Kawaleria Restaurant — Restaurant in Krakow

I walked in off the street not having any preconceived ideas with what to expect from Kawaleria. I elected to sit at the bar, which was just inside the front entrance (small, sits maybe 4 people). There was a couple also dining in the "front room" in the corner. There are second and third rooms in the restaurant. The 3rd room was occupied by 2 large parties (10) who seemed very much to be enjoying their meal (they could be heard at times, but weren't in the least an annoyance). The barista (he was responsible for both the "bar" drinks as well as the "coffee" drinks) was courteous and spoke English well. I started with a large beer, which I've forgotten the brand of, but at least tasted as if it was a typical Polish local brew, a clear pilsner offering while scanning the menu. The menu, thankfully for me, is presented in both Polish and English. I started with the beef carpaccio, which was served promptly on a warmed plate. The dish was quite good, the rocket salad fresh, and proportions of the dish were well balanced. The dish was served with a side of bread as well, which was somewhat dense (but probably typical). For my main dish I selected the Salmon filet, over tomato capellini. The dish was served with what appeared to be a fried slice of plantain (probably wasn't) on top, as well as a small amount of balsalmic glaze on the edge of the plate. I had hopes of the fried element providing a nice bit of crunch to the dish, but was disappointed to find that it chewed a bit like paper and was almost impossible to cut. The salmon and pasta worked well together, and there were peas added as well, which provided some additional bite to the dish. The pasta could have been cooked slightly less, and the salmon cooked slightly quicker. My last bite of salmon revealed a small area which was more seared than the rest, providing that bit of crunch that I had been searching for. Despite my whining about the details of the main dish, overall it was quite good. Service was exceptional. At one point the waitress had a "heated" discussion with the barista about one of the coffee orders. I couldn't understand it, but before she took the order to her patrons, she noted a problem and corrected it immediately. I would...

By sheer luck we stumbled into Kawaleria. We were around the main square and looking for something local to eat. Google suggested this place and what sealed the deal was that it was just a few yards away from us. However what we did not expect at all was the amazing food, desserts and the sheer presentation of it all. The space itself is so full of history and character that is not easily found these days. Walls full of art and b&w pictures of people, horses of a different era. Loads of seats to choose your preferred nook and then a whole courtyard straight out of an old French classic movie. Being the lean season post Christmas, it was sparsely populated with guests and that allowed us to take in the charm fully. I would love to come here in spring summer just to experience that courtyard. We all vowed to come back (and we were not...

I’ve eaten here 3 times in the last year, it was perfect every time. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, it feels like one of those impossibly expensive places in Mayfair where you can never get a table. Every detail is right and everything is high quality, lovely glasses, cutlery, crockery & furniture. The menu is mostly Polish food, but an intelligent and imaginative take on the usual dishes, there are lots of interesting combinations and I always struggle to choose just one dish. But what really makes Kawaleria utterly enjoyable is the service, which is absolutely outstanding. The staff are well-informed, attentive, charming and really well-trained. It’s such a pleasure to eat in such a well...