small, 5-6 table restaurant done up in a lot of heavy wood decor and nicely decorated. Our waiter looked and sounded like a Polish version of Gerard Depardieu. Which is a good thing. He was incredibly sweet and friendly. We ordered kielbasa and cabbage stew and potato pancakes. I ordered the potato pancakes because I say yes to carbs whenever presented. There were 4 hand-size potato pancakes all neatly and perfectly cooked with just the right amount of crisp and a delicious flavorful soft center. Really great. They come with sour cream and a chunky apple sauce which was delicious but not very plentiful. (I'm sure the waiter would have given me more if I had asked.) The pancakes were fine on their own though. This is not a mark against them by any means, but they were pretty greasy. In a delicious way. I would definitely order them again as an appetizer but a whole meal of them was a bit much. Not that that stopped me from eating them all. The kielbasa looked as good as it tasted. It had fancy little criss-cross cuts in it and was juicy and flavorful and just damn good. The bigos (aka hunter's stew, aka cabbage stew) was not a stew at all but a pile of soft delicious cabbage with a sour tang that was the perfect compliment to the kielbasa. I'm not doing a very good job of explaining it, but trust me on this, you'll want to try it. We went the extra mile and got the chocolate babka cake which is basically a lava cake. It was delicious, but it wasn't the best I've ever had. Totally worth it if you're craving some chocolate though, nothing bad to say about it. The plating on everything we got was exquisite and made me feel like I was in a much fancier place. Despite that, our food came out really quickly, probably only 10-15 minutes after we ordered it. It was also pretty cheap. Both of our meals were only $12, and with the dessert and a soda, the total was about $35. Value, people! I have to go back to try the pierogis....
(5)Katie W.
Cafe Polonia is a hidden gem. Friendly staff, great atmosphere. We had the borscht, stuffed cabbage, and kielbasa. Would definitely go back.
(5)Paul A.
Authentic Polish cuisine in a relaxed setting. Great food and a friendly staff. If I were a local this would be a regular stop for me.
(4)Gábor A.
Potato pancake with goulash:) yummy. If you like Eastern European kitchen, you'll love to eat here! The service is amazing, very kind people.
(5)Leah K.
I went to Café Polonia with Andrea B., and very much enjoyed it. It's a short walk from the Andrew t-station. It's a small place but has several tables, and on a Saturday night only 4 of the tables were being used. We ordered the pierogi to share, and Andrea ordered the potato pancake with hungarian goulash, and we shared the apple crisp for dessert. The pierogi were delicious. I liked the cabbage one the best, followed quickly by potato onion (I think). My least favorite was the cheese, which tasted great, I just didn't love the sort of tough filling (imagine an extremely thick ravioli filling). I only had a taste of the potato pancake, but I thought it was delicious and crispy. The goulash tasted good as well. It was a HUGE portion. Finally, the apple crisp was fantastic. Hot, with a scoop of ice cream on top, the filling consisted of minced apples that didn't turn into mush. There was nothing bad about it, and everything was good. The service was ok. It's so small that you just have to look at the (1) waitress to get her attention. I had to ask a few times for water, but it wasn't really a deal breaker. I'll be back here soon.
(5)Ryan B.
It started with a phone call to ask if there was a wait. With 15 minutes notice, the very nice host reserved a window table for two for myself and my girlfriend. My mother makes great Polish food so I was excited to see all the rave reviews here about everything. My problem was I couldn't decide which to get! When I explained my problem, our waiter suggested I just create my own entree of a little of each. I can say with certainty that the pierogies, kielbasa, and the potato pancakes are amazing. The service was also excellent. I wanted to try the chocolate lava cake that the table next to me had and loved, but alas I was too full. I will definitely come back here if I'm ever back in Boston.
(5)Aleh V.
Well... I'm originally from Belarus which is "almost" Poland. And I went there to get some local food I used to. The restaurant is extremely far from being authentic. Probably, the only authentic thing I got there was the "Ukranian Borsch". It was good though. Everything else was leaning towards "what happens to the authentic places when they start targeting global audience". Basically, nearly half of the menu has nothing to do with Poland. The worst situation being with Appetizers and Deserts: Chicken Wings and Chocolate pancakes... yeah... yammy. Do not recommend. I'd look for another 'polish' place.
(2)James T.
I went here with a friend a few weeks ago; I had the meat Pierogi. It's a bit difficult for me to give an accurate review of their food, because I haven't been to any other Polish restaurants. However based on this dish only, I thought the food was a little bland.
(3)zack t.
Whether you are on a date or a family dinner outing and you have never tasted Polish cuisine you have got to try café Polonia. A small family place with a greater then life attitude. Definitely try the tripe soup as well as their pirogue and polish kielbasa. Wash it all down with some fantastic Polish Beer and your night is made. Its not expansive and extremely fresh and delicious.
(5)Sandy D.
I would have to preface this review by mentioning that any Polish food anyone gives me would have to measure up to my Babci's cooking, which, to me, sets the bar pretty high. That said, Cafe Polonia is a cute little place serving up all the staples of Polish cuisine--barszcz, kielbasa, pierogi, cabbage rolls, potato pancakes, etc. I ordered the Polish plate, a sampler of several dishes. It was tasty, comfort food, nothing too flashy or fancy. The barszcz (beet soup) was very nice--not too sweet, with some tasty mushroom-filled dumplings floating on top. It didn't quite meet the bar set by my grandmother's cooking, but that would have been pretty difficult. It was also a tad more expensive than it should have been, in my opinion. One big minus was the location of the cafe--in a slightly sketchy neighborhood in Dorchester. We went because we had visited Castle Island that morning, but probably wouldn't go out of the way to get there again unless we happened to be in the area. If it were in a nicer area, or closer to home, I would definitely go back again though.
(3)Brad P.
My family was in Boston on vacation and we wanted Polish food for dinner. We saw Café Polonia's yelp reviews and decided to try it. In a word this place was awesome!! It really felt like a neighborhood family owned restaurant. The service was very warm, friendly, and attentive and the food was excellent. I am not an expert on Polish food by any stretch but I know what I like and I don't like kielbasa. That being said theirs is out of this world. We had both the kielbasa twists and regular kielbasa. Their kielbasa has a slightly smoky flavor I really enjoyed. We also tried the goulash and stuffed cabbage as well they were all delicious. Atmosphere 5 - I really loved the décor. It had a great locally owned family restaurant vibe. It is a pretty small place so you would be well advised to make a reservation. Service 5 - Our server was very friendly, helpful, and seemed genuinely vested in our dining experience. Cost/Value 4 - For what we got I felt the price was a good value. Food 5 - What more can I say about the food everything I tried was great. I even tried the kishka(blood sausage) and liked it. I am not a huge fan of most blood sausage or black puddings.
(5)Samantha B.
The atmosphere at Cafe Polonia complemented the snowy Boston evening. With only a few tables, the restaurant exuded a European ski lodge with wooden chairs and pillows and rugs on the booths. The service was extremely friendly. (Call ahead for a reservation, was lucky.) The bread came with a type of spread that am still curious to learn what it was. Did a little research to discover it was probably a lard spread called smalec. Sampled some traditional Polish dishes including pierogi, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and cabbage stew. Was surprised to discover the kielbasa and cabbage stew (Polish hunter's stew) was not more of a soup but tasty nonetheless compared to a German sauerkraut. The stuffed cabbage came with a sauce resembling a creamy tomato soup. The pierogi dough was delicate with a mix of potato and meat filling. The star was the kielbasa, with a meaty grilled char that immediately caused the desire to go out and buy some kielbasa for the next day's dinner.
(4)Mika S.
Delicious! Came here for lunch with my boyfriend and ordered the Smoked Salmon Potato Pancakes and the Polish Plate (with borsch substituted for the Hunter's Stew). Everything was absolutely amazing! Even though i'm not a big fan of cabbage the Stuffed Cabbage ended up being one of my favourites (along with the borsch). A big plus was the freshly baked bread and lard (I think it was lard) that our waitress brought us when we sat down. The restaurant was small and homey, and the waitress was very attentive. Overall, this restaurant deserves a 10/10!
(4)Miranda S.
I love this place. Excellent food, excellent service. I've been here twice and have gotten the same thing both times - one reason being it was good and the second reason being I went with different people each time - and it was a good option for a first timer. I got the potato pancakes as an appetizer (no salmon) and the polish plate as my meal. The first time I came here was with someone who was half polish - he said the food was very authentic. It's very filling, which is a good thing. I'm looking forward to the leftovers I brought home last night. I like that the polish plate is a little mix of everything. Next time I'll try something else on the menu. The guy dressed in all black that was serving and checking on people while they ate is just wonderful. He's so polite and makes sure you have everything you need. He also asked us how our meal was afterwards, and walked us to the door when we left...which wasn't very far because the restaurant was small, but still. Very nice of him :) I'll be back very soon!
(4)Kasey S.
We've ordered takeout and dined in (once each). All I can say about this place is it is FABULOUS! Going in for the full experience is much more fun and authentic, but their takeout is the same quality (and sometimes you just gotta eat pierogis on your couch). I highly recommend the potato and cheese pierogis and the potato pancakes. Can't wait until our next visit to try more new things!
(5)David C.
Dear Cafe Polonia, You had me at "bacon lard spread," but you didn't stop there. Oh no. After slathering the aforementioned lard on the softest of Italian bread, there was the Polish Plate, a ginormous sampling of all things Polish, which, for a mere $16, turned out to be the perfect appetizer for sharing amongst myself and two equally ravenous friends. I could have left happily at that point, but no, you continued to spoil me. The Gypsy Pancake, self-described as a "giant potato pancake filled with Hungarian Goulash, topped with sour cream and parsley," filled me almost to the point of bursting. It was a little burnt, but I will forgive you so long as you promise to keep the Chocolate Babka cake on your dessert menu forever. Love, David C
(4)Niki M.
Went there for our first time tonight because it came up with good reviews in a search for Polish cuisine. It was delicious! The staff was delightful. Mike was a wonderful waiter and steered us in the right direction for ordering our meals. We will definitely be back. Great bargain for the price and very authentic!
(5)Will H.
Great service, awesome food. Stuffed cabbage was great.
(5)Cindy K.
Love it here! I grew up on polish food since my family is straight from Poland. This place is the closest to my familys home cooking and just feels very authentic. I recommend it for sure!
(5)Natalie G.
Awesome pierogies! I'm vegetarian and the very polite waiter offered that I try all 3 kinds so I could decide which one I liked best. I liked them all very much!
(5)Elizabeth B.
Love Cafe Polonia. There are very few Polish restaurants in Boston so I was happy to find this gem. I grew up eating Polish food made by my Polish Grandma and this place is comparable. The inside of the restaurant is impeccably clean and just adorable. I love the lard and crackling spread for the bread (seriously, just try it!). I usually order the Polish plate because it gives a nice sampling of some of the classics. However, I've also had the gypsy pancakes which were delicious. Glad this place is here!
(4)Nik A.
This is a wonderful restaurant. It is small and homey, with authentic decorations. I liked the food but it wasn't my favorite Eastern European food experience. Some dishes were not balanced the way I would prefer (the Potato pancakes). Will be back for sure.
(3)Donna M.
Was disappointed !! Do not honestly know what all the fuss is about . The borscht was watery beet juice w/ a few pierogi in it for $7!! My main course of pierogi were eh!! Dough pretty thick & fillings just ok. Tasted other dishes at the table, was not impressed. Nice people , but boring food. Really felt that the prices were high for what they serve. $15 for a plate if mediocre pierogi . Will not trust Guy Ferrtti any longer. Glad for the restaurant that a lot of other people seem to like it. Extra star for decent service. 2
(2)Chris S.
Cafe Polonia is so authentic Pleeps and I are remembering my Granny and my Aunt - killed the pierogis, killed the potato pancakes and pigs n the blanket (no not cocktail dogs) but couldn't plow thru Lithuanian kielbasa. This is the place to eat in Boston!!!!!
(5)Robert G.
Babka chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and warm chocolate sauce is magnificent. Enjoyed the Polish Dinner.
(4)A. C.
Probably the most authentic Polish food you will ever get in Boston. If you want real Polish food experience in the US, you will need to go to Chicago. The owner of the restaurant served us and he was surprised to see my husband who is a Polish American (and fluent in Polish). Great potato pancakes, bigos, kiełbasa, and gołąbki (stuffed cabbage). I felt like I was visiting in law's house. They serve other European dishes (central and Eastern only) as well.
(5)Maria Q.
Looking for a restaurant after visiting the JFK Library - one stop off the T line. Didn t think we would find anything as this neighborhood didn't seem to have much except a pizza place and a dunkin. Coming from Chicago where Polish is standard fare - we were a bit skeptical. We asked if vegetarian and at first she said no but there actually were some nice options and they offered to take the bacon off the top of the potatoe and cheese perogies. Our group had salmon on Potatoe pancakes, very good salad if pear, walnuts, cranberries, goat cheese with a poppy seed salad; and goulash which was fabulous. It was all prepared fresh and attractive plating. We enjoyed it quite a bit. Funny to find this little bit of Poland in South Boston...
(4)Roxie D.
I was a vegetarian when I ate here, and there were tons of options. The barley soup was deee-lish, and the pierogies were fresh and filling. The blintz was super nummy and a great way to polish off the carb-fest. An awesome place to go for winter comfort food!
(4)Mason K.
Amazing Polish food. The restaurant is very small, it only holds about 30 people max. For an appetizer I tried the potato pancakes. There were 4 small pancakes that came with some sort of an apple paste and sour cream. The combination of those is amazing. For dinner I had the Polish Plate. It came with 3 pierogów, 2 pieces of kielbasa, gołąbki and a sauerkraut stew with pieces of kielbasa. Everything exceeded my expectations. If I had to choose one part of the meal I did not like it would be the dessert. I tried the chocolate babka cake. It was good but not as good as some other parts of the meal. The price is pretty cheap considering it is the only place in Boston you can get authentic Polish food.
(5)Alex L.
Filling and delicious. I got the polish plate and left very satisfied. 2 pierogi (not the best I've had but still very good) kielbasa, some very good sauerkraut and stuffed cabbage. Also, the lard spread with the rye bread is a great addition.
(4)Gary D.
Went for lunch for a second time. This place is very good. I have to say I don't know why I do not eat here more frequently.
(5)Mary D.
Why is is there not 6 stars?! This place has the most amazing food! My friends and I came to sample the food and we ordered up a storm!!! Literally everything we ordered was incredible! The staff is also so so sweet! This is my new favorite place! We will be back- probably this week!
(5)Joe R.
I went there with two friends and had a great time. Since we were new to Polish food, we tried three different plates and shared them. They were all great! We ordered the Kielbasa, potato pancakes, and meat pierogies. We also added the goulash with the pierogies. All food was terrific! It's a smaller restaurant and very popular.
(4)Earl J P.
Outstanding and fairly inexpensive food! Best Polish food I've had. Those wanting to try a bit of everything would be best served with the "Polish Plate". It was a great way to sample 4 different items.
(5)Terry H.
Didn't care for the pork fat and bacon spread that they serve with the bread! Good kielbasa though!
(3)Michailia G.
I am so happy I discovered this place! Have no had real authentic polish food since my grandparents passed years ago so when I found this on yelp I was stunned. Could real Polish food exist in s. Boston? The answer was easily yes!!. First let me say I ordered takeout and the girl was so nice on the phone and even nicer when I arrived. I really liked the atmosphere of the place. Now I orders the polish plate which is exactly the three things I wanted. Kielbasa( served over sourkrout) stuffed cabbage and 3 potatoes and cheese pirogies. The moment I tasted the pirogies, and stuffed cabbage was so nostalgic! Exactly the way my grandparents would of made it. I mean exactly. Delicious, fresh, just overall wonderful. A little pricy that's why I only gave it 4 stars but I would definitely return.
(4)Alice S.
Unfortunately I just don't believe my taste buds can appreciate Polish food. My group had: - Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops (5/5) - Kishka (Blood Sausage) (4/5) - Polish Plate ( Hunter's stew "Bigos" stuffed cabbage, three pierogi and grilled Polish sausage "kielbasa" (1/5) - Potato Pancakes (1/5) I really enjoyed the scallops and kishka, but everything else was not to my liking. It's no fault of the restaurant's - it's just my personal preference. I probably will not be back, but if you like Polish food, then this is a must go.
(2)SL M.
Took Mom for some Polish food. She was thrilled with its authenticity. I now need to bring her back each time she visits. Borsch, tripe soup, bigo, kielbasa, and pierogi were all great. Super polish beer too! They had to warn me it had a 9.5% ABV. This place is small and caters to a niche crowd. You can find a table. Come here to experience the cuisine without having to travel or get some variety in the midst of the standard Starbucks crowd. Run by a Couple who were very humble and attentive. I highly recommend for a day you want to "mix it up."
(5)John D.
This place is fantastic. Great service and atmosphere Most important excellent Polish food. We had pierogies, kielbasa, some kind of veal, goulash, and stuffed cabbage. All was fantastic. Can't wait for my next visit to Boston to go back to Cafe Polonia!
(5)Peter L.
Wonderful dinner at Cafe Polonia! The Polish plate is a must as well as the perogies! The stuffed cabbage brought my girl friend back to her Grandmothers kitchen! Authentic Polish experience! Highly recommended!
(4)Abhishek M.
Bacon wrapped scallops is the reason I work my ass off to take a vacation to eat food like this. The potato pancakes were great but however a little too oily for me. The beer is great!
(5)Andrea B.
Cafe Polonia's a cute little Polish place in South Boston, a quick walk from Andrew Station. I came here one rainy Saturday evening with Leah K. There were a couple tables available and we were seated immediately. I have a hunch that the lack of crowd had a lot to do with the rainy, miserable weather, because those 4 and a half stars on Yelp don't lie! Entree sizes are generous and the food is FILLING. I was a little put-off by the bacon lard that came with the bread that was brought to the table, but other than that, everything I tried, I rather enjoyed. I'm obsessed with potato pancakes, so ordering the Gypsy pancake was a no-brainer for me. This gigantic potato monstrosity came with Hungarian goulash and was topped with sour cream. Now, anyone who knows me knows I LOVE me some sour cream. I'll eat it with like, anything. So, as you can imagine, the teeny tiny little dollop that came with this epic pancake was nowhere near enough!! I made my way through just about half of it (yes, it really was that big) before wrapping the rest up and taking it home. We also got the pierogis. You get to choose whether to get them boiled or fried (get 'em fried - duh). They come stuffed with either cheese, potato and cheese, or cabbage and mushroom. Never know what you're gonna get until you bite it and find out! They were decent, but nothing to write home about. The menu features a whole host of tasty entrees, so I will definitely have to come back to try a few more things. We shared the apple crisp for dessert. I don't need to make this review even longer by describing it other than to say it was phenomenal. Oh, but I have to add - when I opened the takeout box to eat the rest of my pancake the next day, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had packed some more sour cream to go with it. SCORE! I'm not gonna lie - I was totally going to give this review three stars, until I saw that extra cream. Love you, Polonia!
(4)Michael C.
I came in the late afternoon for a lunch. The place was only half full but the young waiter had a hard time keeping up with attending to us on some of the basics, such as giving us water and making any kind of recommendation Here is what we had: Polish Plate - Tradition polish plate. I really liked the flavor combination Potato Pancake - Almost like a big hash brown if you've never had one before
(3)Chris M.
One of the best restaurants I've ever been. Whoever is cooking that food is doing it with vast amounts of love.
(5)Scott K.
We ate here earlier tonight. The waiter was friendly, the polish beer was good. We ate the polish plate with had a good selection of various polish food as well as the gypsy pancake followed by an apple crumble. Food servings were huge and everything tasted great!! Be sure to try the apple crisp/crumble.
(5)Kevin H.
This place is great! I took the hardest polish food critique - my Polish aunt, and we both loved it. The pierogies and the kielbasa were the best! thank you
(5)Chris B.
I can't even pronounce half the things I ate. But it was all so good. I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant that only served Polish cuisine. Guess there's a first for everything. The restaurant is pretty small and cozy. The server was friendly and helpful as we studied the menu. Overall the food was great and I thought the pricing was on point.
(4)Megan L.
Phenomenal. Pure Polish and Hungarian food and atmosphere. Service was spectacular. I enjoyed Polish beer for the first time. I had the pierogi (half potato, half cabbage mushroom) with caramelized onion. Amazing. Next time I would asked for more onion. Potato pancake was great. Apple Crisp solid. Service was so good that (as a lone diner I was reading a book) my server asked if I wanted better lighting. Can't wait to return.
(5)Caroline H.
This place is amazing. Fresh, authentic, mouth watering Polish food. This is a unique restaurant to Boston for a number of reasons. First off, it is warm, cozy and charming inside. There is nothing better than walking into a place such as this after trekking through the snow. When you walk through the front door you immediately feel a soothing warmth from the environment, and the smell of comforting food engulf you. There are not many tables, so if you have a large crowd you might want to consider calling ahead. Starters: smoked salmon- you receive a large portion of this. Well worth it. Entree: whole rainbow trout. Yes, WHOLE. This is one of the few places that I've been to serving this. Simply amazing. Bigos is delicious as well. Dessert: the chocolate cake is really to die for. If you are too full from dinner I really recommend taking this to go :) it's on the small side, but it is so satisfying. This place is a must go. If you have a chance, afterwards check out the little authentic polish deli across the street. AMAZING.
(5)Ashley G.
Cafe Polonia is right in my neighborhood which is great! I've never had a bad experience here and I've always had super friendly service. Their food is delish! I would recommend the Gypsy pancake (high five if you can finish it!) and the stuffed cabbage is out of this world!
(5)J. R. H.
Best authentic Polish soups and entrees I have enjoyed in USA since my last visits to Warszawa and Krakow. Service was outstandingly good as well.
(5)Christine B.
The guy working there, possibly the owner, was very friendly and seemed so please to serve us, it made it that much more enjoyable. We were served a basket of bread, and we started with the kielbasa twists, real Polish kielbasa is the best, it was served with mustard. I had the potato pancakes with apple sauce, sour cream, and goulash. I wish apple sauce was sold like this in jars, I would actually buy it. It had thicker chunks of apple but was soft to eat. My boyfriend had the Polish plate, he is Polish and that is all his mom cooks so if he approved, I know it's good.
(5)Amanda C.
My boyfriend and I go here whenever we can. The food is delicious and the servers are very friendly. The Vienna Pork Chop is my favorite!
(5)Chris C.
My dinner group came here for dinner on a Friday in January. RATINGS: Food: 3.75 Service: 2.25 Decor: 2.75 Total: 3.25 CAPSULE REVIEW: Cafe Polonia, while receiving an overall score of 3.25, was regarded as one of the more lackluster FF experiences in recent memory. Between the "terrible service," the food that "seemed to lack flavor," and the decor that was "a little bland," there wasn't much love for Cafe Polonia. "Even Turkish prisons serve bread and water to their 'guests' but not Cafe Polonia." A few lone holdouts held some faith in the food, but these sentiments were tempered by the service. "Excellent food cannot entirely erase the terrible service." One reviewer indicated he'd gladly return... to the Salem location. Sadly, the Salem location has closed. DINER COMMENTS: Very fun night with hearty winter food. -- Wanted to like more than I did. Excellent food cannot entirely erase terrible service and boring decor. Been to both locations. I'd gladly go back to Salem over Boston. -- Kielbasa and saurkraut... yes, please! The pierogies were a little on the mushy side but still flavourful. Service was a little lackluster but allowed for good conversation and an enjoyable evening. Decor was a little bland but wasn't detrimental. -- Overall the food was good, but seemed to lack flavor. Also, I discovered this morning that it was decidedly salty. The portion was more than adequate for a big boy like me; I have the gypsy pancake (potato pancakes with goulash) and I was full after dinner. -- Polish Platter was lukewarm at best. Kielbasa was tough. Pierogi was overcooked and bland. Tomato salad w/mozzarella and avocado was good even for tomatoes being out of season. Sauerkraut was quite good even cold. -- Even Turkish prisons serve bread and water to their "guests" but not Cafe Polonia. My polish pupu platter was a mix of unintentionally hot and cold items. And no apple crisp! On the other hand, the food had a nice homemade quality with fresh ingredients. -- Hole in the wall with Pretty delicious and unique food but utterly terrible service - no water for the table, no offers of refills - just wish the service has been snappier - its not a huge place
(3)Joe B.
??? I don't understand how this place receives such rave reviews. The food (kielbasa, in this case) tasted like store-bought pre-cooked sausage. The kraut had no real zing and we found the other dishes bland. I've visited Poland 4 times and taken a native Pole to this place. We consider the quality of the food worse than mediocre. That said, the service seemed decent and the people welcoming - hence the third star.
(3)Jake K.
Small, very small. Recommend you call ahead and get a reservation - even for a party of one. Service was very hands off - if you wanted them there, they would come, otherwise, once your food is out, they leave you alone. The food seems intimidating at first, so if you don't know your Polish foods very well, I recommend the Polish Platter. You'll get stuffed cabbage, kielbasi, pierogis, and some golanka (hunter's stew - lots of sour cabbage). Prices are a bit high, but I thought it was fine for what I got. If you're in southie, this is worth a trip if you're near Dorchester Ave.
(5)Feodor H.
Located in the South Boston/Dorchester, this Polish/Hungarian place is authentic in every sense of the word. We went there for dinner, lured by the shining of four and a half stars on Yelp. The place was half empty early on a Saturday night, so we sat down and prepared to enjoy the food. We ordered Blood Sausage as an appetizer, followed by Pierogi, Potato Pancakes and Goulash Delight. We waited for a while, and then waited a little more, and started to feel very hungry. It seemed like they could have served the appetizer by now. Then we got all the dishes coming at once - pierogi, pancakes, goulash, which was wonderful. But I wanted to try the blood sausage. Our waitress apologized and said that she had forgotten about that order. She said she could go and "check" on that, but we cancelled it - who needs appetizers when you've already got entrees. Potato pancakes were the best, crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside, they had great taste and texture; overall, perfectly executed dish. Goulash was fine as well, very tasty, although I was not a big fan of bread bowl. Pierogi were just ok. We finished our meal and waited for another 10 minutes before dishes were cleaned up. Then it took another 5 minutes for the waitress to offer us desert menus. This might sound ok, but it was not a busy night at all. We decided to go with Chocolate Babka Cake, but were told they did not have it available. So we got an Apple Crisp, which was ok. We also wanted to get coffee (this is a "cafe" after all), but were told by the waitress that the coffee machine is out of order. We then decided to go with tea, hoping for some authentic polish "herbata", but this turns out to mean a cup of lukewarm water and a Lipton teabag. We asked for a check, which upon inspection had a charge for an appetizer. It took another 10 minutes of waiting before this could be fixed. I also found the interior design heavy-handed. Walls are decorated with fake stonemasonry usually appropriate for the outside, and solid wood chairs are heavy and have high backs, making it impossible to lean back and relax. Overall, I'd rate this dining experience as very authentic. This is especially reflective of the level of service. P.S. There is a polish food store across the street from the cafe. We went in there out of curiosity right after that dinner. They sell, among other things, homemade pierogi stuffed with cheese, cabbage and mushrooms. Hand-packed and frozen in zip-lock bags, they looked suspiciously similar to the ones served in the cafe. We bought a dozen for like $4 (or something, i.e. cheap) and cooked them at home soon thereafter. I have to say, these ones tasted even better.
(3)Margo R.
I loved Cafe Polonia when I was there a few months ago. It reminded me of my family's cooking. Especially love the rendered lard instead of butter - definitely awesome.
(4)Iaroslav M.
I've been here once, and I loved it! very authentic, rich in flavors, very attentive wait staff. Try borscht, goulash,and babka for dessert if you want some delicious polish/ukrainian food. they have a great selection of polish beers too! The only eastern European restaurant in Boston I can recommend to my non euro friends
(5)Megan M.
In preparation for my trip to Boston, I checked Groupon everyday for deals. One night, I was out with my Polish friend, Lindsey, who was going with me to Boston. When we saw the Groupon for Cafe Polonia, we couldn't resist. I can only think of one or two places in Miami that have Polish food, so we were really looking forward to going. We've had enough rice, beans, and plantains! Bring on the kielbasa, pierogis, and borsch! It was a bit far from everywhere else on our itinerary, but it was worth it, and the ride on the T to get there wasn't so bad. A few blocks from the stop, we found this cute little restaurant that looks like it could belong to Lindsey's Polish relative's dining room. We ordered the pierogis, borsch, kielbasa, and potato pancakes. Everything was delicious. I don't typically care for beets, but the borsch was surprisingly good, and I'm always a fan of potato pancakes. The only thing that was a bit off putting was the little cup of lard they served with the bread. I ate my bread plain.... Service was good. A little slow, but we weren't in a rush. Prices were good for the portions, and I definitely recommend ordering a few things for the table and splitting it. We did that, and left stuffed without a huge bill. Cafe Polonia made me wish we had good Polish food here in Miami!
(4)Ann Marie M.
Yum. The food here is delicious, and authentic! It's a good place to go with 3 or more people so you can try lots of different things. It's a great spot if the wait at 224 is too long- worth a try!
(4)German G.
This is my favorite restaurant in Boston. Let me list the reasons why: -the bread comes with an addictive (if guilt-inducing) bacon lard spread. -the food is great. It's flavorful and heavy and satisfying, yet doesn't feel like it's loaded with gratuitous oil. I've probably tried half of their entrees and never been disappointed. The polish plate is probably best if it's your first time, but in my experience the gypsy pancake, knight's cutlet, royal duck and others are also great. -portions are huge. If you get one of the big entrees ($16+) you basically have two choices: either pack half of it to go, or unbutton your pants and eat until your belly is about to burst. Part of the reason is that some entrees come with several sides not listed on the menu: things like beet salad, mashed potatoes, cooked apple, sauerkraut, hunter's stew... -the servers are Polish and clearly nice people. E.g.: once I came here for my birthday with some friends, and the waitress spontaneously gave us a free cake for dessert. The only downsides to the place are: first, it's small, so it's a bit risky to come without a reservation. Second, even if you get seats, when the place is crowded the kitchen quickly gets backed up and you may find yourself waiting 1hr+ for your food. To avoid this I've taken to coming either very early (say before 6) or late (after 8).
(5)Alex R.
It's the best Polish restaurant in Boston. Because it's the only Polish restaurant in Boston. It's OK, not great.
(3)Zeke B.
My wife and I enjoyed home made pierogies and stuffed cabbage. The place is legit. Decorated like a country cottage, complete with fireplace. Friendly service. I thought my mother might be in the kitchen making the galumpki's.
(5)Kamille W.
I went back to Cafe Polonia for dinner the other night, and I gotta deduct a star. Although the service was just as attentive and well-intentioned as the first time I stopped by, the waiter was pretty all over the place. He was so frazzled! I don't think it was his fault though; there seemed to be some problems happening in the kitchen. There were definite issues with the timing of the food. First, the appetizers were delayed (we tried the smoked salmon potato pancakes this time -- they were ok, but the blood sausage is still my favorite). Additionally, despite asking for all the entrées to be brought out at once, they came out piecemeal. I tried the beet soup and wasn't wowed by it, although the mushroom ravioli that came in the soup were outstanding. The waiter intimated that they had a new chef, which may explain the inconsistency in the quality of the food. All that being said, I still really like Cafe Polonia and would go there again. I just hope that things are a bit more together next time.
(4)laura W.
Delicious. Heavy. Eastern European Bliss. Don't expect any vegetables... or to be able to sleep on your stomach that night. But do expect really great service, authentic Polish food and an adorable atmosphere. And, c'mon, try the bacon and lard. It's incredible.
(4)David W.
First time to try Polish food, I am not sure if it is a traditional Polish food. but the taste is unique, but not my favor.
(3)Aoran L.
Awesome place to have Polish food. I had the soup Zurek at Poland when I stayed at my Polish friend's home and loved it so much. Cafe Polonia does not have the soup on the menu. But when I asked the waitress, they told me they could do that for me!! I felt so happy to have the soup again!! The potato pancakes are delicious too. One thing I should recommend is the Zywiec beer!! Try this popular Polish beer from my friend's hometown :)
(5)Casey C.
This is the first spot we ate in Boston. This little restaurant is amazing! My husband and I shared kielbasa and cabbage stew, and had two polish beers. If I wasn't on a mission to eat my way through Boston in 3 and a 1/2 days then I would be back repeatedly! Tiny place with great service, fabulous food, and awesome Polish beers! Wish I'd thought to take a picture of my food before I devoured it :)
(5)Andrew K.
Visited once. I have Ukrainian background (Ukraine is bordering Poland), I thought the food wasn't any good. This place is also overpriced, and the service was poor. I am not coming back.
(1)Crystal S.
I had been wanting to try this place for awhile, as my best friend said it was amazing. Well, he was right and now I am hooked. The absolute BEST pierogis I have had, next to the ones my Babchi made. The cabbage and mushroom are heavenly, I got them fried.
(5)Tad S.
Sorry. But I was really disappointed. Started with the drink I had, Coke, or so they said it was. No way, I drink it everyday, I can tell Coke from Pepsi; and I don't mind those two. This was different, not sure if Kirkland or shasta, or Diet,as I ordered regular, but waitress insisted it not being diet. Ok, enough about the weird soda. Almost everything we had was short on flavor. It's been weeks since I visited, and sorry, I just could not let this place get away without letting everyone know, polish food is much better than what they serve here. Borsch was runny, and threw in a ton of dill, I get it for the beets, so add more beets than dill. Pierogi, mushrooms and cabbage should have lots of mushrooms, dried, rich in flavor; what I had was missing it all. Potato dumplings, I could not even finish one of them; too dense!! I could build a house with them. Only item I did enjoy, was the blood sausage, but I doubt they made the sausage there; just cut it open heat it up and serve with caramelized onions. I was too afraid to order any dessert. If this is going to be your first time for Polish food, avoid, you do not want to associate this place with Polish cuisine. I left this place scratching my head, and my wife agreed, how the hell did this place have so many stars on yelp? My only comment to her, local polish people, instead of eating here, would stay home and leave reviews. I did not see any polish people eating here...use that as a sign.
(2)Ro C.
I'm a solid Polish gal who loves some solid Polish food. This was my foray into Polska cuisine that's not my mother's. I thought everything was pretty solid. The waitress wasn't really a waitress. You could tell with her sort of inorganized way. I had pork cutlet and some Polish root vegetables. Loved it. Good stuff. And then I crunched down on something gritty. Uck. No thanks. That doesn't get finished. My strapping fiance has himself a mixed Polish platter, having a little bit of our nation's finest and well known food. A + great taste for him. His soda was a little off, like it had been from a soda bottle gone flat. The father in the booth next to us commented that it was gross as well, so it wasn't just his glass. On the whole, I like that this place reminds me of my grandmother's house. Wood paneled walls, Polska trinkets, and that unsettling doll in a crochetted dress. The place is a little small, and the prices are a bit high for food I'm used to getting served up by my Mamusia.
(3)Ana R.
We stopped here on a whim for a late lunch - my friend had had good experiences here before, and I was curious. I ordered the porkchop, with fries and gravy. My friend ordered the potato pancake with beef stew. The potato pancake itself was actually really good, and if that was all I'd tasted here, I'd say this was a great rustic place. But the beef stew and the porkchop were both worse than ho-hum. My porkchop came with a stiff scoop of mashed potatoes instead of my fries. I pointed this out to the waiter and my fries came out about ten minutes into the meal, and were greasy and bland. We were the only ones in the restaurant for some time, but service was slow and pretty bad when we actually received it. If the waiter wasn't altogether ignoring us, he was chatting up a storm and interrupting our conversation. It's a small place, max 20 seats, it's sunny and comfortable, but the decor is pretty bad. I won't go back and I wouldn't recommend it. Not much better than frozen food, in my opinion.
(1)Justin S.
This restaurant is located in South Boston, but sports a very traditional inside with a cobblestone walls, wood floors, and Polish furniture, I was told. The entire staff is Polish except for one waiter who is learning Polish. The typical garnish in Poland is pig lard called szmalec which is absolutely the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted. I think it has beaten the British with their Marmite, and the Aussie's with their Veggimite as the most disgusting garnish for a food (and it's apparently really hard to make good szmalec). But aside from giving you my personal opinion of a food garnish the actual food at the restaurant is wonderful. The pierogi was the best I've ever had, stuffed with either meat or cabbage. I highly recommend the Polish plate which gives you the full variety of the Polish palette, such as kielbasa, pierogi, potatoes cooked 5 ways. I also recommend the beet soup better known as borsch. My friend is Polish and she eats here at every possible opportunity and she has a very picky opinion of food. I also recommend the beer, good varieties of German and Polish. You'll also find much of the food is similar to German cuisine, with which I am personally familiar.
(5)Mike K.
I don't claim to be an aficionado of polish food, but if this is the best than wow. I had the polish plate, Hungarian potato pancake,and the borscht. It was all amazing. I went there with a friend who is polish and has a babcia from Poland. She said this was very authentic and she loved it too. We will definitely be back.
(5)Rachel S.
This restaurant is crave-able, as in I will be craving its food soon and often. The food is phenomenal! Went there for lunch today, and ordered the kielbasa and cabbage stew entree. The kielbasa was cooked well - exterior was crispy and interior juicy. The cabbage stew was the real surprise. Flavorful, not overpowering, great compliment. My husband ordered the potato pierogies, fried. Those were also very good. Additionally, enjoyed the pork lard with bacon bits that accompanied the bread basket. Will be back soon!
(5)Aura S.
Great potato cakes, salad, borscht, sausage! Really enjoyed trying this place! Good service too!
(5)Adam A.
There is not much that I can say here which hasn't been said already. This is an unbelievable restaurant with delcious food, friendly service, great value, and a cute ambiance. I will elaborate on one item: The almight Gypsy Pancake. It is ridiculously good. Think beef stew between two massive french fry pancakes - but better. The flavors go together perfectly. Everything else I tasted was awesome. I envision myself being back her around once a week, especially in the winter when the hearty food will warm me up.
(5)Kendall M.
Before coming here, I ignorantly wouldn't have put Poland and culinary in the same sentence. Now I find myself wistfully saying things like "oh I'd love to do a culinary tour of Poland." It's that good. Let me qualify my assessment by saying that I eat a lot of food. When you tell me about that excellent restaurant you ate at last weekend, at the end of your gushing, I ask, "but can I afford to feed myself there?" And while it would be convenient if I preferred quantity over quality, sadly, I only derive satisfaction from the happy marriage of both. In my most recent visit, I devoured half of a Polish Plate (which has Polish sausage with caramelized onions and mustard, stuffed cabbage, and potato dumplings), half a Gypsy Pancake (two Polish potato pancakes stuffed with stew), a Chicken cutlet platter (with some deliciously pickled sides), and 1.5 slices of cake. And the bread, which comes with a lard spread that I asked for seconds of. I'm not really sure where that all went, but it was so good that I just kept putting it away. Absolutely everything, even the sides and sauces, were delicious. Nothing was overlooked. Usually even at a great restaurant and a great meal, you feel something didn't shine as bright as some of your other choices, but literally each component of every dish held to the same scrumptious quality. This is the kind of restaurant where you could close your eyes, poke decisively at random spots on the menu, and do fabulously. The prices, while not keeping within my preferred single dollar sign category, don't feel overblown. It's solidly a $$ venue, but your money goes a long way. I know I said I ate all those things, but the average person will be stuffed upon finishing even one of those dishes to themselves. I also really enjoy the atmosphere (once you get inside and off the street) and the service. I've always been treated warmly there, and always somehow end up sitting cozily by the window on a sunny day. Finally, if you ever have company in the city who you feel might not appreciate some of the more colourful eating options that you yourself usually prefer, this is the kind of restaurant that can safely accommodate grandparents while not boring your inner culinary adventurer. And, after careful consideration, I do believe this is my favorite restaurant in Boston.
(5)Nick K.
Good Food, I recommend those new to Eastern Europe, to have the variety plate.
(5)Nicole L.
Absolutely amazing!!!! We take a good friend to a different ethnic restaurant each month for the last couple years and this was by far or favorite place. She is an incredibly picky eater and we were pleasantly surprised. Started with the polish plate as an app. It was a combo of kielbasa, pirogi and stuffed cabbage. All super tasty. Then we (my fiance, my dinner tour buddy and myself) shared the stuffed cabbage, gypsy pancake and boneless pork chop. The stuffed cabbage comes with either a tomato based or mushroom based sauce. Both delish, but I have to give it to the red sauce. The goulash in the gypsy pancake tasted like a delicious beef stew and the potato pancake was cooked perfectly, crispy around the edge, amazing. The pork chop was perfectly crispy. The stuffed cabbage with red sauce and gypsy pancake are a must try. So glad to have leftovers to eat tomorrow!!!! Oh and let's not forget dessert. Babka!!! Perfectly baked chocolate cake with a warm gooey chocolatey middle, topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Best chocolate molten cake I have ever had. Can't believe this place has been around for 14 years and I had never been until tonight.
(5)Katty H.
This restaurant is still spectacular. Every time someone is in town I take them to this place. My mom, dad, stepmom and mother-in-law all had wonderful experiences here. The first three, all being from Cleveland (and one who makes her own pierogies!) , could compare their meals to equivalents made back home - all well received. My mother-in-law had never had pierogies and fell in love with their pillowy texture. This restaurant is always on the top of my list for "things to do" in Boston! A little side story, my stepmom wanted unsweetened iced tea, but Cafe Polonia didn't have any. So she said, "Oh that's alright, I'll have a cup of hot black tea with a cup of ice and I'll make one myself!" Then behold, the server comes out with a glass of iced tea - which he made himself in the kitchen from hot tea. Didn't have to, but did. So nice!
(5)Joshua H.
According to a dear friend, who conducted a *pro bono* meta-analysis of my Yelp Reviews, I am due for a four star rating in order to give my ratings a normal distribution, or else...the Mayan prophecies will come true. Oh well, despite the possibility that I am bringing about the world's demise in three months, I highly recommend that you should visit the lovely Cafe Polonia in Southie- FIVE stars worth. The staff was very nice and the whole thing seemed relatively authentic. I ordered the Gypsy Pancake ($16) which was a huge portion of their potato pancakes with goulash between. It was phenomenally delish. Recommend recommend. Recommend. I will say: the food was a tiny bit salty (that's too be expected), and the food was a bit on the expensive side, though by no means outrageous given the huge portion. Overall, however, I will definitely go back if I am in this area before Doomsday.
(5)Peter K.
A fantastic Polish restaurant! The Polish Plate is the way to go, a sample of everything, and everything is amazing! The pierogis, the kielbasa, the stuffed cabbage, the hunter's stew. Incredible!
(5)Wilson C.
Every time I come here I can feel my soul purring with happiness. Try the pickle soup if they have it - so so good. I almost always get the gypsy pancake - it's like two giant potato latkes with Hungarian goulash inside, and sour cream and dill on top. The beers are strong, dark and unique and complement the food wonderfully. Polite and prompt service - a must try.
(5)Loretta C.
The blood sausage and beef tripe soup were sublime! The herring in oil was lovely and the kielbasa was yummy! Nice atmosphere, wonderful waitress...a must-go-back-to restaurant!
(5)Sarah S.
This is a great whole-in-the-wall restaurant. The decor is quaint and the dining room is extremely clean. The food is delicious and the coffee is nice and strong. The service and atmosphere are very relaxed so you do not feel rushed and can enjoy your entire dining experience at your own pace.
(5)Mandi M.
Just like Babci used to make. Spectacular Polish food. The Polish rye/lard starter looks questionable, but is very yummy. The stuffed cabbage ("gwumpkies"/gulabki) is spectacular - I prefer the mushroom sauce, since the tomato sauce is thicker than how my mother makes it, but the tomato sauce is good enough, too. The platskis (latkes/potato pancakes) are to die for, especially with sour cream. I highly recommend the gypsy pancake, which is two platskis with goulash in between them. Absolutely heavenly. I don't even have words for how good it is. Polish pupu platter is yummy, and my mother really enjoyed the beet stew (borscht, I guess) with pierogies inside. Be prepared, because they give you a LOT of food. Desserts seem to be pre-made/bought elsewhere, but they're pretty good as well. Good Polish beer selection, too. The service can be sort of iffy at times, but I'm guessing it's because the waitstaff is all foreign and they expect you to flag them down, which is pretty easy, since the place only seats about 20. You'd be crazy not to give it a shot.
(5)Simon L.
A lady friend and I went here for dinner recently. I haven't been in over a year since the last experience was full of mediocrity - this is my fifth attempt at satisfaction at Café Polonia. The atmosphere was better than I remember, a little dimmer on the lights maybe? Anyways, start with the pierogi - half cheese and half mushroom and onion. These Polish delights are served with a bit of sour cream and some of the delicious bacon bits, bacon fat and fried onion as a side. These should be served with the traditional roux with added butter but sour cream will suffice. Couple delicious beers. The royal duck came and was most unfortunately very over cooked. Plain, and overall a disappointing dish. Lacking in flavor, the meat was dry and tough. I'm Polish, I guess you might say why would you order duck at a Polish resto? Answer: I've ordered many of the other items on the menu and have been similarly disappointed. Also, stuffed roasted duck is a very eastern European dish that is served in many restaurants ranging from Polish to German to Alsatian to those further east. The cranberry sauce was good. The potatoes were lacking seasoning, salt, butter, and flavor of any kind. Lady friend had the pork loin in mushroom sauce. The sauce was the one winner on the table. Again, the pork came up dry and without much seasoning, over cooked and tough. Blandness is a common complaint among much eastern European cooking. I can tell you from both home cooking experience by both family and extensive travels in Germany, Austria, Poland and France, it does not have to be so. In fact the East Side in New Britain, Connecticut does a decent job of putting some flavor in the bug. Although Jacob Wirth has it's share of critics, I have had better wiener schnitzel there than that served at Café Polonia, although they call it boneless pork chop at Café Polonia, it is essentially the same thing. It pains me to say this since I love Polish and German food and this was one of the first places I drove to when I arrived in Boston. You are better off heading across the street to Euromart or Baltic Market and getting some fresh, house-made kielbasa, hot horseradish, rye bread and fresh pierogi and making your own little Polish fest. Bottom line is that while Café Polonia offers a quaint, romantic and cozy experience, the execution is missing consistently. My visits have all lacked the savory deliciousness of true home cooked Polish/Eastern European meals. The best thing on the menu is probably the borscht. If you go, order beer, borscht, and kielbasa and get out.
(2)Sue H.
Oh, Cafe Polonia... This is starting to become a dangerous love affair. Ahh, this hidden little jewel is the place to go for Eastern European specialties in Boston. Everything about it screams AUTHENTIC (yes, in big capital letters). I absolutely love the restaurant's decor -- It's like being transported back to Europe! Uh oh, I'm starting to get a little sentimental... Why? Cafe Polonia, why must you do this to me?! 'Cuse me while I take a stroll on memory lane... Favorite dishes here are the Potato Pancakes and the Polish Plate, which I'd actually recommend ordering together. The latter is a heaping taste of the restaurant's specialties: Stuffed Cabbage, Kielbasa with Cabbage Stew, and Pierogi. Round it out with an imported Polish beer (they've got a nice little selection) and you've got yourself the perfect meal. Oh, and how can I possibly forget to mention the bread and lard/bacon spread? So indulgent, yet so right. This is not the place to go if you're looking for a "light" meal. The food here is so hearty and comforting -- you'd be doing them a disservice by ordering just a salad. Warning: skinny bitches, stay away.
(5)Jennifer W.
My husband and I stopped at Cafe Polonia after a long day of travel and wanting a good meal before our 2 hour drive home from the airport - what a delicious find! We were there on a slower night, so we were immediately greeted by a friendly waiter, and he was SO incredibly helpful. He recommended various beers and dishes to go with them, and we were served bread right away. We couldn't decide which dish or combo we wanted, so he offered to come up with a custom dish that had a little bit of everything - potato cakes, pierogies, sausage, and I forget what else. It was PERFECT! It's a small little place, and the decor is of course quite old-europe, but that its part of the charm. We had a delicious meal, great service, and a wonderful experience.
(5)Vivian C.
A short walk from Andrew Station on the red line stands a small, but bright and cheery place with 28 seats - 7 tables set for 2-6 people each. It has a single private bathroom and a single pleasant waitress. A pile of magazines sit in the corner, and the other two parties in the restaurant at 6pm speak to the waitress in a language I do not understand. I am excessively early for my 6:30pm reservation for 2, yet she welcomes me and seats me at a table for four with a basket of bread and some ice water. The bread and lard is tasty, but I do not eat too much of it. It reminded me of British fried bread that I had attempted to create once after making bacon for breakfast... The restaurant is more than half full by the time my friend arrives shortly after 6:30pm. We end up sharing the Gypsy Pancake $16 (two large potato pancakes sandwiching a goulash of beef and mushrooms in gravy with a nice swirl of sour cream and topped with a little grape tomato) and the Goulash with Potato Dumplings $14 (which came with two cold salads - shredded red beets [sweet] and pickles [sour]). I think we both preferred the Gypsy Pancakes with the crispy potato edges. The beef in the goulash was tender. For dessert we selected the fruit crepe $4, which turned out to be a blueberry version - tasty, not too sweet, nice crispy/tender crepe.
(4)Daniel B.
When you walk through the door at Cafe Polonia, you step out of Southie and into Eastern Europe. Big, sturdy tables and chairs that are immaculately clean, as was the rest of the dining area. Great decor as well. But the food, oh goodness the food. It was simply incredible and both of those words are important: simple and incredible. I've only been there once, but went with a large group so I got to see many dishes, which was exciting (since I'll be going back, a lot). I had the borscht and stuffed cabbage. The borscht was amazing: a beety, earthy, intensely red broth with mushroom dumplings. The dumplings complemented the soup perfectly. Garnished with parsley, which was noticeable throughout. The stuffed cabbage was quite good, not extraordinary though. It had a very mild flavor, both from the meat and the cabbage. Was served in a simple tomato sauce, which was good for dipping. The lard and bacon mixture for the bread completely blew my mind. From what I saw and heard from the large group, the rest of the food was just as good. The gypsy pancakes (potato pancakes with goulash in the middle) looked amazing as did the Knight's Cut pork loin. I really want to try the pierogi, but there's so much other good stuff to try. So yes, make sure you eat here. Soon, and often.
(5)Brad S.
A majority of Polish blood is coasting through these veins, but I don't come from a family that really celebrated it while I was growing up. So while it might seem a little odd that the guy coming to Boston for the first time makes his first meal one of kielbasa, pierogis, and stuffed cabbage, I loved absolutely every minute of it. Though offering the food isn't enough - there still has to be a competent cook working in the kitchen, and from the presentation to the flavors, competence was never in question. To summarize, anything that involves the sauerkraut should be shoved into your food hole immediately.
(5)John S.
This place is small and cozy family operated establishment worth visiting. It has the feel of an authentic restaurant you find on a small street in Europe. The service was friendly and most helpful with suggestions for first timers. The food is excellent and value priced. Selection of beer and wines were all good pairings with the menu. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Jake M.
Oh wait, so it's lard?! That decadent spread that comes with the bread? We were trying to identify it amidst chocking it down as hastily as possible in order that they would bring out more as quickly as possible.... Lard with bacon.... Good God! If everything else here wasn't sufficient for 5 stars, that would push it over the top. But that's just gravy - this one's the easiest 5 star review ever. I'll leave it to the sundry other reviews to go into details. The Lady Friend and I ordered it all - or as much "all" as we could assumed we could reasonably get down. We were almost right on target with our selections - pierogis, kielbasa, stuffed cabbages - the perfect amount for two that would ensure not having to be rolled out the door. We'll be back, and promptly, and severally, for everything we missed. (....lard with bacon..... who knew!)
(5)Corey L.
Great food, great and ridiculously nice service. Really glad we went
(5)Heather G.
An entire cup full of lard. Not butter, not spread, JUST LARD. In a basket, with bread, as though it's the most natural thing in the world that lard comes with the bread basket rather than butter. You spread it on the bread as though it's freaking butter! No big deal. And you close your eyes and enjoy the fatty goodness. Guilt free. Any restaurant that starts its meals like that - boldly, unapologetically, and as though that's the most normal thing on earth - is bound to be stellar. While I understand this restaurant gets extremely busy nearly all night every night (the entire restaurant seats about 30), it's absolutely dead in the late afternoon. This was perfect for me at the time, though, because I brought my own entertainment and I was so hungry I am not sure I'd have been able to wait in a crowded restaurant to taste some of what smelled so delicious in the kitchen. The waitress started by recommending us some delicious beer, which is important because the entire selection is Polish and I was in completely unfamiliar territory. Imagine my surprise when she came out with two large mugs of beer for my lunch date and myself. Let's recap: I am eating lard and drinking giant steins of beer while dreaming of the kielbasa sandwich in my near future in an empty restaurant in the middle of the afternoon deep in the heart of southie. Typical Friday. That just happened. We started with some potato pancakes with a thin layer of smoked salmon, chives/dill and cream on top. The potato pancakes were served fresh out of the fryer, and were piping hot and crunchy on the outside, but smooth and creamy inside. The consistency was between mashed potatoes and tater tots, and the combination of hot potato pancakes with cold salmon and cream was actually worked very well. We then ordered some pirogis...pirogi? Is pirogi its own plural? Regardless, had an order that was cooked in oil and onions and filled with...potatoes and cheese? Honestly, they were a bit bland and, as my first pirogi experience in life, kind of disappointing. I thought they were chewy and gluey, and the best flavor came from the fried onions and sour cream they were served with. And then, the reason we came - kielbasa sandwich. The bread alone will keep me coming back. It was crackly and crusty on the outside but squishy inside...sort of like a bahn mi baguette...there had to be some rice flour in there somewhere. The kielbasa was snappy, juicy, and well-seasoned (read: holy garlic), and the sandwich included spicy brown mustard and house-made (so slightly mild) sauerkraut. THIS IS NOT A RESTAURANT YOU GO ON A FIRST DATE, for sure. At least, not a first date you want to end with a first kiss. Else, you may not make it to Date 2. My mom always said the rule of thumb for dinner dates is "if one eats garlic, both must eat garlic", but the flavors in these Polish dishes go well beyond the "both must eat garlic" rule. There will be no kissing afterward. Dads, this could work to your advantage if you have a teenage daughter who is starting to date. Suggest they come here. In all seriousness, this place is delicious. Though we were completely stuffed at the end of our meal, someone (likely a Polish grandmother) started cooking something out back in the kitchen that smelled so good our stomachs began grumbling in hunger all over again. Everything about this place (from the beer list to the composition of the dishes to the price tag to the ambiance to the waitstaff) is completely modest. The food is honest, blue-collar, and solid. These things make it charming and relate-able. And just like that, I am in love. And I never saw it coming.
(5)Lewis D. W.
Good old Polish cooking! Growing up with my 'Babci' living with us, in a Polish-American household, I was raised on pork chops, kielbasa, capusta, potato pancakes, blini, borsct, etc. etc. - it's amazing I'm still alive! :) I was SO excited to go here - like a visit to my childhood - as my babci passed away in 1986 - and my mom doesn't cook much now as she's getting older - and alas I didn't pick up much of the cooking skills - except my naleszniki, which rock the world! (= blini = crepes) So the food was good but not superb. The whole feeling of the place was nice, homey, very casual - not fancy - the tables were a little messy, the candles weren't lit, etc. - but the service was excellent, prompt and friendly, the bathroom was spotless, overall a great, relaxed atmosphere. Felt like a small eatery in Kracow! (tho I haven't been since 1993.... :( ) I had breaded pork chops which were great - potato pancakes were EXCELLENT and just as good as babci's! - mushroom soup was OK but a little watery and not as full of flavor as it could be. Pierogis were good but not out of this world. Nice selection of Polish beers. I would go again - but it's a straight, good, wholesome, heavy, solid Polish meal - nothing extraordinary or mind-blowing - but certainly does remind me of home!
(4)Bill M.
This was the case of The Girlfriend. My girlfriend did not have good Polish food, and I brought her there for her birthday. The man that was serving all the food was very friendly and was able to make sure that one thing that was not on the menu (the sour pickle soup) was available for my girlfriend. The food was great, and we left happy. She loved everything about it, and quite frankly, to me, that's all that matters.
(5)Tyson B.
Amazing! Just like in Poland. The food was perfect and the staff was friendly. My kids liked it too.
(4)Josephine L.
The only Polish restaurant in the city, Cafe Polonia doesn't disappoint in taste, authenticity or value. Oh, and it's close to the Red Line too. I just love this place. Get: smoked salmon potato pancakes, perogis and kielbasa, the staples of Polish cuisine. I never thought I'd enjoy sauerkraut so much, but I still fantasize about theirs. This stuff reminds me of my Eastern European friends' home cooking back home. Light and hearty at the same time, with the food's subtle, natural flavors shining through. Absolutely delicious. The restaurant isn't big but it feels like a Polish grandmother's living room. Brightly lit, with cozy wooden furniture and decorated with cute, quaint knick-knacks throughout. Anywhere you sit feels like a corner to yourself. Which is great for when you come back over and over again.
(4)Sandy B.
For what this place tries to do, it does it very well. The place is not spacious and private, but it is cozy and feels very comfortable. It's decorated in a rustic cabin style with beautiful wooden tables, chairs, and benches. It only has a seating capacity of about 30 people, so go during the week and you probably won't have a problem getting in. We dropped by late on a Tuesday night and were seated right away. The restaurant was about half-full though, which was encouraging to see. There was only one girl working the register and dining area, but she did a fantastic job. She was attentive and helpful, but gave us a lot of space. My boyfriend and I told the waitress that we wanted to split an order of the sour pickle soup. She was so sweet, she brought us an order split into two separate bowls. Also, sour pickle soup? Never even heard of it before, but it was lovely! It kind of tasted like pickle juice mixed with a chicken stock, and thickened. There were onions and cucumbers and other yummy things in the soup too. Delicious! I got the gypsy pancake for dinner, which is goulash sandwiched between two potato pancakes. It's as wonderful as it sounds. It was also so filling that I had no room for dessert. Guess that means I have to go back!
(4)Eric O.
Don't worry if you're unfamiliar with Polish food, you'll leave as a convert. We came in with very little experience and our waitress helped us pick out our dishes based on our tastes. I highly recommend going with the Polish Platter if you're new - the stuffed cabbage is inexplicably good. It's a tiny place, so if you plan on going during busy hours definitely call ahead.
(5)Jim W.
We had a great meal here last night. I always enjoy any kind of authentic ethnic food so having a true Polish restaurant around is great! Generally a good sign at ethnic restaurants: folks dining here speaking the native tongue. Now I know that Kishkas are not something hanging out of your clothes if you dress inappropriately, as my Mother-in-law had me believing. The food and service were really good although my kids were a little slow to jump on board-they kept sampling this, sampling that, but never really dug into any one item, so maybe not the best place for kids if your kids aren't feeling adventurous. We had perogies with applesauce & sour cream, potato pancakes, an appetizer of scallops wrapped in bacon, and chicken dish ( I can't recall the name). The entree came with mashed potato's and two salads: pickle and beet. I liked it all, but I had the beet salad all to myself. Next time we'll come without the kids and try more adventurous fare. Oh-Schmaltz!-with your bread you get fat with caramelized onions and bacon. You can ask for butter. And I thought schmaltz was just annoying blather as in: "I wish William Shatner would stop with the Kirk-schmaltz already!"
(4)sammie j.
So, I never tried Polish before(unless you count Costco pierogi samples which are really yummy) and decided to give this a whirl. When I first went into the restaurant, without a reservation, I was amazed by how small it is. It holds max about 20 people. It has a cozy and intimate feeling to it because of the murals hanging off the wall and the wooden tables and chairs. The sole waitress, a Blond, asked my friend and I if we had reservations, on a Sunday night, we said no but she still seated us. The restaurant was actually pretty full with the exception of one open table but again, this is a very small restaurant. We arrived about 2 hours before closing... It took the waitress about 15 minutes, maybe a little more to actually ask what would we like to order. Even though she was busy, she was pretty patient with our indecisiveness about what to order. It took about 30-45 or so minutes to actually get our order. My friend ordered a pierogi with "everything" and salad as her meal, while I ordered pierogi with potatoes and cheese, coconut shrimp and scallops wrapped in bacon. We had built up anticipating of how good these seemingly handmade pierogis were and with the first bite, we were underwhelmed. It tasted bland and a bit doughy. So, we asked the waitress to pan fry it and she was totally cool with it. We thought pan fry would make it taste better but it still was pretty bland. The coconut shrimp was decent but personally, I don't think the marriage of coconut and shrimp work. Also, the sauce it came with was too overwhelmingly sweet and the coconut infusion just didn't work for my taste buds. The scallops wrapped in bacon were OK but to be fair, that's the first time I ate scallops and I rarely eat pork. However, I gave the left overs to my bf and he said the scallops wrapped in bacon were good, but he too thought the pierogis were just OK. Sad but I think the pierogi that they demonstrate at Costco tastes much better, it' thinner and crispier. Additionally, after reading more reviews, I realized bread and lard are the starter but we didn't receive them, but I assume the waitress forgot since she was pretty busy. I didn't try but 1 Polish dish so I am willing to go back and give it another go.
(2)Julia K.
Cozy, tiny (and I mean TINY - they really need more tables) little hole-in-the-wall near the Andrew T. The menu is limited but the food is hearty, authentic, and tasty. No complaints about that here. You can't go wrong with the pierogi. I'm surprised I found a typical homey little Polish restaurant around the Southie/Dorchester area, but I'm very happy I did. Will definitely be back. If you want to introduce somebody to Polish food without overwhelming them with unfamiliar tastes/organs/whatnot, then this is definitely your best option.
(4)Kimberley T.
The food was good. The restaurant is extremely small and always packed however we were seated pretty quickly (if not immediately) upon arrival. It took FOREVER for someone to even come over to take our drink order. After ordering drinks/food at the same time, it felt like it took far too long for the drinks o be brought over and the food took awhile. After being served and finishing our meals, it took even longer to receive the cheque. I know two people who frequent this place, so I'm happy to give it another shot when I'm in town again.
(3)Alex R.
I live right up the street from Cafe Polonia and have been there a number of times. Every time I'm extremely happy with the service and the food. A couple of times they were close to closing and I called up and they still allowed my party to come in! Excellent! The goulash delight is fantastic. Nice flaky biscuit bowl with their delicious goulash. The potato pancakes are great; they're not too greasy with good texture and flavor. The polish plate is a great way to start to get an intro to some of the different items served here. I believe most of the sausage/kielbasa is sourced from up the street at Euromart or another Polish deli, which hand makes their sausage (Euromart is worth a trip on it's own for great bacon, ham, and kielbasa). In any case, they had me with the lard/bacon that's served with the bread. Any place that throws that down as a topping for bread is excellent in my book.
(5)Sina E.
This tiny place gave us a great dining experience. It's not hard to miss this place, because when we were walking toward it, there was no sign, and it looked like it was just a house. We didn't get reservation for this place, but I would suggest it, because it seats maybe 20 people. We were lucky it wasn't busy, and were seated right away. We tried a variety of dishes, and all of them were great. The polish plate gives you a taste of everything. The stuffed cabbage was delicious. It has rice, meat, and different spices. The dish also comes with pierogi. Pierogi is essentially like dumplings stuffed with variety of stuff like meat, onion, mushroom, etc. "Bigos" is a stew and includes cabbage, meat and sauerkraut. It goes well with the Kielbasa. The interior is bright, and the seats are wooden benches. It really has that comfy, authentic feel to it. When I'm back in Boston, I will definitely come here again, and would highly recommend it to anyone.
(5)Audra F.
Having seen reviews commenting on the tiny size of this restaurant, I called this morning right when they opened to get a reservation for my wife and I for our anniversary. The man who answered was very apologetic that they were fully booked for the whole night (by 11am!) but when I said it was our anniversary and I'd take any time, he asked if he could call me back while he checked with the night manager. A half hour later, he called with a time within 30 minutes of my original request! I was so delighted. (What I didn't know then was that this was the last day of their Groupon. Perhaps most Tuesdays they aren't this busy, but it was insane tonight!) We arrived early for our reservation and were seated immediately; the host/waiter even thanked us for coming early! The space *is* wicked tiny but cute -- clean blond wood furniture, cozy close but not uncomfortable -- and the staff were super friendly despite the non-stop stream of customers. We didn't know exactly what we wanted but the waiter walked us through the options, made excellent recommendations, and was really patient given it was him and one other person working all the tables and the register. We got the borscht with dumplings (sweet, peppery, scalding hot, divine), sour pickle soup (weird name, awesome taste!), mixed pirogi (cheese, potato, and cabbage, all super tasty and buttery), the potato pancakes (crispy, kind of garlicky, amazing with the applesauce), and the Polish plate (kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, more pierogi, all super savory and nicely spiced). There was a hot spiced wine being offered which we ordered and guzzled down like kids with orange soda. As I said earlier, today was a groupon expiration day, so the place was packed but despite the folks waiting for tables, we never felt rushed. The vibe was really comfortable and I'm so grateful that the staff went out of their way to get us a table when I called this morning.
(5)Sepide S.
The food was not compatible with our taste at all, it was oily but we loved the chocolate cake, so yummy
(3)C L S.
One word, delicious!
(4)Annette A.
Oh Boston, ale jestesz szczliwa! Being 100% Polish, I've spent hours with my grandmother preparing pierogies and can say that the pierogies at Cafe Polonia, whether boiled or fried, are spot-on. Also, kiss your grandmothers if they've got any Polish in them, because pierogi dough is some of the most finicky stuff you've ever worked with! Prepare for a real Eastern European meal, complete with hearty lard spreads, spiced meats and chunky soups. Cafe Polonia is cozy. Eating here is like eating in your aunt's kitchen. It's obviously not a building made to house 100 guests, but that's kind of the charm that comes with European/Slav dining. I would recommend reservations if you absolutely need them, as you may end up having to wait for a table if you show up at a rush hour. The servers have always been sweethearts, patient even when it's busy. This isn't the kind of place where you can complain if business isn't fast enough. Slow down, relax. Your aunt would smack you upside the head if you complained about the done-ness of your burger. Show up here with some friends and a light-hearted dismeanor and you'll be in heaven. It's definitely worth the MBTA ride. Smacznego!
(5)Karyn V.
We ate dinner at Cafe Polonia over the weekend, and it is now our top place to go to for a delicious inexpensive meal in the Boston area. Located in Andrew Square, Cafe Polonia is tiny and cute. The look and feel of the restaurant brought us back to when we were visiting Warsaw and Krakow a couple of years ago. The menu is written in both Polish and English, and the friendly waitstaff are more than willing to go over the menu with you if you are not familiar with traditional Polish cuisine. We shared an order of the pierogi (potato and cheese, cabbage and mushroom, and meat) as an appetizer ($12). For our entrees my boyfriend ordered the potato pancakes with apple sauce and sour cream ($12), and I ordered the chicken tenders with peppers, onions, and mushrooms ($12). We happily devoured it all, and somehow we were able to share their homemade apple crisp for dessert ($8). Yum! We will definitely be back in the very near future. For those who plan on going, be sure to make a reservation. Cafe Polonia doesn't have a ton of seating and is quite popular on a Saturday night.
(5)Jed W.
Small place, long wooden benches along one wall and smaller wooden tables with high backed wooden chairs through the rest of the room. Polish pop music on the sound system. I arrived at 4:25 on a weekday end the place was completely empty. I said "just me" and the waiter said "plenty of room for that!" And chuckled. I asked what's good and he said "everything" and then asked if I'd had Polish food before and made a couple suggestions when I said I had. I ended up getting the Polish Plate, an order of potato pancakes with salmon as an appetizer, and blackcurrent juice to drink. The potato pancakes were more fritter then pancake and were served hot with a thin-cut slice of smoked salmon laid on top and a dollop of sour cream on top of that. They were slightly oily but very tasty - crisp on the outside and soft inside. The closest thing I'd had to it before was in a little pub/resteraunt in southern Ireland. Don't know if that's because both cultures rely heavily on potatoes and seafood or because the recipe was brought by one of the many Polish immigrants to Ireland. The Polish combo plate had 1 pirogi, a kielbasa (sausage) with cabbage and mustard, and 3 small Noodle-wrapped dumplings stuffed with cabbage. Everything was delicious.
(5)Trish M.
First off, this place is adorable without being kitschy. Pros: super friendly & helpful staff, great selection of Polish beers, crazy good apps and soups (we had the herring, kishka, kielbasa, potato pancakes, borsch, mushroom soup and pickle soup). And out of the four entrees ordered, 3 were also delish (the mixed pierogi plate, the Polish plate and the Goulash Delight). Con (and there's only one): I was served possibly the driest piece of pork ever cooked (pork loin in mushroom sauce). It was, however, our first visit; I'll be happy to give another entree a shot when we visit again - which we are sure to do soon!
(5)Joanna E.
My boyfriend is Polish and we both really enjoyed this restaurant. The potato pancakes were amazing and so were the pierogies. Very authentic Polish food and the inside was small, but very cozy and cute.
(5)Jason L.
Homemade Polish food in a quaint and homey restaurant is the perfect winter time craving, and probably worth the trek to south boston for those wanting some home cooking. I felt transported to another country, as we we sat in glossy wooden chairs and greeted with bacon lard. We tried as much as we could sample by ordering the Polish Plate and the famous Gypsy Pancake. The gypsy is gigantic, and heavy enough for two. It's perfectly crisped pancakes were filled with a hearty Hungarian goulash that wasn't overly watery like some other pictures I've seen. The novelty wore off halfway through, and probably should not have tried to devour it all by myself. The kielbasa tasted fresh, but in all honesty, it was pretty similar to many other sausages I've had around the city, and with Jacob Wurst down the street from me, I think I'll save the trip next time. The pierogies had a hand-rolled and homemade dough wrapper. Everything else including the stuffed cabbage and sauerkraut were all ok. Nothing was bad, it was just decent euro comfort food, albeit I felt the whole Polish plate was missing some sort of seasoning. Overall, it seems to be the real deal in terms of Polish cuisine (the ex-Polish president ate here), but I wonder if this place benefits more from the fact that its the only Polish restaurant in boston. Food (6/10) Plating (N/A) Decor (3/5) Service (3/5)
(3)Melissa M.
Something is awry. I've returned at least five times since my last review. I'm completely underwhelmed -- and still hungry. Nothing was as good as it was the first time. I grew up with homemade pierogies and kielbasa. The pierogies had NO TASTE. Seriously, bland. I had her take them back and fry them since they came out boiled -- I'm not a big cook, but even I take the time to fry my pierogies. Boiling pierogies almost ensures a poor consistency, like wet rubber. The waitress did not seem to like me for doing this. I love that they serve Zwyeic beer, but that's about all I love about this place. The sour pickle soup is a good option to try, but I won't be trying Cafe Polonia again.
(2)James M.
Their wine isn't too expensive, between 20-$35 a bottle. Potato pancakes are delicious, dumplings and goulash are marvelous. Wasn't a fan of the Pork Loin in Mushroom sauce. Was a bit dry.
(4)Vivian H.
Haven't really had Polish before (except Kielbasa) so was excited to try this place out, since it's like the best representation around, right? It was good (not great).. but again, didn't have lots of past Polish exp to compare it to. LOTS of food -- we ordered the Polish Plate & the Boneless Pork Chop for lunch, both had leftovers. Lots of meat and cabbage. LIKE A LOT.
(3)Denis L.
Friendly service and nice rustic ambiance here. Pretty much as good as it gets for this type of place. Pierogis great? Check. Sausages great? Check. Good Polish beer selection? Check. What more do you want? I didn't get a chance to try the potato pancake but it looked awesome. Definitely want to try the Gypsy pancake the next time I go. Reasonable prices to boot.
(5)Nate Y.
Meat! Boy, I do like my meat and Cafe Polonia serves this up in spades. It's a small place so make reservations or be prepared to wait if need be. It was fairly apparent that this little restaurant's reputation had proceeded itself with only our reserved table being available at 7:30. Decor had lots of wood of the pine variety. The rafters, tables, chairs were all made of pine. But never mind the decor, it's the food that you're after here. To begin you have your bread with lard and bacon bits for a spread. This reminded me of when my mom would cook bacon and pour the fat into a jar to be used for later. This is exactly what the spread was. Not for me, but if you need some extra cushion for whatever, be my guest. I had a taste of the salmon potato pancake for an appetizer. Two potato pancakes with smoked salmon on top and dollops of sour cream, mmm, very good. I then had the Polish plate which includes stuffed cabbage, pierogi, and grilled kielbasa. The kielbasa was great, not salty like Hillshire Farms. Pierogi was good and the stuffed cabbage was excellent. I don't usually like cabbage but this I like (probably had to do with the meat stuffed in it). I still had room for dessert so I tried a cheese blintz and it was tasty as well. Although the food isn't fine dining the presentation of each dish was excellent. I also had a traditional Polish beer called Zywiec. As another patron yelled over its between a Budweiser and Stella Atrois. Yes, quite the range, but it's true. It even has a correct temperature indicator in the back which reminded me of Coors (lame), nonetheless it was good enough. Considering there was only one server, she handled things very well with several dining parties and two of them large (ours being five and another with ten). It was only toward the end when we were waiting for our bill it was a bit lacking. She was on the phone taking a break, which was understandable, but even after asking for the bill, she stayed on her phone for another ten minutes or so. Overall a great dining experience for some authentic Polish cuisine. Definitely a solid four stars.
(4)Jenny N.
Do you love bacon? And sausage? Well, then you'll probably love Cafe Polonia because there's an abundance of both here. Bacon, being a versatile meat product, is used effectively to wrap everything from mushrooms to scallops, mixed with lard to be eaten on bread (I'm not a fan of this spread though), and cooked with stewed cabbage. We started off with two oversized potato pancakes with smoked salmon and sour cream, which were really excellent. Note: The portions are extremely generous, so bring on the stretchy pants... I then moved onto the sausage. The homemade smokey kielbasa is grilled to perfection and served with a heaping pile of sweet and sour cabbage stew (of course, studded with bacon). I surmise that there must be a giant pot of cabbage stewing in the kitchen, and Amanda H. said that Polish people must eat cabbage at every meal like Asians eat rice. Hmm.... I only finished half of my kielbasa/cabbage entree (the rest was devoured by the boyfriend who declared it the best sausage EVER), but I was too stuffed to eat more than 2 bites of dessert. Suffice it to say that it was a hearty meal--perfect for a cold wintry day. Our waitress was really sweet and she let us linger over our meal, digest and converse loudly despite us taking up a large table in her very small restaurant. I really enjoyed the homey atmosphere and admired the sturdy pine furnishings. Who knew one could find a little slice of Polish culture in Dorchester? The even play polka music here! But reservations are key here. As we dined, we saw many people come in from the cold only to be turned away. Don't make that mistake!
(4)Finn M.
My trip to Cafe Polonia was very hit-and-miss. I got the borsch (beet soup) on the recommendations of other Yelpers, and it was very delicious, warm, sweet, and tasting strongly of delicious beet goodness. I'd never had polish borsch before, so I wasn't expecting something quite so thin, though: it was all broth, and not a trace of solid food to be found. Delicious to be sure, but $6 for vegetable broth seems a bit steep. The blood sausage, which came ground up on the plate (not in sausage form) was VERY oily -- I'm not finicky about that sort of thing, but it was clear that they cooked the sausage up in a lot of oil and then just dumped the whole thing onto the plate. Oil was coming out the sides of the sausage pile and running onto the plate. Huddled amidst the oily taste were damning tones of metal, the hallmark of bad blood sausage. It just wasn't appetizing at all. Entrees were stuffed cabbage (tomato sauce) and pierogies (meat). The stuffed cabbage was delicious: the tomato sauce was thick and rich, with a subtle sweetness that begged for chunks of bread to lap the leftovers up with. The cabbage was cooked perfectly: firm enough to withstand handling, but soft enough to yield to the edge of a fork, without a tough or gamey bit to be found. I found the meat pierogies to be a bit lacking, but only in the flavor department. I got mine boiled; I found the texture to be wonderful, and I, too, have to question "Melissa M" for her criticism that the pierogies "came out boiled." Pierogies are ALWAYS boiled; having them fried in a little bit of butter afterwards is cool, if that's your thing, but a boiled pierogi is not an error, it's authentic. The filling could use a little more love, as it just wasn't very flavorful, though it was smooth and pleasant on the tongue. I've seen a couple people indicate that getting sauce is an option, but I didn't realize this; the bits of onion it came with were heavenly, and salvaged the dish from snoozeville. For dessert, we tried the bobka (of course!) and the apple cake. Both were great. I love apple pastries as much as the next person, but was pleased to find that the name held true here: it was indeed a cake, only it had a layer of delicious baked apples in it. The bobka was rich, and the warm chocolate in the middle... yeah, that's a winner (though sadly, they were out of ice cream!). It was a VERY slow night at the restaurant; Kasia served us and was definitely a joy. She only paid attention to us when I made eye contact with her, but I appreciated that, since we were clearly taking our time, and were in no rush to leave (nor was she in a rush to wait many other tables). Excellent service, and a very cute restaurant. I just wish they'd done a few more things right in the food prep. Next time, I'll be getting something with potatoes.
(3)Teri L.
It was my birthday and damnit! I wanted polish food that was so used to when I was married. My son really enjoyed this restaurant so he made reservations and off we went. The dining room was very small but for some reason worked very nicely for our 6 people party. Maybe because it was 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon? dunno but made me happy. The decor was simple, clean lines and cute. Joey ordered apps of blood sausage (Kishka) and Kielbasa Twists. I'm just not a fan of Kishka so I tried a microscopic portion followed by 1/2 glass of diet soda. I'm good with that. The twists were crispy and delicious! Main entrees: John, Mandah and Matt had jumbo potato pancake that were soo crispy and tender with a dropped egg on top and sour cream. I wanted to eat it all but I don't think John would have appreciated that. I had stuffed cabbage (Golabki) Could have used more sauce inside the filling but it was very good. Jess had Polish Plate which had 1 stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and pierogies. She seemed to enjoy it all. Joey had Goulash with dumplings. Big positive there too! Now since it was my birthday I needed chocolate and this chocolate babka with melted chocolate inside was amazing! It wasn't sickeningly sweet so it was perfect after a great meal. Very solid 4 and whenever the need for Polish food arises I will come back to Cafe Polonia!!!
(4)Raymond L.
Don't let the size of the restaurant fool you, its actually a pretty good place to eat at Though we ordered what the menu said "Best appetizer in Poland" which is fish fillet with onions apparently, the fish is actually served raw...but the waiter clarified that in Poland, the dish is served raw, hence all the onions on the fish...but its not their fault, you either love them or you don't I ordered a Steaks Tips, which I enjoyed a lot. It's very tender and juicy and totally worth the 12 bucks...not to mention it is very filling. I'd come here again in the future
(4)Tony K.
This is the real deal for Polish food. I grew up on this stuff and its really hard to find anywhere, let alone in Boston. To be honest, the only place outside my mother's kitchen I have found food this good is in Williamsburg/Greenpoint Brooklyn and I think Cafe Polonia is better. I went on a weeknight and the place was pretty dead. The (Polish) waitress was nice, speedy, and helpful. I ordered a bunch of old favorites - fresh kielbasa (smothered in onions plus horseradish! yes!), pierogi, and stuffed cabbage - and we shared everything family style. There were lots more items on the traditional menu that I will be coming back for including potato pancakes and cabbage stew. They had a whole contemporary menu too which I can hardly imagine ever getting to with all the stellar classics. If you have never had Polish you need to come here to try it! If you love Polish food you need to come here! Basically, everyone should probably eat here.
(5)Eric S.
Good Pierogis fried..nt steamed..Not a fan of the stuffed cabbage no taste but the sausage kabob is delish and the bread and butter goes well with their food..Probaby will try other items but nt sure when i'll frequent the area
(4)Suzanne L.
So delicious. I felt like I was back home at Babcia's, with less guilt-tripping to eat more. Always ask what the soup of the day was. In our case, it was pickle soup and it was phenomenal. I also recommend the Polish Platter, as others have said - you get to sample a variety of things and figure out what you want to order more of. The gołąbki (stuffed cabbage) were my favorite. Everything else was very good, too. They give you smalec (bacon fat) instead of butter to put on your bread. Try not to eat too much of that before your actual meal. Actually, go ahead and eat it - none of this is health food and you will invariably leave stuffed. Service was great and I LOVE the decor. Do consider making a reservation if you're coming at peak times, as there are not a lot of seats.
(5)Barry L.
I love these finds! Small ethnic polish fare with attention to details. A small restaurant with seating for about 30. Walking in your eyes are drawn to the unique chairs at the tables and how well thought out the layout is. First impression was the owner has a lot of love and soul in this place. I enjoyed the polish plate with hunter's stew, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa sausage (with mustard) and two pierogi. The stuffed cabbage and pierogi were amazing. The pierogi were perfectly boiled with carmelized onions that was simply amazing. The service was wonderful. Friendly and attentive. Atmosphere was wonderful and I felt like I was in Europe. This place is close to Boston Logan and was easy to find. For travelers do yourself a favor and check this place out before leaving Boston!
(5)Kevin L.
Came here on a Thursday night with a group of 10 and they were nice enough to give us a reservation despite the small size of the restaurant. Cafe Polonia has a nice home-y feel to it but it can get a little cold in there. The service was phenomenal as well. Highlights of the night included pan fried potato & cheese pierogis, potato dumplings, stuffed cabbage, sobieski cutlet. and the apple tart This was my first time having authentic polish food and I thought it was alright. All the dishes seemed really similar, consisting of lots of goulash and potatoes. The goulash was a little too salty for me, so everything started tasting salty...eg the gypsy pancake.
(3)Tasty Bee Review S.
Wonderful place. A hidden gem. It reminded me European cafes (of course, you will say, it is Polish..). The cute atmosphere (wooden design, bunches of wheat on walls, ethnic pieces of decor) - it is so adorable. I wouldn't change a thing in this place! The guy was by himself serving all tables (I guess, the waitress didn't show up), and he was really good and fast, and apologized many times with a smile (which was not needed actually, because everything was perfect). It was already packed when we came, with 1 table just emptied for us. And customers kept coming and coming nonstop, and there were not enough tables for sitting. We ordered traditional dish (polish potatoes pancakes with a cup of goulyash, sour pickles soup, breaded mushrooms) and beer Tyske. Loved it all except for mushrooms. That was enough for 2 of us. We don't eat a lot (we eat less than typical american restaurant plate) Please note that the beer size is larger than regular american beer size, so we shared. The taste was great, you could feel the liveliness of it. The bill was 40$. It is great to have that kind of place for diversity reason. I literally felt flashback (being back in Eastern Europe). And I wish there were more of those kind of cafes/restaurants in Boston. That's what makes Boston special.
(5)Tuy Anh P.
Opened over a decade ago, this Polish based dining establishment stays true to it's root serving locals and visitors daily. Some of the best Eastern European cuisine is found at this spot and I always make a pit stop when driving through Boston. Traditional and homemade faire, some of the classic you'll find here include the Borsch Beet Soup, the Polish Plate, Goulash Delight and we can't forget about the delicious Potato and Gypsy Pancakes! Some of the best comfort and homestyle foods that will satisfy all appetites. The atmosphere is cozy and traditionally European. Not to forget, they also serve some of the richest desserts in town.. consider the Chocolate Lava Cakes, Apple Crisp and Coffee.
(5)Janie G.
Tucked away in this Dorchester/South Boston neighborhood this cute little authentic Polish place delivered exactly what we were in search for on a cold rainy day. Blood sausage appetizer was tasty and homemade. The pierogies were delicious I only wish they were a little bigger. Less dough and more filling. Beef tripe soup had the softest melt in your mouth strips of tripe. I seriously don't know how they got it so tender. Hubby had the sour pickle soup...sounds gross right? Nope! Sooo tasty, why haven't I had this before? Yum yum, definitely going back next time I'm in town.
(4)Suzanne G.
I didn't exactly know what Polish food was before coming here, but now I know that I really, REALLY like Polish food. It's hearty comfort food that you can tell was cooked with love. My favorites are the pierogi, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, gypsy pancake, and the goulash delight (a beef stew in a bread bowl). I bet everything is amazing though. You'll want to make reservations, this place gets crowded for a reason!
(5)Kim J.
Excellent place for traditional Polish food! Service was friendly and fast. Tried the Polish plate which was a good sampling of traditional dishes including Hunter's stew, stuffed cabbage, three pierogies, and grilled Polish sausage . Tried the beef tripe soup and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Finished my meal off with the hot apple crisp which was one of the best I've had away from home!! Small and quaint. Not for large groups but small intimate gatherings instead. Highly recommend.
(5)Raisa S.
This is one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a while, it has all the European hospitality we need more of around here. There were 3 of us and we decided to order a few things and share them. Our server, who I also think was the owner was so great. He was very attentive, and genuinely cared about our experience and if we enjoyed everything. We started off with the Kielbasa twists, which were fresh and tasty. for our meals we shared the pierogis, stuffed cabbage and potato pancakes. The pierogis were definitely the highlight of my meal even though everything was good. These are one of my favorite foods and this could have been the best I've ever had. We were so full and satisfied but couldn't say no to a molten chocolate cake. I regret nothing about this. Such a cute restaurant, great service and food that's out of this world. Check it out!!
(5)Tom V.
This place was so good that I went here twice on my 3 day trip to Boston. I was largely unacquainted with Polish food so this was an awesome experience. Fairly priced, huge portions, from what I can gather incredibly authentic. Kind of a whole in the wall sort of place, but definitely worth the trip.
(5)Julie R.
This place is amazing!! We had never eaten Polish food and came here on Guy Fieri's recommendation from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (DDD) show. It's a cute little quaint place (seats about 25-30 people max), still within Boston's city limits, but kind of close to a sketchy area. So I would probably say if you're taking the T, don't go at night cause it's a few blocks away. We went with some friends so we shared two appetizers - the smoked salmon potato pancakes and the breaded mushrooms, both were good, but nothing amazing to rave about. Now for the entree my husband and I decided to share the Polish Plate, which pretty much has a little of everything. It comes with hunters stew, stuffed cabbage, 3 pierogies, and grilled polish sausage kielbasa. The hunters stew was good, but not the star of the plate in my opinion. I was a little hesitant about the stuffed cabbage, but it was amazing, nicely seasoned and juicy and so was the kielbasa!!! They gave us three different flavored pierogies and they were all good too. If you've never had Polish food this is definitely a great way to get a taste of it all, and it just tastes so amazing that you can't go wrong (unless you don't eat pork ). Service was good overall and the food came out pretty quickly. This place was our favorite DDD recommended restaurant in Boston. Would most definitely recommend to anyone wanting to have or even try Polish food for the first time like we did. We will definitely be back whenever we return to Boston!
(5)Merly M.
Prior to visiting Cafe Polonia, my taste buds knew nothing of Polish food. I knew what it was, what their most popular dishes were, and that it was basically hearty, comfort food, but I had never had REAL Polish food. Now that I have, I've got to say...it was gooooood. It was everything I thought it would be. Hearty, saucy, meaty, and full of comfort. I ordered the Polish Plate, so I could "Try it all!" (as their menu encouraged) and was very satisfied. Everything on the plate was good. Surprisingly, my favorite item on the plate was the Stuffed Cabbage. It was just so beefy and delicious! My least favorite thing on the plate was the Hunter's Stew, mainly because I wasn't sure what I was eating and there was something in it that was giving it a unique texture. Pierogies were delicious, as was the kielbasa. The man in the table next to me ordered the same plate, and was raving about how good it was too. The place itself is pretty small and intimate, with dim lighting. It really makes you feel like you're in an Old World restaurant. The waitress/hostess/only employee that was ever visible sort of took care of everyone, and she was extremely nice and very attentive. The food also came out quickly. I really have no complaints about this place; it was a great find on our trip to Boston and one I definitely recommend visiting.
(5)Kianna C.
I used to say I hated European food. I just assumed most of it was bland and was boiled cabbage and sausage dishes. But wow was I wrong when it came to Polish food. I saw the boston episode of Triple D that showed this restaurant and it was food I had never seen or had before but it looked good. In particular, the meat pierogi. It was one of the best things I've ever ordered. My boyfriend ordered the potato dumplings and the amount I tried was wonderful. It's a good dish if you can't have pork bc it's beef, potatoes, cabbage and beets. The pierogis do have pork. I would order both again when I return to that cafe. Even though I'd like to try something new, those dishes were phenomenal. Even the dessert was amazing! Chocolate Babka was reminiscent of a molten lava cake. Another plus is the atmosphere of the cafe and how close it is to the subway. Just hop off Andrew station and its a very short walk. I would recommend and rave about this place to everyone I know.
(5)Yelena Y.
I had the perogies. They were good. I wish i had ordered what my friends ate, dishes with more variety like the keilbasa, or some porkchop with egg on it, but that's my fault. I just found the food a little bland, but it might be a cultural thing. Overall great food.
(4)Nancy C.
I went to Cafe Polonia in Aug. The best Polish food I have ever had. The beef piergoi is out of the world. I also loved the Hunter stew. Make sure you stop to Cafe Polonia it is worth heading to.
(5)David C.
Yes, I stopped here because I'm somewhat of a Food Network geek and saw this place on "Triple D" Pulling up, I wasn't 100% sold. It wasn't very busy even for a Wednesday evening. It's very small but warm and inviting. I was greeted immediately and the server was very reserved but very polite and welcoming with a smile that wouldn't stop. So.... first impression from the first few minutes washed away any concerns. The menu isn't huge but big enough to satisfy a variety of tastes. I ordered the "Kielbasa Twists " appetizer and Meat Perrogies for my traditional Polish entree. The appetizer was so simple but so terrific and clever! Sliced and deep fried into shapes that are like a meaty flower. Brown mustard and mixed greens add to the texture, freshness and flavor. Perrogies were fried and were so buttery and subtle but very tasty and filling! The meat filling was smooth and melts in your mouth. I was too full for dessert but the options looked tempting. Prices aren't cheap but not fine dining prices either, so I left feeling I got my money's worth. The experience felt like I was welcomed into someone's home for a hearty, traditional Eastern European meal.
(4)Thomas S.
I went for a date and was a little worried about the location once we parked. Whatever. Once you're inside, it's like the others say, it looks like you're in Poland - it's great! The food is like stuff you've had before, just much, much better. Apparently a little old Polish lady cooks it all from scratch out back, and it tastes that way. The waiter was the only staff there, and he was super helpful, recommending beers and dishes that were amazing. We had the sour pickle soup (unbelievably good), mushroom soup (not quite as good, but still delicious), potato pancakes and Polish platter. Plenty of food for the two of us, reasonably priced, I would definitely go back.
(5)Sarah C.
It was a bitter cold night in Boston and we wanted some serious comfort food. One of my girlfriend's suggested Cafe Polonia, home cooking like her babka use to make - sure to stick to our ribs and keep the cold out. We found this little hole in the wall restaurant at the end of Dot ave among Catholic schools and neighborhood bakeries. We had made a reservation - as we had a bunch of people with us and were glad we did. This is a tiny little place with about 10 tables in one big room. The tables are close together and there is no room to wait if you can't be seated right away. On a bitter night as that night was, we did not want to have to wait outside in the cold for a table! I loved the decor. It was traditional and yet modern. Loved the light color of the wood they chose for the restaurant - it opens up the whole room. It was decorated with knickknacks that you would see at your grandparents house but was not kitschy. We all sat down and ordered a round of fun polish and eastern european beers, yum! They even had a really interested hot spiced beer for the cold weather. It was a great combination of mulled cider and lager, tasty! The rest of the evening just went from bad to worse...and I'm not sure who to blame about it. It was a Friday night and somehow there was only one waiter on. ONE waiter to clean the tables, seat the guests, take the orders, fill the beers and bring the food out. This waiter (gosh I wish that I remembered his name!) worked his butt off. He was amazing, but it was just too much work for one person. What manager/owner allowed this to happen? This means that we have to wait 3x for a refill of beer, and everytime someone waiting outside popped their heads inside to see if the table they wanted was cleared a blast of freezing air hit us. We ended up just wearing our coats the whole time. All of this would be forgiven (and totally understanding that it was not this waiters fault he was all alone) if our food has come out and been amazingly tasty - but it wasn't. The general feeling was the food was mushy and bland. We got the bread and butter when we sat down (it was actual lard with nuts in it haha) but the bread was hard as a rock. We ordered a few orders of the kielbasa twists as an app. They were slightly rubbery and not spicy at all. It almost tasted like a hot dog and not like a polish sausage. I ordered a full order of pierogis - 3 of each the cheese, onions and cabbage and mushroom. They tasted like store bought pastry with fillings. Not the polish homecooking I was thinking. I had to dunk each one in sour cream to get any flavor. I have very little experience with eastern european food except for the few days I spent in Prague on a back-packing trip, but I don't believe this is how Polish food was suppose to be. Did we get them on an off night where they were just overwhelmed and slopped food out? maybe. But still left disappointed... at least the beer was good...
(3)Greg j.
One of my favorites this place is a unique hidden jewel . Located next to Andrew square your doing your self a disservice by not going here. Very nice decor my guess since I've never been there is what a resteraunt in Poland looks so authentic that i expected ivan putski to bring me my food lol .And the food is amazing I've tried almost every thing on the menu the goulash was good but mostly broth . My two favorites were the perogi sampler and the kilbasa with sauerkraut and the potato pancake were great too .
(5)Karen B.
The food was very good. We had the Polish plate which offers a nice variety of various authentic Polish dishes. The restaurant is small (only 6 tables) but clean and welcoming - very European. The service was very good and the waitstaff was friendly. My only complaint was that the temperature in the restaurant was very cold. It was in the 40's outside but felt colder in the restaurant. We were at a window seat, so that may have contributed to the chill.
(5)Luckie L.
A hole in the wall joint with horrible street parking but with excellent food.. The decor is very contemporary with what looks like polish antiques scattered all around.. Nice wood table and even the chairs were wooden (no cushion).. I had the scallops wrapped with bacon sitting on top of spinach and romaine lettuce as an appetizer.. In which I must say was cooked to perfection.. I had the veal cutlet for an entree with mash potato, pickles, and beets for sides.. The veal was lightly breaded and a bit over cooked but overall, a excellent entree.. I'm definitely going to dine here again and a must try for first timers..
(4)Deanna D.
We loved Cafe Polonia! The restaurant is very cute, cozy, and well decorated. The waitress was very nice and the service was fast and friendly. She explained the beer selection and made grate recommendations. The food was delicious! We got the Pierogi's and Gypsy Pancake and Crepes for desert. All the dishes were very well seasoned, tasty and authentic. The pierogi was as good as my friend (who is Polish) home made ones! We loved everything about this restaurant. We will definitely be back and bring all our friends. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for authentic Polish food and great ambiance!
(5)Jonathan M.
Great place for a cold fall night when you're hungry for some stick to your ribs Polish food! Went on a Friday night, little bit of a wait but the waiter who also was the host was very accomodating.. Great Polish beer selection..I got the Polish pilsner and she got the warm spiced beer which was so good I wish I got myself one! Appetizers: Bread w pork lard- Good Potato Pancakes- very good but needed some salt Kielbasa Twisties- Very tasty Dinner Polish Plate- combo of pierogies, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, and a pork laden sauercraut...The whole thing gets a Ten! Stuffed Cabbage- with creamy mushroom sauce, very large portion, she took home half Dessert Dutch Apple Chocolate Babka- better than anything I've had at Finale, I would go back for this alone!
(4)Erica M.
As a 100% Polish person, this place is as close as your going to get to eating in your Babcia's kitchen!! Have eaten there numerous times when I don't feel like slaving in the kitchen to make golabki by hand. Favorite items on the menu are the beet soup, pickle soup (!!!) and the Polish Plate, which is like a sampler of all the classic Polish dishes. DON'T FORGET ABOUT BRUNCH!! They recently started doing brunch on Sundays! Was there yesterday (1/10/10) and had the potato pancakes topped with bacon and sunny side up eggs. So yummy. The potato pancakes were crispy and potato-y and one can every go wrong with bacon! Check out Cafe Polonia!
(5)Cherie C.
Such a fabulous place! It's small, so make a reservation if you want to go on a weekend. The service is very friendly; if you aren't familiar with the food or the beer, they'll help you out. They'll also provide a pronunciation if you like. They have a good selection of Polish beers, so if you drink you should try some Zywiec or Okocim. We had a kielbasa appetizer, made with delicious smoked kielbasa. Believe me when I tell you that not all kielbasa is of the same quality. Try this and you'll understand. It's a simple menu item, but they elevated it with the presentation, cut in a sort of exploding firecracker shape and served on mixed greens. Beautiful and delicious. Before dinner you'll get a basket of fresh slices of rye bread. You'll also get a plastic ramekin of what I thought was butter with bits of nuts in it. We soon realized it was cold fat with bits of bacon. Really, it's just another fat like butter, I suppose. But not good for those with cholesterol issues. My boyfriend loved it but I did not. I ordered zurek, an soup made from a base of sour rye. It's an Easter tradition. It was wonderful, sprinkled with fresh dill, sour and hearty but not too heavy. But my boyfriends forest mushroom soup was sublime. Hands down the best mushroom soup I have ever had, and I've eaten a lot of mushroom soup. Rich and flavorful and everything a soup should be. I ordered a boneless pork chop as my entree. It came with a cold beet salad that was excellent and a delicous sweet cabbage stew. Again, a simple pork chop was elevated to new status by using excellent meat and preparing it with care. It took me a while to try this place since the menu online didn't seem that exciting. Now that I've been there, I can't wait to go back!
(5)Pauline S.
I have been recently introduced to the total delicousness of Polish food and this place was like a capstone course to my months of sampling and learning. Went here with my 100% Polish boyfriend and his parents and the very fact that they were pleased speaks volumes. Our server was friendly and gracious and everything seemed like they went back there and had a Polish grandma whip it up. For a vegetarian this menu is a happy challenge, but I have to say Polish food isn't exactly vegetarian friendly in general so I just had to work around that :) Borscht=YUM Definitely worth venturing to this kind of unsavory neighborhood to sample. Note: it's definitely a teeny little place so best for dates/a small family kind of thing. All in all I loved it and hopefully you will too.
(5)Ellen C.
This is another treasure that I wouldn't have known about if I hadn't read about it on Yelp. They even had a People On Yelp Love Us sticker on the window (as well as a Phantom Gourmet and Zagat). Ditto what others said about its cute decor and about it being SMALL. It's quaint and it's easy to get to. We went mid-week and got there right as they opened at 11:00, so we were the only ones there. The waitress was very polite and attentive. The food was excellent. I wish I lived closer so that I could go more often. EDIT (for all of you who are mentioning the lard served with the bread): Lard - real lard, not the partially hydrogenated stuff - is healthier than butter. It has half the saturated fat (bad stuff) of butter and twice as much monounsaturated fat (the good fat) as butter. Eat it with a clear conscience.
(5)Daniel R.
Well, what can I say... Meh. I've experienced better. This place is very clean and relaxing, and the smell inside almost made me pass out from happiness. The service was good and could always be found in the small dinning area. On the other hand, my meal was the exact opposite of what I expected. The bread they gave me before my meal seemed like it was baked a couple of days ago. My steak tips were overcooked - hard and salty. The mashed potatoes were bland and dry. The mixed vegetables, well, they emptied an entire salt shaker on 'em. This meal was a disappointment. I can't imagine the food is quite this bad on the regular. This mush have been an off night. Too bad I'll probably never know, though.
(2)Evan E.
I'm an American who spent a year living in Eastern Europe. My entire experience was of the highest quality and authenticity. The ingredients were great, the dishes were well prepared and the beer selection was very authentic (albiet beer from that region tends not to be the most complex). I look forward to going back and would recommend it to anyone.
(5)C. S.
Just went back with my bud the other day... just as good as before! The two of us split four entrees... I'm not a big person, that took a concerted effort... I've still got a food baby two days later. So good.
(5)Eve S.
Get a Polish cookbook and make your own dinner. I was so let down by this place. Tasteless white bread, came first. Waitress was pleasant but not easy to understand, and everything we needed, we had to call her for. We were one of two tables occupied. We asked for kilebasa plate, stuffed cabbage and potato pancake. Out comes two pancakes, medium in size, some stale potato chips (huh??) and a dinky portion of kilebasa. Then the stuffed cabbage. Overcooked, cabbage was almost nonexistent, filled with a meat that had neither flavor or texture, that's probably what my cat rejects when I crack a can for him. A plop of tomato sauce on top. Then dessert. Blintz filled with canned blueberry pie filling. This looks like Polish food, but believe me, it isn't Polish food.
(1)Al C.
Awesome ....outstanding food.
(5)Kari C.
In Krakow Poland I had the best meal of my life. I came back to the states and thought it could never ever be replicated. Cafe Polonia proved me wrong. On there menu I found my much longed for fried potato pancakes sandwiching Hungarian goulash. I was in heaven. While wasn't quite as phenomenal as the original, their Gypsy Pancake was the most amazing thing I've had in Boston. The restaurant is quite small, about six tables, so call ahead to check. Their wait staff is very pleasant (and Polish). Grab yourself a Polish beer, order some pierogi and soak in the feeling of Grandma's dining room.
(5)Mandy D.
My friend and I came because his German teacher told him that it has great food - and she was right! We started with the salmon potato pancakes, they were amazing and the scallops wrapped in bacon - also great. For dinner we split the Cafe Polonia sample plate, it had kielbasa, sauerkraut, perogis, and cabbage - everything was amazing! The price is right too! A great find! We will be back!
(5)Billie M.
Now, I'm no linguist, but I'm pretty certain that zupa grzybowa lasu translates into heaven in Polish. Or something of the sort. The forest mushroom soup that Polonia is offering as a special is so amazing, my last dining companion was a little frightened as I slurped my way through a cup of it in record time. And thank someone upstairs for the soup, because it managed to distract me from heaping unholy amounts of bacon studded lard into my mouth before my meal came out. Seriously, bacon studded lard on slices of white bread...who knew a heart attack tasted so good? Entrees are delicious and hearty, perfect for a chilly New England night, but not necessarily a place I'd go on a hot summer day. I mean, if you want to sweat out kielbasa and cabbage, more power to you, but I'll keep Polonia as a stuffed and warm, time to go to bed dining option. The fried pork tenderloin in pounded thin and deliciously greasy, topped with cold beet salad to sop up some of the oil, it's a chewy, crunchy, tangy delight. The veal tenderloin has more flavor than the pork, but tends to be on the drier side, still the ubiquitous cold beet salad evens this out as well. Pierogis are homemade and taste it, and really, who can mess up pasta like dough stuffed with cheese and potatoes and meat? I prefer them boiled, but I wouldn't kick the pan fried ones out of bed youknowwhatImean? Last, we get to the kielbasa. I could honestly eat kielbasa morning, noon, and night. And while I appreciate that Healthy Choice has made a pretty tasty turkey version so that I can still make it up my stairs without having to take a rest halfway through, sometimes you need the real deal. And this is the real deal. The outside has the perfect snap, giving way to an inside of hot, soft, smoky meat magic. While I typically enjoy the friendly and accommodating wait staff here, I'm glad they are savvy enough to stay far away from the table while I am enjoying this delight. Snapping jaws and glaring side eyes are not the way to make friends. Rumor (or, I guess fact) has it that their sister-deli across the street sells the kielbasa for home consumption, but I love the vibe at Polonia so much that I haven't quite made it over to check it out. So, looking for a warm, friendly, neighborhood place that will warm your feet, your belly, and the cockles of your heart? Run, don't walk (trust me on the cardio) over to Polonia. Nie ma za co!
(5)Meg P.
I live down the street from Cafe Polonia and have been there several times in the past few months. Being half Polish, I brought both my parents on their separate visits, and they both loved it. It has great ambience, a very sweet staff, and the food is about as authentic as you can possibly get without homemade Polish food. The pierogi are almost as good as the 12 pounds of them I ate when in Poland...and that's good enough for me. The stuffed cabbage and the kielbasa are also very good - and all the meat they serve is available across the street at the deli that operates the restaurant! I love it there and will continue to go back. Also, the spread they serve with the bread is in fact lard - it also has pork in it. However, like other reviewers have said, it's not unhealthy. If you can get over the name and the texture, it's no worse for you than butter. It's traditional Polish - so if you want authentic, that's what you get!
(4)Kai L.
A very cozy and small restaurant. It felt almost like dining at a friend's home. It's always a good idea to reserve before hand, especially if you are going there on weekends. I am a semi-vegetarian, so the choices at Cafe Polonia were not that many. I did choose the rainbow trout dish. It was pretty good, perfectly grilled with a nice flavor from the stuffing. The only downside is that it is a bit dry. The pierogi is pretty flavorful and my friends did say the stuffed cabbage was very good (has meat though). The cheese cake is a MUST try. Definitely one of the top three cheese cakes I had so far (and I am a dessert snob). We also had the herring fillet on oil. I really liked it. It was fresh, tasteful, and refreshing. But it pretty much has to be eaten with the raw onion to bring out the flavor. It may be acquired taste for some. Just another warning, we were a bit curious about what spread it was served with the bread. We thought that it was lard. It tasted good, but as soon as we suspected it was lard, we sort of stopped using the spread. Judge by yourself and you may like the flavor.
(4)Art F.
This is our third visit to Cafe Polonia. I am hesitant to give 5 stars for any service, but this place deserves it. Right from the moment we entered the door the service was friendly and attentive. The food is always great and served as you want it. The waiter even asked if we wanted different music (we asked for Polish music and got it) and if we wanted more light. The ambiance is very much like eating at your Polish friend's house. Best time to eat here is during the week when reservations are seldom necessary as opposed to weekends when you do need to call ahead. Food is very reasonably priced and it seems to be frequented by locals as opposed to the touristy places closer to downtown Boston.
(5)Renee M.
Absolutely AMAZING! Like many of the other reviewers I am half Polish, grew up on Polish cuisine and I thought the food here was absolutely delicious. I came with a couple of friends on a Saturday night and we called ahead for reservations because I knew how popular this place was. We walked in and surprisingly it was not crowded at all and we got seated right away. It is quite small inside and also extremely cute and quaint. The waitress was adorable and friendly as well. My friends and I ordered the kielbasa, stuffed cabbage and pierogis and all shared. Everything was great- I remember the stuffed cabbage being particularly delicious (and very very stuffed!). We also ordered Polish beers (I can't remember which kinds, and even if I did I probably wouldn't be able to spell them out for the life of me) which I thought were also very very good. Overall GREAT experience... I plan on bringing my parents here the next time they're in town.
(5)King C.
Cafe Polonia has excellent wait staff and an amazingly quick turnaround, especially on a 100% packed Friday night. Unfortunately, the food was underwhelming. I had the Austrian pork chop and my date had the Polish sampler. Both lacked flavor. I'm glad I tried it once, but I probably won't try it again.
(3)Aga K.
Kinda mixed feelings about this place, as a 'Polak' i would expect a little bit more mind blowing attitude from traditional dishes, also i think for portions that they serve place is a bit overpriced. Service...some days great, some very unenthusiastic. also a bit dissapointed with fruit crepes, they are suppose to be stuffed with real fruit and not fruit jam!
(3)Lauren V.
Better book your angioplasty in advance because at Cafe Polonia, you will want to keep eating and eating and eating... Previously a kielbasa virgin, I decided to shed my deep-seated fear of losing face in front of family and friends and actually loving it after resisting it for 25 years, I opted for the kielbasa sandwich. It was amazingly delicious. It was also amazingly large...and amazingly rewarding 8 hours and 10 beers later. Although the food doesn't appear to be a work of art, my stomach is (luckily) blind and didn't seem to mind the lack of presentation one bit. The food (my sandwich and pieces from my date's Polish plate) was delicious and hearty. I definitely recommend a beer (Zywiec) to cut through the unhealthy delectableness you will most certainly ingest. As for the actual establishment, it is tiny, modest and clean. The tables are fairly close so it is not a place to hold private discussions. Conversely, I ended up chatting with a friendly co-patron who was from Poland (another star for attracting authentic Poles). At one point, my date went to the bathroom and my new Polish friend tried to set me up with his son...who was sitting right next to him. Awkward. We snapped some pics together and he seemed to be okay with the fact that I would not be dating his son in the near future. Anyways, the service is fairly quick and the waitress was friendly. We were able to find parking on the street so I am not sure how public transportation factors in to a Cafe Polonia experience. Cafe Polonia provided the perfect start to a cold, winter Saturday drinkfest. Highly recommended (with or without the apres-boozing).
(5)Steve L.
Love this place, almost as good as the pierogis I make...almost Everyone I've taken to this restaurant ends up loving it, definitely worth trying... especially the Polish platter. The seating arrangement is a bit tight, but the decorations and benches always remind me of when I went to Zakopane .... luckily they don't serve sheep cheese here.
(4)Scott D.
Very good authentic Polish cuisine for reasonable prices. This is a smaller cafe-style place. Seating is limited and if you go during busier dinner-hours (6pm to 8pm) I think you may be pressed to get seated. The kitchen is partially open to the dining area, but not distracting or loud. While small, the seats aren't packed tight so it's comfortable. The interior is freshly painted, clean, and appealing. The service is excellent, prompt, and casual yet friendly. Polonia offers a combination of very tradtional Polish food with more mainstream "Americanized" offerings. I highly recommend trying the traditional foods, they are done right. Hunter's stew (like a ghoulash), potato pancakes with salmon, kishka (a blood sausage), and of course kielbasa... all very tasty, not overly greasy or heavy, and fresh. The one thing I have to try is the Beet Tripe soup... some day soon! Highly recommended, and even for a casual date-night. One word of warning: parking can be tight in the Andrew Square area.
(4)Kelly J.
I went here with my sister and husband. All of us loved it! I don't think you will find a lot of Polish restaurants in Boston besides this one so luckily it is delicious! My sister and I grew up in a totally Polish family and this was fairly close to the dishes we grew up loving as kids. Cute and cozy atmosphere, great food and excellent service! I will definitely be coming back for more!
(5)Katherine D.
My mom loves to feel cosmopolitan so when shes coming to visit me in the "big-city" i like to make her feel like shes experiencing new and grand things. for her last visit I suggested she come on Yelp and pick the place for us to visit, and this was her choice. its not quite cosmopolitain or grand, but the tiny little place kind of does have a nice ambience. i do remember there was some weird wooden booth set up but other than that pretty cute. they served us bread upon being seated served with straight-up bacon grease as a spread. i find that disgusting. i got the duck dish, which was decent, and my mom got some sort of polish platter which she for the most part enjoyed. it as good enough, but i definitely wont be back unless mom drags me.
(3)Jessica R.
For some other cities I would give this place 4 stars, but as far as Boston goes, I think this is hands down the best Polish food you are going to find. I grew up in a Polish family and all of this was very close to the home cooking I grew up loving oh so much. Great food, great dessert, great service. I will be back many times. Also, in regards to someone below stating that their borsch was all broth, possibly that was an error the kitchen made that night. Mine had about five delicious stuffed dumplings in it.
(5)Nicole N.
What a wonderful place! A quaint restaurant in South Boston with great ambiance and delicious food. My partner and I went on a Tuesday, so it was pretty empty. Apparently not many people have discovered this gem! We were seated right away and the waitress was lovely, attentive and patient. My partner is of Polish descent so he had some high expectations for the food. I have very little experience with Polish food, having only had pierogi and Kielbasa, so I had no expectations at all. My partner had the Polish Plate, which was a sampler of pierogis, kielbasa and 'Bigos'. I had the Breast of Duck. Both dishes were exquisite! My partner was very pleased with all 3 items on his dish. I sampled all 3 of them and I can say that the pierogis were fresh, the kielbasa was succulent and the 'bigos', which don't look delicious, were pleasantly surprising and fantastic! My dish was just as pleasing. The duck was tender and moist, the potatoes were flavorful (a touch dry, but the sour cream they provide took care of that), the asparagus was cooked to perfection and had an added butter-lemon zest that I had not expected. Also, a side of shredded beets was added to the dish (it wasn't in the description but came with it). I don't like beets, and let me tell you that these beets were tasty! The Polish Beer selection was bottled. My only wish is that they had their beers on tap. The waitress made some wonderful recommendations and both beers my partner and I had (one a Pilsner, one a stout) were fantastic though bottled. They come in these awesome mugs that are hefty and match the feel of the restaurant. We were too full to have dessert and coffee. There was plenty of food left over for both of us to have a light lunch the next day. All in all, a wonderful experience. I want to head back and try more of their traditional dishes. While we were eating there, 3 Polish couples came in to dine and were chatting up the waitress in Polish. I'm guessing that this means the rest of their traditional dishes are just as good as the ones we had! For anyone who likes European fare, this restaurant is a must!
(5)Thomas M.
I really enjoyed the meal, service and atmosphere at this place. I will look to return soon!
(4)Jack M.
Not bad. Had lunch here last Saturday. Small place - maybe 20 seats. Cute - quaint. They recently repainted / redecorated. Guess due to their popularity they are making more $ and can afford it! We had a bunch of different things: potato pancakes with smoked salmon, breaded mushrooms, kielbasa, glumpkes, pierogis, and a potato pancake thing that had like beef stew in it. I won't bore you with the details on the food - but it was all very .... SAVORY. I liked the glumpkes best - nice and fresh. The pierogis had a super-thick dough which was a bit much for me but they were still good. But everything just tasted very ... meaty / savory? Weird to explain. Service was pretty slow - even with no other customers there! But - it's ok - we expected it so we didn't care. I don't know if we'd go back - I can't say we had anything that really jumped out at us. But it was pretty good.
(4)Hillary M.
Tasterrific! It is like eating at my grandparent's house but being served by the super cute and friendly girl next door. The cooking just tastes so homemade. It is reallllllly tasty. I wouldn't recommended eating every meal here, it is also pretty fatty, but it is the perfect fare for a wintry Boston evening. The warm spiced wine, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa (both regular and spiced), mustard, pickles, and perogis are delish! I had the goulash and wasn't so keen on it - but the grandparent's goulash I'm used to is of the Hungarian persuasion, not Polish. We were all surprised by how good the Cabernet was. Looking forward to returning some blustery night when I just don't feel like cooking and want some food to warm my belly.
(4)Jeffrey C.
Was here one winter night. If you need a good hearty meal, this is the place. Excellent perogies, bigos, and kilbasa. try the sampler plate if you're not familiar with Polish food. Great beer and pilsners too.
(3)Christine S.
The meat pierogies I had at this place were almost as good as the ones I had in Poland. When I moved to the Boston area a few months ago I googled Polish Restaurants in Boston and was soo excited to find this place. It's very cosy (might have to wait a little bit for a table, but it's worth it) and it is very nicely decorated. I had the borsch & pierogi and washed it down with a Zywiec- i was so glad to see they served polish beer too! Can't wait to go back! FYI- the wine & liquor store in Davis Square sells Zywiev, Okociem and a few other Polish brews in the international beer section!
(5)Kathryn R.
Blink and you'll miss it, this small restaurant seats no more than 30 people. Upon entering, my friend and I were warmly greeted by the host. They carry about ten different beers from Poland which was a delicious, well priced bonus. While we perused the menu, there were slices of rye bread accompanied by butter and a traditional pork fat spread (not unlike a bacon paté) to hold us over, though there wasn't much of a wait to receiving our food. I ordered the 'Polish Plate' which had it all: a hefty cabbage roll, three pierogi and a kielbasa sausage over a healthy serving of sauerkraut, all of which was delicious. My friend ordered the 'Breast of Duck' served with potato medallions, asparagus and cranberry sauce, which was also quite tasty. After nearly cleaning our plates we wrapped the meal up with an order of the 'Chocolate Babka Cake', similar to a lava cake topped with ice cream. Prices were reasonable and ambiance soothing. Recommend it and would return!
(5)Amanda L.
It's hard to call a restaurant the best anything in the city, when it is in fact the ONLY restaurant of its kind in the city. A perfect example is Cafe Polonia. One bit of advice that is crucial when it comes to dining at Cafe Polonia: MAKE RESERVATIONS! Holy beejesus if I hadn't made reservations, we would have been shit out of luck. This place really reminded me of Joe's grandparents (they are polish) and our waitress (who was the only waitress) was very nice and accommodating, even though she got a little slow in the end Joe and I wanted to try a little bit of everything, so we ordered the following: kielbasa, blood pudding, potato pancakes, and pierogies. The kielbasa was juicy and crisp, and some of the best I have had. The blood pudding was a little disappointing, it was good yes, but I didn't expect it to be shredded. Now, onto what makes things truly Polish, pierogies and potato pancakes. I really like both, BUT, they were not the best, not by far. I have had much better in both Salem and Toronto. We even managed to fit some dessert in the mix, and the apple crisp was very tasty, and I stole a bite of the cheesecake, and it is definitely not NY style. So, yes, Cafe Polonia is the best Polish food in the city, but really, by default because it is the ONLY Polish food in the city. But that doesn't mean I won't come back.
(4)F. C.
Come for both the food and the atmosphere. I love the fact that dining here feels like having dinner in someone's dining room. It's small and cozy and the pace of dinner is very relaxed. There's only ever one waitress and it takes a bit of time to order and be served, but I love that. Come with a few friends and make an evening of it. The food makes me happy. I'm a vegetarian, so I'm limited to peirogi and potato pancakes, but that's absolutely fine with me. Both are fantastic and if you ask nicely you can even get a combo plate of the two.
(4)Michal P.
Love this place before my mom moved to the US from Poland this was my only way to get some polish food. This is the only Polish place in Boston and I don't really care because there isn't much more that anyone else could do. The food is top notch the waitresses are polish and very pleasant and helpful. You can also try some of the best beer there.
(5)Marilyn T.
The lard for the bread is warming. The place is small and homey feeling, which suits it perfectly. Because it's so small, service is very attentive. I loved the borscht and potato pancakes. Everything is a bit heavy, but that's how it's supposed to be. Everything seems very authentic, and it just leaves you with a warm, satisfied feeling. It's perfect for a winter meal.
(4)Moomin T.
I would give this place four stars except for one reason: the prices. The prices are ridiculous. However, the food is quite good. I'd say the pierogi are pretty top-notch. The potato pancakes--eh--I've had better. The lard spread for the bread: yummy, don't be grossed out by it. It's just like solid gravy. But what on earth is this place thinking charging you $16 for a plate of potato pancakes at lunchtime? This is insanity. If they lowered their prices, I have a strong feeling they'd draw in many more patrons and have a better business.
(3)Renee G.
So. I'm half Polish. If you knew what the G. in Renee G. stood for, or if you ever had the chance to witness my mind-boggling tolerance for vodka, that much would be obvious. However, my non-Polish mother did most of the cooking in our house, so unless the babcia was visiting, Hillshire Farms kielbasa was about as Polish as it got save for holidays. I had wanted to go to Cafe Polonia forever and ever, to experience the traditional foodways of my fatherland, but it wasn't until I was already headed to the neighborhood to pick up fresh kielbasa for Thanksgiving brunch (boiled and eaten with horseradish, it will certainly wake you up) that I finally had the chance to go. It was worth the wait. First, let me say that I am slightly disturbed at how much I liked the lard spread. My fellow culinary adventurer/best friend Gilian switched over to butter pretty much immediately, but come on - it had BACON in it. To start, we split the potato pancakes with smoked salmon and sour cream, which were fantastic - just like the ones grandma used to make when mom was out of town (mom is opposed to seafood - I know, imagine growing up in such a sorry excuse for a household). Then we split a plate of pierogis, mixed between potato and cheese and cabbage and mushroom - the cabbage and mushroom were better, FYI, but the potato and cheese didn't exactly go unfinished. Then, of course, the grilled fresh kielbasa (because no Polish meal is complete without kielbasa), served with caramelized onions, spicy mustard, and horseradish - so, so so good. For dessert, we split the chocolate babka cake. The menu describes it as "traditional babka filled with warm chocolate, served with a scoop of ice cream," and I can't see how this is accurate because it bore no resemblance to any traditional babka I've even had (babka is a dense, slightly sweet bread often scented with citrus zest and studded with golden raisins, and this was decidedly not that) but it was warm and gooey in the middle and hit the spot. Best of all, the whole meal plus a beer each amounted to barely $30 per person, and we were stuffed. I get sent to Andrew Square before every Catholic holiday to procure the traditional foodstuffs, and you can bet I will be making Cafe Polonia an integral part of every trip.
(5)John.Chris V.
So delicious, perfect comfort food for a cold rainy eve, cabbage, pirogis, homemade soups/breads. Not the ideal choice for the dieting gal/guy. Excellent polish beer assortment.
(4)Kristin N.
Love it. I currently have a list of people I need to bring here, one at a time so I have a good excuse to keep coming back. The people are so nice, the dcor is so cute and the food...the food is SO GOOD. The only reason you should be afraid of Polish food is if you don't want to gain like 5 pounds from becoming addicted to it! They have traditional as well as American dishes on their menu so bring your food-phobic friends; they'll find something they like. You can also rent out the whole restaurant for functions. Pretty sweet! Oh and POLKA BRUNCH ON SUNDAYS! I don't even know what that is but it sounds wicked fun!
(5)Judith Z.
Food was clearly made in-house. Potato pancakes were awesome. Kielbasa is crisp and delicious. Can't go wrong here! I only say it's not good for groups because it looks like the place only seats about 30.
(5)Kerrie F.
Although I cannot lay claim to any Polish ancestry and had little experience with Polish food, I have yet to leave this place an unsatisfied customer. Since frequenting this establisment (almost two years now), I find myself often subject to cravings of various Polish dishes, especially in the cold fall/winter months. One of the great things about this place is that it offers both traditional Polish food, as well as American staples as well. Although I would never come to Cafe Polonia to have anything other than Polish food, it is nice to have those options in the event that you may need to persuade picky eaters to come here with you so that you can actually enjoy food of substance. Because I've only had the traditional meals, I can only recommend in that arena. The Kielbasa twists are a great appetizer to start with, as they are extemely tasty, but also proportionate to what an appetizer should be so that you can actually enjoy your entree. For meals, the potato pancakes are excellent and they occasionally offer a giant potato pancake special that also comes with eggs, ham, and goulash. Both are excellent. My favorite entree, though, is the potato and cheese pierogis. Seriously, I could eat this things like candy and never stop. I get them boiled, as fried food tends to sit heavily in my stomach for many hours. For drinks, they have a solid selection of wines, but my favorite beverage by far is the Zywiec Polish beer. The mix of this beer with the pierogis make for a perfect combination. If, for whatever reason, you are in the mood for dessert, go for the Chocolate Bubka Cake, it is to die for. The only negative thing I can say about this place is that there was one occasion where I received awful service from a really rude waiter. I've only seen him there once and haven't seen him there since, so I am not even sure if he is still there. Other than that, my other experiences have been overwhelmingly positive with the waitstaff and food service. The restaurant itself is kind of small, but I think that adds to the charm of this place. There is only street parking as well, but I actually enjoy it because there is also an excellent Polish market across the street where one can buy additional products to take home for later enjoyment.
(5)Julia W.
I have to admit that I am always a happy camper when a restaurant serves kielbasa, my favorite meat product on earth. But holy god did this place blow me out of the water! I happened to be in Dorchester and a friend and I went to Cafe Polonia for lunch. It was like a little yellow building beacon on light in a typical Dorchester neighborhood. After much drooling over the appetizers, I stuck with the Polish plate: kielbasa, pierogis, stuffed cabbage, oh my! Absolutley fantastic. I was almost brought to tears by how awesome the food was. I even offered to live in a closet in the restaurant if they promised to throw me kielbasa one in awhile. Anyway, A++++++! Highly recommend.
(5)Marly T.
First time trying Polish food and it was pretty good. I ordered the Polish plate which had the stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, and two other things (I don't know what it was called). It was pretty good. The waiter gave me the strongest beer they had. It was like 9% alcohol in it. It was pretty tasty but dark. We would come back and try other dishes.
(4)Tyler S.
Great place to eat!! The restaurant is so authentic and the food is delicious
(5)Victoria J.
Alright. Granted this place has NOTHING on my Babcia's cooking, it does satisfy my cravings for flavors from the homeland when Babcia is an ocean away. The soups are great - what I miss the most living in the States. The entrees are always good - simple, Polish homecooking. Just not as good as my Babcia's. There's plenty of Polish beer, in bottles and drafts. The decor is very typical "Goral." It's decorated like a wooden log house in the mountains of Poland. The chairs and tables look like they were carved out of wood and remind me a bit of being at my grandparents' place in Poland knocking back a couple of beers by the fire. I'm not sure if I love this place because it's awesome or because it reminds me of home and good times. Probably a little of both. Still - My Babcia could burn this place to the ground with her cooking.
(4)Paul B.
On a return visit I decided to branch off the Polish plate and ordered the Gypsy Pancake. I am still dreaming about it. Two large potato pancakes sandwiching goulash. Jaw droppingly delicious. My three friends and I were lucky to get any food. Every seat was filled when we arrived, sans reservations. The server said Sorry, but just then, a couple left a four top and we were in the right place at the right time.
(4)Cecilia L.
Here I am yelping Cafe Polonia tipsy on Zywiec with happy Polish music playing in my head. I had lots of fun here, but the meaty, heavy cuisine isn't something I could do regularly. Bf and I have lived down the street for months, but only came in today, a rainy Saturday, for lunch. There was just one table left as all the others were filled with Polish neighborhood folk. It's small, cute and bright, with warm blond woods and that music making me want to just leap up in folk dance. The waitress started us with bread and what looked like bacon bits suspended in Crisco. When I asked what it was, she cheerfully replied, "Lard." Bf dug right in, but I hesitated. I love to try new foods, but my tongue curdles if I get a piece of meat with a bit of fat on it. While I was deciding whether I could bring myself to try it, he suddenly stopped chewing. He ran for the bathroom to spit. Reminded him too much of a childhood camping trip in which his group got lost and had to survive for a day on lard. I knew then that I couldn't do it. Do drink the Zywiec, an awesome Polish beer that comes in huge bottles for $5. I got the kielbasa sandwich ($10) and bf the Polish plate ($16). The sandwich was massive, at least a foot long stuffed with enormous hunks of kielbasa. I actually had to take half the meat out to fit it in my mouth. Polish plate consists of kielbasa with sauerkraut, bigos cabbage stew and pierogies. The pierogies were delicious. The "cabbage" stew was more like a thin wrapper of cabbage stuffed with tons of meat, and the sauerkraut and the sauteed onions accompanying the pierogies were flecked with bacon. If you love meat, Cafe Polonia is your kind of place. UPDATE: Okay now it's the same evening, and the boy and I have been sleeping for like four hours. This is heavy stuff, people.
(4)Molly S.
From now on, I am ONLY eating Polish food. Cafe Polonia brings me back to a happy place and warm memories of my Polish step-grandma. And the service was excellent too!
(5)Traveling B.
This place was fandiddlytastic. Wow, I have tried to get here a couple of times, but it was always so busy. I lucked out and got a reservation on a quiet night, and what a breath of fresh air. The staff was very friendly and the atmosphere is incredibly warm, so even before we had ordered we were talking about what a nice place to find in such an odd part of town. Then,,, we ordered,,,,,, I a sandwich, the sig O' the polish plate (of course the most expensive thing on the menu). Ahhh the sandwich, I know I know, how do you describe a sandwich without just saying it's a sandwich, well this one is worth my weak attempt. The bread on my sandwich was extremely light, yet slightly toasted on the outside, it actually seemed to melt in my mouth with the sandwich, creating one of those ever so rare sandwich tasting sandwiches, not just bread and meat. The Kraut, delicious, the Kielbasa moist, supple and no charring or burnt-ness in sight, add a slight amount of mustard that just gave a kick, not a take over and you have the divine experience I had. The Polish plate was also absolutely incredible (according to the O' with the full mouth, "Yum", the pierogies,,,excellent, and the O' was extremely fond of the stuffed cabbage as well, and for the O' to be happy with food it has to be good, trust me. My favorite thing about this place, cheap cheap cheap!!!! We had our two meals, two sodas, a coffee, and a dessert and it barely breached 30 bucks. So you get incredible hometwon charm, incredible staff and service, and incredible food for 30 bucks. It def gets my 5 star
(5)Lisa C.
I want to give this place 4 stars but my meal was only ok. I went here with Jacob W. on a whim, wanting to try a new restaurant and a new cuisine. Jacob got a polish beer while we savored the delicious potato pancakes with smoked salmon. Yum! I also had the borsch. I've never had Polish borsch before and i was really surprised that it was all broth with no beets or other vegetables in it. For my entree I had the pierogis which were obviously better than frozen ones but not particularly flavorful. Jacob W. got the kielbasa with stewed cabbage which he thought (I think we agreed) was absolutely delicious. The restaurant itself is so cute and it's obviously a very family-oriented restaurant which is always nice to see. I think the food was a little bit pricey for what it was which leads to me demoting down to 3 stars.
(3)Susan N.
I hate Polish food. Sausage is just not for me, at least not the edible kind. So why 5 stars? They have a few other Eastern European dishes that you cannot get anywhere in Boston. The mushroom soup is delicious and the gypsy pancakes are out of this world. Just make sure you get it with goulash. Oh how I miss you, sweet goulash. The pancakes are quite tasty themselves. Having grown up with somewhat of an Eastern European diet, I can get very picky about food. Polonia did not let me down.
(5)John O.
Hands down, this is my favorite restaurant in the city. Give me a Polish Plate and a bottle of Zywiec and I'm a very happy man. The dining room is tiny with only something like eight tables, so make reservations. It can get mobbed, and the poor waitress a bit harried, but she's a total sweetheart, so be patient. The food is so worth the wait. And their stuffed cabbage blows Zaftigs' out of the water.
(5)Ben K.
Just went for lunch today. So I decided that I wanted to go out to lunch today, because it was restaurant week, but then began reading reviews on Yelp for restaurant-week menus, and was not impressed at all. So, I decided to stick to my neighborhood and try a new place. That's where Cafe Polonia comes in; after reading all these rave reviews, I HAD to go. I'm giving Cafe Polonia 4.5 stars, but I'll round up to 5. Here's the good: -Waitress was really friendly and adorable and guided me through the menu -Fresh rye bread with that lard-crispy-bacon-caramelized onion-dip (if there is one food that equates to sin, it's this) -Potato pancake was A+ (waitress gave me a free side) -Entree "Polish Plate": kielbasa (really crispy and flavorful), cabbage stew (sweet and sour-- yum), stuffed cabbage, and pierogi (EXACTLY the same as my friend's Polish grandmother makes) The not-so-good: -Dessert: blueberry crêpe. The crêpe itself was good, but then they kinda screwed it up by squirting Hershey's syrup and store-bought whipped cream over the top. But certainly edible... next time I'll just get it w/o the chocolate and whipped cream. -Waitress gave me the check before offering me dessert All in all, LOVED this place. Also seems like a great spot for a date.
(5)Jeff M.
I went here for lunch twice last summer. I honestly felt like some of the food was not fresh and may have been pre-prepared a day or so in advance. However I cannot tell.
(3)Jeff M.
When I used to live in Boston and I didn't have a car, I'd literally have to beg peers to drive me to this place to get my Polish fix. When I finally had a car in Boston, I tried to eat here once a month. This is one of my favorite hideouts in Boston. The kielbasa sandwich is perfect. The pierogis are fantastic. Even the bread to start is delicious. I've only had excellent experiences here. Whenever I hear the word "kielbasa," I immediately think of this place.
(5)Sheila S.
Good service, great food, even a cute waitress who makes good beer recommendations. We had the smoked salmon potato pancakes, borscht, and perogies. Everything was pure Yum.
(5)Mike C.
Oh my. I'd never had Polish food before, but I will be eating it again. It's like the most comforting of comfort foods. The restaurant's very cute, and the single server was very helpful, especially when it came to helping me choose a beer. I don't know the real name of the "Chicken Dance" song, but it played twice while my girlfriend and I were there.
(4)Randy M.
Went here for my birthday and the food was fantastic. I'm not eastern european but was with my gf who's family is from that part of the world and says that this stuff is pretty close to the real thing. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Meg M.
Oh Cafe Polonia. I love you. I really do. I'm upping my review to 5 stars as a result of my dinner date with Mark here last night. We were laying around with growling tummies trying to decide what kind of food would rouse us from my warm apartment and foodless fridge and out into the snow storm that was squalling around the streets of Southie. After a rough day for both of us we didn't want to go to any of crowded bars on Broadway (as walkable as they are). Suddenly it hit me: Cafe Polonia! Usually quiet and always cozy I knew it would be the perfect place for us to go grab some yummy food. Mark had never had Polish food so I thought we should jump on the chance to expose him to yet another culinary adventure. When we arrived at Cafe Polonia we were able to easily grab a spot right on the street directly in front of the restaurant. There was one other couple finishing up but otherwise, the adorable space was completely void of people. After about 10 minutes, we were alone in the restaurant and we couldn't have been happier about it. The waiter let us know about their drink offerings and I decided to try the traditional Polish spiced wine. It was hot and delicious and warmed my belly instantly. Mark left me to the ordering while he kept his brave face on and his 16 oz. Zwyiec beer in hand. I ordered the kielbasa twists, the pierogi, and the potato pancakes with beef goulash. Everything came out together like we asked and it was all delicious. The pierogi are boiled perfectly and stuffed to perfection with cabbage, mushroom, cheese and potato and topped with bits of delicious cured bacon. The kilebasa is perfection and served with some mustard for dipping. MMMM. The potato pancakes are a generous portion and the beef goulash was one of our favorite items of the night. We ate pretty much everything on the plates and then sat back to finish our drinks. When the waited mentioned a dessert menu, I thought I'd take a little looksie. The description of the traditional chocolate Babka cake was enough to make me find JUST ENOUGH room to squeeze it in. When this dessert arrived it looked like the most beautiful thing we have ever seen. The ice cream on top of this dark, rich, wonderful bundt cake was light fluffy and perfectly sweet. We both had forgotten how full we were and devoured it within 5 minutes. I could have eaten another I think. We talked about that babka all the way home. So all in all what I'm getting at here is that you should get on the redline. take it to Andrew, walk across the intersection and settle yourself into this amazing little gem. You will be really happy you did. The only thing I would take a pass on in this place is the lard and bacon they serve in your bread basket. Its horrid. But I guess some people go nuts for it. Its just not my thing.
(5)Victor P.
Delicious and authentic polish food. Everything on the menu is delicious. Gypsy potato pancakes are just like the ones I had in Krakow, Poland! And the polish plate is excellent. Has a little bit of everything I love about polish cuisine - kielbasa, perogis, bigos, and stuff cabbage. So yummy!!
(5)Kris H.
Polonia is the type of restaurant that brings you back to childhood. Eating the food that my grandmother cooked is a great way keep both boday and soul warm in the cold winter weather. Went yesterday, for the second time, for lunch and started with the pickle soup. I know that it may not sound like the best thing that you have tried, but TRY IT!!! If you like pickles, even a little bit, this soup is for you! It is briney and warm and just delicious. The potato pancakes are great too. I have brought a couple of friends there and everyone enjoyed their food. The restaurant is very small. There seems to always be some on street parking available.
(4)Katherine B.
The food, service, ambiance, everything about this place is incredible. The menus are written in both English and Polish which is lovely and the waitstaff is all bilingual as well. There is a large variety of appetizers, soups and salads, specials, entrees, beverages and desserts on the menu. The food is delicious and authentic (I can vouch for this coming from a Polish family full of cooks and having lived in Poland). They have all my favorite beers imported from Poland including but not limited to Zywiec (pale Lager and the Porter), Okocim and Warka. They also have wines. The traditional, heavy oak furniture was handmade by the owner and adds to the homey feel of Poland. I've been here with my family, with friends, with people of all ages and no one has ever been disappointed. It is a small restaurant so I'd recommend calling for reservations for larger parties, especially on busy days. This place is just magnificent I very highly recommend it! Smacznego!
(5)Christine R.
Being part Polish, I grew up eating kielbasa, saurkraut, pickled beets, and such. So when I saw the Groupon for this restaurant, I knew I had to check it out with my brother. I ordered the Pickle soup and Polish plate. My brother had the Fresh Kielbasa plate. We shared also some Potato pancakes with applesauce. The soup was probably one of the best soups I ever had. Its basically a potato soup with pickles. Strange combination but so delicious. The bread served at our table was great dipped in the soup and was good by itself as well. Our potato pancakes came up next and they were so good. The applesauce was to die for. Then my meal, the Polish plate was amazing. Best kielbasa I ever had. The stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and Hunter's stew were all great. I saved half of my meal for leftovers as well a potato pancake making a delicious meal the next day. My brother also enjoyed his dish. The staff were kind, attentive, and quick. Orders came in rather quickly. The place is small and cute. Nice wooden tables and chairs. Though I wish the restaurant had a sign in front. Its very small and I only knew it was the place because of the zagat sign on the window. Not far from the restaurant is a European shop which carries the same stuff they serve at the restaurant. I got myself some Plum pierogies as I never had such. Curious to try it out. They also carry the Pickle soup, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, a variety of pierogies, baked goodies, and such. I definitely will return for more food. I recommend this restaurant to everyone and will definitely come back again.
(5)Julie R.
This was the first Polish restaurant my boyfriend and I had been too and we will definitely be back. It resembles a lodge inside and is very cozy. I made a reservation for a Sunday night and was glad I did cause the place was full when we arrived and our cute table for 2 at the window was waiting. The meal started off with the breadbasket and the side of lard with bacon. I had checked the reviews on yelp before we went so knew what that was. I thought it was different but was good. Try to order off the traditional menu for the hard core Polish stuff. For dinner we got the: Herring fillet in oil appetizer: Sliced herring on a bed of greens with diced onions. Very authentic. Salty, but squeeze some lemon on top to sweeten it up. Gypsy Pancake: A giant potato pancake filled with Hungarian Goulash and topped with sour cream. This was my entree and was enormous. The inside was loaded with goulash and tasted great with the pancake and sour cream. Polish Plate: Bigos (stuffed cabbage), pierogies, and kielbasa with sauerkraut. This came out as a large portion also. I tried everything on it. Great variety. Excellent Kielbasa. They haven a large selection of Polish beers. The server happily recommended a few. It was very busy during our dinner and there was only one server for the whole place so service was slow. It's a good idea to make a reservation no matter when you go. The place only has a few tables and I saw a few parties get turned away cause they were full.
(4)Nicole C.
My grandparents are from the Ukraine, so I grew up eating a variation of a lot of the things that Cafe Polonia offers on their menu. My husband and I had gone here quite a while ago and enjoyed it so much, that I thought I'd bring my parents while they were here in Boston for a visit. Honestly, I was nervous to take my father who had truly grown up on that type of food. Even though theirs was a bit different than what my Grandmother would prepare - we all loved our food and just had a great time in the little polish restaurant. My grandmother is no longer with us, and although we try to replicate her food, we don't have it nearly enough. It's nice to know that there is a place we can go for it - a place that does it well. We went traditional, ordering the borscht w/ mushroom dumplings, stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and potato pancakes. Ask for mushroom sauce over the pierogies, as opposed to the little sour cream cup - it's fabulous. Not only is the food really good, it's a comforting atmosphere - small, cozy, and friendly. Make reservations. I was glad I did, as there were several walk-ins that they had to turn away. Because it is such a tiny little place - there is no waiting area. There are two chairs they will pull up for you, but it will be uncomfortable for you, and those eating at tables so close to you. Call ahead and enjoy!
(5)Michael B.
One of our favorite restaurants in Boston! Every dish is prepared perfectly. The potato pancakes are to die for -- try them with mustard or horseradish if you ever get tired of having them with sour cream, applesauce, or goulash. They really care about the quality of what they're serving here.
(5)Paola C.
I have no idea how I have no reviewed this place yet!!!!! I mean, I'm polish and go here at least once a month here!! The place has good ol' homemade Polish cooking, just like Babcia used to (babcia = grandma). It delicious and literally tastes just like mom would make! Traditional dishes with amazing flavor! When you walk in it feels like you're walking into old world Poland, the type of place you'd find in the countryside. I truly feel like I'm back in Poland when I come into this place and its amazing to just get away. The place is teeny and has maybe like 6 tables but at the same time its worth the wait if you have a wait (altho there isnt a place to wait which is why one of the people who wrote a review was probably turned away, because you would have crowded the place even more). The waitresses are friendly although not extremely attentive but that's because its the Polish way for waitresses to leave you be and eat your food and when you need them you'll get them (at least that's been my experience from eating hundreds of times in Poland). Try the pierogi or the pyzy or the nalesniki or the kotlety.... actually just try the dinner plate because it has a little bit of the best polish stuff! then for dessert get the nalesniki (basically crepes/blintzes filled with either farmers cheese or fruits, id go with fruits for dessert) or try the szarlotka which is a take of apple cobbler and apple pie and an apple crisp all together but its delicious (dont forget the vanilla ice cream!!) It's a traditional place with a meat and potatoes kind of feel which is traditional polish... its an amazing place and you'll feel like home... the only downfall - the chairs are wooden (for that old feeling) so they can be a bit uncomfortable but just ask for a pillow under your butt and you'll be fine!! DEFINITELY GO!!! PS - get some polish beer while you're there... one of the only places you'll find some!! Zywiec and Okocim are my faves!
(5)Amy O.
This is the one and only Polish restaurant in Boston and it is delightful! Polish food is definitely comfort food; hearty, rich dishes providing you with a full stomach more so than to keep your blood pressure down, meaning, lots of pork, cabbage and potatoes. The first thing the waitresses will serve you is schmaltz, which is sort of this pork-fat with onions that you slather on your bread like pate. I passed on that but my dinner-companion raved about it's evil deliciousness. I ordered the Sobieski cutlet, which is basically a giant chicken cutlet that was really wonderful with light breading. We also shared the Polish plate, which I suggest if you are there for the first time. You really get a variety of all Poland has to offer: Hunters stew, Bigo's (pork stuffed cabbage), Pierogi's (crepes stuffed with cheese and meat) and Kielbasa (Polish sausage). Yes, it is definitely NOT heart-smart, but it is damn substantial. Wash it all down with a Polish beer and follow it with a Szarlotka (apple cake). The place is tiny but cozy and warm, with lots of lovely blonde-wood tables and Polish folk art. The only reason why I give this 4 stars instead of 5 is the location is sort of off-the-beaten-path and I think parking can be a challenge (we took the T to Andrew). I really recommend checking out this place on a cold winter's day. You'll never want to leave.
(4)Ioan B.
Nice place for polish food, I would give it a 3.5 stars if I had the choice.
(3)Nick S.
My wife and I strolled into Polonia on Friday night. It is a small room, but it has a fun, cozy feel to it. My wife's family is from Kazakhstan (sorry about the spelling) and this felt like we had visited there- same wood- same smell- same food and so on. In that respect it is really fun. There is care put into the restaurant, but with that said there were two things that will likely hold me from further stars. I.) Price Point: Compared to the attention to detail and taste factor from the restaurant right down the street (Dbars!) you are just paying too much for the taste your are getting- probably 3-4 dollars too expensive. II.) It was Friday night, and we got in ahead of people, so we were fine, but we could see that having 1 Young Man working EVERYTHING was way too difficult for him and customer service was clearly compromised. That all said, my wife and i agreed that it might be a fun place to bring our parents in the winter- just as a 1 time thing-
(3)Emily M.
I remember going to Cafe Polonia with my family and my sister's new boyfriend for my fourteenth birthday. My 20th just passed, and my sister's boyfriend has stuck around, and I guess Cafe Polonia is the great love of my early life, 'cause it stuck around for another six birthdays, too. I got six family members to look at the online menu and come up with a list to call in an order for pick up. This thing was freaky long -- everybody wanted to order at least two things so there were something like twenty-one dishes on my list before I even picked up the phone. Called and got the waiter. This dude was so Polish, and so patient. He seemed bashful and nervous that I was crank calling him since the list was so long but I told him it was my birthday and he was giggly and excited for me (love). I thought it'd be a miracle if he got it all right -- and he did! We went in a half hour later, had to wait something like 20 more minutes for the food (understandble, they had a few customers and we ordered like half the things on the menu) and he packaged and labeled EVERYTHING PERFECTLY -- each dish had its own little perfect-for-transit-package with hand written labels in Sharpie like "asparagus (for breast of duck entree)." We were also kindly seated by the same waiter as we waited and he gave us bread and lard to go with our order. The packing job he did took us all the way to Quincy with no spills. I enjoyed my Pickle Soup and Mushroom Soup in perfect birthday bliss. (By the way, if you've never had pickle soup before, and it's the soup of the day, totally get it -- briny from pickles and starchy from potatoes, dill & sour cream?-- SO. GOOD.). I've never been let down by this place. Their typical Polish stand-bys have always been great. The Hungarian Goulash is also a trip.. if you have time, they'll bake a bread bowl over a clay pot of goulash for you and bring it out like a little hot air balloon for you to rip off and feast from. If you don't like the decor I don't know what to do for you. Pine everything. And it works so well. I'm making a yelp account just for you, Cafe Polonia. 6 years strong! :*
(5)Kenneth C.
Delicious stuffed cabbage rolls. Awesome beef tripe soup and beet soup. Slow service with long wait times, but it's worth it.
(4)Kristen C.
i'm not sure if i want to give it a full 5 stars.. but it's more than 4... so... 5 it is. location isn't so awesome... but the food is. luckily there is easy to find parking on the street. small, intimate place. and for right now the only polish place in the boston area. which is surprising considering cambridge and places around have every ethnicity you could imagine. but anyway... being half polish - i've had most of the items on the menu made authentically by my mother and grandmother, so it's a lot to live up to. given that. the food was great. (not as good as home - but better than frozen pierogis) and a unique beer selection. will definitely be back. and very happy to know that they will be opening a bigger location up in salem with offerings of hungarian, russian, etc. we'll be back, don't you worry cafe polonia.
(5)Good M.
Polish dishes are authentic, fantastic and filling. Prices are great too. Dining area is a hole in the wall but comforting. Service however was lacking, our server also forgot to put on deodorant that night. Would go back again.
(4)Eric S.
I'm a huge fan of Cafe Polonia. I almost don't want to write a review because I want to keep it as much of a secret as possible. I use to make monthly trips to Cafe Polonia for lunch when I worked downtown, but now that I don't get downtown as much I really miss and crave the great Polish food! I am half Polish and make a point to drag visitors to this restaurant when they feel adventurous enough. I usually go for the Golabkis (cabbage roles) and of course the pierogis, but you can't go wrong with their polish plate where you get a little of everything. Don't forget to wash it down with a crisp Polish Lager. So if you are unfamiliar with Polish food, treat yourself and check out Cafe Polonia
(5)Russ D.
Just go! Everything is amazing. Food cooked in lard? Doesn't get any better than that. Glad to see there is a place you can eat real, natural food - not made that that toxic vegetable/canola oil crap! Yes people that's right, saturated is not - and never has been - unhealthly for you. No science has ever supported it. Anyways off my soapbox. Go eat. Enjoy.
(5)K M.
Awesome crepes, salads, and potato pancakes.
(5)Tod K.
Not particularly my taste of food. The pork lard appetizer dip was the least appetizing.
(1)Amber L.
This place is amazing! Not since I went to Poland several years ago have I had such good Polish food. Unlike a lot of my friends I do not have a Polish grandmother to cook for me whenever I visit home and have been reduced to buying frozen pierogis whenever I've had a craving. Now I have Cafe Polonia! Unfortunately I did not go late enough to get the smalec but they do have it! Also, they have this rich cherry juice that is a must try. I will definitely be returning here.
(5)Lena G.
The beet soup and meat perogies are two of the few items worth getting at this place. Everything else is overpriced, and there are a few items on the menu that are not Polish at all, such as chicken fingers. But I should emphasize that the beet soup and meat perogies are indeed very good, so they get 5 stars for that alone.
(5)Damon I.
I'm not a health nut, but America's food-guilt culture compels me to eat more healthfully than I might if I were left to my own primitive, nescient id. So, my heart understandably winced at the meal's harbinger - dinner bread with bacon lard spread O: I just turned off my conscience for the night and had a great meal in a great atmosphere. Cafe Polonia is a brightly lit, rustic ski lodge inside. There's not a whole lot of seating, so plan ahead. I started with a beer, and not being Polish, I took the waitress's recommendation for the most popular choice, Zywiec. While fresh tasting and crisp, I suspected that this beer *might* be the Budweiser of Poland so I ordered some others to sample. Lingering satisfaction was found with the Lezajsk, a more interesting suggestion with a fruity, floral finish. My dinner partner and I shared a perogie appetizer and then took turns sharing main courses. The potato pancakes with applesauce and sour cream had a tongue delighting texture. I ordered the warm and comforting Goulash which was a Polish beef stew served in a bread bowl. Were it not for the waitress's intervention, I'd have stabbed the bread bowl like a popover. Don't be a hero - ask for help. Previously, I've ordered the Polish plate which comes with a sampling of kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, and perogies. It's a great dish to try if you're indecisive like me. Everything at Cafe Polonia is rich in flavor and the experience is made even richer by partaking on a cold, wet night. If you're not a calorie counter, Cafe Polonia is an easy trip from downtown on the Redline that should not be missed.
(4)Brady B.
Fantastic! After reading the reviews and realizing that this place is a 10 minute walk from my apartment, I had to check it out. SO glad I did. My two friends/neighbors and I took a walk over to Cafe Polonia tonight after I blabbed to them how I was interested in trying this restaurant. One of the two is a true foodie while the other isn't so much, but loves pierogies. What we came to find was that, as many reviewers have stated was a cute, dining room ambiance and our Polish waitress simply could not have been any sweeter or more cute in her demeanor. To me that's 4 stars alone. And the food....we started with kielbasa twists, which were creatively sliced kielbasa with a wonderful mustard dip. The pierogi lover had fried potato and cheese pierogis which were so delicious (I'm used to the frozen kind from Shaw's). My other friend had the Polish combo...3 boiled pierogies, kielbasa, sauerkraut and stuffed cabbage...all delicious w/ the exception that I HATE sauerkraut, but he loved it. Now it's my turn, I had the gypsy pancake (love the name) which was 2 very ample sized potato pancakes with beef goulash in between them and topped with sour cream. All I can say is that my 2 friends agreed that it was the best dish at our table. I can only agree myself. This was my first time dining at a Polish restaurant and it will become a regular part of Brady's favorite restaurants.
(5)Ozzy Z.
Cafe Polonia was my first foray into Polish food, and I must say, I can't believe it took me 21 years to try a pierogi. The food was absolutely delicious, and while it is quite heavy on the stomach (and the calories), you won't be thinking about any of that after scarfing down your stuffed cabbage and pierogis, and finishing it off with one of their delicious desserts. Now, this place is very popular, and also very tiny, so don't be surprised if you're turned away because of how busy it is. This has happened to me before, and I was shocked the first time because I had never been told to "Come back tomorrow" by a hostess at a restaurant before (those were her actual words). I can understand why though, as the food is delicious, and the environment is very cozy. It really feels more like you're eating in some Polish family's kitchen, as opposed to a restaurant. I definitely think everyone should check this place out at some point or other. It's less than a 5 minute walk from the Andrew stop on the red line.
(5)Graham C.
Okay, went here with my brother and my friend. I wasn't aware there were hot Polish women, but now I am. That was a treat. I'm not sure why I had some visions of a woman with a hairy mole stirring my goulash. This place is small, like real small. It's not crowded though, which is nice. And they have a terrific selection of Polish and Czech beers. We each had two, which accounted for our higher than expected tab. But at only $4 a piece, it really didn't break the bank. If you've never had polish food, then you should get the polish plate which is like a sampler. I personally got the kielbasa plate and some potato pancakes. It was awesome. Though it's a good thing I am single, because at this very moment I'm producing enough natural gas to power the City of Worcester. I'm in talks with NStar, so lemme know your needs over the next few weeks. Good place, great food at the right price.
(4)Margaret O.
Great food, great service. Very reasonable prices. Traditional home make cooking, polish kitchen. I love this place. When ever I am in Boston I always go there. I am recommending to fry knight's cutlet
(5)Ally C.
The service was rather off-putting. When we walked in there were no employees in sight for a few minutes. We decided to seat ourselves at a table in the middle, but since there were only three chairs we pulled over a chair from an empty table. The waitress finally appeared and we asked if we could sit there. She said sure but was a little weird about it. She also only brought three menus and it was impossible to get her attention. I ended up standing up and grabbing another menu from the counter. Passive aggressive or am I overthinking? Bread was complimentary. It was kind of hard and stale. Instead of butter, they had sausage lard to spread on the bread. The food was just okay, rather greasy and heavy. I wouldn't want to have that meal again for the sake of my health and longevity. My friend doesn't eat pork and so I wanted to ask the waitress if my sausage contained pork because he wanted to try my food. We tried to find the waitress. I had to stand up and poke my head over the waitress station to ask her. (For the record, all their sausages have pork.) I guess there wasn't a great tone set at the beginning. When we walked in there was a table at the corner staring at us with wide shocked eyes. I'm not sure why we looked surprising, probably because we were the only non-white people in the restaurant? Otherwise, the ambiance was very cute and honey. I liked the decor and the feel of the interior.
(2)Le T.
The owner was washing the windows right when we entered. He asked whether we were coming in as if he was surprised to have customers. We weren't sure the food was gonna be good. We found out later that the place was actually very busy. The owner was very kind and polite and even let us take the table that has been reserved the following 1.5 hrs. He politely asks if it's okay for us to leave at about 2pm before the reservation guests arrives. We were fine with it because it's enough time for lunch. We ordered the beet soup and the beef parley soup as our appetizer. Both soup were amazing esp. the mushroom ravioli in the beet soup! We also ordered the blood sausage that has no skins. It sounds gross but it's a healthier version! We also ordered the polish plate and the veal Lichtenstein entree. Overall, very delicious authentic polish food! Hasta la vista!!
(5)Crystal Z.
I am usually just a lurker on Yelp, but this place really inspired me to leave a review. I want to stop and tell everybody that I see about this tiny little Polish gem. I have only had Polish food a handful of times since it is somewhat of a rarity in the smaller towns that I have previously lived in, but this blew me away. The pierogies were absolutely fantastic. I can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu. Great atmosphere, great service, and above all, great food.
(5)Timothy H.
Probably one of the best restaurant that I've been to in Boston. If you're a newcomer or new to Polish food, then this place is a must-go! For newcomers I would recommend their Polish plate for an entree, this way you can to sample a little bit of everything on most of their menu. There Polish sausage, meat cabbage lasagna, and steam potato/meat pierogi is guarantee to make you come back for more! I sure did, I went here five times now! Also, they serve you bacon lard as a spread for the freed bread that they serve you. Try it with a little bit of salt and pepper.
(5)Timmy L.
Intimidating and unattractive on first description, tender and delicious on first bite. After a particularly enticing episode of Diners, Dives, and Drive-Ins, my girlfriend and I decided to visit Cafe Polonia, an adorably decorated Eastern European oasis in the slightly dangerous Dorchester. Polish food, their specialty, is quite intimidating when described. Kielbasa, Pierogies, and Goulash all sound old-world menacing, not to mention that they give you lard (yes, lard,) to accompany your bread. Although it might not make for the perfect first date, don't be alarmed. The food is much better than what you're imagining and is a pleasant way to experience a new culture. For a little bit of everything, definitely order the Polish Plate. For my favorite dish, try the Gypsy Pancake. Delicate crunchiness on the exterior, rich potato inside with a filling and luxurious soup in between. Just delightful. Although I won't make the journey out here anytime soon, Cafe Polonia was a delightful experience in Polish cuisine.
(5)Breanne W.
I went here on my recent trip to Boston because of Triple D, I love Diners Drive ins and Dives and well I also love Pierogies so ofcourse this was a must go! It is such a cute little restaurant and the food was amazing! We had the kielbasa twists and the potato and cheese pierogies and everything was fantastic. The service was quick and friendly and the food was hot and delicious. Seriously if you are in the area I totally recommend this place!
(5)Kaushal M.
I was led to this place after reading the Yelp hint that "vegetarians go nuts after this place". I'm a vegetarian and I did not go nuts after this place. We tried 2 of the 3-4 available items and they were not too good. The potato pancakes are basically deep-fried patties of just mashed potatoes. Even after I squeezed out oil off a single "pancake" using 6 napkins, all I tasted was oil when eating it. I couldn't finish a single pancake of the 4 in the serving. The second item ordered was strawberry crepes. Unlike the crepes we have had before, this crepe was like a mini rolled burrito with strawberries and strawberry jelly. The service was good; we were disappointed with the vegetarian options and the food.
(1)zack t.
Whether you are on a date or a family dinner outing and you have never tasted Polish cuisine you have got to try café Polonia. A small family place with a greater then life attitude. Definitely try the tripe soup as well as their pirogue and polish kielbasa. Wash it all down with some fantastic Polish Beer and your night is made. Its not expansive and extremely fresh and delicious.
(5)Melissa W.
Fantastic culinary experience. I grew up with Polish food and have been looking for an authentic polish restaurant. Great find! Beautiful decor as well. The kielbasa is delicious and savory. The potato pancakes are delicate and great with applesauce. I really loved the blood sausage too.
(5)Abby R.
Best Polish food I've had in Boston, hands down. From the outside it looks like a diner to me, but on the inside it's a small, 5-6 table restaurant done up in a lot of heavy wood decor and nicely decorated. Our waiter looked and sounded like a Polish version of Gerard Depardieu. Which is a good thing. He was incredibly sweet and friendly. We ordered kielbasa and cabbage stew and potato pancakes. I ordered the potato pancakes because I say yes to carbs whenever presented. There were 4 hand-size potato pancakes all neatly and perfectly cooked with just the right amount of crisp and a delicious flavorful soft center. Really great. They come with sour cream and a chunky apple sauce which was delicious but not very plentiful. (I'm sure the waiter would have given me more if I had asked.) The pancakes were fine on their own though. This is not a mark against them by any means, but they were pretty greasy. In a delicious way. I would definitely order them again as an appetizer but a whole meal of them was a bit much. Not that that stopped me from eating them all. The kielbasa looked as good as it tasted. It had fancy little criss-cross cuts in it and was juicy and flavorful and just damn good. The bigos (aka hunter's stew, aka cabbage stew) was not a stew at all but a pile of soft delicious cabbage with a sour tang that was the perfect compliment to the kielbasa. I'm not doing a very good job of explaining it, but trust me on this, you'll want to try it. We went the extra mile and got the chocolate babka cake which is basically a lava cake. It was delicious, but it wasn't the best I've ever had. Totally worth it if you're craving some chocolate though, nothing bad to say about it. The plating on everything we got was exquisite and made me feel like I was in a much fancier place. Despite that, our food came out really quickly, probably only 10-15 minutes after we ordered it. It was also pretty cheap. Both of our meals were only $12, and with the dessert and a soda, the total was about $35. Value, people! I have to go back to try the pierogis....
(5)Katie W.
Cafe Polonia is a hidden gem. Friendly staff, great atmosphere. We had the borscht, stuffed cabbage, and kielbasa. Would definitely go back.
(5)Paul A.
Authentic Polish cuisine in a relaxed setting. Great food and a friendly staff. If I were a local this would be a regular stop for me.
(4)Gábor A.
Potato pancake with goulash:) yummy. If you like Eastern European kitchen, you'll love to eat here! The service is amazing, very kind people.
(5)William H.
Very intimate venue in the south Boston Polish district. There's only room for about 20 people. I want to say authentic, but that would imply it's a really good copy. This is the real thing. There's a photo on the wall of the owners with Lech Wałęsa (the president of Poland). The food was great and the man who waited our table (waiter?, chef?, owner? I don't know) was a very nice and friendly man. When we paid and walked out the door he saw and came out to the sidewalk and waved goodbye to us and invited us back. Next time I'm in Boston I'll go out of my way to come again.
(5)Leah K.
I went to Café Polonia with Andrea B., and very much enjoyed it. It's a short walk from the Andrew t-station. It's a small place but has several tables, and on a Saturday night only 4 of the tables were being used. We ordered the pierogi to share, and Andrea ordered the potato pancake with hungarian goulash, and we shared the apple crisp for dessert. The pierogi were delicious. I liked the cabbage one the best, followed quickly by potato onion (I think). My least favorite was the cheese, which tasted great, I just didn't love the sort of tough filling (imagine an extremely thick ravioli filling). I only had a taste of the potato pancake, but I thought it was delicious and crispy. The goulash tasted good as well. It was a HUGE portion. Finally, the apple crisp was fantastic. Hot, with a scoop of ice cream on top, the filling consisted of minced apples that didn't turn into mush. There was nothing bad about it, and everything was good. The service was ok. It's so small that you just have to look at the (1) waitress to get her attention. I had to ask a few times for water, but it wasn't really a deal breaker. I'll be back here soon.
(5)Ryan B.
It started with a phone call to ask if there was a wait. With 15 minutes notice, the very nice host reserved a window table for two for myself and my girlfriend. My mother makes great Polish food so I was excited to see all the rave reviews here about everything. My problem was I couldn't decide which to get! When I explained my problem, our waiter suggested I just create my own entree of a little of each. I can say with certainty that the pierogies, kielbasa, and the potato pancakes are amazing. The service was also excellent. I wanted to try the chocolate lava cake that the table next to me had and loved, but alas I was too full. I will definitely come back here if I'm ever back in Boston.
(5)Aleh V.
Well... I'm originally from Belarus which is "almost" Poland. And I went there to get some local food I used to. The restaurant is extremely far from being authentic. Probably, the only authentic thing I got there was the "Ukranian Borsch". It was good though. Everything else was leaning towards "what happens to the authentic places when they start targeting global audience". Basically, nearly half of the menu has nothing to do with Poland. The worst situation being with Appetizers and Deserts: Chicken Wings and Chocolate pancakes... yeah... yammy. Do not recommend. I'd look for another 'polish' place.
(2)James T.
I went here with a friend a few weeks ago; I had the meat Pierogi. It's a bit difficult for me to give an accurate review of their food, because I haven't been to any other Polish restaurants. However based on this dish only, I thought the food was a little bland.
(3)Shadi B.
It was my first time dinning at Polish food restaurant. I will absolutely do it again. This place gives you the perfect combination of home feeling along with delcious food. I loved everything i tried. The "Night Cuttlet" was absolutely amazing. The service was excellent.
(5)Sandy D.
I would have to preface this review by mentioning that any Polish food anyone gives me would have to measure up to my Babci's cooking, which, to me, sets the bar pretty high. That said, Cafe Polonia is a cute little place serving up all the staples of Polish cuisine--barszcz, kielbasa, pierogi, cabbage rolls, potato pancakes, etc. I ordered the Polish plate, a sampler of several dishes. It was tasty, comfort food, nothing too flashy or fancy. The barszcz (beet soup) was very nice--not too sweet, with some tasty mushroom-filled dumplings floating on top. It didn't quite meet the bar set by my grandmother's cooking, but that would have been pretty difficult. It was also a tad more expensive than it should have been, in my opinion. One big minus was the location of the cafe--in a slightly sketchy neighborhood in Dorchester. We went because we had visited Castle Island that morning, but probably wouldn't go out of the way to get there again unless we happened to be in the area. If it were in a nicer area, or closer to home, I would definitely go back again though.
(3)Brad P.
My family was in Boston on vacation and we wanted Polish food for dinner. We saw Café Polonia's yelp reviews and decided to try it. In a word this place was awesome!! It really felt like a neighborhood family owned restaurant. The service was very warm, friendly, and attentive and the food was excellent. I am not an expert on Polish food by any stretch but I know what I like and I don't like kielbasa. That being said theirs is out of this world. We had both the kielbasa twists and regular kielbasa. Their kielbasa has a slightly smoky flavor I really enjoyed. We also tried the goulash and stuffed cabbage as well they were all delicious. Atmosphere 5 - I really loved the décor. It had a great locally owned family restaurant vibe. It is a pretty small place so you would be well advised to make a reservation. Service 5 - Our server was very friendly, helpful, and seemed genuinely vested in our dining experience. Cost/Value 4 - For what we got I felt the price was a good value. Food 5 - What more can I say about the food everything I tried was great. I even tried the kishka(blood sausage) and liked it. I am not a huge fan of most blood sausage or black puddings.
(5)Samantha B.
The atmosphere at Cafe Polonia complemented the snowy Boston evening. With only a few tables, the restaurant exuded a European ski lodge with wooden chairs and pillows and rugs on the booths. The service was extremely friendly. (Call ahead for a reservation, was lucky.) The bread came with a type of spread that am still curious to learn what it was. Did a little research to discover it was probably a lard spread called smalec. Sampled some traditional Polish dishes including pierogi, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and cabbage stew. Was surprised to discover the kielbasa and cabbage stew (Polish hunter's stew) was not more of a soup but tasty nonetheless compared to a German sauerkraut. The stuffed cabbage came with a sauce resembling a creamy tomato soup. The pierogi dough was delicate with a mix of potato and meat filling. The star was the kielbasa, with a meaty grilled char that immediately caused the desire to go out and buy some kielbasa for the next day's dinner.
(4)Peter K.
Awesome Polish food, located in the heart of South Boston's "Polish Triangle" My boyfriend and I have become regulars. I learned how to cook Polish food from my mom, and I know that she would be impressed. If you have not had Polish food before, go for the Polish Plate, which gives you a great sample of all Polish favorites - Stuffed Cabbage, Kielbasa, Pierogi's, and Bigos (Sauerkraut stew).
(5)Brett P.
I went last night for a friend's birthday to this tiny little storefront place in Southie's "Polish Triangle" neighborhood at the edge of Dorchester. We had three appetizers - the smoked salmon potato pancakes, herring filet in oil, and kielbasa twists. The potato pancakes were the table favorite - delicate, not overly oily, topped with a piece of smoked salmon. The herring was dubbed rather bland by one of the herring lovers at the table who favors the more sweet Jewish style of this dish. The kielbasa twists seemed a bit gimmicky, just pieces of grilled kielbasa split halfway up into quarters and twisted, with a dipping mustard on the side. Two of the five people in our party got the Polish plate and judged it a good choice due to both the skillful preparation and variety - a portion of meat stew, stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and kielbasa. Two also got the pierogi dish - about ten small pierogies arranged in a circle on a small plate, topped by a bit of caramelized onion.. The meat variety was good, lightly spiced ground beef, and the cabbage and mushroom variety even better, rich and flavorful, a filling I had not encountered before. My only complaint would be the lack of anything else on the plate. For $15-19 (depending on whether you get the vegetable or meat filling) you'd think they'd put the pierogies on a large plate and throw on a few dollops of sides, like the beet salad I admired on the plate of my friend who had the pork loin. They have a very short but acceptable wine list, but go native and try one of the seven Polish beers available. The Warka Strong was a full-bodied amber lager with a good smack of hops and matched the cuisine very well. A shared chocolate babka for dessert was a rich and tasty ending to the meal. Service was warm, attentive and friendly. There weren't many other tables occupied when we arrived at 7:30, but the restaurant was nearly full by the time we left after 9, interesting because they are only open until 10. The bill was about $40 per person, which included a drink, appetizers, main dish, and shared dessert, so it's not as expensive as many comparable restaurants would be a few miles north in the heart of downtown Boston. For a neighborhood place offering a cuisine not frequently found in Boston, Cafe Polonia is a nice little Polish outpost.
(3)Suzanne L.
So delicious. I felt like I was back home at Babcia's, with less guilt-tripping to eat more. Always ask what the soup of the day was. In our case, it was pickle soup and it was phenomenal. I also recommend the Polish Platter, as others have said - you get to sample a variety of things and figure out what you want to order more of. The gołąbki (stuffed cabbage) were my favorite. Everything else was very good, too. They give you smalec (bacon fat) instead of butter to put on your bread. Try not to eat too much of that before your actual meal. Actually, go ahead and eat it - none of this is health food and you will invariably leave stuffed. Service was great and I LOVE the decor. Do consider making a reservation if you're coming at peak times, as there are not a lot of seats.
(5)Barry L.
I love these finds! Small ethnic polish fare with attention to details. A small restaurant with seating for about 30. Walking in your eyes are drawn to the unique chairs at the tables and how well thought out the layout is. First impression was the owner has a lot of love and soul in this place. I enjoyed the polish plate with hunter's stew, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa sausage (with mustard) and two pierogi. The stuffed cabbage and pierogi were amazing. The pierogi were perfectly boiled with carmelized onions that was simply amazing. The service was wonderful. Friendly and attentive. Atmosphere was wonderful and I felt like I was in Europe. This place is close to Boston Logan and was easy to find. For travelers do yourself a favor and check this place out before leaving Boston!
(5)Kevin L.
Came here on a Thursday night with a group of 10 and they were nice enough to give us a reservation despite the small size of the restaurant. Cafe Polonia has a nice home-y feel to it but it can get a little cold in there. The service was phenomenal as well. Highlights of the night included pan fried potato & cheese pierogis, potato dumplings, stuffed cabbage, sobieski cutlet. and the apple tart This was my first time having authentic polish food and I thought it was alright. All the dishes seemed really similar, consisting of lots of goulash and potatoes. The goulash was a little too salty for me, so everything started tasting salty...eg the gypsy pancake.
(3)Tasty Bee Review S.
Wonderful place. A hidden gem. It reminded me European cafes (of course, you will say, it is Polish..). The cute atmosphere (wooden design, bunches of wheat on walls, ethnic pieces of decor) - it is so adorable. I wouldn't change a thing in this place! The guy was by himself serving all tables (I guess, the waitress didn't show up), and he was really good and fast, and apologized many times with a smile (which was not needed actually, because everything was perfect). It was already packed when we came, with 1 table just emptied for us. And customers kept coming and coming nonstop, and there were not enough tables for sitting. We ordered traditional dish (polish potatoes pancakes with a cup of goulyash, sour pickles soup, breaded mushrooms) and beer Tyske. Loved it all except for mushrooms. That was enough for 2 of us. We don't eat a lot (we eat less than typical american restaurant plate) Please note that the beer size is larger than regular american beer size, so we shared. The taste was great, you could feel the liveliness of it. The bill was 40$. It is great to have that kind of place for diversity reason. I literally felt flashback (being back in Eastern Europe). And I wish there were more of those kind of cafes/restaurants in Boston. That's what makes Boston special.
(5)Tuy Anh P.
Opened over a decade ago, this Polish based dining establishment stays true to it's root serving locals and visitors daily. Some of the best Eastern European cuisine is found at this spot and I always make a pit stop when driving through Boston. Traditional and homemade faire, some of the classic you'll find here include the Borsch Beet Soup, the Polish Plate, Goulash Delight and we can't forget about the delicious Potato and Gypsy Pancakes! Some of the best comfort and homestyle foods that will satisfy all appetites. The atmosphere is cozy and traditionally European. Not to forget, they also serve some of the richest desserts in town.. consider the Chocolate Lava Cakes, Apple Crisp and Coffee.
(5)Janie G.
Tucked away in this Dorchester/South Boston neighborhood this cute little authentic Polish place delivered exactly what we were in search for on a cold rainy day. Blood sausage appetizer was tasty and homemade. The pierogies were delicious I only wish they were a little bigger. Less dough and more filling. Beef tripe soup had the softest melt in your mouth strips of tripe. I seriously don't know how they got it so tender. Hubby had the sour pickle soup...sounds gross right? Nope! Sooo tasty, why haven't I had this before? Yum yum, definitely going back next time I'm in town.
(4)Suzanne G.
I didn't exactly know what Polish food was before coming here, but now I know that I really, REALLY like Polish food. It's hearty comfort food that you can tell was cooked with love. My favorites are the pierogi, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, gypsy pancake, and the goulash delight (a beef stew in a bread bowl). I bet everything is amazing though. You'll want to make reservations, this place gets crowded for a reason!
(5)Kim J.
Excellent place for traditional Polish food! Service was friendly and fast. Tried the Polish plate which was a good sampling of traditional dishes including Hunter's stew, stuffed cabbage, three pierogies, and grilled Polish sausage . Tried the beef tripe soup and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Finished my meal off with the hot apple crisp which was one of the best I've had away from home!! Small and quaint. Not for large groups but small intimate gatherings instead. Highly recommend.
(5)Raisa S.
This is one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a while, it has all the European hospitality we need more of around here. There were 3 of us and we decided to order a few things and share them. Our server, who I also think was the owner was so great. He was very attentive, and genuinely cared about our experience and if we enjoyed everything. We started off with the Kielbasa twists, which were fresh and tasty. for our meals we shared the pierogis, stuffed cabbage and potato pancakes. The pierogis were definitely the highlight of my meal even though everything was good. These are one of my favorite foods and this could have been the best I've ever had. We were so full and satisfied but couldn't say no to a molten chocolate cake. I regret nothing about this. Such a cute restaurant, great service and food that's out of this world. Check it out!!
(5)Tom V.
This place was so good that I went here twice on my 3 day trip to Boston. I was largely unacquainted with Polish food so this was an awesome experience. Fairly priced, huge portions, from what I can gather incredibly authentic. Kind of a whole in the wall sort of place, but definitely worth the trip.
(5)Julie R.
This place is amazing!! We had never eaten Polish food and came here on Guy Fieri's recommendation from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (DDD) show. It's a cute little quaint place (seats about 25-30 people max), still within Boston's city limits, but kind of close to a sketchy area. So I would probably say if you're taking the T, don't go at night cause it's a few blocks away. We went with some friends so we shared two appetizers - the smoked salmon potato pancakes and the breaded mushrooms, both were good, but nothing amazing to rave about. Now for the entree my husband and I decided to share the Polish Plate, which pretty much has a little of everything. It comes with hunters stew, stuffed cabbage, 3 pierogies, and grilled polish sausage kielbasa. The hunters stew was good, but not the star of the plate in my opinion. I was a little hesitant about the stuffed cabbage, but it was amazing, nicely seasoned and juicy and so was the kielbasa!!! They gave us three different flavored pierogies and they were all good too. If you've never had Polish food this is definitely a great way to get a taste of it all, and it just tastes so amazing that you can't go wrong (unless you don't eat pork ). Service was good overall and the food came out pretty quickly. This place was our favorite DDD recommended restaurant in Boston. Would most definitely recommend to anyone wanting to have or even try Polish food for the first time like we did. We will definitely be back whenever we return to Boston!
(5)Merly M.
Prior to visiting Cafe Polonia, my taste buds knew nothing of Polish food. I knew what it was, what their most popular dishes were, and that it was basically hearty, comfort food, but I had never had REAL Polish food. Now that I have, I've got to say...it was gooooood. It was everything I thought it would be. Hearty, saucy, meaty, and full of comfort. I ordered the Polish Plate, so I could "Try it all!" (as their menu encouraged) and was very satisfied. Everything on the plate was good. Surprisingly, my favorite item on the plate was the Stuffed Cabbage. It was just so beefy and delicious! My least favorite thing on the plate was the Hunter's Stew, mainly because I wasn't sure what I was eating and there was something in it that was giving it a unique texture. Pierogies were delicious, as was the kielbasa. The man in the table next to me ordered the same plate, and was raving about how good it was too. The place itself is pretty small and intimate, with dim lighting. It really makes you feel like you're in an Old World restaurant. The waitress/hostess/only employee that was ever visible sort of took care of everyone, and she was extremely nice and very attentive. The food also came out quickly. I really have no complaints about this place; it was a great find on our trip to Boston and one I definitely recommend visiting.
(5)Elizabeth B.
Love Cafe Polonia. There are very few Polish restaurants in Boston so I was happy to find this gem. I grew up eating Polish food made by my Polish Grandma and this place is comparable. The inside of the restaurant is impeccably clean and just adorable. I love the lard and crackling spread for the bread (seriously, just try it!). I usually order the Polish plate because it gives a nice sampling of some of the classics. However, I've also had the gypsy pancakes which were delicious. Glad this place is here!
(4)Kianna C.
I used to say I hated European food. I just assumed most of it was bland and was boiled cabbage and sausage dishes. But wow was I wrong when it came to Polish food. I saw the boston episode of Triple D that showed this restaurant and it was food I had never seen or had before but it looked good. In particular, the meat pierogi. It was one of the best things I've ever ordered. My boyfriend ordered the potato dumplings and the amount I tried was wonderful. It's a good dish if you can't have pork bc it's beef, potatoes, cabbage and beets. The pierogis do have pork. I would order both again when I return to that cafe. Even though I'd like to try something new, those dishes were phenomenal. Even the dessert was amazing! Chocolate Babka was reminiscent of a molten lava cake. Another plus is the atmosphere of the cafe and how close it is to the subway. Just hop off Andrew station and its a very short walk. I would recommend and rave about this place to everyone I know.
(5)Yelena Y.
I had the perogies. They were good. I wish i had ordered what my friends ate, dishes with more variety like the keilbasa, or some porkchop with egg on it, but that's my fault. I just found the food a little bland, but it might be a cultural thing. Overall great food.
(4)Nancy C.
I went to Cafe Polonia in Aug. The best Polish food I have ever had. The beef piergoi is out of the world. I also loved the Hunter stew. Make sure you stop to Cafe Polonia it is worth heading to.
(5)David C.
Yes, I stopped here because I'm somewhat of a Food Network geek and saw this place on "Triple D" Pulling up, I wasn't 100% sold. It wasn't very busy even for a Wednesday evening. It's very small but warm and inviting. I was greeted immediately and the server was very reserved but very polite and welcoming with a smile that wouldn't stop. So.... first impression from the first few minutes washed away any concerns. The menu isn't huge but big enough to satisfy a variety of tastes. I ordered the "Kielbasa Twists " appetizer and Meat Perrogies for my traditional Polish entree. The appetizer was so simple but so terrific and clever! Sliced and deep fried into shapes that are like a meaty flower. Brown mustard and mixed greens add to the texture, freshness and flavor. Perrogies were fried and were so buttery and subtle but very tasty and filling! The meat filling was smooth and melts in your mouth. I was too full for dessert but the options looked tempting. Prices aren't cheap but not fine dining prices either, so I left feeling I got my money's worth. The experience felt like I was welcomed into someone's home for a hearty, traditional Eastern European meal.
(4)Al F.
Awesome Polish food. Haven't had a good polish meal like this in a long time. Great variety also.
(4)Mika S.
Delicious! Came here for lunch with my boyfriend and ordered the Smoked Salmon Potato Pancakes and the Polish Plate (with borsch substituted for the Hunter's Stew). Everything was absolutely amazing! Even though i'm not a big fan of cabbage the Stuffed Cabbage ended up being one of my favourites (along with the borsch). A big plus was the freshly baked bread and lard (I think it was lard) that our waitress brought us when we sat down. The restaurant was small and homey, and the waitress was very attentive. Overall, this restaurant deserves a 10/10!
(4)Miranda S.
I love this place. Excellent food, excellent service. I've been here twice and have gotten the same thing both times - one reason being it was good and the second reason being I went with different people each time - and it was a good option for a first timer. I got the potato pancakes as an appetizer (no salmon) and the polish plate as my meal. The first time I came here was with someone who was half polish - he said the food was very authentic. It's very filling, which is a good thing. I'm looking forward to the leftovers I brought home last night. I like that the polish plate is a little mix of everything. Next time I'll try something else on the menu. The guy dressed in all black that was serving and checking on people while they ate is just wonderful. He's so polite and makes sure you have everything you need. He also asked us how our meal was afterwards, and walked us to the door when we left...which wasn't very far because the restaurant was small, but still. Very nice of him :) I'll be back very soon!
(4)Kasey S.
We've ordered takeout and dined in (once each). All I can say about this place is it is FABULOUS! Going in for the full experience is much more fun and authentic, but their takeout is the same quality (and sometimes you just gotta eat pierogis on your couch). I highly recommend the potato and cheese pierogis and the potato pancakes. Can't wait until our next visit to try more new things!
(5)David C.
Dear Cafe Polonia, You had me at "bacon lard spread," but you didn't stop there. Oh no. After slathering the aforementioned lard on the softest of Italian bread, there was the Polish Plate, a ginormous sampling of all things Polish, which, for a mere $16, turned out to be the perfect appetizer for sharing amongst myself and two equally ravenous friends. I could have left happily at that point, but no, you continued to spoil me. The Gypsy Pancake, self-described as a "giant potato pancake filled with Hungarian Goulash, topped with sour cream and parsley," filled me almost to the point of bursting. It was a little burnt, but I will forgive you so long as you promise to keep the Chocolate Babka cake on your dessert menu forever. Love, David C
(4)Niki M.
Went there for our first time tonight because it came up with good reviews in a search for Polish cuisine. It was delicious! The staff was delightful. Mike was a wonderful waiter and steered us in the right direction for ordering our meals. We will definitely be back. Great bargain for the price and very authentic!
(5)Will H.
Great service, awesome food. Stuffed cabbage was great.
(5)Cindy K.
Love it here! I grew up on polish food since my family is straight from Poland. This place is the closest to my familys home cooking and just feels very authentic. I recommend it for sure!
(5)Natalie G.
Awesome pierogies! I'm vegetarian and the very polite waiter offered that I try all 3 kinds so I could decide which one I liked best. I liked them all very much!
(5)Nik A.
This is a wonderful restaurant. It is small and homey, with authentic decorations. I liked the food but it wasn't my favorite Eastern European food experience. Some dishes were not balanced the way I would prefer (the Potato pancakes). Will be back for sure.
(3)Donna M.
Was disappointed !! Do not honestly know what all the fuss is about . The borscht was watery beet juice w/ a few pierogi in it for $7!! My main course of pierogi were eh!! Dough pretty thick & fillings just ok. Tasted other dishes at the table, was not impressed. Nice people , but boring food. Really felt that the prices were high for what they serve. $15 for a plate if mediocre pierogi . Will not trust Guy Ferrtti any longer. Glad for the restaurant that a lot of other people seem to like it. Extra star for decent service. 2
(2)Chris S.
Cafe Polonia is so authentic Pleeps and I are remembering my Granny and my Aunt - killed the pierogis, killed the potato pancakes and pigs n the blanket (no not cocktail dogs) but couldn't plow thru Lithuanian kielbasa. This is the place to eat in Boston!!!!!
(5)Robert G.
Babka chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and warm chocolate sauce is magnificent. Enjoyed the Polish Dinner.
(4)A. C.
Probably the most authentic Polish food you will ever get in Boston. If you want real Polish food experience in the US, you will need to go to Chicago. The owner of the restaurant served us and he was surprised to see my husband who is a Polish American (and fluent in Polish). Great potato pancakes, bigos, kiełbasa, and gołąbki (stuffed cabbage). I felt like I was visiting in law's house. They serve other European dishes (central and Eastern only) as well.
(5)Maria Q.
Looking for a restaurant after visiting the JFK Library - one stop off the T line. Didn t think we would find anything as this neighborhood didn't seem to have much except a pizza place and a dunkin. Coming from Chicago where Polish is standard fare - we were a bit skeptical. We asked if vegetarian and at first she said no but there actually were some nice options and they offered to take the bacon off the top of the potatoe and cheese perogies. Our group had salmon on Potatoe pancakes, very good salad if pear, walnuts, cranberries, goat cheese with a poppy seed salad; and goulash which was fabulous. It was all prepared fresh and attractive plating. We enjoyed it quite a bit. Funny to find this little bit of Poland in South Boston...
(4)Roxie D.
I was a vegetarian when I ate here, and there were tons of options. The barley soup was deee-lish, and the pierogies were fresh and filling. The blintz was super nummy and a great way to polish off the carb-fest. An awesome place to go for winter comfort food!
(4)Mason K.
Amazing Polish food. The restaurant is very small, it only holds about 30 people max. For an appetizer I tried the potato pancakes. There were 4 small pancakes that came with some sort of an apple paste and sour cream. The combination of those is amazing. For dinner I had the Polish Plate. It came with 3 pierogów, 2 pieces of kielbasa, gołąbki and a sauerkraut stew with pieces of kielbasa. Everything exceeded my expectations. If I had to choose one part of the meal I did not like it would be the dessert. I tried the chocolate babka cake. It was good but not as good as some other parts of the meal. The price is pretty cheap considering it is the only place in Boston you can get authentic Polish food.
(5)Alex L.
Filling and delicious. I got the polish plate and left very satisfied. 2 pierogi (not the best I've had but still very good) kielbasa, some very good sauerkraut and stuffed cabbage. Also, the lard spread with the rye bread is a great addition.
(4)Gary D.
Went for lunch for a second time. This place is very good. I have to say I don't know why I do not eat here more frequently.
(5)Mary D.
Why is is there not 6 stars?! This place has the most amazing food! My friends and I came to sample the food and we ordered up a storm!!! Literally everything we ordered was incredible! The staff is also so so sweet! This is my new favorite place! We will be back- probably this week!
(5)Joe R.
I went there with two friends and had a great time. Since we were new to Polish food, we tried three different plates and shared them. They were all great! We ordered the Kielbasa, potato pancakes, and meat pierogies. We also added the goulash with the pierogies. All food was terrific! It's a smaller restaurant and very popular.
(4)Earl J P.
Outstanding and fairly inexpensive food! Best Polish food I've had. Those wanting to try a bit of everything would be best served with the "Polish Plate". It was a great way to sample 4 different items.
(5)Terry H.
Didn't care for the pork fat and bacon spread that they serve with the bread! Good kielbasa though!
(3)Michailia G.
I am so happy I discovered this place! Have no had real authentic polish food since my grandparents passed years ago so when I found this on yelp I was stunned. Could real Polish food exist in s. Boston? The answer was easily yes!!. First let me say I ordered takeout and the girl was so nice on the phone and even nicer when I arrived. I really liked the atmosphere of the place. Now I orders the polish plate which is exactly the three things I wanted. Kielbasa( served over sourkrout) stuffed cabbage and 3 potatoes and cheese pirogies. The moment I tasted the pirogies, and stuffed cabbage was so nostalgic! Exactly the way my grandparents would of made it. I mean exactly. Delicious, fresh, just overall wonderful. A little pricy that's why I only gave it 4 stars but I would definitely return.
(4)Alice S.
Unfortunately I just don't believe my taste buds can appreciate Polish food. My group had: - Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops (5/5) - Kishka (Blood Sausage) (4/5) - Polish Plate ( Hunter's stew "Bigos" stuffed cabbage, three pierogi and grilled Polish sausage "kielbasa" (1/5) - Potato Pancakes (1/5) I really enjoyed the scallops and kishka, but everything else was not to my liking. It's no fault of the restaurant's - it's just my personal preference. I probably will not be back, but if you like Polish food, then this is a must go.
(2)SL M.
Took Mom for some Polish food. She was thrilled with its authenticity. I now need to bring her back each time she visits. Borsch, tripe soup, bigo, kielbasa, and pierogi were all great. Super polish beer too! They had to warn me it had a 9.5% ABV. This place is small and caters to a niche crowd. You can find a table. Come here to experience the cuisine without having to travel or get some variety in the midst of the standard Starbucks crowd. Run by a Couple who were very humble and attentive. I highly recommend for a day you want to "mix it up."
(5)John D.
This place is fantastic. Great service and atmosphere Most important excellent Polish food. We had pierogies, kielbasa, some kind of veal, goulash, and stuffed cabbage. All was fantastic. Can't wait for my next visit to Boston to go back to Cafe Polonia!
(5)Peter L.
Wonderful dinner at Cafe Polonia! The Polish plate is a must as well as the perogies! The stuffed cabbage brought my girl friend back to her Grandmothers kitchen! Authentic Polish experience! Highly recommended!
(4)Abhishek M.
Bacon wrapped scallops is the reason I work my ass off to take a vacation to eat food like this. The potato pancakes were great but however a little too oily for me. The beer is great!
(5)Megan L.
Phenomenal. Pure Polish and Hungarian food and atmosphere. Service was spectacular. I enjoyed Polish beer for the first time. I had the pierogi (half potato, half cabbage mushroom) with caramelized onion. Amazing. Next time I would asked for more onion. Potato pancake was great. Apple Crisp solid. Service was so good that (as a lone diner I was reading a book) my server asked if I wanted better lighting. Can't wait to return.
(5)Christine B.
The guy working there, possibly the owner, was very friendly and seemed so please to serve us, it made it that much more enjoyable. We were served a basket of bread, and we started with the kielbasa twists, real Polish kielbasa is the best, it was served with mustard. I had the potato pancakes with apple sauce, sour cream, and goulash. I wish apple sauce was sold like this in jars, I would actually buy it. It had thicker chunks of apple but was soft to eat. My boyfriend had the Polish plate, he is Polish and that is all his mom cooks so if he approved, I know it's good.
(5)Amanda C.
My boyfriend and I go here whenever we can. The food is delicious and the servers are very friendly. The Vienna Pork Chop is my favorite!
(5)Andrea B.
Cafe Polonia's a cute little Polish place in South Boston, a quick walk from Andrew Station. I came here one rainy Saturday evening with Leah K. There were a couple tables available and we were seated immediately. I have a hunch that the lack of crowd had a lot to do with the rainy, miserable weather, because those 4 and a half stars on Yelp don't lie! Entree sizes are generous and the food is FILLING. I was a little put-off by the bacon lard that came with the bread that was brought to the table, but other than that, everything I tried, I rather enjoyed. I'm obsessed with potato pancakes, so ordering the Gypsy pancake was a no-brainer for me. This gigantic potato monstrosity came with Hungarian goulash and was topped with sour cream. Now, anyone who knows me knows I LOVE me some sour cream. I'll eat it with like, anything. So, as you can imagine, the teeny tiny little dollop that came with this epic pancake was nowhere near enough!! I made my way through just about half of it (yes, it really was that big) before wrapping the rest up and taking it home. We also got the pierogis. You get to choose whether to get them boiled or fried (get 'em fried - duh). They come stuffed with either cheese, potato and cheese, or cabbage and mushroom. Never know what you're gonna get until you bite it and find out! They were decent, but nothing to write home about. The menu features a whole host of tasty entrees, so I will definitely have to come back to try a few more things. We shared the apple crisp for dessert. I don't need to make this review even longer by describing it other than to say it was phenomenal. Oh, but I have to add - when I opened the takeout box to eat the rest of my pancake the next day, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had packed some more sour cream to go with it. SCORE! I'm not gonna lie - I was totally going to give this review three stars, until I saw that extra cream. Love you, Polonia!
(4)Michael C.
I came in the late afternoon for a lunch. The place was only half full but the young waiter had a hard time keeping up with attending to us on some of the basics, such as giving us water and making any kind of recommendation Here is what we had: Polish Plate - Tradition polish plate. I really liked the flavor combination Potato Pancake - Almost like a big hash brown if you've never had one before
(3)Chris M.
One of the best restaurants I've ever been. Whoever is cooking that food is doing it with vast amounts of love.
(5)Scott K.
We ate here earlier tonight. The waiter was friendly, the polish beer was good. We ate the polish plate with had a good selection of various polish food as well as the gypsy pancake followed by an apple crumble. Food servings were huge and everything tasted great!! Be sure to try the apple crisp/crumble.
(5)Kevin H.
This place is great! I took the hardest polish food critique - my Polish aunt, and we both loved it. The pierogies and the kielbasa were the best! thank you
(5)Chris B.
I can't even pronounce half the things I ate. But it was all so good. I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant that only served Polish cuisine. Guess there's a first for everything. The restaurant is pretty small and cozy. The server was friendly and helpful as we studied the menu. Overall the food was great and I thought the pricing was on point.
(4)Caroline H.
This place is amazing. Fresh, authentic, mouth watering Polish food. This is a unique restaurant to Boston for a number of reasons. First off, it is warm, cozy and charming inside. There is nothing better than walking into a place such as this after trekking through the snow. When you walk through the front door you immediately feel a soothing warmth from the environment, and the smell of comforting food engulf you. There are not many tables, so if you have a large crowd you might want to consider calling ahead. Starters: smoked salmon- you receive a large portion of this. Well worth it. Entree: whole rainbow trout. Yes, WHOLE. This is one of the few places that I've been to serving this. Simply amazing. Bigos is delicious as well. Dessert: the chocolate cake is really to die for. If you are too full from dinner I really recommend taking this to go :) it's on the small side, but it is so satisfying. This place is a must go. If you have a chance, afterwards check out the little authentic polish deli across the street. AMAZING.
(5)Ashley G.
Cafe Polonia is right in my neighborhood which is great! I've never had a bad experience here and I've always had super friendly service. Their food is delish! I would recommend the Gypsy pancake (high five if you can finish it!) and the stuffed cabbage is out of this world!
(5)J. R. H.
Best authentic Polish soups and entrees I have enjoyed in USA since my last visits to Warszawa and Krakow. Service was outstandingly good as well.
(5)Megan M.
In preparation for my trip to Boston, I checked Groupon everyday for deals. One night, I was out with my Polish friend, Lindsey, who was going with me to Boston. When we saw the Groupon for Cafe Polonia, we couldn't resist. I can only think of one or two places in Miami that have Polish food, so we were really looking forward to going. We've had enough rice, beans, and plantains! Bring on the kielbasa, pierogis, and borsch! It was a bit far from everywhere else on our itinerary, but it was worth it, and the ride on the T to get there wasn't so bad. A few blocks from the stop, we found this cute little restaurant that looks like it could belong to Lindsey's Polish relative's dining room. We ordered the pierogis, borsch, kielbasa, and potato pancakes. Everything was delicious. I don't typically care for beets, but the borsch was surprisingly good, and I'm always a fan of potato pancakes. The only thing that was a bit off putting was the little cup of lard they served with the bread. I ate my bread plain.... Service was good. A little slow, but we weren't in a rush. Prices were good for the portions, and I definitely recommend ordering a few things for the table and splitting it. We did that, and left stuffed without a huge bill. Cafe Polonia made me wish we had good Polish food here in Miami!
(4)Ann Marie M.
Yum. The food here is delicious, and authentic! It's a good place to go with 3 or more people so you can try lots of different things. It's a great spot if the wait at 224 is too long- worth a try!
(4)Chris C.
My dinner group came here for dinner on a Friday in January. RATINGS: Food: 3.75 Service: 2.25 Decor: 2.75 Total: 3.25 CAPSULE REVIEW: Cafe Polonia, while receiving an overall score of 3.25, was regarded as one of the more lackluster FF experiences in recent memory. Between the "terrible service," the food that "seemed to lack flavor," and the decor that was "a little bland," there wasn't much love for Cafe Polonia. "Even Turkish prisons serve bread and water to their 'guests' but not Cafe Polonia." A few lone holdouts held some faith in the food, but these sentiments were tempered by the service. "Excellent food cannot entirely erase the terrible service." One reviewer indicated he'd gladly return... to the Salem location. Sadly, the Salem location has closed. DINER COMMENTS: Very fun night with hearty winter food. -- Wanted to like more than I did. Excellent food cannot entirely erase terrible service and boring decor. Been to both locations. I'd gladly go back to Salem over Boston. -- Kielbasa and saurkraut... yes, please! The pierogies were a little on the mushy side but still flavourful. Service was a little lackluster but allowed for good conversation and an enjoyable evening. Decor was a little bland but wasn't detrimental. -- Overall the food was good, but seemed to lack flavor. Also, I discovered this morning that it was decidedly salty. The portion was more than adequate for a big boy like me; I have the gypsy pancake (potato pancakes with goulash) and I was full after dinner. -- Polish Platter was lukewarm at best. Kielbasa was tough. Pierogi was overcooked and bland. Tomato salad w/mozzarella and avocado was good even for tomatoes being out of season. Sauerkraut was quite good even cold. -- Even Turkish prisons serve bread and water to their "guests" but not Cafe Polonia. My polish pupu platter was a mix of unintentionally hot and cold items. And no apple crisp! On the other hand, the food had a nice homemade quality with fresh ingredients. -- Hole in the wall with Pretty delicious and unique food but utterly terrible service - no water for the table, no offers of refills - just wish the service has been snappier - its not a huge place
(3)Joe B.
??? I don't understand how this place receives such rave reviews. The food (kielbasa, in this case) tasted like store-bought pre-cooked sausage. The kraut had no real zing and we found the other dishes bland. I've visited Poland 4 times and taken a native Pole to this place. We consider the quality of the food worse than mediocre. That said, the service seemed decent and the people welcoming - hence the third star.
(3)Jake K.
Small, very small. Recommend you call ahead and get a reservation - even for a party of one. Service was very hands off - if you wanted them there, they would come, otherwise, once your food is out, they leave you alone. The food seems intimidating at first, so if you don't know your Polish foods very well, I recommend the Polish Platter. You'll get stuffed cabbage, kielbasi, pierogis, and some golanka (hunter's stew - lots of sour cabbage). Prices are a bit high, but I thought it was fine for what I got. If you're in southie, this is worth a trip if you're near Dorchester Ave.
(5)Feodor H.
Located in the South Boston/Dorchester, this Polish/Hungarian place is authentic in every sense of the word. We went there for dinner, lured by the shining of four and a half stars on Yelp. The place was half empty early on a Saturday night, so we sat down and prepared to enjoy the food. We ordered Blood Sausage as an appetizer, followed by Pierogi, Potato Pancakes and Goulash Delight. We waited for a while, and then waited a little more, and started to feel very hungry. It seemed like they could have served the appetizer by now. Then we got all the dishes coming at once - pierogi, pancakes, goulash, which was wonderful. But I wanted to try the blood sausage. Our waitress apologized and said that she had forgotten about that order. She said she could go and "check" on that, but we cancelled it - who needs appetizers when you've already got entrees. Potato pancakes were the best, crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside, they had great taste and texture; overall, perfectly executed dish. Goulash was fine as well, very tasty, although I was not a big fan of bread bowl. Pierogi were just ok. We finished our meal and waited for another 10 minutes before dishes were cleaned up. Then it took another 5 minutes for the waitress to offer us desert menus. This might sound ok, but it was not a busy night at all. We decided to go with Chocolate Babka Cake, but were told they did not have it available. So we got an Apple Crisp, which was ok. We also wanted to get coffee (this is a "cafe" after all), but were told by the waitress that the coffee machine is out of order. We then decided to go with tea, hoping for some authentic polish "herbata", but this turns out to mean a cup of lukewarm water and a Lipton teabag. We asked for a check, which upon inspection had a charge for an appetizer. It took another 10 minutes of waiting before this could be fixed. I also found the interior design heavy-handed. Walls are decorated with fake stonemasonry usually appropriate for the outside, and solid wood chairs are heavy and have high backs, making it impossible to lean back and relax. Overall, I'd rate this dining experience as very authentic. This is especially reflective of the level of service. P.S. There is a polish food store across the street from the cafe. We went in there out of curiosity right after that dinner. They sell, among other things, homemade pierogi stuffed with cheese, cabbage and mushrooms. Hand-packed and frozen in zip-lock bags, they looked suspiciously similar to the ones served in the cafe. We bought a dozen for like $4 (or something, i.e. cheap) and cooked them at home soon thereafter. I have to say, these ones tasted even better.
(3)Margo R.
I loved Cafe Polonia when I was there a few months ago. It reminded me of my family's cooking. Especially love the rendered lard instead of butter - definitely awesome.
(4)Aoran L.
Awesome place to have Polish food. I had the soup Zurek at Poland when I stayed at my Polish friend's home and loved it so much. Cafe Polonia does not have the soup on the menu. But when I asked the waitress, they told me they could do that for me!! I felt so happy to have the soup again!! The potato pancakes are delicious too. One thing I should recommend is the Zywiec beer!! Try this popular Polish beer from my friend's hometown :)
(5)German G.
This is my favorite restaurant in Boston. Let me list the reasons why: -the bread comes with an addictive (if guilt-inducing) bacon lard spread. -the food is great. It's flavorful and heavy and satisfying, yet doesn't feel like it's loaded with gratuitous oil. I've probably tried half of their entrees and never been disappointed. The polish plate is probably best if it's your first time, but in my experience the gypsy pancake, knight's cutlet, royal duck and others are also great. -portions are huge. If you get one of the big entrees ($16+) you basically have two choices: either pack half of it to go, or unbutton your pants and eat until your belly is about to burst. Part of the reason is that some entrees come with several sides not listed on the menu: things like beet salad, mashed potatoes, cooked apple, sauerkraut, hunter's stew... -the servers are Polish and clearly nice people. E.g.: once I came here for my birthday with some friends, and the waitress spontaneously gave us a free cake for dessert. The only downsides to the place are: first, it's small, so it's a bit risky to come without a reservation. Second, even if you get seats, when the place is crowded the kitchen quickly gets backed up and you may find yourself waiting 1hr+ for your food. To avoid this I've taken to coming either very early (say before 6) or late (after 8).
(5)Alex R.
It's the best Polish restaurant in Boston. Because it's the only Polish restaurant in Boston. It's OK, not great.
(3)Zeke B.
My wife and I enjoyed home made pierogies and stuffed cabbage. The place is legit. Decorated like a country cottage, complete with fireplace. Friendly service. I thought my mother might be in the kitchen making the galumpki's.
(5)Kamille W.
I went back to Cafe Polonia for dinner the other night, and I gotta deduct a star. Although the service was just as attentive and well-intentioned as the first time I stopped by, the waiter was pretty all over the place. He was so frazzled! I don't think it was his fault though; there seemed to be some problems happening in the kitchen. There were definite issues with the timing of the food. First, the appetizers were delayed (we tried the smoked salmon potato pancakes this time -- they were ok, but the blood sausage is still my favorite). Additionally, despite asking for all the entrées to be brought out at once, they came out piecemeal. I tried the beet soup and wasn't wowed by it, although the mushroom ravioli that came in the soup were outstanding. The waiter intimated that they had a new chef, which may explain the inconsistency in the quality of the food. All that being said, I still really like Cafe Polonia and would go there again. I just hope that things are a bit more together next time.
(4)laura W.
Delicious. Heavy. Eastern European Bliss. Don't expect any vegetables... or to be able to sleep on your stomach that night. But do expect really great service, authentic Polish food and an adorable atmosphere. And, c'mon, try the bacon and lard. It's incredible.
(4)David W.
First time to try Polish food, I am not sure if it is a traditional Polish food. but the taste is unique, but not my favor.
(3)Casey C.
This is the first spot we ate in Boston. This little restaurant is amazing! My husband and I shared kielbasa and cabbage stew, and had two polish beers. If I wasn't on a mission to eat my way through Boston in 3 and a 1/2 days then I would be back repeatedly! Tiny place with great service, fabulous food, and awesome Polish beers! Wish I'd thought to take a picture of my food before I devoured it :)
(5)Tad S.
Sorry. But I was really disappointed. Started with the drink I had, Coke, or so they said it was. No way, I drink it everyday, I can tell Coke from Pepsi; and I don't mind those two. This was different, not sure if Kirkland or shasta, or Diet,as I ordered regular, but waitress insisted it not being diet. Ok, enough about the weird soda. Almost everything we had was short on flavor. It's been weeks since I visited, and sorry, I just could not let this place get away without letting everyone know, polish food is much better than what they serve here. Borsch was runny, and threw in a ton of dill, I get it for the beets, so add more beets than dill. Pierogi, mushrooms and cabbage should have lots of mushrooms, dried, rich in flavor; what I had was missing it all. Potato dumplings, I could not even finish one of them; too dense!! I could build a house with them. Only item I did enjoy, was the blood sausage, but I doubt they made the sausage there; just cut it open heat it up and serve with caramelized onions. I was too afraid to order any dessert. If this is going to be your first time for Polish food, avoid, you do not want to associate this place with Polish cuisine. I left this place scratching my head, and my wife agreed, how the hell did this place have so many stars on yelp? My only comment to her, local polish people, instead of eating here, would stay home and leave reviews. I did not see any polish people eating here...use that as a sign.
(2)Ro C.
I'm a solid Polish gal who loves some solid Polish food. This was my foray into Polska cuisine that's not my mother's. I thought everything was pretty solid. The waitress wasn't really a waitress. You could tell with her sort of inorganized way. I had pork cutlet and some Polish root vegetables. Loved it. Good stuff. And then I crunched down on something gritty. Uck. No thanks. That doesn't get finished. My strapping fiance has himself a mixed Polish platter, having a little bit of our nation's finest and well known food. A + great taste for him. His soda was a little off, like it had been from a soda bottle gone flat. The father in the booth next to us commented that it was gross as well, so it wasn't just his glass. On the whole, I like that this place reminds me of my grandmother's house. Wood paneled walls, Polska trinkets, and that unsettling doll in a crochetted dress. The place is a little small, and the prices are a bit high for food I'm used to getting served up by my Mamusia.
(3)Aura S.
Great potato cakes, salad, borscht, sausage! Really enjoyed trying this place! Good service too!
(5)Ana R.
We stopped here on a whim for a late lunch - my friend had had good experiences here before, and I was curious. I ordered the porkchop, with fries and gravy. My friend ordered the potato pancake with beef stew. The potato pancake itself was actually really good, and if that was all I'd tasted here, I'd say this was a great rustic place. But the beef stew and the porkchop were both worse than ho-hum. My porkchop came with a stiff scoop of mashed potatoes instead of my fries. I pointed this out to the waiter and my fries came out about ten minutes into the meal, and were greasy and bland. We were the only ones in the restaurant for some time, but service was slow and pretty bad when we actually received it. If the waiter wasn't altogether ignoring us, he was chatting up a storm and interrupting our conversation. It's a small place, max 20 seats, it's sunny and comfortable, but the decor is pretty bad. I won't go back and I wouldn't recommend it. Not much better than frozen food, in my opinion.
(1)Iaroslav M.
I've been here once, and I loved it! very authentic, rich in flavors, very attentive wait staff. Try borscht, goulash,and babka for dessert if you want some delicious polish/ukrainian food. they have a great selection of polish beers too! The only eastern European restaurant in Boston I can recommend to my non euro friends
(5)Justin S.
This restaurant is located in South Boston, but sports a very traditional inside with a cobblestone walls, wood floors, and Polish furniture, I was told. The entire staff is Polish except for one waiter who is learning Polish. The typical garnish in Poland is pig lard called szmalec which is absolutely the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted. I think it has beaten the British with their Marmite, and the Aussie's with their Veggimite as the most disgusting garnish for a food (and it's apparently really hard to make good szmalec). But aside from giving you my personal opinion of a food garnish the actual food at the restaurant is wonderful. The pierogi was the best I've ever had, stuffed with either meat or cabbage. I highly recommend the Polish plate which gives you the full variety of the Polish palette, such as kielbasa, pierogi, potatoes cooked 5 ways. I also recommend the beet soup better known as borsch. My friend is Polish and she eats here at every possible opportunity and she has a very picky opinion of food. I also recommend the beer, good varieties of German and Polish. You'll also find much of the food is similar to German cuisine, with which I am personally familiar.
(5)Mike K.
I don't claim to be an aficionado of polish food, but if this is the best than wow. I had the polish plate, Hungarian potato pancake,and the borscht. It was all amazing. I went there with a friend who is polish and has a babcia from Poland. She said this was very authentic and she loved it too. We will definitely be back.
(5)Rachel S.
This restaurant is crave-able, as in I will be craving its food soon and often. The food is phenomenal! Went there for lunch today, and ordered the kielbasa and cabbage stew entree. The kielbasa was cooked well - exterior was crispy and interior juicy. The cabbage stew was the real surprise. Flavorful, not overpowering, great compliment. My husband ordered the potato pierogies, fried. Those were also very good. Additionally, enjoyed the pork lard with bacon bits that accompanied the bread basket. Will be back soon!
(5)Kendall M.
Before coming here, I ignorantly wouldn't have put Poland and culinary in the same sentence. Now I find myself wistfully saying things like "oh I'd love to do a culinary tour of Poland." It's that good. Let me qualify my assessment by saying that I eat a lot of food. When you tell me about that excellent restaurant you ate at last weekend, at the end of your gushing, I ask, "but can I afford to feed myself there?" And while it would be convenient if I preferred quantity over quality, sadly, I only derive satisfaction from the happy marriage of both. In my most recent visit, I devoured half of a Polish Plate (which has Polish sausage with caramelized onions and mustard, stuffed cabbage, and potato dumplings), half a Gypsy Pancake (two Polish potato pancakes stuffed with stew), a Chicken cutlet platter (with some deliciously pickled sides), and 1.5 slices of cake. And the bread, which comes with a lard spread that I asked for seconds of. I'm not really sure where that all went, but it was so good that I just kept putting it away. Absolutely everything, even the sides and sauces, were delicious. Nothing was overlooked. Usually even at a great restaurant and a great meal, you feel something didn't shine as bright as some of your other choices, but literally each component of every dish held to the same scrumptious quality. This is the kind of restaurant where you could close your eyes, poke decisively at random spots on the menu, and do fabulously. The prices, while not keeping within my preferred single dollar sign category, don't feel overblown. It's solidly a $$ venue, but your money goes a long way. I know I said I ate all those things, but the average person will be stuffed upon finishing even one of those dishes to themselves. I also really enjoy the atmosphere (once you get inside and off the street) and the service. I've always been treated warmly there, and always somehow end up sitting cozily by the window on a sunny day. Finally, if you ever have company in the city who you feel might not appreciate some of the more colourful eating options that you yourself usually prefer, this is the kind of restaurant that can safely accommodate grandparents while not boring your inner culinary adventurer. And, after careful consideration, I do believe this is my favorite restaurant in Boston.
(5)Nick K.
Good Food, I recommend those new to Eastern Europe, to have the variety plate.
(5)Nicole L.
Absolutely amazing!!!! We take a good friend to a different ethnic restaurant each month for the last couple years and this was by far or favorite place. She is an incredibly picky eater and we were pleasantly surprised. Started with the polish plate as an app. It was a combo of kielbasa, pirogi and stuffed cabbage. All super tasty. Then we (my fiance, my dinner tour buddy and myself) shared the stuffed cabbage, gypsy pancake and boneless pork chop. The stuffed cabbage comes with either a tomato based or mushroom based sauce. Both delish, but I have to give it to the red sauce. The goulash in the gypsy pancake tasted like a delicious beef stew and the potato pancake was cooked perfectly, crispy around the edge, amazing. The pork chop was perfectly crispy. The stuffed cabbage with red sauce and gypsy pancake are a must try. So glad to have leftovers to eat tomorrow!!!! Oh and let's not forget dessert. Babka!!! Perfectly baked chocolate cake with a warm gooey chocolatey middle, topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Best chocolate molten cake I have ever had. Can't believe this place has been around for 14 years and I had never been until tonight.
(5)Katty H.
This restaurant is still spectacular. Every time someone is in town I take them to this place. My mom, dad, stepmom and mother-in-law all had wonderful experiences here. The first three, all being from Cleveland (and one who makes her own pierogies!) , could compare their meals to equivalents made back home - all well received. My mother-in-law had never had pierogies and fell in love with their pillowy texture. This restaurant is always on the top of my list for "things to do" in Boston! A little side story, my stepmom wanted unsweetened iced tea, but Cafe Polonia didn't have any. So she said, "Oh that's alright, I'll have a cup of hot black tea with a cup of ice and I'll make one myself!" Then behold, the server comes out with a glass of iced tea - which he made himself in the kitchen from hot tea. Didn't have to, but did. So nice!
(5)Joshua H.
According to a dear friend, who conducted a *pro bono* meta-analysis of my Yelp Reviews, I am due for a four star rating in order to give my ratings a normal distribution, or else...the Mayan prophecies will come true. Oh well, despite the possibility that I am bringing about the world's demise in three months, I highly recommend that you should visit the lovely Cafe Polonia in Southie- FIVE stars worth. The staff was very nice and the whole thing seemed relatively authentic. I ordered the Gypsy Pancake ($16) which was a huge portion of their potato pancakes with goulash between. It was phenomenally delish. Recommend recommend. Recommend. I will say: the food was a tiny bit salty (that's too be expected), and the food was a bit on the expensive side, though by no means outrageous given the huge portion. Overall, however, I will definitely go back if I am in this area before Doomsday.
(5)Peter K.
A fantastic Polish restaurant! The Polish Plate is the way to go, a sample of everything, and everything is amazing! The pierogis, the kielbasa, the stuffed cabbage, the hunter's stew. Incredible!
(5)Wilson C.
Every time I come here I can feel my soul purring with happiness. Try the pickle soup if they have it - so so good. I almost always get the gypsy pancake - it's like two giant potato latkes with Hungarian goulash inside, and sour cream and dill on top. The beers are strong, dark and unique and complement the food wonderfully. Polite and prompt service - a must try.
(5)Loretta C.
The blood sausage and beef tripe soup were sublime! The herring in oil was lovely and the kielbasa was yummy! Nice atmosphere, wonderful waitress...a must-go-back-to restaurant!
(5)Sarah S.
This is a great whole-in-the-wall restaurant. The decor is quaint and the dining room is extremely clean. The food is delicious and the coffee is nice and strong. The service and atmosphere are very relaxed so you do not feel rushed and can enjoy your entire dining experience at your own pace.
(5)Mandi M.
Just like Babci used to make. Spectacular Polish food. The Polish rye/lard starter looks questionable, but is very yummy. The stuffed cabbage ("gwumpkies"/gulabki) is spectacular - I prefer the mushroom sauce, since the tomato sauce is thicker than how my mother makes it, but the tomato sauce is good enough, too. The platskis (latkes/potato pancakes) are to die for, especially with sour cream. I highly recommend the gypsy pancake, which is two platskis with goulash in between them. Absolutely heavenly. I don't even have words for how good it is. Polish pupu platter is yummy, and my mother really enjoyed the beet stew (borscht, I guess) with pierogies inside. Be prepared, because they give you a LOT of food. Desserts seem to be pre-made/bought elsewhere, but they're pretty good as well. Good Polish beer selection, too. The service can be sort of iffy at times, but I'm guessing it's because the waitstaff is all foreign and they expect you to flag them down, which is pretty easy, since the place only seats about 20. You'd be crazy not to give it a shot.
(5)Simon L.
A lady friend and I went here for dinner recently. I haven't been in over a year since the last experience was full of mediocrity - this is my fifth attempt at satisfaction at Café Polonia. The atmosphere was better than I remember, a little dimmer on the lights maybe? Anyways, start with the pierogi - half cheese and half mushroom and onion. These Polish delights are served with a bit of sour cream and some of the delicious bacon bits, bacon fat and fried onion as a side. These should be served with the traditional roux with added butter but sour cream will suffice. Couple delicious beers. The royal duck came and was most unfortunately very over cooked. Plain, and overall a disappointing dish. Lacking in flavor, the meat was dry and tough. I'm Polish, I guess you might say why would you order duck at a Polish resto? Answer: I've ordered many of the other items on the menu and have been similarly disappointed. Also, stuffed roasted duck is a very eastern European dish that is served in many restaurants ranging from Polish to German to Alsatian to those further east. The cranberry sauce was good. The potatoes were lacking seasoning, salt, butter, and flavor of any kind. Lady friend had the pork loin in mushroom sauce. The sauce was the one winner on the table. Again, the pork came up dry and without much seasoning, over cooked and tough. Blandness is a common complaint among much eastern European cooking. I can tell you from both home cooking experience by both family and extensive travels in Germany, Austria, Poland and France, it does not have to be so. In fact the East Side in New Britain, Connecticut does a decent job of putting some flavor in the bug. Although Jacob Wirth has it's share of critics, I have had better wiener schnitzel there than that served at Café Polonia, although they call it boneless pork chop at Café Polonia, it is essentially the same thing. It pains me to say this since I love Polish and German food and this was one of the first places I drove to when I arrived in Boston. You are better off heading across the street to Euromart or Baltic Market and getting some fresh, house-made kielbasa, hot horseradish, rye bread and fresh pierogi and making your own little Polish fest. Bottom line is that while Café Polonia offers a quaint, romantic and cozy experience, the execution is missing consistently. My visits have all lacked the savory deliciousness of true home cooked Polish/Eastern European meals. The best thing on the menu is probably the borscht. If you go, order beer, borscht, and kielbasa and get out.
(2)Adam A.
There is not much that I can say here which hasn't been said already. This is an unbelievable restaurant with delcious food, friendly service, great value, and a cute ambiance. I will elaborate on one item: The almight Gypsy Pancake. It is ridiculously good. Think beef stew between two massive french fry pancakes - but better. The flavors go together perfectly. Everything else I tasted was awesome. I envision myself being back her around once a week, especially in the winter when the hearty food will warm me up.
(5)Sue H.
Oh, Cafe Polonia... This is starting to become a dangerous love affair. Ahh, this hidden little jewel is the place to go for Eastern European specialties in Boston. Everything about it screams AUTHENTIC (yes, in big capital letters). I absolutely love the restaurant's decor -- It's like being transported back to Europe! Uh oh, I'm starting to get a little sentimental... Why? Cafe Polonia, why must you do this to me?! 'Cuse me while I take a stroll on memory lane... Favorite dishes here are the Potato Pancakes and the Polish Plate, which I'd actually recommend ordering together. The latter is a heaping taste of the restaurant's specialties: Stuffed Cabbage, Kielbasa with Cabbage Stew, and Pierogi. Round it out with an imported Polish beer (they've got a nice little selection) and you've got yourself the perfect meal. Oh, and how can I possibly forget to mention the bread and lard/bacon spread? So indulgent, yet so right. This is not the place to go if you're looking for a "light" meal. The food here is so hearty and comforting -- you'd be doing them a disservice by ordering just a salad. Warning: skinny bitches, stay away.
(5)Jennifer W.
My husband and I stopped at Cafe Polonia after a long day of travel and wanting a good meal before our 2 hour drive home from the airport - what a delicious find! We were there on a slower night, so we were immediately greeted by a friendly waiter, and he was SO incredibly helpful. He recommended various beers and dishes to go with them, and we were served bread right away. We couldn't decide which dish or combo we wanted, so he offered to come up with a custom dish that had a little bit of everything - potato cakes, pierogies, sausage, and I forget what else. It was PERFECT! It's a small little place, and the decor is of course quite old-europe, but that its part of the charm. We had a delicious meal, great service, and a wonderful experience.
(5)John S.
This place is small and cozy family operated establishment worth visiting. It has the feel of an authentic restaurant you find on a small street in Europe. The service was friendly and most helpful with suggestions for first timers. The food is excellent and value priced. Selection of beer and wines were all good pairings with the menu. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Vivian C.
A short walk from Andrew Station on the red line stands a small, but bright and cheery place with 28 seats - 7 tables set for 2-6 people each. It has a single private bathroom and a single pleasant waitress. A pile of magazines sit in the corner, and the other two parties in the restaurant at 6pm speak to the waitress in a language I do not understand. I am excessively early for my 6:30pm reservation for 2, yet she welcomes me and seats me at a table for four with a basket of bread and some ice water. The bread and lard is tasty, but I do not eat too much of it. It reminded me of British fried bread that I had attempted to create once after making bacon for breakfast... The restaurant is more than half full by the time my friend arrives shortly after 6:30pm. We end up sharing the Gypsy Pancake $16 (two large potato pancakes sandwiching a goulash of beef and mushrooms in gravy with a nice swirl of sour cream and topped with a little grape tomato) and the Goulash with Potato Dumplings $14 (which came with two cold salads - shredded red beets [sweet] and pickles [sour]). I think we both preferred the Gypsy Pancakes with the crispy potato edges. The beef in the goulash was tender. For dessert we selected the fruit crepe $4, which turned out to be a blueberry version - tasty, not too sweet, nice crispy/tender crepe.
(4)Daniel B.
When you walk through the door at Cafe Polonia, you step out of Southie and into Eastern Europe. Big, sturdy tables and chairs that are immaculately clean, as was the rest of the dining area. Great decor as well. But the food, oh goodness the food. It was simply incredible and both of those words are important: simple and incredible. I've only been there once, but went with a large group so I got to see many dishes, which was exciting (since I'll be going back, a lot). I had the borscht and stuffed cabbage. The borscht was amazing: a beety, earthy, intensely red broth with mushroom dumplings. The dumplings complemented the soup perfectly. Garnished with parsley, which was noticeable throughout. The stuffed cabbage was quite good, not extraordinary though. It had a very mild flavor, both from the meat and the cabbage. Was served in a simple tomato sauce, which was good for dipping. The lard and bacon mixture for the bread completely blew my mind. From what I saw and heard from the large group, the rest of the food was just as good. The gypsy pancakes (potato pancakes with goulash in the middle) looked amazing as did the Knight's Cut pork loin. I really want to try the pierogi, but there's so much other good stuff to try. So yes, make sure you eat here. Soon, and often.
(5)Brad S.
A majority of Polish blood is coasting through these veins, but I don't come from a family that really celebrated it while I was growing up. So while it might seem a little odd that the guy coming to Boston for the first time makes his first meal one of kielbasa, pierogis, and stuffed cabbage, I loved absolutely every minute of it. Though offering the food isn't enough - there still has to be a competent cook working in the kitchen, and from the presentation to the flavors, competence was never in question. To summarize, anything that involves the sauerkraut should be shoved into your food hole immediately.
(5)Jake M.
Oh wait, so it's lard?! That decadent spread that comes with the bread? We were trying to identify it amidst chocking it down as hastily as possible in order that they would bring out more as quickly as possible.... Lard with bacon.... Good God! If everything else here wasn't sufficient for 5 stars, that would push it over the top. But that's just gravy - this one's the easiest 5 star review ever. I'll leave it to the sundry other reviews to go into details. The Lady Friend and I ordered it all - or as much "all" as we could assumed we could reasonably get down. We were almost right on target with our selections - pierogis, kielbasa, stuffed cabbages - the perfect amount for two that would ensure not having to be rolled out the door. We'll be back, and promptly, and severally, for everything we missed. (....lard with bacon..... who knew!)
(5)Jim W.
We had a great meal here last night. I always enjoy any kind of authentic ethnic food so having a true Polish restaurant around is great! Generally a good sign at ethnic restaurants: folks dining here speaking the native tongue. Now I know that Kishkas are not something hanging out of your clothes if you dress inappropriately, as my Mother-in-law had me believing. The food and service were really good although my kids were a little slow to jump on board-they kept sampling this, sampling that, but never really dug into any one item, so maybe not the best place for kids if your kids aren't feeling adventurous. We had perogies with applesauce & sour cream, potato pancakes, an appetizer of scallops wrapped in bacon, and chicken dish ( I can't recall the name). The entree came with mashed potato's and two salads: pickle and beet. I liked it all, but I had the beet salad all to myself. Next time we'll come without the kids and try more adventurous fare. Oh-Schmaltz!-with your bread you get fat with caramelized onions and bacon. You can ask for butter. And I thought schmaltz was just annoying blather as in: "I wish William Shatner would stop with the Kirk-schmaltz already!"
(4)Alex R.
I live right up the street from Cafe Polonia and have been there a number of times. Every time I'm extremely happy with the service and the food. A couple of times they were close to closing and I called up and they still allowed my party to come in! Excellent! The goulash delight is fantastic. Nice flaky biscuit bowl with their delicious goulash. The potato pancakes are great; they're not too greasy with good texture and flavor. The polish plate is a great way to start to get an intro to some of the different items served here. I believe most of the sausage/kielbasa is sourced from up the street at Euromart or another Polish deli, which hand makes their sausage (Euromart is worth a trip on it's own for great bacon, ham, and kielbasa). In any case, they had me with the lard/bacon that's served with the bread. Any place that throws that down as a topping for bread is excellent in my book.
(5)Sina E.
This tiny place gave us a great dining experience. It's not hard to miss this place, because when we were walking toward it, there was no sign, and it looked like it was just a house. We didn't get reservation for this place, but I would suggest it, because it seats maybe 20 people. We were lucky it wasn't busy, and were seated right away. We tried a variety of dishes, and all of them were great. The polish plate gives you a taste of everything. The stuffed cabbage was delicious. It has rice, meat, and different spices. The dish also comes with pierogi. Pierogi is essentially like dumplings stuffed with variety of stuff like meat, onion, mushroom, etc. "Bigos" is a stew and includes cabbage, meat and sauerkraut. It goes well with the Kielbasa. The interior is bright, and the seats are wooden benches. It really has that comfy, authentic feel to it. When I'm back in Boston, I will definitely come here again, and would highly recommend it to anyone.
(5)Audra F.
Having seen reviews commenting on the tiny size of this restaurant, I called this morning right when they opened to get a reservation for my wife and I for our anniversary. The man who answered was very apologetic that they were fully booked for the whole night (by 11am!) but when I said it was our anniversary and I'd take any time, he asked if he could call me back while he checked with the night manager. A half hour later, he called with a time within 30 minutes of my original request! I was so delighted. (What I didn't know then was that this was the last day of their Groupon. Perhaps most Tuesdays they aren't this busy, but it was insane tonight!) We arrived early for our reservation and were seated immediately; the host/waiter even thanked us for coming early! The space *is* wicked tiny but cute -- clean blond wood furniture, cozy close but not uncomfortable -- and the staff were super friendly despite the non-stop stream of customers. We didn't know exactly what we wanted but the waiter walked us through the options, made excellent recommendations, and was really patient given it was him and one other person working all the tables and the register. We got the borscht with dumplings (sweet, peppery, scalding hot, divine), sour pickle soup (weird name, awesome taste!), mixed pirogi (cheese, potato, and cabbage, all super tasty and buttery), the potato pancakes (crispy, kind of garlicky, amazing with the applesauce), and the Polish plate (kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, more pierogi, all super savory and nicely spiced). There was a hot spiced wine being offered which we ordered and guzzled down like kids with orange soda. As I said earlier, today was a groupon expiration day, so the place was packed but despite the folks waiting for tables, we never felt rushed. The vibe was really comfortable and I'm so grateful that the staff went out of their way to get us a table when I called this morning.
(5)Sepide S.
The food was not compatible with our taste at all, it was oily but we loved the chocolate cake, so yummy
(3)C L S.
One word, delicious!
(4)Annette A.
Oh Boston, ale jestesz szczliwa! Being 100% Polish, I've spent hours with my grandmother preparing pierogies and can say that the pierogies at Cafe Polonia, whether boiled or fried, are spot-on. Also, kiss your grandmothers if they've got any Polish in them, because pierogi dough is some of the most finicky stuff you've ever worked with! Prepare for a real Eastern European meal, complete with hearty lard spreads, spiced meats and chunky soups. Cafe Polonia is cozy. Eating here is like eating in your aunt's kitchen. It's obviously not a building made to house 100 guests, but that's kind of the charm that comes with European/Slav dining. I would recommend reservations if you absolutely need them, as you may end up having to wait for a table if you show up at a rush hour. The servers have always been sweethearts, patient even when it's busy. This isn't the kind of place where you can complain if business isn't fast enough. Slow down, relax. Your aunt would smack you upside the head if you complained about the done-ness of your burger. Show up here with some friends and a light-hearted dismeanor and you'll be in heaven. It's definitely worth the MBTA ride. Smacznego!
(5)Karyn V.
We ate dinner at Cafe Polonia over the weekend, and it is now our top place to go to for a delicious inexpensive meal in the Boston area. Located in Andrew Square, Cafe Polonia is tiny and cute. The look and feel of the restaurant brought us back to when we were visiting Warsaw and Krakow a couple of years ago. The menu is written in both Polish and English, and the friendly waitstaff are more than willing to go over the menu with you if you are not familiar with traditional Polish cuisine. We shared an order of the pierogi (potato and cheese, cabbage and mushroom, and meat) as an appetizer ($12). For our entrees my boyfriend ordered the potato pancakes with apple sauce and sour cream ($12), and I ordered the chicken tenders with peppers, onions, and mushrooms ($12). We happily devoured it all, and somehow we were able to share their homemade apple crisp for dessert ($8). Yum! We will definitely be back in the very near future. For those who plan on going, be sure to make a reservation. Cafe Polonia doesn't have a ton of seating and is quite popular on a Saturday night.
(5)Jed W.
Small place, long wooden benches along one wall and smaller wooden tables with high backed wooden chairs through the rest of the room. Polish pop music on the sound system. I arrived at 4:25 on a weekday end the place was completely empty. I said "just me" and the waiter said "plenty of room for that!" And chuckled. I asked what's good and he said "everything" and then asked if I'd had Polish food before and made a couple suggestions when I said I had. I ended up getting the Polish Plate, an order of potato pancakes with salmon as an appetizer, and blackcurrent juice to drink. The potato pancakes were more fritter then pancake and were served hot with a thin-cut slice of smoked salmon laid on top and a dollop of sour cream on top of that. They were slightly oily but very tasty - crisp on the outside and soft inside. The closest thing I'd had to it before was in a little pub/resteraunt in southern Ireland. Don't know if that's because both cultures rely heavily on potatoes and seafood or because the recipe was brought by one of the many Polish immigrants to Ireland. The Polish combo plate had 1 pirogi, a kielbasa (sausage) with cabbage and mustard, and 3 small Noodle-wrapped dumplings stuffed with cabbage. Everything was delicious.
(5)Trish M.
First off, this place is adorable without being kitschy. Pros: super friendly & helpful staff, great selection of Polish beers, crazy good apps and soups (we had the herring, kishka, kielbasa, potato pancakes, borsch, mushroom soup and pickle soup). And out of the four entrees ordered, 3 were also delish (the mixed pierogi plate, the Polish plate and the Goulash Delight). Con (and there's only one): I was served possibly the driest piece of pork ever cooked (pork loin in mushroom sauce). It was, however, our first visit; I'll be happy to give another entree a shot when we visit again - which we are sure to do soon!
(5)Joanna E.
My boyfriend is Polish and we both really enjoyed this restaurant. The potato pancakes were amazing and so were the pierogies. Very authentic Polish food and the inside was small, but very cozy and cute.
(5)Jason L.
Homemade Polish food in a quaint and homey restaurant is the perfect winter time craving, and probably worth the trek to south boston for those wanting some home cooking. I felt transported to another country, as we we sat in glossy wooden chairs and greeted with bacon lard. We tried as much as we could sample by ordering the Polish Plate and the famous Gypsy Pancake. The gypsy is gigantic, and heavy enough for two. It's perfectly crisped pancakes were filled with a hearty Hungarian goulash that wasn't overly watery like some other pictures I've seen. The novelty wore off halfway through, and probably should not have tried to devour it all by myself. The kielbasa tasted fresh, but in all honesty, it was pretty similar to many other sausages I've had around the city, and with Jacob Wurst down the street from me, I think I'll save the trip next time. The pierogies had a hand-rolled and homemade dough wrapper. Everything else including the stuffed cabbage and sauerkraut were all ok. Nothing was bad, it was just decent euro comfort food, albeit I felt the whole Polish plate was missing some sort of seasoning. Overall, it seems to be the real deal in terms of Polish cuisine (the ex-Polish president ate here), but I wonder if this place benefits more from the fact that its the only Polish restaurant in boston. Food (6/10) Plating (N/A) Decor (3/5) Service (3/5)
(3)Melissa M.
Something is awry. I've returned at least five times since my last review. I'm completely underwhelmed -- and still hungry. Nothing was as good as it was the first time. I grew up with homemade pierogies and kielbasa. The pierogies had NO TASTE. Seriously, bland. I had her take them back and fry them since they came out boiled -- I'm not a big cook, but even I take the time to fry my pierogies. Boiling pierogies almost ensures a poor consistency, like wet rubber. The waitress did not seem to like me for doing this. I love that they serve Zwyeic beer, but that's about all I love about this place. The sour pickle soup is a good option to try, but I won't be trying Cafe Polonia again.
(2)James M.
Their wine isn't too expensive, between 20-$35 a bottle. Potato pancakes are delicious, dumplings and goulash are marvelous. Wasn't a fan of the Pork Loin in Mushroom sauce. Was a bit dry.
(4)Vivian H.
Haven't really had Polish before (except Kielbasa) so was excited to try this place out, since it's like the best representation around, right? It was good (not great).. but again, didn't have lots of past Polish exp to compare it to. LOTS of food -- we ordered the Polish Plate & the Boneless Pork Chop for lunch, both had leftovers. Lots of meat and cabbage. LIKE A LOT.
(3)Denis L.
Friendly service and nice rustic ambiance here. Pretty much as good as it gets for this type of place. Pierogis great? Check. Sausages great? Check. Good Polish beer selection? Check. What more do you want? I didn't get a chance to try the potato pancake but it looked awesome. Definitely want to try the Gypsy pancake the next time I go. Reasonable prices to boot.
(5)Nate Y.
Meat! Boy, I do like my meat and Cafe Polonia serves this up in spades. It's a small place so make reservations or be prepared to wait if need be. It was fairly apparent that this little restaurant's reputation had proceeded itself with only our reserved table being available at 7:30. Decor had lots of wood of the pine variety. The rafters, tables, chairs were all made of pine. But never mind the decor, it's the food that you're after here. To begin you have your bread with lard and bacon bits for a spread. This reminded me of when my mom would cook bacon and pour the fat into a jar to be used for later. This is exactly what the spread was. Not for me, but if you need some extra cushion for whatever, be my guest. I had a taste of the salmon potato pancake for an appetizer. Two potato pancakes with smoked salmon on top and dollops of sour cream, mmm, very good. I then had the Polish plate which includes stuffed cabbage, pierogi, and grilled kielbasa. The kielbasa was great, not salty like Hillshire Farms. Pierogi was good and the stuffed cabbage was excellent. I don't usually like cabbage but this I like (probably had to do with the meat stuffed in it). I still had room for dessert so I tried a cheese blintz and it was tasty as well. Although the food isn't fine dining the presentation of each dish was excellent. I also had a traditional Polish beer called Zywiec. As another patron yelled over its between a Budweiser and Stella Atrois. Yes, quite the range, but it's true. It even has a correct temperature indicator in the back which reminded me of Coors (lame), nonetheless it was good enough. Considering there was only one server, she handled things very well with several dining parties and two of them large (ours being five and another with ten). It was only toward the end when we were waiting for our bill it was a bit lacking. She was on the phone taking a break, which was understandable, but even after asking for the bill, she stayed on her phone for another ten minutes or so. Overall a great dining experience for some authentic Polish cuisine. Definitely a solid four stars.
(4)Jenny N.
Do you love bacon? And sausage? Well, then you'll probably love Cafe Polonia because there's an abundance of both here. Bacon, being a versatile meat product, is used effectively to wrap everything from mushrooms to scallops, mixed with lard to be eaten on bread (I'm not a fan of this spread though), and cooked with stewed cabbage. We started off with two oversized potato pancakes with smoked salmon and sour cream, which were really excellent. Note: The portions are extremely generous, so bring on the stretchy pants... I then moved onto the sausage. The homemade smokey kielbasa is grilled to perfection and served with a heaping pile of sweet and sour cabbage stew (of course, studded with bacon). I surmise that there must be a giant pot of cabbage stewing in the kitchen, and Amanda H. said that Polish people must eat cabbage at every meal like Asians eat rice. Hmm.... I only finished half of my kielbasa/cabbage entree (the rest was devoured by the boyfriend who declared it the best sausage EVER), but I was too stuffed to eat more than 2 bites of dessert. Suffice it to say that it was a hearty meal--perfect for a cold wintry day. Our waitress was really sweet and she let us linger over our meal, digest and converse loudly despite us taking up a large table in her very small restaurant. I really enjoyed the homey atmosphere and admired the sturdy pine furnishings. Who knew one could find a little slice of Polish culture in Dorchester? The even play polka music here! But reservations are key here. As we dined, we saw many people come in from the cold only to be turned away. Don't make that mistake!
(4)Finn M.
My trip to Cafe Polonia was very hit-and-miss. I got the borsch (beet soup) on the recommendations of other Yelpers, and it was very delicious, warm, sweet, and tasting strongly of delicious beet goodness. I'd never had polish borsch before, so I wasn't expecting something quite so thin, though: it was all broth, and not a trace of solid food to be found. Delicious to be sure, but $6 for vegetable broth seems a bit steep. The blood sausage, which came ground up on the plate (not in sausage form) was VERY oily -- I'm not finicky about that sort of thing, but it was clear that they cooked the sausage up in a lot of oil and then just dumped the whole thing onto the plate. Oil was coming out the sides of the sausage pile and running onto the plate. Huddled amidst the oily taste were damning tones of metal, the hallmark of bad blood sausage. It just wasn't appetizing at all. Entrees were stuffed cabbage (tomato sauce) and pierogies (meat). The stuffed cabbage was delicious: the tomato sauce was thick and rich, with a subtle sweetness that begged for chunks of bread to lap the leftovers up with. The cabbage was cooked perfectly: firm enough to withstand handling, but soft enough to yield to the edge of a fork, without a tough or gamey bit to be found. I found the meat pierogies to be a bit lacking, but only in the flavor department. I got mine boiled; I found the texture to be wonderful, and I, too, have to question "Melissa M" for her criticism that the pierogies "came out boiled." Pierogies are ALWAYS boiled; having them fried in a little bit of butter afterwards is cool, if that's your thing, but a boiled pierogi is not an error, it's authentic. The filling could use a little more love, as it just wasn't very flavorful, though it was smooth and pleasant on the tongue. I've seen a couple people indicate that getting sauce is an option, but I didn't realize this; the bits of onion it came with were heavenly, and salvaged the dish from snoozeville. For dessert, we tried the bobka (of course!) and the apple cake. Both were great. I love apple pastries as much as the next person, but was pleased to find that the name held true here: it was indeed a cake, only it had a layer of delicious baked apples in it. The bobka was rich, and the warm chocolate in the middle... yeah, that's a winner (though sadly, they were out of ice cream!). It was a VERY slow night at the restaurant; Kasia served us and was definitely a joy. She only paid attention to us when I made eye contact with her, but I appreciated that, since we were clearly taking our time, and were in no rush to leave (nor was she in a rush to wait many other tables). Excellent service, and a very cute restaurant. I just wish they'd done a few more things right in the food prep. Next time, I'll be getting something with potatoes.
(3)Karen B.
The food was very good. We had the Polish plate which offers a nice variety of various authentic Polish dishes. The restaurant is small (only 6 tables) but clean and welcoming - very European. The service was very good and the waitstaff was friendly. My only complaint was that the temperature in the restaurant was very cold. It was in the 40's outside but felt colder in the restaurant. We were at a window seat, so that may have contributed to the chill.
(5)Teri L.
It was my birthday and damnit! I wanted polish food that was so used to when I was married. My son really enjoyed this restaurant so he made reservations and off we went. The dining room was very small but for some reason worked very nicely for our 6 people party. Maybe because it was 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon? dunno but made me happy. The decor was simple, clean lines and cute. Joey ordered apps of blood sausage (Kishka) and Kielbasa Twists. I'm just not a fan of Kishka so I tried a microscopic portion followed by 1/2 glass of diet soda. I'm good with that. The twists were crispy and delicious! Main entrees: John, Mandah and Matt had jumbo potato pancake that were soo crispy and tender with a dropped egg on top and sour cream. I wanted to eat it all but I don't think John would have appreciated that. I had stuffed cabbage (Golabki) Could have used more sauce inside the filling but it was very good. Jess had Polish Plate which had 1 stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and pierogies. She seemed to enjoy it all. Joey had Goulash with dumplings. Big positive there too! Now since it was my birthday I needed chocolate and this chocolate babka with melted chocolate inside was amazing! It wasn't sickeningly sweet so it was perfect after a great meal. Very solid 4 and whenever the need for Polish food arises I will come back to Cafe Polonia!!!
(4)Raymond L.
Don't let the size of the restaurant fool you, its actually a pretty good place to eat at Though we ordered what the menu said "Best appetizer in Poland" which is fish fillet with onions apparently, the fish is actually served raw...but the waiter clarified that in Poland, the dish is served raw, hence all the onions on the fish...but its not their fault, you either love them or you don't I ordered a Steaks Tips, which I enjoyed a lot. It's very tender and juicy and totally worth the 12 bucks...not to mention it is very filling. I'd come here again in the future
(4)Tony K.
This is the real deal for Polish food. I grew up on this stuff and its really hard to find anywhere, let alone in Boston. To be honest, the only place outside my mother's kitchen I have found food this good is in Williamsburg/Greenpoint Brooklyn and I think Cafe Polonia is better. I went on a weeknight and the place was pretty dead. The (Polish) waitress was nice, speedy, and helpful. I ordered a bunch of old favorites - fresh kielbasa (smothered in onions plus horseradish! yes!), pierogi, and stuffed cabbage - and we shared everything family style. There were lots more items on the traditional menu that I will be coming back for including potato pancakes and cabbage stew. They had a whole contemporary menu too which I can hardly imagine ever getting to with all the stellar classics. If you have never had Polish you need to come here to try it! If you love Polish food you need to come here! Basically, everyone should probably eat here.
(5)Eric S.
Good Pierogis fried..nt steamed..Not a fan of the stuffed cabbage no taste but the sausage kabob is delish and the bread and butter goes well with their food..Probaby will try other items but nt sure when i'll frequent the area
(4)Sarah C.
It was a bitter cold night in Boston and we wanted some serious comfort food. One of my girlfriend's suggested Cafe Polonia, home cooking like her babka use to make - sure to stick to our ribs and keep the cold out. We found this little hole in the wall restaurant at the end of Dot ave among Catholic schools and neighborhood bakeries. We had made a reservation - as we had a bunch of people with us and were glad we did. This is a tiny little place with about 10 tables in one big room. The tables are close together and there is no room to wait if you can't be seated right away. On a bitter night as that night was, we did not want to have to wait outside in the cold for a table! I loved the decor. It was traditional and yet modern. Loved the light color of the wood they chose for the restaurant - it opens up the whole room. It was decorated with knickknacks that you would see at your grandparents house but was not kitschy. We all sat down and ordered a round of fun polish and eastern european beers, yum! They even had a really interested hot spiced beer for the cold weather. It was a great combination of mulled cider and lager, tasty! The rest of the evening just went from bad to worse...and I'm not sure who to blame about it. It was a Friday night and somehow there was only one waiter on. ONE waiter to clean the tables, seat the guests, take the orders, fill the beers and bring the food out. This waiter (gosh I wish that I remembered his name!) worked his butt off. He was amazing, but it was just too much work for one person. What manager/owner allowed this to happen? This means that we have to wait 3x for a refill of beer, and everytime someone waiting outside popped their heads inside to see if the table they wanted was cleared a blast of freezing air hit us. We ended up just wearing our coats the whole time. All of this would be forgiven (and totally understanding that it was not this waiters fault he was all alone) if our food has come out and been amazingly tasty - but it wasn't. The general feeling was the food was mushy and bland. We got the bread and butter when we sat down (it was actual lard with nuts in it haha) but the bread was hard as a rock. We ordered a few orders of the kielbasa twists as an app. They were slightly rubbery and not spicy at all. It almost tasted like a hot dog and not like a polish sausage. I ordered a full order of pierogis - 3 of each the cheese, onions and cabbage and mushroom. They tasted like store bought pastry with fillings. Not the polish homecooking I was thinking. I had to dunk each one in sour cream to get any flavor. I have very little experience with eastern european food except for the few days I spent in Prague on a back-packing trip, but I don't believe this is how Polish food was suppose to be. Did we get them on an off night where they were just overwhelmed and slopped food out? maybe. But still left disappointed... at least the beer was good...
(3)Greg j.
One of my favorites this place is a unique hidden jewel . Located next to Andrew square your doing your self a disservice by not going here. Very nice decor my guess since I've never been there is what a resteraunt in Poland looks so authentic that i expected ivan putski to bring me my food lol .And the food is amazing I've tried almost every thing on the menu the goulash was good but mostly broth . My two favorites were the perogi sampler and the kilbasa with sauerkraut and the potato pancake were great too .
(5)Luckie L.
A hole in the wall joint with horrible street parking but with excellent food.. The decor is very contemporary with what looks like polish antiques scattered all around.. Nice wood table and even the chairs were wooden (no cushion).. I had the scallops wrapped with bacon sitting on top of spinach and romaine lettuce as an appetizer.. In which I must say was cooked to perfection.. I had the veal cutlet for an entree with mash potato, pickles, and beets for sides.. The veal was lightly breaded and a bit over cooked but overall, a excellent entree.. I'm definitely going to dine here again and a must try for first timers..
(4)Deanna D.
We loved Cafe Polonia! The restaurant is very cute, cozy, and well decorated. The waitress was very nice and the service was fast and friendly. She explained the beer selection and made grate recommendations. The food was delicious! We got the Pierogi's and Gypsy Pancake and Crepes for desert. All the dishes were very well seasoned, tasty and authentic. The pierogi was as good as my friend (who is Polish) home made ones! We loved everything about this restaurant. We will definitely be back and bring all our friends. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for authentic Polish food and great ambiance!
(5)Jonathan M.
Great place for a cold fall night when you're hungry for some stick to your ribs Polish food! Went on a Friday night, little bit of a wait but the waiter who also was the host was very accomodating.. Great Polish beer selection..I got the Polish pilsner and she got the warm spiced beer which was so good I wish I got myself one! Appetizers: Bread w pork lard- Good Potato Pancakes- very good but needed some salt Kielbasa Twisties- Very tasty Dinner Polish Plate- combo of pierogies, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, and a pork laden sauercraut...The whole thing gets a Ten! Stuffed Cabbage- with creamy mushroom sauce, very large portion, she took home half Dessert Dutch Apple Chocolate Babka- better than anything I've had at Finale, I would go back for this alone!
(4)Erica M.
As a 100% Polish person, this place is as close as your going to get to eating in your Babcia's kitchen!! Have eaten there numerous times when I don't feel like slaving in the kitchen to make golabki by hand. Favorite items on the menu are the beet soup, pickle soup (!!!) and the Polish Plate, which is like a sampler of all the classic Polish dishes. DON'T FORGET ABOUT BRUNCH!! They recently started doing brunch on Sundays! Was there yesterday (1/10/10) and had the potato pancakes topped with bacon and sunny side up eggs. So yummy. The potato pancakes were crispy and potato-y and one can every go wrong with bacon! Check out Cafe Polonia!
(5)Moomin T.
I would give this place four stars except for one reason: the prices. The prices are ridiculous. However, the food is quite good. I'd say the pierogi are pretty top-notch. The potato pancakes--eh--I've had better. The lard spread for the bread: yummy, don't be grossed out by it. It's just like solid gravy. But what on earth is this place thinking charging you $16 for a plate of potato pancakes at lunchtime? This is insanity. If they lowered their prices, I have a strong feeling they'd draw in many more patrons and have a better business.
(3)Cherie C.
Such a fabulous place! It's small, so make a reservation if you want to go on a weekend. The service is very friendly; if you aren't familiar with the food or the beer, they'll help you out. They'll also provide a pronunciation if you like. They have a good selection of Polish beers, so if you drink you should try some Zywiec or Okocim. We had a kielbasa appetizer, made with delicious smoked kielbasa. Believe me when I tell you that not all kielbasa is of the same quality. Try this and you'll understand. It's a simple menu item, but they elevated it with the presentation, cut in a sort of exploding firecracker shape and served on mixed greens. Beautiful and delicious. Before dinner you'll get a basket of fresh slices of rye bread. You'll also get a plastic ramekin of what I thought was butter with bits of nuts in it. We soon realized it was cold fat with bits of bacon. Really, it's just another fat like butter, I suppose. But not good for those with cholesterol issues. My boyfriend loved it but I did not. I ordered zurek, an soup made from a base of sour rye. It's an Easter tradition. It was wonderful, sprinkled with fresh dill, sour and hearty but not too heavy. But my boyfriends forest mushroom soup was sublime. Hands down the best mushroom soup I have ever had, and I've eaten a lot of mushroom soup. Rich and flavorful and everything a soup should be. I ordered a boneless pork chop as my entree. It came with a cold beet salad that was excellent and a delicous sweet cabbage stew. Again, a simple pork chop was elevated to new status by using excellent meat and preparing it with care. It took me a while to try this place since the menu online didn't seem that exciting. Now that I've been there, I can't wait to go back!
(5)Pauline S.
I have been recently introduced to the total delicousness of Polish food and this place was like a capstone course to my months of sampling and learning. Went here with my 100% Polish boyfriend and his parents and the very fact that they were pleased speaks volumes. Our server was friendly and gracious and everything seemed like they went back there and had a Polish grandma whip it up. For a vegetarian this menu is a happy challenge, but I have to say Polish food isn't exactly vegetarian friendly in general so I just had to work around that :) Borscht=YUM Definitely worth venturing to this kind of unsavory neighborhood to sample. Note: it's definitely a teeny little place so best for dates/a small family kind of thing. All in all I loved it and hopefully you will too.
(5)Ellen C.
This is another treasure that I wouldn't have known about if I hadn't read about it on Yelp. They even had a People On Yelp Love Us sticker on the window (as well as a Phantom Gourmet and Zagat). Ditto what others said about its cute decor and about it being SMALL. It's quaint and it's easy to get to. We went mid-week and got there right as they opened at 11:00, so we were the only ones there. The waitress was very polite and attentive. The food was excellent. I wish I lived closer so that I could go more often. EDIT (for all of you who are mentioning the lard served with the bread): Lard - real lard, not the partially hydrogenated stuff - is healthier than butter. It has half the saturated fat (bad stuff) of butter and twice as much monounsaturated fat (the good fat) as butter. Eat it with a clear conscience.
(5)Daniel R.
Well, what can I say... Meh. I've experienced better. This place is very clean and relaxing, and the smell inside almost made me pass out from happiness. The service was good and could always be found in the small dinning area. On the other hand, my meal was the exact opposite of what I expected. The bread they gave me before my meal seemed like it was baked a couple of days ago. My steak tips were overcooked - hard and salty. The mashed potatoes were bland and dry. The mixed vegetables, well, they emptied an entire salt shaker on 'em. This meal was a disappointment. I can't imagine the food is quite this bad on the regular. This mush have been an off night. Too bad I'll probably never know, though.
(2)Evan E.
I'm an American who spent a year living in Eastern Europe. My entire experience was of the highest quality and authenticity. The ingredients were great, the dishes were well prepared and the beer selection was very authentic (albiet beer from that region tends not to be the most complex). I look forward to going back and would recommend it to anyone.
(5)C. S.
Just went back with my bud the other day... just as good as before! The two of us split four entrees... I'm not a big person, that took a concerted effort... I've still got a food baby two days later. So good.
(5)Eve S.
Get a Polish cookbook and make your own dinner. I was so let down by this place. Tasteless white bread, came first. Waitress was pleasant but not easy to understand, and everything we needed, we had to call her for. We were one of two tables occupied. We asked for kilebasa plate, stuffed cabbage and potato pancake. Out comes two pancakes, medium in size, some stale potato chips (huh??) and a dinky portion of kilebasa. Then the stuffed cabbage. Overcooked, cabbage was almost nonexistent, filled with a meat that had neither flavor or texture, that's probably what my cat rejects when I crack a can for him. A plop of tomato sauce on top. Then dessert. Blintz filled with canned blueberry pie filling. This looks like Polish food, but believe me, it isn't Polish food.
(1)Al C.
Awesome ....outstanding food.
(5)Kari C.
In Krakow Poland I had the best meal of my life. I came back to the states and thought it could never ever be replicated. Cafe Polonia proved me wrong. On there menu I found my much longed for fried potato pancakes sandwiching Hungarian goulash. I was in heaven. While wasn't quite as phenomenal as the original, their Gypsy Pancake was the most amazing thing I've had in Boston. The restaurant is quite small, about six tables, so call ahead to check. Their wait staff is very pleasant (and Polish). Grab yourself a Polish beer, order some pierogi and soak in the feeling of Grandma's dining room.
(5)Mandy D.
My friend and I came because his German teacher told him that it has great food - and she was right! We started with the salmon potato pancakes, they were amazing and the scallops wrapped in bacon - also great. For dinner we split the Cafe Polonia sample plate, it had kielbasa, sauerkraut, perogis, and cabbage - everything was amazing! The price is right too! A great find! We will be back!
(5)Billie M.
Now, I'm no linguist, but I'm pretty certain that zupa grzybowa lasu translates into heaven in Polish. Or something of the sort. The forest mushroom soup that Polonia is offering as a special is so amazing, my last dining companion was a little frightened as I slurped my way through a cup of it in record time. And thank someone upstairs for the soup, because it managed to distract me from heaping unholy amounts of bacon studded lard into my mouth before my meal came out. Seriously, bacon studded lard on slices of white bread...who knew a heart attack tasted so good? Entrees are delicious and hearty, perfect for a chilly New England night, but not necessarily a place I'd go on a hot summer day. I mean, if you want to sweat out kielbasa and cabbage, more power to you, but I'll keep Polonia as a stuffed and warm, time to go to bed dining option. The fried pork tenderloin in pounded thin and deliciously greasy, topped with cold beet salad to sop up some of the oil, it's a chewy, crunchy, tangy delight. The veal tenderloin has more flavor than the pork, but tends to be on the drier side, still the ubiquitous cold beet salad evens this out as well. Pierogis are homemade and taste it, and really, who can mess up pasta like dough stuffed with cheese and potatoes and meat? I prefer them boiled, but I wouldn't kick the pan fried ones out of bed youknowwhatImean? Last, we get to the kielbasa. I could honestly eat kielbasa morning, noon, and night. And while I appreciate that Healthy Choice has made a pretty tasty turkey version so that I can still make it up my stairs without having to take a rest halfway through, sometimes you need the real deal. And this is the real deal. The outside has the perfect snap, giving way to an inside of hot, soft, smoky meat magic. While I typically enjoy the friendly and accommodating wait staff here, I'm glad they are savvy enough to stay far away from the table while I am enjoying this delight. Snapping jaws and glaring side eyes are not the way to make friends. Rumor (or, I guess fact) has it that their sister-deli across the street sells the kielbasa for home consumption, but I love the vibe at Polonia so much that I haven't quite made it over to check it out. So, looking for a warm, friendly, neighborhood place that will warm your feet, your belly, and the cockles of your heart? Run, don't walk (trust me on the cardio) over to Polonia. Nie ma za co!
(5)Meg P.
I live down the street from Cafe Polonia and have been there several times in the past few months. Being half Polish, I brought both my parents on their separate visits, and they both loved it. It has great ambience, a very sweet staff, and the food is about as authentic as you can possibly get without homemade Polish food. The pierogi are almost as good as the 12 pounds of them I ate when in Poland...and that's good enough for me. The stuffed cabbage and the kielbasa are also very good - and all the meat they serve is available across the street at the deli that operates the restaurant! I love it there and will continue to go back. Also, the spread they serve with the bread is in fact lard - it also has pork in it. However, like other reviewers have said, it's not unhealthy. If you can get over the name and the texture, it's no worse for you than butter. It's traditional Polish - so if you want authentic, that's what you get!
(4)Kai L.
A very cozy and small restaurant. It felt almost like dining at a friend's home. It's always a good idea to reserve before hand, especially if you are going there on weekends. I am a semi-vegetarian, so the choices at Cafe Polonia were not that many. I did choose the rainbow trout dish. It was pretty good, perfectly grilled with a nice flavor from the stuffing. The only downside is that it is a bit dry. The pierogi is pretty flavorful and my friends did say the stuffed cabbage was very good (has meat though). The cheese cake is a MUST try. Definitely one of the top three cheese cakes I had so far (and I am a dessert snob). We also had the herring fillet on oil. I really liked it. It was fresh, tasteful, and refreshing. But it pretty much has to be eaten with the raw onion to bring out the flavor. It may be acquired taste for some. Just another warning, we were a bit curious about what spread it was served with the bread. We thought that it was lard. It tasted good, but as soon as we suspected it was lard, we sort of stopped using the spread. Judge by yourself and you may like the flavor.
(4)Art F.
This is our third visit to Cafe Polonia. I am hesitant to give 5 stars for any service, but this place deserves it. Right from the moment we entered the door the service was friendly and attentive. The food is always great and served as you want it. The waiter even asked if we wanted different music (we asked for Polish music and got it) and if we wanted more light. The ambiance is very much like eating at your Polish friend's house. Best time to eat here is during the week when reservations are seldom necessary as opposed to weekends when you do need to call ahead. Food is very reasonably priced and it seems to be frequented by locals as opposed to the touristy places closer to downtown Boston.
(5)Renee M.
Absolutely AMAZING! Like many of the other reviewers I am half Polish, grew up on Polish cuisine and I thought the food here was absolutely delicious. I came with a couple of friends on a Saturday night and we called ahead for reservations because I knew how popular this place was. We walked in and surprisingly it was not crowded at all and we got seated right away. It is quite small inside and also extremely cute and quaint. The waitress was adorable and friendly as well. My friends and I ordered the kielbasa, stuffed cabbage and pierogis and all shared. Everything was great- I remember the stuffed cabbage being particularly delicious (and very very stuffed!). We also ordered Polish beers (I can't remember which kinds, and even if I did I probably wouldn't be able to spell them out for the life of me) which I thought were also very very good. Overall GREAT experience... I plan on bringing my parents here the next time they're in town.
(5)Marilyn T.
The lard for the bread is warming. The place is small and homey feeling, which suits it perfectly. Because it's so small, service is very attentive. I loved the borscht and potato pancakes. Everything is a bit heavy, but that's how it's supposed to be. Everything seems very authentic, and it just leaves you with a warm, satisfied feeling. It's perfect for a winter meal.
(4)Lauren V.
Better book your angioplasty in advance because at Cafe Polonia, you will want to keep eating and eating and eating... Previously a kielbasa virgin, I decided to shed my deep-seated fear of losing face in front of family and friends and actually loving it after resisting it for 25 years, I opted for the kielbasa sandwich. It was amazingly delicious. It was also amazingly large...and amazingly rewarding 8 hours and 10 beers later. Although the food doesn't appear to be a work of art, my stomach is (luckily) blind and didn't seem to mind the lack of presentation one bit. The food (my sandwich and pieces from my date's Polish plate) was delicious and hearty. I definitely recommend a beer (Zywiec) to cut through the unhealthy delectableness you will most certainly ingest. As for the actual establishment, it is tiny, modest and clean. The tables are fairly close so it is not a place to hold private discussions. Conversely, I ended up chatting with a friendly co-patron who was from Poland (another star for attracting authentic Poles). At one point, my date went to the bathroom and my new Polish friend tried to set me up with his son...who was sitting right next to him. Awkward. We snapped some pics together and he seemed to be okay with the fact that I would not be dating his son in the near future. Anyways, the service is fairly quick and the waitress was friendly. We were able to find parking on the street so I am not sure how public transportation factors in to a Cafe Polonia experience. Cafe Polonia provided the perfect start to a cold, winter Saturday drinkfest. Highly recommended (with or without the apres-boozing).
(5)Graham C.
Okay, went here with my brother and my friend. I wasn't aware there were hot Polish women, but now I am. That was a treat. I'm not sure why I had some visions of a woman with a hairy mole stirring my goulash. This place is small, like real small. It's not crowded though, which is nice. And they have a terrific selection of Polish and Czech beers. We each had two, which accounted for our higher than expected tab. But at only $4 a piece, it really didn't break the bank. If you've never had polish food, then you should get the polish plate which is like a sampler. I personally got the kielbasa plate and some potato pancakes. It was awesome. Though it's a good thing I am single, because at this very moment I'm producing enough natural gas to power the City of Worcester. I'm in talks with NStar, so lemme know your needs over the next few weeks. Good place, great food at the right price.
(4)Margaret O.
Great food, great service. Very reasonable prices. Traditional home make cooking, polish kitchen. I love this place. When ever I am in Boston I always go there. I am recommending to fry knight's cutlet
(5)Alissa J.
Unhealthy polish food. ;-) nothing bad, but too heavy for me.
(2)Gary F.
Gary lives in Dorchester, but Gary was kind of unhappy when he arrived early for his reservation and was kind of sent back onto the street. There are two chairs reserved for waiting purposes, but Gary didn't get the memo on that one. We stood in front of a liquor store for about 15 minutes in the cold. Lesson learned: Not only make reservations, but do not be early. When at 7:09 we were seated for the 7PM reservation, sheGary was a little perturbed. Until the lard spread arrived with the bread. Then, all was tight. Also tight were the potato pancakes, the borscht, the Polish platter, and the goulash (Gary was on an eastern European eatathon) and the beer. It's Zyweic. Chocolate babka cake wasn't 100% like the babka we've seen...which is probably only 4 or 5 loaves so we're not quite experts...but it was so tight and warm and chocolatey and huge. Just what we needed after meats and potatoes and 4 bowls of lard spread spread upon 18 pieces of white bread. Thanks to Cafe Polonia, Gary will be rendering pork fat and spreading it on bread every day for the rest of his life...which might not be a long nor fit one given the whole lard thing , but it will be a happy one.
(4)Kathy K.
Skip lunch and go hungry - Cafe Polonia has delicious and filling Polish cuisine. This is a small, quaint restaurant with bright wooden furniture just a short walk from the Andrew T. The menu is in Polish and English and the wait staff switches back and forth between the two languages as they serve English and Polish speakers. You can have dishes most people associate with Poland, namely stuffed cabbage and sausage. They also have some really tasty entrees that are less known. Their side dishes are heaven -- lovely potatoes and cucumber salads stood out. They also have a nice collection of Polish beer. Give it a whirl -- you'll leave full and smiling.
(5)Tom M.
It is a little pricey, and it is a little difficult to get to, but this is hands down one of my favorite places in Boston. Hands down! Not a stupid chain, not anything bad or half done, they strive for perfection and they are outstanding
(5)Karen W.
was hesitant to go for polish food but this place was fantastic!! service was stellar: daniel was the only person working front of the house and he was great; very efficent, very helpful. highlights: herring filet, pierogi, stuffed cabbage, goat cheese salad and the chocolate babka cake (to die for). oh yeah and the beer! a delicious porter (forget the name). ummm-mmm-mmmm! def will be back anytime i'm in boston.
(5)Nicole L.
Tiny lil restaurant in the Dorchester area - there're quite a few Eastern european/Baltic type cafes around the area. It's located across from the Andrew train station so it's quite convenient to get there. The restaurant is very small at most sits 20 people. So definitely get a reservation. We got one thanks to our host who's a regular at the restaurant. We were a group of 10 so we got try all the different dishes. For starters, the bacon wrapped scallop, the herring, smoked salmon and caviar, and the kielbasa. All the appetizers were absolutely delicious! For the entrees, the gypsy pancakes with goulash is gotta be the best dish, we also tried the pork cutlet and the polish plate: stuffed cabbage big-O (kielbasa with sauerkraut) and pierogis. The food was just amazing at Cafe Polonia. The waitress was very patient and nice even though we were a buncha drunks after the St Patty's parade. The price is on the high side like $12 for appetizers and $16 for entrees - it adds up if you want to try every thing on the menu!
(5)Mark D.
the food was very disappointing and customer service left much to be desired!!! I had bought a couple of gift certificates and we had gone there before several times. The gift card had just expired the day before, and even though I had spent the money on it and had been there before, the rude person on the phone refused to even ask the manager about it. She said, Nope, nothing we can do. She acknowledged that they were losing the few customers that even go there anymore, and they were OK with it. So NO MORE, the food is no good and customer service even worse. I'm foreigner myself and it stinks that people like that give the rest of us a bad name!
(1)Jason M.
My favorite Polish place in the city. Good, hearty, 'on the for real' Polish eats.
(5)Fred M.
I love this place! I managed to find it in a round about way looking for some fresh keilbasa after the Lithuanian bakery in Brockton closed some years ago. It is a nice place to get some comfort food after visiting the Baltic Deli and the European Deli when you are stocking up on hams, real sauerkraut, and real keilbasa. The place is very small and it feels like another country. Very quaint and the food is great. The parking is not so bad.
(5)Susan H.
Tired of Italian and Asian we went here wanting something different for dinner. We hit the jackpot. When we first entered we loved the decor it was cozy and beautiful. We were seated very quickly as it was early (glad we came early it filled up fast). The waitress came and brought us this amazing bread and stuff to smear on it that you just have to try to understand. She was very informative as we picked out our dishes and no one was disappointed. The gypsy pancake was awesome, crispy pancakes with delicious goulash inside of them. The Polish feast was yummy, hunters stew,keilbalsa,stuffed cabbage and 2 kinds of pierogis. And the chicken Riesling with this cabbage side dish that blew my mind. This is rich food you do not want to eat it everyday but it is sooooooooo good. There was nothing we did not like about this place right down to the accordion player. If you are in the area make it a point to come here!!!
(5)Kassia K.
I grew up in a Polish family in a heavily Polish area of the Midwest and it took 20 years and 800 miles before I finally ate delicious Polish food. The kielbasa and kiszka of my youth has nothing on Café Polonia. They serve you bread and LARD, friends. The menu is meat-heavy - sorry, vegetarians - and includes staples like borscht (Polish-style, with none of that sour cream stuff), pierogi, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, blintzes, babka cake, as well as a nice variety of daily specials. They also have a great selection of Polish beers. While getting there can be a bit of a trek depending on where you live in the city, it's well worth the effort. There's a Polish deli/grocery store nearby that's worth the trip, too.
(5)Erin H.
This is the place to go when you want some authentic Polish plates and beer. The large and tasty portions will satisfy you well, especially during the winter months. This place is cozy and fills up quickly, but once inside it is warm and the service friendly. If you've never had authentic keilbasa before (no, the vacuum sealed kind in the grocery store does not count) go try the array of Polish foods offered at Cafe Polonia, the only Polish restaurant in Boston.
(4)Stephanie ..
Cheap, huge portions, and YUMMY! Good selection of eastern european beer, the food is filling (I always have leftovers), and the mini chocolate babka for dessert is a must. My brother and I go whenever we miss polish homecooking--and have managed to get a few of our friends hooked on the food as well. The restaurant is right in the Andrew Square, and I've never had trouble finding parking. It can get busy--I've seen lines of locals out the door on weekends--so call ahead to make a reservation. You still may have to wait for a seat because the restaurant is tiny, but they'll try their best to seat you as soon as the next table opens.
(4)Doika P.
Good food, good ambiance. The key is that this food is unique and cannot be gotten elsewhere in Boston. Very tasty and a lot of different options. The salmon potato pancakes were very good and the meals were very complete. Cherry beer good as well. Not a big place however.
(4)Betsy C.
I was staying at a nearby hotel, depressed by the food landscape of mall carts and Applebees, when I decided to yelp the area. Thank god for you yelpers- this turned out to be one of the best random dinners I've ever had. Friendly servers, unique drinks (cherry beer!), and delicious entrees- huge and filling. Thanks for helping me locate such a great find!
(4)Matt D.
Cafe Polonia is the best Polish restaurant in Boston. Its also the only one I know of. The staff is friendly and the potato pancakes are huge and great, BUT some things are underwhelming. The atmosphere is Polish-like and actual Pollacks dine there. Cheers - (not to be redundant) Potato pancakes - Omelets - Try the pork lard spread that comes with the sometimes fresh bread (not for the hung over) - Also try the hot spiced wine in the winter.. its awesome - Pretty much anything fresh is good Jeers - Once I ordered a dumpling special and it took them 40 minutes to defrost it... that was special - Pretty much everything pre-prepared is horrible to mediocre and its hard to determine which is which beforehand - Its somewhat small, so its hit or miss as to whether it will be full or not. Best to call ahead for big groups
(3)Kaitlin M.
With a warm and cozy environment, Cafe Polonia was a welcome retreat on a cold January night. The waiter was so friendly offering us bread upon arrival and being very timely with drinks, etc. The food was amazing and brought back memories of sitting in my grandmother's kitchen. I had the "polish plate" so I could sample all the wonderful options--the stuffed cabbage was excellent. You could tell the food was all homemade. I will definitely be returning, and probably sooner rather then later.
(5)Chris S.
This tiny nook of Polish and other eastern European delicacies is a real treasure. The Polish Plate is perfect for the indecisive - it only lacks potato pancakes, which they also make extremely well. Reasonable prices, friendly staff, great beer selection, beautiful decor... I could eat there again and again. Oh wait - I do.
(5)Kupkake K.
This was my first time trying Polish food so I really don't have anything to compare it to. I had the Kielbasa and Cabbage Stew plate. The kielbasa was excellent and it's all hand-made. As for the cabbage stew is not hearty soup which most americans are accustomed to but it was cook cabbage leaves with spices. We also had potato pancakes which were excellent. Overall the cafe is small with polish artifacts and the server barely spoke english so you know you're getting something authentic. It's great place to try if you looking for some where new to go. I would go again if I'm the area....Prices were good.
(3)Chris C.
I like eastern European food on cold winter days. The food here definitely sticks to your ribs. A bit over the top was the pork fat spread for bread, but I could not keep myself from eating it. Pierogis and kielbasa were also pretty good. All in all a pleasant experience with good service and solid food. Worth a try if you have never had Polish food too.
(4)John B.
I had a fantastic meal here last night. We tried to get in on a Saturday without a reservation and we were turned away. We were not allowed to wait, just turned away. I was so shocked that I had to make sure this place was legit. Upon my return (on a Wed.,no crowd) the staff was friendly and helpful. The beer is phenomenal, brewed in Poland and some of the best porter I've ever had. I ordered the Polish plate, which is a little bit of everything (stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, bigos stew, peirogi)...it was delicious. I recommend the boneless pork chop and the potato pancakes with goulage. Simply great authentic polish food.
(4)Matthew M.
Love it! I moved to Boston back in August, and quite frankly, I'm sick of the culinary dominance of burgers and pizza here. Feeling sad about the lack of variety in Boston's food culture, I read a good review of this place and thought I'd roll the dice. It was great. Overall, the food was extremely hearty and delicious. For example, my girlfriend and I split the "gypsy pancake" which is a ladlefull of very juicy and well seasoned beef goulash sandwiched between two crispy, golden potato pancakes, with a dollop of sour cream on top. Certainly not haute cuisine, but every bit as pleasing.
(5)Lindsay S.
Wow, what a wonderful, authentic, Polish restaurant! Parking was quite easy, right out front. Small and cozy, the waiter was incredibly friendly and helpful. We started off by ordering wine and beer - great Polish beer selection. We were then given a basket of bread accompanied by lard with caramelized onions. I did not try it, but many people said it was delicious. I ordered the coconut shrimp, potato pancakes, and potato + cheese pierogis. Everything was awesome, and everyone else loved their dishes as well. The couple I was with, who are Czech/Polish and were there recently, said the food was quite good. The only suggestion i have: when you go, order you pierogis boiled, not fried. I assumed that theyd be better fried (what isn't??) and was wrong. Boiled were more authentic, apparently, and i thought actually tasted best. We ended with a strawberry crepe, which was quite good although the filling was a little fake-jelly-ish. Perhaps that's authentic, though?it was still QUITE good. High recommendations overall.
(5)Keri S.
My husband and I Google-d Polish restaurants in Boston, as we wanted to try something new and hoped we had something authentic in our neighborhood. We found parking on the street right outside (great luck, especially in the winter) and stepped in to the restaurant, which was warm and inviting, and smelled wonderful! The service was fantastic and the food/drink amazing. We enjoyed pierogis, stuffed cabbage and kielbasa, a favorite of both of our grandparents and staples growing up. Thank you for a great experience. We will definitely be back!
(5)Holly M.
Went to Cafe Polonia last night with a dear friend for my much anticipated birthday dinner...and was not disappointed. Sometimes I really miss the comforts of home (kielbasa, pierogies, and stuffed cabbage) and need a little comfort food. This place truly hits the spot. I had an Okocim Light to start ...love that beer! Then had a deliciously cute kielbasa app and for an entree potato pancakes with sour cream. All of it was beatifully presented and prepared... I think we even saw a woman reminscent of my Polish Babcia cooking in the kitchen. The server was extremely sweet and the decor was perfect. I know where I'm taking my Mom the next time she comes to visit :)
(4)M M.
The food was good the service was terrible. We went there on a Wed night and after our meals asked for the dessert menu. We were told that the kitchen shuts off the stove at 8:30pm-even for current seated customers! For that reason alone I will never go back there.
(1)Mike S.
A tiny, adorable restaurant near Andrew Square -- incredibly tasty. Pickle soup or borsht and a plate of pierogies will keep your tummy filled all day.
(5)Carolyn B.
Now that we have discovered Cafe Polonia, we don't have to wait for the holidays to have great Polish food. We shared a bowl of borscht and a Polish plate. The kielbasa was fresh, dumplings in the soup loaded with mushrooms, everything including the service and atmosphere were terrific. I will be a regular.
(5)George K.
Get the polish plate and a polish beer and you'll understand.
(5)Brenden L.
Having traveled Poland and eating some pretty damb good food over there I expected this place to dissapoint me greatly but to my surprise it did not at all. This is traditional fare which means lots of meat, potatoes, beet soup, and bread served with lard. The entrees are decently priced and worth every penny and the soups are to die for. They even have a few Polish beers on hand which is a treat if you've never had the oppurtunity to taste any.
(4)Steve N.
ok, so i'm a big Polski. this place will make U wish you had a little Polish grandmother when U were growing up. the potato pancakes will make your knees buckle, the perogi are handmade and to die for (xtra sour cream please!) and the stuffed cabbage bring me back to a very happy place. an excellent offering of Polish and Chech beers coupled with gorgeous Polish waitresses make this place truly stand out. go very hungry, leave very happy. be warned the place is TINY and it can get cold near the door when the wind is blowing hard.
(5)Steve L.
Love this place, almost as good as the pierogis I make...almost Everyone I've taken to this restaurant ends up loving it, definitely worth trying... especially the Polish platter. The seating arrangement is a bit tight, but the decorations and benches always remind me of when I went to Zakopane .... luckily they don't serve sheep cheese here.
(4)Scott D.
Very good authentic Polish cuisine for reasonable prices. This is a smaller cafe-style place. Seating is limited and if you go during busier dinner-hours (6pm to 8pm) I think you may be pressed to get seated. The kitchen is partially open to the dining area, but not distracting or loud. While small, the seats aren't packed tight so it's comfortable. The interior is freshly painted, clean, and appealing. The service is excellent, prompt, and casual yet friendly. Polonia offers a combination of very tradtional Polish food with more mainstream "Americanized" offerings. I highly recommend trying the traditional foods, they are done right. Hunter's stew (like a ghoulash), potato pancakes with salmon, kishka (a blood sausage), and of course kielbasa... all very tasty, not overly greasy or heavy, and fresh. The one thing I have to try is the Beet Tripe soup... some day soon! Highly recommended, and even for a casual date-night. One word of warning: parking can be tight in the Andrew Square area.
(4)Kelly J.
I went here with my sister and husband. All of us loved it! I don't think you will find a lot of Polish restaurants in Boston besides this one so luckily it is delicious! My sister and I grew up in a totally Polish family and this was fairly close to the dishes we grew up loving as kids. Cute and cozy atmosphere, great food and excellent service! I will definitely be coming back for more!
(5)Katherine D.
My mom loves to feel cosmopolitan so when shes coming to visit me in the "big-city" i like to make her feel like shes experiencing new and grand things. for her last visit I suggested she come on Yelp and pick the place for us to visit, and this was her choice. its not quite cosmopolitain or grand, but the tiny little place kind of does have a nice ambience. i do remember there was some weird wooden booth set up but other than that pretty cute. they served us bread upon being seated served with straight-up bacon grease as a spread. i find that disgusting. i got the duck dish, which was decent, and my mom got some sort of polish platter which she for the most part enjoyed. it as good enough, but i definitely wont be back unless mom drags me.
(3)Jessica R.
For some other cities I would give this place 4 stars, but as far as Boston goes, I think this is hands down the best Polish food you are going to find. I grew up in a Polish family and all of this was very close to the home cooking I grew up loving oh so much. Great food, great dessert, great service. I will be back many times. Also, in regards to someone below stating that their borsch was all broth, possibly that was an error the kitchen made that night. Mine had about five delicious stuffed dumplings in it.
(5)Nicole N.
What a wonderful place! A quaint restaurant in South Boston with great ambiance and delicious food. My partner and I went on a Tuesday, so it was pretty empty. Apparently not many people have discovered this gem! We were seated right away and the waitress was lovely, attentive and patient. My partner is of Polish descent so he had some high expectations for the food. I have very little experience with Polish food, having only had pierogi and Kielbasa, so I had no expectations at all. My partner had the Polish Plate, which was a sampler of pierogis, kielbasa and 'Bigos'. I had the Breast of Duck. Both dishes were exquisite! My partner was very pleased with all 3 items on his dish. I sampled all 3 of them and I can say that the pierogis were fresh, the kielbasa was succulent and the 'bigos', which don't look delicious, were pleasantly surprising and fantastic! My dish was just as pleasing. The duck was tender and moist, the potatoes were flavorful (a touch dry, but the sour cream they provide took care of that), the asparagus was cooked to perfection and had an added butter-lemon zest that I had not expected. Also, a side of shredded beets was added to the dish (it wasn't in the description but came with it). I don't like beets, and let me tell you that these beets were tasty! The Polish Beer selection was bottled. My only wish is that they had their beers on tap. The waitress made some wonderful recommendations and both beers my partner and I had (one a Pilsner, one a stout) were fantastic though bottled. They come in these awesome mugs that are hefty and match the feel of the restaurant. We were too full to have dessert and coffee. There was plenty of food left over for both of us to have a light lunch the next day. All in all, a wonderful experience. I want to head back and try more of their traditional dishes. While we were eating there, 3 Polish couples came in to dine and were chatting up the waitress in Polish. I'm guessing that this means the rest of their traditional dishes are just as good as the ones we had! For anyone who likes European fare, this restaurant is a must!
(5)Thomas M.
I really enjoyed the meal, service and atmosphere at this place. I will look to return soon!
(4)Jack M.
Not bad. Had lunch here last Saturday. Small place - maybe 20 seats. Cute - quaint. They recently repainted / redecorated. Guess due to their popularity they are making more $ and can afford it! We had a bunch of different things: potato pancakes with smoked salmon, breaded mushrooms, kielbasa, glumpkes, pierogis, and a potato pancake thing that had like beef stew in it. I won't bore you with the details on the food - but it was all very .... SAVORY. I liked the glumpkes best - nice and fresh. The pierogis had a super-thick dough which was a bit much for me but they were still good. But everything just tasted very ... meaty / savory? Weird to explain. Service was pretty slow - even with no other customers there! But - it's ok - we expected it so we didn't care. I don't know if we'd go back - I can't say we had anything that really jumped out at us. But it was pretty good.
(4)Hillary M.
Tasterrific! It is like eating at my grandparent's house but being served by the super cute and friendly girl next door. The cooking just tastes so homemade. It is reallllllly tasty. I wouldn't recommended eating every meal here, it is also pretty fatty, but it is the perfect fare for a wintry Boston evening. The warm spiced wine, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa (both regular and spiced), mustard, pickles, and perogis are delish! I had the goulash and wasn't so keen on it - but the grandparent's goulash I'm used to is of the Hungarian persuasion, not Polish. We were all surprised by how good the Cabernet was. Looking forward to returning some blustery night when I just don't feel like cooking and want some food to warm my belly.
(4)Jeffrey C.
Was here one winter night. If you need a good hearty meal, this is the place. Excellent perogies, bigos, and kilbasa. try the sampler plate if you're not familiar with Polish food. Great beer and pilsners too.
(3)Christine S.
The meat pierogies I had at this place were almost as good as the ones I had in Poland. When I moved to the Boston area a few months ago I googled Polish Restaurants in Boston and was soo excited to find this place. It's very cosy (might have to wait a little bit for a table, but it's worth it) and it is very nicely decorated. I had the borsch & pierogi and washed it down with a Zywiec- i was so glad to see they served polish beer too! Can't wait to go back! FYI- the wine & liquor store in Davis Square sells Zywiev, Okociem and a few other Polish brews in the international beer section!
(5)Kathryn R.
Blink and you'll miss it, this small restaurant seats no more than 30 people. Upon entering, my friend and I were warmly greeted by the host. They carry about ten different beers from Poland which was a delicious, well priced bonus. While we perused the menu, there were slices of rye bread accompanied by butter and a traditional pork fat spread (not unlike a bacon paté) to hold us over, though there wasn't much of a wait to receiving our food. I ordered the 'Polish Plate' which had it all: a hefty cabbage roll, three pierogi and a kielbasa sausage over a healthy serving of sauerkraut, all of which was delicious. My friend ordered the 'Breast of Duck' served with potato medallions, asparagus and cranberry sauce, which was also quite tasty. After nearly cleaning our plates we wrapped the meal up with an order of the 'Chocolate Babka Cake', similar to a lava cake topped with ice cream. Prices were reasonable and ambiance soothing. Recommend it and would return!
(5)Amanda L.
It's hard to call a restaurant the best anything in the city, when it is in fact the ONLY restaurant of its kind in the city. A perfect example is Cafe Polonia. One bit of advice that is crucial when it comes to dining at Cafe Polonia: MAKE RESERVATIONS! Holy beejesus if I hadn't made reservations, we would have been shit out of luck. This place really reminded me of Joe's grandparents (they are polish) and our waitress (who was the only waitress) was very nice and accommodating, even though she got a little slow in the end Joe and I wanted to try a little bit of everything, so we ordered the following: kielbasa, blood pudding, potato pancakes, and pierogies. The kielbasa was juicy and crisp, and some of the best I have had. The blood pudding was a little disappointing, it was good yes, but I didn't expect it to be shredded. Now, onto what makes things truly Polish, pierogies and potato pancakes. I really like both, BUT, they were not the best, not by far. I have had much better in both Salem and Toronto. We even managed to fit some dessert in the mix, and the apple crisp was very tasty, and I stole a bite of the cheesecake, and it is definitely not NY style. So, yes, Cafe Polonia is the best Polish food in the city, but really, by default because it is the ONLY Polish food in the city. But that doesn't mean I won't come back.
(4)F. C.
Come for both the food and the atmosphere. I love the fact that dining here feels like having dinner in someone's dining room. It's small and cozy and the pace of dinner is very relaxed. There's only ever one waitress and it takes a bit of time to order and be served, but I love that. Come with a few friends and make an evening of it. The food makes me happy. I'm a vegetarian, so I'm limited to peirogi and potato pancakes, but that's absolutely fine with me. Both are fantastic and if you ask nicely you can even get a combo plate of the two.
(4)Michal P.
Love this place before my mom moved to the US from Poland this was my only way to get some polish food. This is the only Polish place in Boston and I don't really care because there isn't much more that anyone else could do. The food is top notch the waitresses are polish and very pleasant and helpful. You can also try some of the best beer there.
(5)Kristin N.
Love it. I currently have a list of people I need to bring here, one at a time so I have a good excuse to keep coming back. The people are so nice, the dcor is so cute and the food...the food is SO GOOD. The only reason you should be afraid of Polish food is if you don't want to gain like 5 pounds from becoming addicted to it! They have traditional as well as American dishes on their menu so bring your food-phobic friends; they'll find something they like. You can also rent out the whole restaurant for functions. Pretty sweet! Oh and POLKA BRUNCH ON SUNDAYS! I don't even know what that is but it sounds wicked fun!
(5)Judith Z.
Food was clearly made in-house. Potato pancakes were awesome. Kielbasa is crisp and delicious. Can't go wrong here! I only say it's not good for groups because it looks like the place only seats about 30.
(5)Renee G.
So. I'm half Polish. If you knew what the G. in Renee G. stood for, or if you ever had the chance to witness my mind-boggling tolerance for vodka, that much would be obvious. However, my non-Polish mother did most of the cooking in our house, so unless the babcia was visiting, Hillshire Farms kielbasa was about as Polish as it got save for holidays. I had wanted to go to Cafe Polonia forever and ever, to experience the traditional foodways of my fatherland, but it wasn't until I was already headed to the neighborhood to pick up fresh kielbasa for Thanksgiving brunch (boiled and eaten with horseradish, it will certainly wake you up) that I finally had the chance to go. It was worth the wait. First, let me say that I am slightly disturbed at how much I liked the lard spread. My fellow culinary adventurer/best friend Gilian switched over to butter pretty much immediately, but come on - it had BACON in it. To start, we split the potato pancakes with smoked salmon and sour cream, which were fantastic - just like the ones grandma used to make when mom was out of town (mom is opposed to seafood - I know, imagine growing up in such a sorry excuse for a household). Then we split a plate of pierogis, mixed between potato and cheese and cabbage and mushroom - the cabbage and mushroom were better, FYI, but the potato and cheese didn't exactly go unfinished. Then, of course, the grilled fresh kielbasa (because no Polish meal is complete without kielbasa), served with caramelized onions, spicy mustard, and horseradish - so, so so good. For dessert, we split the chocolate babka cake. The menu describes it as "traditional babka filled with warm chocolate, served with a scoop of ice cream," and I can't see how this is accurate because it bore no resemblance to any traditional babka I've even had (babka is a dense, slightly sweet bread often scented with citrus zest and studded with golden raisins, and this was decidedly not that) but it was warm and gooey in the middle and hit the spot. Best of all, the whole meal plus a beer each amounted to barely $30 per person, and we were stuffed. I get sent to Andrew Square before every Catholic holiday to procure the traditional foodstuffs, and you can bet I will be making Cafe Polonia an integral part of every trip.
(5)King C.
Cafe Polonia has excellent wait staff and an amazingly quick turnaround, especially on a 100% packed Friday night. Unfortunately, the food was underwhelming. I had the Austrian pork chop and my date had the Polish sampler. Both lacked flavor. I'm glad I tried it once, but I probably won't try it again.
(3)Aga K.
Kinda mixed feelings about this place, as a 'Polak' i would expect a little bit more mind blowing attitude from traditional dishes, also i think for portions that they serve place is a bit overpriced. Service...some days great, some very unenthusiastic. also a bit dissapointed with fruit crepes, they are suppose to be stuffed with real fruit and not fruit jam!
(3)Tyler S.
Great place to eat!! The restaurant is so authentic and the food is delicious
(5)John.Chris V.
So delicious, perfect comfort food for a cold rainy eve, cabbage, pirogis, homemade soups/breads. Not the ideal choice for the dieting gal/guy. Excellent polish beer assortment.
(4)Kerrie F.
Although I cannot lay claim to any Polish ancestry and had little experience with Polish food, I have yet to leave this place an unsatisfied customer. Since frequenting this establisment (almost two years now), I find myself often subject to cravings of various Polish dishes, especially in the cold fall/winter months. One of the great things about this place is that it offers both traditional Polish food, as well as American staples as well. Although I would never come to Cafe Polonia to have anything other than Polish food, it is nice to have those options in the event that you may need to persuade picky eaters to come here with you so that you can actually enjoy food of substance. Because I've only had the traditional meals, I can only recommend in that arena. The Kielbasa twists are a great appetizer to start with, as they are extemely tasty, but also proportionate to what an appetizer should be so that you can actually enjoy your entree. For meals, the potato pancakes are excellent and they occasionally offer a giant potato pancake special that also comes with eggs, ham, and goulash. Both are excellent. My favorite entree, though, is the potato and cheese pierogis. Seriously, I could eat this things like candy and never stop. I get them boiled, as fried food tends to sit heavily in my stomach for many hours. For drinks, they have a solid selection of wines, but my favorite beverage by far is the Zywiec Polish beer. The mix of this beer with the pierogis make for a perfect combination. If, for whatever reason, you are in the mood for dessert, go for the Chocolate Bubka Cake, it is to die for. The only negative thing I can say about this place is that there was one occasion where I received awful service from a really rude waiter. I've only seen him there once and haven't seen him there since, so I am not even sure if he is still there. Other than that, my other experiences have been overwhelmingly positive with the waitstaff and food service. The restaurant itself is kind of small, but I think that adds to the charm of this place. There is only street parking as well, but I actually enjoy it because there is also an excellent Polish market across the street where one can buy additional products to take home for later enjoyment.
(5)Julia W.
I have to admit that I am always a happy camper when a restaurant serves kielbasa, my favorite meat product on earth. But holy god did this place blow me out of the water! I happened to be in Dorchester and a friend and I went to Cafe Polonia for lunch. It was like a little yellow building beacon on light in a typical Dorchester neighborhood. After much drooling over the appetizers, I stuck with the Polish plate: kielbasa, pierogis, stuffed cabbage, oh my! Absolutley fantastic. I was almost brought to tears by how awesome the food was. I even offered to live in a closet in the restaurant if they promised to throw me kielbasa one in awhile. Anyway, A++++++! Highly recommend.
(5)Marly T.
First time trying Polish food and it was pretty good. I ordered the Polish plate which had the stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, and two other things (I don't know what it was called). It was pretty good. The waiter gave me the strongest beer they had. It was like 9% alcohol in it. It was pretty tasty but dark. We would come back and try other dishes.
(4)Victoria J.
Alright. Granted this place has NOTHING on my Babcia's cooking, it does satisfy my cravings for flavors from the homeland when Babcia is an ocean away. The soups are great - what I miss the most living in the States. The entrees are always good - simple, Polish homecooking. Just not as good as my Babcia's. There's plenty of Polish beer, in bottles and drafts. The decor is very typical "Goral." It's decorated like a wooden log house in the mountains of Poland. The chairs and tables look like they were carved out of wood and remind me a bit of being at my grandparents' place in Poland knocking back a couple of beers by the fire. I'm not sure if I love this place because it's awesome or because it reminds me of home and good times. Probably a little of both. Still - My Babcia could burn this place to the ground with her cooking.
(4)Paul B.
On a return visit I decided to branch off the Polish plate and ordered the Gypsy Pancake. I am still dreaming about it. Two large potato pancakes sandwiching goulash. Jaw droppingly delicious. My three friends and I were lucky to get any food. Every seat was filled when we arrived, sans reservations. The server said Sorry, but just then, a couple left a four top and we were in the right place at the right time.
(4)Cecilia L.
Here I am yelping Cafe Polonia tipsy on Zywiec with happy Polish music playing in my head. I had lots of fun here, but the meaty, heavy cuisine isn't something I could do regularly. Bf and I have lived down the street for months, but only came in today, a rainy Saturday, for lunch. There was just one table left as all the others were filled with Polish neighborhood folk. It's small, cute and bright, with warm blond woods and that music making me want to just leap up in folk dance. The waitress started us with bread and what looked like bacon bits suspended in Crisco. When I asked what it was, she cheerfully replied, "Lard." Bf dug right in, but I hesitated. I love to try new foods, but my tongue curdles if I get a piece of meat with a bit of fat on it. While I was deciding whether I could bring myself to try it, he suddenly stopped chewing. He ran for the bathroom to spit. Reminded him too much of a childhood camping trip in which his group got lost and had to survive for a day on lard. I knew then that I couldn't do it. Do drink the Zywiec, an awesome Polish beer that comes in huge bottles for $5. I got the kielbasa sandwich ($10) and bf the Polish plate ($16). The sandwich was massive, at least a foot long stuffed with enormous hunks of kielbasa. I actually had to take half the meat out to fit it in my mouth. Polish plate consists of kielbasa with sauerkraut, bigos cabbage stew and pierogies. The pierogies were delicious. The "cabbage" stew was more like a thin wrapper of cabbage stuffed with tons of meat, and the sauerkraut and the sauteed onions accompanying the pierogies were flecked with bacon. If you love meat, Cafe Polonia is your kind of place. UPDATE: Okay now it's the same evening, and the boy and I have been sleeping for like four hours. This is heavy stuff, people.
(4)Molly S.
From now on, I am ONLY eating Polish food. Cafe Polonia brings me back to a happy place and warm memories of my Polish step-grandma. And the service was excellent too!
(5)Traveling B.
This place was fandiddlytastic. Wow, I have tried to get here a couple of times, but it was always so busy. I lucked out and got a reservation on a quiet night, and what a breath of fresh air. The staff was very friendly and the atmosphere is incredibly warm, so even before we had ordered we were talking about what a nice place to find in such an odd part of town. Then,,, we ordered,,,,,, I a sandwich, the sig O' the polish plate (of course the most expensive thing on the menu). Ahhh the sandwich, I know I know, how do you describe a sandwich without just saying it's a sandwich, well this one is worth my weak attempt. The bread on my sandwich was extremely light, yet slightly toasted on the outside, it actually seemed to melt in my mouth with the sandwich, creating one of those ever so rare sandwich tasting sandwiches, not just bread and meat. The Kraut, delicious, the Kielbasa moist, supple and no charring or burnt-ness in sight, add a slight amount of mustard that just gave a kick, not a take over and you have the divine experience I had. The Polish plate was also absolutely incredible (according to the O' with the full mouth, "Yum", the pierogies,,,excellent, and the O' was extremely fond of the stuffed cabbage as well, and for the O' to be happy with food it has to be good, trust me. My favorite thing about this place, cheap cheap cheap!!!! We had our two meals, two sodas, a coffee, and a dessert and it barely breached 30 bucks. So you get incredible hometwon charm, incredible staff and service, and incredible food for 30 bucks. It def gets my 5 star
(5)Lisa C.
I want to give this place 4 stars but my meal was only ok. I went here with Jacob W. on a whim, wanting to try a new restaurant and a new cuisine. Jacob got a polish beer while we savored the delicious potato pancakes with smoked salmon. Yum! I also had the borsch. I've never had Polish borsch before and i was really surprised that it was all broth with no beets or other vegetables in it. For my entree I had the pierogis which were obviously better than frozen ones but not particularly flavorful. Jacob W. got the kielbasa with stewed cabbage which he thought (I think we agreed) was absolutely delicious. The restaurant itself is so cute and it's obviously a very family-oriented restaurant which is always nice to see. I think the food was a little bit pricey for what it was which leads to me demoting down to 3 stars.
(3)Susan N.
I hate Polish food. Sausage is just not for me, at least not the edible kind. So why 5 stars? They have a few other Eastern European dishes that you cannot get anywhere in Boston. The mushroom soup is delicious and the gypsy pancakes are out of this world. Just make sure you get it with goulash. Oh how I miss you, sweet goulash. The pancakes are quite tasty themselves. Having grown up with somewhat of an Eastern European diet, I can get very picky about food. Polonia did not let me down.
(5)John O.
Hands down, this is my favorite restaurant in the city. Give me a Polish Plate and a bottle of Zywiec and I'm a very happy man. The dining room is tiny with only something like eight tables, so make reservations. It can get mobbed, and the poor waitress a bit harried, but she's a total sweetheart, so be patient. The food is so worth the wait. And their stuffed cabbage blows Zaftigs' out of the water.
(5)Ben K.
Just went for lunch today. So I decided that I wanted to go out to lunch today, because it was restaurant week, but then began reading reviews on Yelp for restaurant-week menus, and was not impressed at all. So, I decided to stick to my neighborhood and try a new place. That's where Cafe Polonia comes in; after reading all these rave reviews, I HAD to go. I'm giving Cafe Polonia 4.5 stars, but I'll round up to 5. Here's the good: -Waitress was really friendly and adorable and guided me through the menu -Fresh rye bread with that lard-crispy-bacon-caramelized onion-dip (if there is one food that equates to sin, it's this) -Potato pancake was A+ (waitress gave me a free side) -Entree "Polish Plate": kielbasa (really crispy and flavorful), cabbage stew (sweet and sour-- yum), stuffed cabbage, and pierogi (EXACTLY the same as my friend's Polish grandmother makes) The not-so-good: -Dessert: blueberry crêpe. The crêpe itself was good, but then they kinda screwed it up by squirting Hershey's syrup and store-bought whipped cream over the top. But certainly edible... next time I'll just get it w/o the chocolate and whipped cream. -Waitress gave me the check before offering me dessert All in all, LOVED this place. Also seems like a great spot for a date.
(5)Jeff M.
I went here for lunch twice last summer. I honestly felt like some of the food was not fresh and may have been pre-prepared a day or so in advance. However I cannot tell.
(3)Jeff M.
When I used to live in Boston and I didn't have a car, I'd literally have to beg peers to drive me to this place to get my Polish fix. When I finally had a car in Boston, I tried to eat here once a month. This is one of my favorite hideouts in Boston. The kielbasa sandwich is perfect. The pierogis are fantastic. Even the bread to start is delicious. I've only had excellent experiences here. Whenever I hear the word "kielbasa," I immediately think of this place.
(5)Sheila S.
Good service, great food, even a cute waitress who makes good beer recommendations. We had the smoked salmon potato pancakes, borscht, and perogies. Everything was pure Yum.
(5)Mike C.
Oh my. I'd never had Polish food before, but I will be eating it again. It's like the most comforting of comfort foods. The restaurant's very cute, and the single server was very helpful, especially when it came to helping me choose a beer. I don't know the real name of the "Chicken Dance" song, but it played twice while my girlfriend and I were there.
(4)Randy M.
Went here for my birthday and the food was fantastic. I'm not eastern european but was with my gf who's family is from that part of the world and says that this stuff is pretty close to the real thing. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Meg M.
Oh Cafe Polonia. I love you. I really do. I'm upping my review to 5 stars as a result of my dinner date with Mark here last night. We were laying around with growling tummies trying to decide what kind of food would rouse us from my warm apartment and foodless fridge and out into the snow storm that was squalling around the streets of Southie. After a rough day for both of us we didn't want to go to any of crowded bars on Broadway (as walkable as they are). Suddenly it hit me: Cafe Polonia! Usually quiet and always cozy I knew it would be the perfect place for us to go grab some yummy food. Mark had never had Polish food so I thought we should jump on the chance to expose him to yet another culinary adventure. When we arrived at Cafe Polonia we were able to easily grab a spot right on the street directly in front of the restaurant. There was one other couple finishing up but otherwise, the adorable space was completely void of people. After about 10 minutes, we were alone in the restaurant and we couldn't have been happier about it. The waiter let us know about their drink offerings and I decided to try the traditional Polish spiced wine. It was hot and delicious and warmed my belly instantly. Mark left me to the ordering while he kept his brave face on and his 16 oz. Zwyiec beer in hand. I ordered the kielbasa twists, the pierogi, and the potato pancakes with beef goulash. Everything came out together like we asked and it was all delicious. The pierogi are boiled perfectly and stuffed to perfection with cabbage, mushroom, cheese and potato and topped with bits of delicious cured bacon. The kilebasa is perfection and served with some mustard for dipping. MMMM. The potato pancakes are a generous portion and the beef goulash was one of our favorite items of the night. We ate pretty much everything on the plates and then sat back to finish our drinks. When the waited mentioned a dessert menu, I thought I'd take a little looksie. The description of the traditional chocolate Babka cake was enough to make me find JUST ENOUGH room to squeeze it in. When this dessert arrived it looked like the most beautiful thing we have ever seen. The ice cream on top of this dark, rich, wonderful bundt cake was light fluffy and perfectly sweet. We both had forgotten how full we were and devoured it within 5 minutes. I could have eaten another I think. We talked about that babka all the way home. So all in all what I'm getting at here is that you should get on the redline. take it to Andrew, walk across the intersection and settle yourself into this amazing little gem. You will be really happy you did. The only thing I would take a pass on in this place is the lard and bacon they serve in your bread basket. Its horrid. But I guess some people go nuts for it. Its just not my thing.
(5)Victor P.
Delicious and authentic polish food. Everything on the menu is delicious. Gypsy potato pancakes are just like the ones I had in Krakow, Poland! And the polish plate is excellent. Has a little bit of everything I love about polish cuisine - kielbasa, perogis, bigos, and stuff cabbage. So yummy!!
(5)Kris H.
Polonia is the type of restaurant that brings you back to childhood. Eating the food that my grandmother cooked is a great way keep both boday and soul warm in the cold winter weather. Went yesterday, for the second time, for lunch and started with the pickle soup. I know that it may not sound like the best thing that you have tried, but TRY IT!!! If you like pickles, even a little bit, this soup is for you! It is briney and warm and just delicious. The potato pancakes are great too. I have brought a couple of friends there and everyone enjoyed their food. The restaurant is very small. There seems to always be some on street parking available.
(4)Katherine B.
The food, service, ambiance, everything about this place is incredible. The menus are written in both English and Polish which is lovely and the waitstaff is all bilingual as well. There is a large variety of appetizers, soups and salads, specials, entrees, beverages and desserts on the menu. The food is delicious and authentic (I can vouch for this coming from a Polish family full of cooks and having lived in Poland). They have all my favorite beers imported from Poland including but not limited to Zywiec (pale Lager and the Porter), Okocim and Warka. They also have wines. The traditional, heavy oak furniture was handmade by the owner and adds to the homey feel of Poland. I've been here with my family, with friends, with people of all ages and no one has ever been disappointed. It is a small restaurant so I'd recommend calling for reservations for larger parties, especially on busy days. This place is just magnificent I very highly recommend it! Smacznego!
(5)Christine R.
Being part Polish, I grew up eating kielbasa, saurkraut, pickled beets, and such. So when I saw the Groupon for this restaurant, I knew I had to check it out with my brother. I ordered the Pickle soup and Polish plate. My brother had the Fresh Kielbasa plate. We shared also some Potato pancakes with applesauce. The soup was probably one of the best soups I ever had. Its basically a potato soup with pickles. Strange combination but so delicious. The bread served at our table was great dipped in the soup and was good by itself as well. Our potato pancakes came up next and they were so good. The applesauce was to die for. Then my meal, the Polish plate was amazing. Best kielbasa I ever had. The stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and Hunter's stew were all great. I saved half of my meal for leftovers as well a potato pancake making a delicious meal the next day. My brother also enjoyed his dish. The staff were kind, attentive, and quick. Orders came in rather quickly. The place is small and cute. Nice wooden tables and chairs. Though I wish the restaurant had a sign in front. Its very small and I only knew it was the place because of the zagat sign on the window. Not far from the restaurant is a European shop which carries the same stuff they serve at the restaurant. I got myself some Plum pierogies as I never had such. Curious to try it out. They also carry the Pickle soup, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, a variety of pierogies, baked goodies, and such. I definitely will return for more food. I recommend this restaurant to everyone and will definitely come back again.
(5)Julie R.
This was the first Polish restaurant my boyfriend and I had been too and we will definitely be back. It resembles a lodge inside and is very cozy. I made a reservation for a Sunday night and was glad I did cause the place was full when we arrived and our cute table for 2 at the window was waiting. The meal started off with the breadbasket and the side of lard with bacon. I had checked the reviews on yelp before we went so knew what that was. I thought it was different but was good. Try to order off the traditional menu for the hard core Polish stuff. For dinner we got the: Herring fillet in oil appetizer: Sliced herring on a bed of greens with diced onions. Very authentic. Salty, but squeeze some lemon on top to sweeten it up. Gypsy Pancake: A giant potato pancake filled with Hungarian Goulash and topped with sour cream. This was my entree and was enormous. The inside was loaded with goulash and tasted great with the pancake and sour cream. Polish Plate: Bigos (stuffed cabbage), pierogies, and kielbasa with sauerkraut. This came out as a large portion also. I tried everything on it. Great variety. Excellent Kielbasa. They haven a large selection of Polish beers. The server happily recommended a few. It was very busy during our dinner and there was only one server for the whole place so service was slow. It's a good idea to make a reservation no matter when you go. The place only has a few tables and I saw a few parties get turned away cause they were full.
(4)Nicole C.
My grandparents are from the Ukraine, so I grew up eating a variation of a lot of the things that Cafe Polonia offers on their menu. My husband and I had gone here quite a while ago and enjoyed it so much, that I thought I'd bring my parents while they were here in Boston for a visit. Honestly, I was nervous to take my father who had truly grown up on that type of food. Even though theirs was a bit different than what my Grandmother would prepare - we all loved our food and just had a great time in the little polish restaurant. My grandmother is no longer with us, and although we try to replicate her food, we don't have it nearly enough. It's nice to know that there is a place we can go for it - a place that does it well. We went traditional, ordering the borscht w/ mushroom dumplings, stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and potato pancakes. Ask for mushroom sauce over the pierogies, as opposed to the little sour cream cup - it's fabulous. Not only is the food really good, it's a comforting atmosphere - small, cozy, and friendly. Make reservations. I was glad I did, as there were several walk-ins that they had to turn away. Because it is such a tiny little place - there is no waiting area. There are two chairs they will pull up for you, but it will be uncomfortable for you, and those eating at tables so close to you. Call ahead and enjoy!
(5)Tod K.
Not particularly my taste of food. The pork lard appetizer dip was the least appetizing.
(1)Amber L.
This place is amazing! Not since I went to Poland several years ago have I had such good Polish food. Unlike a lot of my friends I do not have a Polish grandmother to cook for me whenever I visit home and have been reduced to buying frozen pierogis whenever I've had a craving. Now I have Cafe Polonia! Unfortunately I did not go late enough to get the smalec but they do have it! Also, they have this rich cherry juice that is a must try. I will definitely be returning here.
(5)Paola C.
I have no idea how I have no reviewed this place yet!!!!! I mean, I'm polish and go here at least once a month here!! The place has good ol' homemade Polish cooking, just like Babcia used to (babcia = grandma). It delicious and literally tastes just like mom would make! Traditional dishes with amazing flavor! When you walk in it feels like you're walking into old world Poland, the type of place you'd find in the countryside. I truly feel like I'm back in Poland when I come into this place and its amazing to just get away. The place is teeny and has maybe like 6 tables but at the same time its worth the wait if you have a wait (altho there isnt a place to wait which is why one of the people who wrote a review was probably turned away, because you would have crowded the place even more). The waitresses are friendly although not extremely attentive but that's because its the Polish way for waitresses to leave you be and eat your food and when you need them you'll get them (at least that's been my experience from eating hundreds of times in Poland). Try the pierogi or the pyzy or the nalesniki or the kotlety.... actually just try the dinner plate because it has a little bit of the best polish stuff! then for dessert get the nalesniki (basically crepes/blintzes filled with either farmers cheese or fruits, id go with fruits for dessert) or try the szarlotka which is a take of apple cobbler and apple pie and an apple crisp all together but its delicious (dont forget the vanilla ice cream!!) It's a traditional place with a meat and potatoes kind of feel which is traditional polish... its an amazing place and you'll feel like home... the only downfall - the chairs are wooden (for that old feeling) so they can be a bit uncomfortable but just ask for a pillow under your butt and you'll be fine!! DEFINITELY GO!!! PS - get some polish beer while you're there... one of the only places you'll find some!! Zywiec and Okocim are my faves!
(5)Amy O.
This is the one and only Polish restaurant in Boston and it is delightful! Polish food is definitely comfort food; hearty, rich dishes providing you with a full stomach more so than to keep your blood pressure down, meaning, lots of pork, cabbage and potatoes. The first thing the waitresses will serve you is schmaltz, which is sort of this pork-fat with onions that you slather on your bread like pate. I passed on that but my dinner-companion raved about it's evil deliciousness. I ordered the Sobieski cutlet, which is basically a giant chicken cutlet that was really wonderful with light breading. We also shared the Polish plate, which I suggest if you are there for the first time. You really get a variety of all Poland has to offer: Hunters stew, Bigo's (pork stuffed cabbage), Pierogi's (crepes stuffed with cheese and meat) and Kielbasa (Polish sausage). Yes, it is definitely NOT heart-smart, but it is damn substantial. Wash it all down with a Polish beer and follow it with a Szarlotka (apple cake). The place is tiny but cozy and warm, with lots of lovely blonde-wood tables and Polish folk art. The only reason why I give this 4 stars instead of 5 is the location is sort of off-the-beaten-path and I think parking can be a challenge (we took the T to Andrew). I really recommend checking out this place on a cold winter's day. You'll never want to leave.
(4)Ioan B.
Nice place for polish food, I would give it a 3.5 stars if I had the choice.
(3)Nick S.
My wife and I strolled into Polonia on Friday night. It is a small room, but it has a fun, cozy feel to it. My wife's family is from Kazakhstan (sorry about the spelling) and this felt like we had visited there- same wood- same smell- same food and so on. In that respect it is really fun. There is care put into the restaurant, but with that said there were two things that will likely hold me from further stars. I.) Price Point: Compared to the attention to detail and taste factor from the restaurant right down the street (Dbars!) you are just paying too much for the taste your are getting- probably 3-4 dollars too expensive. II.) It was Friday night, and we got in ahead of people, so we were fine, but we could see that having 1 Young Man working EVERYTHING was way too difficult for him and customer service was clearly compromised. That all said, my wife and i agreed that it might be a fun place to bring our parents in the winter- just as a 1 time thing-
(3)Emily M.
I remember going to Cafe Polonia with my family and my sister's new boyfriend for my fourteenth birthday. My 20th just passed, and my sister's boyfriend has stuck around, and I guess Cafe Polonia is the great love of my early life, 'cause it stuck around for another six birthdays, too. I got six family members to look at the online menu and come up with a list to call in an order for pick up. This thing was freaky long -- everybody wanted to order at least two things so there were something like twenty-one dishes on my list before I even picked up the phone. Called and got the waiter. This dude was so Polish, and so patient. He seemed bashful and nervous that I was crank calling him since the list was so long but I told him it was my birthday and he was giggly and excited for me (love). I thought it'd be a miracle if he got it all right -- and he did! We went in a half hour later, had to wait something like 20 more minutes for the food (understandble, they had a few customers and we ordered like half the things on the menu) and he packaged and labeled EVERYTHING PERFECTLY -- each dish had its own little perfect-for-transit-package with hand written labels in Sharpie like "asparagus (for breast of duck entree)." We were also kindly seated by the same waiter as we waited and he gave us bread and lard to go with our order. The packing job he did took us all the way to Quincy with no spills. I enjoyed my Pickle Soup and Mushroom Soup in perfect birthday bliss. (By the way, if you've never had pickle soup before, and it's the soup of the day, totally get it -- briny from pickles and starchy from potatoes, dill & sour cream?-- SO. GOOD.). I've never been let down by this place. Their typical Polish stand-bys have always been great. The Hungarian Goulash is also a trip.. if you have time, they'll bake a bread bowl over a clay pot of goulash for you and bring it out like a little hot air balloon for you to rip off and feast from. If you don't like the decor I don't know what to do for you. Pine everything. And it works so well. I'm making a yelp account just for you, Cafe Polonia. 6 years strong! :*
(5)Kenneth C.
Delicious stuffed cabbage rolls. Awesome beef tripe soup and beet soup. Slow service with long wait times, but it's worth it.
(4)Kristen C.
i'm not sure if i want to give it a full 5 stars.. but it's more than 4... so... 5 it is. location isn't so awesome... but the food is. luckily there is easy to find parking on the street. small, intimate place. and for right now the only polish place in the boston area. which is surprising considering cambridge and places around have every ethnicity you could imagine. but anyway... being half polish - i've had most of the items on the menu made authentically by my mother and grandmother, so it's a lot to live up to. given that. the food was great. (not as good as home - but better than frozen pierogis) and a unique beer selection. will definitely be back. and very happy to know that they will be opening a bigger location up in salem with offerings of hungarian, russian, etc. we'll be back, don't you worry cafe polonia.
(5)Good M.
Polish dishes are authentic, fantastic and filling. Prices are great too. Dining area is a hole in the wall but comforting. Service however was lacking, our server also forgot to put on deodorant that night. Would go back again.
(4)Eric S.
I'm a huge fan of Cafe Polonia. I almost don't want to write a review because I want to keep it as much of a secret as possible. I use to make monthly trips to Cafe Polonia for lunch when I worked downtown, but now that I don't get downtown as much I really miss and crave the great Polish food! I am half Polish and make a point to drag visitors to this restaurant when they feel adventurous enough. I usually go for the Golabkis (cabbage roles) and of course the pierogis, but you can't go wrong with their polish plate where you get a little of everything. Don't forget to wash it down with a crisp Polish Lager. So if you are unfamiliar with Polish food, treat yourself and check out Cafe Polonia
(5)Russ D.
Just go! Everything is amazing. Food cooked in lard? Doesn't get any better than that. Glad to see there is a place you can eat real, natural food - not made that that toxic vegetable/canola oil crap! Yes people that's right, saturated is not - and never has been - unhealthly for you. No science has ever supported it. Anyways off my soapbox. Go eat. Enjoy.
(5)K M.
Awesome crepes, salads, and potato pancakes.
(5)Lena G.
The beet soup and meat perogies are two of the few items worth getting at this place. Everything else is overpriced, and there are a few items on the menu that are not Polish at all, such as chicken fingers. But I should emphasize that the beet soup and meat perogies are indeed very good, so they get 5 stars for that alone.
(5)Michael B.
One of our favorite restaurants in Boston! Every dish is prepared perfectly. The potato pancakes are to die for -- try them with mustard or horseradish if you ever get tired of having them with sour cream, applesauce, or goulash. They really care about the quality of what they're serving here.
(5)Damon I.
I'm not a health nut, but America's food-guilt culture compels me to eat more healthfully than I might if I were left to my own primitive, nescient id. So, my heart understandably winced at the meal's harbinger - dinner bread with bacon lard spread O: I just turned off my conscience for the night and had a great meal in a great atmosphere. Cafe Polonia is a brightly lit, rustic ski lodge inside. There's not a whole lot of seating, so plan ahead. I started with a beer, and not being Polish, I took the waitress's recommendation for the most popular choice, Zywiec. While fresh tasting and crisp, I suspected that this beer *might* be the Budweiser of Poland so I ordered some others to sample. Lingering satisfaction was found with the Lezajsk, a more interesting suggestion with a fruity, floral finish. My dinner partner and I shared a perogie appetizer and then took turns sharing main courses. The potato pancakes with applesauce and sour cream had a tongue delighting texture. I ordered the warm and comforting Goulash which was a Polish beef stew served in a bread bowl. Were it not for the waitress's intervention, I'd have stabbed the bread bowl like a popover. Don't be a hero - ask for help. Previously, I've ordered the Polish plate which comes with a sampling of kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, and perogies. It's a great dish to try if you're indecisive like me. Everything at Cafe Polonia is rich in flavor and the experience is made even richer by partaking on a cold, wet night. If you're not a calorie counter, Cafe Polonia is an easy trip from downtown on the Redline that should not be missed.
(4)Brady B.
Fantastic! After reading the reviews and realizing that this place is a 10 minute walk from my apartment, I had to check it out. SO glad I did. My two friends/neighbors and I took a walk over to Cafe Polonia tonight after I blabbed to them how I was interested in trying this restaurant. One of the two is a true foodie while the other isn't so much, but loves pierogies. What we came to find was that, as many reviewers have stated was a cute, dining room ambiance and our Polish waitress simply could not have been any sweeter or more cute in her demeanor. To me that's 4 stars alone. And the food....we started with kielbasa twists, which were creatively sliced kielbasa with a wonderful mustard dip. The pierogi lover had fried potato and cheese pierogis which were so delicious (I'm used to the frozen kind from Shaw's). My other friend had the Polish combo...3 boiled pierogies, kielbasa, sauerkraut and stuffed cabbage...all delicious w/ the exception that I HATE sauerkraut, but he loved it. Now it's my turn, I had the gypsy pancake (love the name) which was 2 very ample sized potato pancakes with beef goulash in between them and topped with sour cream. All I can say is that my 2 friends agreed that it was the best dish at our table. I can only agree myself. This was my first time dining at a Polish restaurant and it will become a regular part of Brady's favorite restaurants.
(5)Ozzy Z.
Cafe Polonia was my first foray into Polish food, and I must say, I can't believe it took me 21 years to try a pierogi. The food was absolutely delicious, and while it is quite heavy on the stomach (and the calories), you won't be thinking about any of that after scarfing down your stuffed cabbage and pierogis, and finishing it off with one of their delicious desserts. Now, this place is very popular, and also very tiny, so don't be surprised if you're turned away because of how busy it is. This has happened to me before, and I was shocked the first time because I had never been told to "Come back tomorrow" by a hostess at a restaurant before (those were her actual words). I can understand why though, as the food is delicious, and the environment is very cozy. It really feels more like you're eating in some Polish family's kitchen, as opposed to a restaurant. I definitely think everyone should check this place out at some point or other. It's less than a 5 minute walk from the Andrew stop on the red line.
(5)Corey L.
Great food, great and ridiculously nice service. Really glad we went
(5)Andrew K.
Visited once. I have Ukrainian background (Ukraine is bordering Poland), I thought the food wasn't any good. This place is also overpriced, and the service was poor. I am not coming back.
(1)Crystal S.
I had been wanting to try this place for awhile, as my best friend said it was amazing. Well, he was right and now I am hooked. The absolute BEST pierogis I have had, next to the ones my Babchi made. The cabbage and mushroom are heavenly, I got them fried.
(5)Lewis D. W.
Good old Polish cooking! Growing up with my 'Babci' living with us, in a Polish-American household, I was raised on pork chops, kielbasa, capusta, potato pancakes, blini, borsct, etc. etc. - it's amazing I'm still alive! :) I was SO excited to go here - like a visit to my childhood - as my babci passed away in 1986 - and my mom doesn't cook much now as she's getting older - and alas I didn't pick up much of the cooking skills - except my naleszniki, which rock the world! (= blini = crepes) So the food was good but not superb. The whole feeling of the place was nice, homey, very casual - not fancy - the tables were a little messy, the candles weren't lit, etc. - but the service was excellent, prompt and friendly, the bathroom was spotless, overall a great, relaxed atmosphere. Felt like a small eatery in Kracow! (tho I haven't been since 1993.... :( ) I had breaded pork chops which were great - potato pancakes were EXCELLENT and just as good as babci's! - mushroom soup was OK but a little watery and not as full of flavor as it could be. Pierogis were good but not out of this world. Nice selection of Polish beers. I would go again - but it's a straight, good, wholesome, heavy, solid Polish meal - nothing extraordinary or mind-blowing - but certainly does remind me of home!
(4)Bill M.
This was the case of The Girlfriend. My girlfriend did not have good Polish food, and I brought her there for her birthday. The man that was serving all the food was very friendly and was able to make sure that one thing that was not on the menu (the sour pickle soup) was available for my girlfriend. The food was great, and we left happy. She loved everything about it, and quite frankly, to me, that's all that matters.
(5)Tyson B.
Amazing! Just like in Poland. The food was perfect and the staff was friendly. My kids liked it too.
(4)Heather G.
An entire cup full of lard. Not butter, not spread, JUST LARD. In a basket, with bread, as though it's the most natural thing in the world that lard comes with the bread basket rather than butter. You spread it on the bread as though it's freaking butter! No big deal. And you close your eyes and enjoy the fatty goodness. Guilt free. Any restaurant that starts its meals like that - boldly, unapologetically, and as though that's the most normal thing on earth - is bound to be stellar. While I understand this restaurant gets extremely busy nearly all night every night (the entire restaurant seats about 30), it's absolutely dead in the late afternoon. This was perfect for me at the time, though, because I brought my own entertainment and I was so hungry I am not sure I'd have been able to wait in a crowded restaurant to taste some of what smelled so delicious in the kitchen. The waitress started by recommending us some delicious beer, which is important because the entire selection is Polish and I was in completely unfamiliar territory. Imagine my surprise when she came out with two large mugs of beer for my lunch date and myself. Let's recap: I am eating lard and drinking giant steins of beer while dreaming of the kielbasa sandwich in my near future in an empty restaurant in the middle of the afternoon deep in the heart of southie. Typical Friday. That just happened. We started with some potato pancakes with a thin layer of smoked salmon, chives/dill and cream on top. The potato pancakes were served fresh out of the fryer, and were piping hot and crunchy on the outside, but smooth and creamy inside. The consistency was between mashed potatoes and tater tots, and the combination of hot potato pancakes with cold salmon and cream was actually worked very well. We then ordered some pirogis...pirogi? Is pirogi its own plural? Regardless, had an order that was cooked in oil and onions and filled with...potatoes and cheese? Honestly, they were a bit bland and, as my first pirogi experience in life, kind of disappointing. I thought they were chewy and gluey, and the best flavor came from the fried onions and sour cream they were served with. And then, the reason we came - kielbasa sandwich. The bread alone will keep me coming back. It was crackly and crusty on the outside but squishy inside...sort of like a bahn mi baguette...there had to be some rice flour in there somewhere. The kielbasa was snappy, juicy, and well-seasoned (read: holy garlic), and the sandwich included spicy brown mustard and house-made (so slightly mild) sauerkraut. THIS IS NOT A RESTAURANT YOU GO ON A FIRST DATE, for sure. At least, not a first date you want to end with a first kiss. Else, you may not make it to Date 2. My mom always said the rule of thumb for dinner dates is "if one eats garlic, both must eat garlic", but the flavors in these Polish dishes go well beyond the "both must eat garlic" rule. There will be no kissing afterward. Dads, this could work to your advantage if you have a teenage daughter who is starting to date. Suggest they come here. In all seriousness, this place is delicious. Though we were completely stuffed at the end of our meal, someone (likely a Polish grandmother) started cooking something out back in the kitchen that smelled so good our stomachs began grumbling in hunger all over again. Everything about this place (from the beer list to the composition of the dishes to the price tag to the ambiance to the waitstaff) is completely modest. The food is honest, blue-collar, and solid. These things make it charming and relate-able. And just like that, I am in love. And I never saw it coming.
(5)Josephine L.
The only Polish restaurant in the city, Cafe Polonia doesn't disappoint in taste, authenticity or value. Oh, and it's close to the Red Line too. I just love this place. Get: smoked salmon potato pancakes, perogis and kielbasa, the staples of Polish cuisine. I never thought I'd enjoy sauerkraut so much, but I still fantasize about theirs. This stuff reminds me of my Eastern European friends' home cooking back home. Light and hearty at the same time, with the food's subtle, natural flavors shining through. Absolutely delicious. The restaurant isn't big but it feels like a Polish grandmother's living room. Brightly lit, with cozy wooden furniture and decorated with cute, quaint knick-knacks throughout. Anywhere you sit feels like a corner to yourself. Which is great for when you come back over and over again.
(4)Sandy B.
For what this place tries to do, it does it very well. The place is not spacious and private, but it is cozy and feels very comfortable. It's decorated in a rustic cabin style with beautiful wooden tables, chairs, and benches. It only has a seating capacity of about 30 people, so go during the week and you probably won't have a problem getting in. We dropped by late on a Tuesday night and were seated right away. The restaurant was about half-full though, which was encouraging to see. There was only one girl working the register and dining area, but she did a fantastic job. She was attentive and helpful, but gave us a lot of space. My boyfriend and I told the waitress that we wanted to split an order of the sour pickle soup. She was so sweet, she brought us an order split into two separate bowls. Also, sour pickle soup? Never even heard of it before, but it was lovely! It kind of tasted like pickle juice mixed with a chicken stock, and thickened. There were onions and cucumbers and other yummy things in the soup too. Delicious! I got the gypsy pancake for dinner, which is goulash sandwiched between two potato pancakes. It's as wonderful as it sounds. It was also so filling that I had no room for dessert. Guess that means I have to go back!
(4)Eric O.
Don't worry if you're unfamiliar with Polish food, you'll leave as a convert. We came in with very little experience and our waitress helped us pick out our dishes based on our tastes. I highly recommend going with the Polish Platter if you're new - the stuffed cabbage is inexplicably good. It's a tiny place, so if you plan on going during busy hours definitely call ahead.
(5)Thomas S.
I went for a date and was a little worried about the location once we parked. Whatever. Once you're inside, it's like the others say, it looks like you're in Poland - it's great! The food is like stuff you've had before, just much, much better. Apparently a little old Polish lady cooks it all from scratch out back, and it tastes that way. The waiter was the only staff there, and he was super helpful, recommending beers and dishes that were amazing. We had the sour pickle soup (unbelievably good), mushroom soup (not quite as good, but still delicious), potato pancakes and Polish platter. Plenty of food for the two of us, reasonably priced, I would definitely go back.
(5)sammie j.
So, I never tried Polish before(unless you count Costco pierogi samples which are really yummy) and decided to give this a whirl. When I first went into the restaurant, without a reservation, I was amazed by how small it is. It holds max about 20 people. It has a cozy and intimate feeling to it because of the murals hanging off the wall and the wooden tables and chairs. The sole waitress, a Blond, asked my friend and I if we had reservations, on a Sunday night, we said no but she still seated us. The restaurant was actually pretty full with the exception of one open table but again, this is a very small restaurant. We arrived about 2 hours before closing... It took the waitress about 15 minutes, maybe a little more to actually ask what would we like to order. Even though she was busy, she was pretty patient with our indecisiveness about what to order. It took about 30-45 or so minutes to actually get our order. My friend ordered a pierogi with "everything" and salad as her meal, while I ordered pierogi with potatoes and cheese, coconut shrimp and scallops wrapped in bacon. We had built up anticipating of how good these seemingly handmade pierogis were and with the first bite, we were underwhelmed. It tasted bland and a bit doughy. So, we asked the waitress to pan fry it and she was totally cool with it. We thought pan fry would make it taste better but it still was pretty bland. The coconut shrimp was decent but personally, I don't think the marriage of coconut and shrimp work. Also, the sauce it came with was too overwhelmingly sweet and the coconut infusion just didn't work for my taste buds. The scallops wrapped in bacon were OK but to be fair, that's the first time I ate scallops and I rarely eat pork. However, I gave the left overs to my bf and he said the scallops wrapped in bacon were good, but he too thought the pierogis were just OK. Sad but I think the pierogi that they demonstrate at Costco tastes much better, it' thinner and crispier. Additionally, after reading more reviews, I realized bread and lard are the starter but we didn't receive them, but I assume the waitress forgot since she was pretty busy. I didn't try but 1 Polish dish so I am willing to go back and give it another go.
(2)Julia K.
Cozy, tiny (and I mean TINY - they really need more tables) little hole-in-the-wall near the Andrew T. The menu is limited but the food is hearty, authentic, and tasty. No complaints about that here. You can't go wrong with the pierogi. I'm surprised I found a typical homey little Polish restaurant around the Southie/Dorchester area, but I'm very happy I did. Will definitely be back. If you want to introduce somebody to Polish food without overwhelming them with unfamiliar tastes/organs/whatnot, then this is definitely your best option.
(4)Kimberley T.
The food was good. The restaurant is extremely small and always packed however we were seated pretty quickly (if not immediately) upon arrival. It took FOREVER for someone to even come over to take our drink order. After ordering drinks/food at the same time, it felt like it took far too long for the drinks o be brought over and the food took awhile. After being served and finishing our meals, it took even longer to receive the cheque. I know two people who frequent this place, so I'm happy to give it another shot when I'm in town again.
(3)