Dobra Kasza Nasza — Restaurant in Krakow

Visited three times (so far) during Christmas/New Year holiday (2019/2020). We visited before a few years ago and happy to find their menu has since expanded to cover diners who may not appreciate kasza dominated dishes (like me!). Kasza in Poland means "oats" or "grains" or any porridge-like dishes, sweet or savoury. Grains like barley, pseudo-grains like buckwheat etc. Decor and seating is comfortable and pleasant, perhaps a squeeze on some tables but overall very welcoming as are the waiting staff who are friendly and helpful. They could do with a door closer mechanism to prevent diners freezing in cold weather when inconsiderate diners exit and don't close the door properly. Like most restaurants on the square these days, there is also an outdoor covered dining area which some may appreciate. I have tried their Rosół (traditional Polish broth) which was acceptable but not special. I preferred their Krupnik (soup as opposed to krupnik alcoholic drink) with crushed (or pinhead) barley (hence the name). Very tasty and wholesome. I enjoyed their Roast beef in gravy (Pieczeń wołowa w sosie), I had potatoes instead of kasza and had their celeriac surówka (seler in Polish is celeriac although some Polish eateries may confuse celeriac with celery) and found the whole meal delicious, well cooked tender meat, rich thick sauce and sweet, well marinated celeriac surówka (which is not salad and always complements cooked meals). Not really "roast beef", I would call it braised beef. Twice I have tried their Gulasz (goulash). First time was wonderful, second time not so good with stringy undercooked meat, very noticeable red peppers and ogórki (like gherkins) and a thin sauce. In particular if choosing kasza, a rich thick sauce is essential. The surówka was too dry the second time. Hasn't put me off and will be coming here again but might stick with the beef in gravy. Prices (strangely not shown on their website menus) are very reasonable and location on the main square (Rynek Główny) is one of the best in my opinion. House red was very good, tasting to me like a chianti. They claim their grains are all gluten free but perhaps take that with a pinch of wieliczka salt. Worth a visit especially if you are...

OUTRIGHT DEPLORABLE, DESPICABLE, AND VILE behavior of restaurant’s personnel. By a long shot the WORST EXPERIENCE EVER. My wife and I dined in this place last Saturday. Everything was fine; the girl who served us on the outside patio was very pleasant and professional. Next day, last Sunday, we decided to come to the place for an early lunch. We got to the restaurant at about 11:50, and the place was just getting ready to open at noon. The waitress/hostess from the day before was just setting things up getting ready to start service. While waiting for the place to start service, my wife wanted to use the bathroom, which requires walking down the long passageway within the building to the very back where the restaurant’s kitchen is located. My wife and I walked down the passageway, and she walked into the open, single person, bathroom. While we were walking down the hallway, a girl was walking behind us and as my wife walked into the bathroom, the girl walked into the restaurant’s kitchen. In about a half a minute I heard some commotion in the hallway where the bathroom was. As I looked into the hallway, I saw the girl who just walked into the kitchen knocking on the bathroom door where my wife was. I told her that someone was inside. The girl started screaming “We are close, we are close. Get out of the bathroom right now.” And proceeded to bang on the door. After about 5 seconds of screaming and knocking, the girl took out the keys and started to open the bathroom door. At this point, my wife completely shocked by what was happening outside, opened the door. The girl immediately screamed at her: “Get out now.” The girl was genuinely enraged. My wife said to her that she is trying to put her pants on. The girl pointed her finger outside and said, “YOU CAN PUT YOUR PANTS ON OUTSIDE.” Suffice it to say that we did not stay for lunch at this place. We have traveled scores of countries and naturally stayed, dined, and patronaged hundreds of establishments that cater to public. BY FAR, THIS PLACE IS THE WORST and SIMPLY DANGEROUS for...

Dobra is on the main square in the old town of Krakow. It has lots of outdoor seating, but we sat inside, where there is a warm and cozy atmosphere. It is a really long, narrow restaurant, with the WC at the very back, so, when you wash your hands before you eat, you get to see the charm of the differently decorated dining rooms.

Our waitress, Ann, provided us with English menus and was able to tell us exactly which items were gluten-free.

I had the bacon and dried plums which came with buckwheat groats (gluten-free), this is not a meal I can get in Canada. Erik had the curried chicken with olives over barley groats (not gluten-free). All of the side-salads were gluten-free. Our dishes were tasty and presented in unique custom serving trays.

The only glitch came with dessert. I ordered gluten-free ice cream with raspberry sauce. Sadly it arrived with a cookie in it. After re-emphasizing the celiac disease and need for zero cross-contamination, a completely fresh ice cream sans cookie appeared. The raspberry sauce was incredible. Erik had the chocolate fondant (lava cake) and it was excellent.

Ann, our waitress, made a point to check on us after, and was extremely apologetic, explaining that like many places we’ve encountered, the typical gluten-free guest at Dobra is only following the diet as a choice not allergy, and would totally eat the cookie.

I did not get glutened.

Thus, we would recommend this restaurant to both celiacs and non-celiacs, especially if you are looking for something you won't find on a North American or...