Copernicus Restaurant | Copernicus Hotel — Restaurant in Krakow

Probably the best meal Ive ever had in Poland after 10 years of visiting. The interior is a nice old hotel where they explain the astronomer Copernicus used to stay and study. The dining area is in multiple locations, and there werent many guests, so I enjoyed the open-air interior space on my own. The dishes were all modern versions of Polish classics, with some fancified ingredients and preparations that intensify the flavors. I had their seasonal tasting menu and was not disappointed in any of the dishes. Started with some amuses bouches - a beef tartare tartlet with black truffles, an ogorki-sour cream-foam herring preparation, and a terrific lemongrass cappuccino. Next pre was potato with dill oil and buttermilk sauce, pike fish and herring 'caviar'. Simple but really nice flavors. Vegan smalec made with apple and onion... tasted like real smalec, how did they do it?? Mangalica butter on the bread course was outstanding. Sea trout, Polish wasabi, and beetroot, delicate plating and presentation. [Wish Google let you upload photos... this has been an error for over a month] Foie gras with hazelnut and forest fruits. Rich flavors and interesting textures. Large-size pierogi with famous local sheep cheese and capers. Halibut (cooked so so well) with zucchini mousse. Ginger and earl grey tea palate cleanser. beef tenderloin (yes, this came after) with asparagus, broad beans, and black garlic sauce, plated like a yin-yang symbol. Rhubarb and yogurt foam dessert topped with a bit of Chinese black pepper. Finale was tremendous, a show-stopping version of jagodzianki (blueberry bun) but in delicate separate layers like the finale dessert at Vespertine in Los Angeles. It comes out with a blue flower on top of a honeycomb lattice crisp, layers of fruit and sauce, and a bottom layer of fresh blueberry compote. Outstanding. Even some petits fours to go. The waiter was so friendly and funny, complimented me on my Polish and took me to the rooftop to view the nearby Wawel castle and church spires. Maybe they do that with all their guests, but I thought it was a nice touch. Would definitely come back to this place. The meal was really outstanding. I paid 630 zloty...

The 9-course chef’s tasting menu was a feast giving the diner an exciting range of tastes as a properly composed menu should. It was also quite good value for money as there were in fact more than nine courses, e.g. the two little tasty amuses-bouches were delightful and set the tone for the rest of the meal. The intermezzo (not listed in the menu) of apple granita with cider was genuinely refreshing – you don’t know that you would need a palate cleanser but after having it one wonders how one could have done without. On the whole all items were very well-prepared, and the ingredients felt fresh even though it has to be difficult to stock the kitchen for the extensive menu. Personally the highlights of the meal were the foie gras and the duck in raspberry and chestnut glaze, although the trout from Ojców was also very tasty. These dishes stand out because they all present a well-balanced flavour profile where the individual ingredients can be tasted. A dish that slightly disappoints is the first starter of smoked salmon and beetroot and wasabi but it is a little difficult to discern the wasabi. In the same way, neither the taste nor the aroma of truffle is present in the gnocchi with black truffle. On the other hand, the crunchy Parmesan bits in that dish is a lift and the emphasis could well have been put there, skipping the truffle. The sweets are also marvellous, especially the sumptuous petits-fours to...

The lunch tasting menu at the incredibly charming @hotelcopernicus restaurant, a Relais & Châteaux member, was extraordinary. Located in Krakow's Old Town on the oldest street in the city, this is an outstanding culinary experience.⁣ ⁣ The Amuse-bouche of tomato jelly over a goat cheese panacotta and the bread basket with olive butter and vegan lard were a preview of the quality of the items to follow, which were expertly selected interpretations of traditional Polish foods by Chef Marcin Filipkiewicz.⁣ ⁣ The simple yet tasty aubergine salad had melt-in-your-mouth morsels of the vegetable with cheese and herbs.⁣ ⁣ In mains, the pork rib with tripe had an infusion of meaty flavours and was cooked really well. The cod with octopus salad was the star of the meal because the octopus was one of the best I've had...ever. Grilled to perfection with incredible results.⁣ ⁣ The literal cherry on top to conclude the meal was in the form of a spectacular sorbet that has herbs and meringue around it to make your memorable meal end on the happiest of notes.⁣ ⁣ The complimentary dessert platter had the chef's interpretation of a dark and white chocolate cheesecake, peanut butter cup cookies, Oreo and liquorice marshmallows.⁣ ⁣ The service and ambience were excellent. This was one of those exemplary meals that you do not forget. Definitely recommend the experience if you're in Krakow. A...