Kozak Ukraїnian Eatery — Restaurant in Brow of the Hill

I was driving around New Westminster one gloomy autumn day when I glanced up and saw the sign for Kozak Ukrainian Eatery. Immediately, I thought about cabbage rolls and pierogies and how I haven’t had any recently.

On my first visit here in mid-October, I decided to try their Hungry Tato’s Lunch Combo ($14) which comes with your choice of meat/vegetarian borsch, your choice of meat/vegetarian holubsti (cabbage rolls), stuffed nalysnyky (a type of crepe), and 2 varenyky (hand-made pierogies) along a slice of your choice of freshly baked bread.

I was here at about a quarter-to-noon and it wasn’t too busy but that changed as it got closer to noon. They informed me that it would take about 15 minutes to prepare my lunch (but it seemed a bit longer). I had opted for the vegetarian option but don’t make any mistakes… this is a very filling meal. The hearty Ukrainian rye bread that I picked was perfect for dunking in the borsch and felt like it was really sticking to my gut.

I thought the nalysnyky was a bit overcooked given how burnt it looked like. Obviously, the real winner here were the pierogies and I think the next time I visit, I’ll just stick with an order of pierogies… which is pretty much what I did.

In late October, I came back and ordered the Meat and Onion Varenyky ($10). They said it would take about 20 minutes for the pierogies so make sure you have time to wait if you want to try these out. I was actually quite pleased with thess pierogies when they finally came out but the juicy filling is quite reminiscent of Chinese dumplings and the onions gives it a slightly sweet taste.

While I waited for my pierogies, I ordered a slice of Chocolate Babka ($3.50). OMG! This has got to be one of the best chocolate babkas I’ve had. It’s not overly sweet but the exterior has a nice crust while the layers pull apart to reveal the beautiful marbling effect. Think I found my new happy food… it’s even better if you heat it up a little.

I came back a couple of days later for the same order but I found the onions to be much more caramelized than on my prior visit.

If there’s anything that you wind up ordering here, make sure it’s the Chocolate Babka. They’ve also just recently opened up a location in Vancouver (on Victoria Drive) which has a much larger dine-in...

The food was delicious! Definitely worth going to for a Ukrainian adventure if you are in the area! I think the one thing I still think about is their honey cake which was just mouth watering. The decor was also very nice for a small eatery and bakery along with the surprising large pastry selection.

So perhaps you're wondering: "You only gave three stars, but your review sounds glowing!" Well, unfortunately, it was because of the service from who I believe may have been the owner herself.

I bought a good amount of food but didn't get my receipt, and I waited...and waited, and waited for the food. I had not bought food that took long to prepare, cause it was already prepared, I was just waiting for her to take it out of the "display case" and put it on a plate. I walked up to the lady and asked her about my food if it was going to take a bit longer, she just looked at me and walked away. At this point I was a bit offended. I started to really wonder if I was going to get the food at all. All she had to do was tell me "yes, just a bit longer" or " almost done, just a few more minutes." But she just looked at me and left to the back. I don't know if I had something on my face, or maybe she felt hangry as it was close to lunch time, or perhaps she felt like I was acting entitled. But she was the one who took my order, she didn't even act like she cared about what I had just asked.

But the redeeming part of this story was that another worker who was running all around and helping a bunch of people was who asked me if I was waiting for something. She apologized about the food having taken so long to come out and finally brought me the food. The owner lady did in the end come up to the table just to offer cutlery, but that was it.

This was my honest review, I wish I could have given it a higher rating but it is unfortunately not possible. I am usually happy to give a 5 star review, especially to smaller businesses, but I just wish the lady paid attention to what I asked, it wasn't a...

I would like to preface it by stating that I have never physically visited Kozak and have solely ordered for the past few years.

Initially, the prices were reasonable, and the quantity was adequate. However, things began to decline, prompting me to cease ordering. The food was excessively oiled and lacked flavor, despite the apparent quantity.

Recently, I placed an order to ascertain if any changes had occurred, and indeed, they did. For reference, I spent $91 before service fees, and with Uber service fees, the total cost was $120.53. This amount was insufficient to satisfy the needs of a single individual.

For instance, the Syrnyky has been reduced to four small pieces, compared to the previous six or more larger ones that were offered a few years ago.

If you intend to try out Kozak’s food, I recommend doing so. However, if you are seeking a substantial meal and genuinely enjoy your food, I advise against it. You can easily find numerous Ukrainian and Russian food recipes online that will not only meet but also exceed the quality and quantity offered at Kozak, at a lower cost.

Furthermore, stores like Ukrainian Village offer a wider selection of better quality items, such as soup, which may be more to...