Cafe Polonez — Restaurant in Toronto

A Memorable Introduction to Polish Cuisine at Café Polonez

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Café Polonez, a well-regarded Polish restaurant—and I must say, it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. This was my first time trying authentic Polish food, and Café Polonez truly made it memorable.

I ordered a variety of traditional dishes including Schnitzel Polonez, Beef Paprikash, and Kotlet Mielony, accompanied by a Polish beer. Each dish was flavorful, hearty, and beautifully prepared. The Schnitzel was perfectly crisp, the Beef Paprikash was rich and tender, and the Kotlet Mielony offered a comforting and savory experience. For dessert, I tried the Pavlova, which—while not a cheesecake—was light, delicately sweet, and a perfect end to the meal.

The ambiance inside the restaurant was warm and inviting, blending traditional charm with a modern, comfortable setting. What truly elevated the experience, however, was the exceptional service. Our server was knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely enthusiastic about sharing the background of each dish. Her hospitality and attentiveness made us feel well taken care of throughout the evening.

Overall, Café Polonez exceeded my expectations in every way. From the authenticity of the cuisine to the quality of the service and atmosphere, it’s clear that this establishment takes pride in delivering a genuine and memorable dining experience. I would highly recommend it to anyone curious about Polish food or simply looking for a delicious and welcoming...

This review is based on my takeout order at Cafe Polonez. Although I have been in the past, staple growing up! However, it has been some time since I have eaten here. This restaurant is a community legend as it's been around for a long time, I remember having to eat in during my high school days!

What did I order: Hungarian-Style Potato Pancake with Pork Goulash Stew and side of Beet Salad Beef Tripe Soup Chicken Noodle Soup

The pancakes are a MUST! With a dollop of sour cream, it is heavenly. I am not a fan of sour cream but the combination is perfect in taste, texture and satisfaction! The goulash has ample amount of lean pork and very flavourful. I did not eat the beet salad, as I do not enjoy beets but my sister loved it!

I have been craving chicken noodle soup and if you are polish it is a classic "babcai" chicken noodle soup--very content. $6.75 for a hearty homemade style soup, I was a happy camper.

The beef tripe soup was a 'new' dish I decided to try and it was delicious! Plenty of tripe! Can't beat the price. Fare warning, it does have the 'offal' smell IYKYK.

Overall, once we are in an endemic, I would highly highly recommend a trip to this restaurant and enjoy a meal here (make sure you go with lots of people and try their pierogies and other dishes!).

Note: Street...

Grew up not far away, but somehow missed this gem of an eatery up until very recently when a friend raved about it to me. Coming from a Central/Eastern European background myself, I've over the years devised a small list of solid spots offering high quality dishes from the region, and can safely say Polonez is now in my top five. Most everything I've had there up until now, spanning my handful of visits over the last couple months, has been stellar. Their wide range of soups are all fantastic, their pierogis, possibly the best I've had anywhere, and the schnitzels-- the main draw for me in such restaurants--, absolutely stellar; not too thick, not too thin, and perfectly cooked and seasoned. Big fan of the assorted platter, as it gives you a great variety of the popular dishes. Oh, and lest I forget the incredible apple pie/crumble style desert... that stuff is absolutely divine! Service isn't lacking by any stretch, but could be a touch warmer (and not that it's their fault, but the wait for food can be quite long), and the atmosphere is quite cold, reminding me of beer halls you might find "back home". Overall, I cannot say enough good things about this authentic beacon of "back home" cooking, and look forward to many...