Kogel Mogel — Restaurant in Krakow

Two evenings ago, I was with my extended family in a party of 9, seated against the back wall. About 1 metre above me, there was a window with a ledge, containing a large vase, full of gladiolas. The wind blew the window open, knocking the vase forward, spilling it's entire contents of water and flowers directly on top of me. I was completely drenched and covered with gladiolas. It was very funny, yet uncomfortable. Our table cloth was completely wetted and our bench cushions and back rests were soaked. Our waiter attended immediately and quickly left without a word. I peeled the flowers off me, got help from members of my party to turn the cushions over and to grab the rolling vase before it rolled off the ledge. The waiter returned and threw a bunch of paper napkins on the table, saying, "This is all we can do". He then took the flowers and vase from me and left. He then returned to serve our party as if nothing had happened. Three of us had to eat from a wet tablecloth, one sat with her back against the wet back rest, and I sat with a completely soaked shirt and pants. Nothing was said by any staff member until the meal was completed. At that time the waiter returned and offered our party free after-dinner drinks as compensation for the event. We were aghast, and all refused the token attempt at an apology. I asked for the manager and was met by Sławek, who identified himself as the manager. I told him that I was most displeased by the non-reaction of the staff. He seemed puzzled, and I had to explain that the least the staff should have done was to have a team attend the table, reset it with a new tablecloth, turn the cushions, and deal with the wet bankette. Or move tables so no one would have to sit against a wet back. I further told him that l expected so much more from a Michelin rated restaurant and that I was deeply disappointed. I further told Sławek that I would be writing this review. His response was that he was sorry for...

Kogel Mogel delighted us in every way, from the Michelin-level service to the creative cocktails (and mocktails) to the freshness and mastery of ingredients. Each dish satisfies the palette with a new adventure, derived from Polish tradition cooked from a new and masterful perspective.

Our waiter was efficient and friendly as he guided us through the menu, and was always there when we wanted him at exactly the right times - and not there when we wanted to be left to ourselves to savor the moments.

The menu descriptions are deceptively simple, but lushly nuanced when delivered. For example, the "Green salad, goat cheese, cucumber, chive mayonnaise" was one of the best salads we've ever eaten, and leaves out the pickled shallots that elevated the flavor.

The basil-grapefruit gin fizz was beautiful and balanced and came in a nonalcoholic version that was just as good. The cold beet soup with quail egg was rich and delicious and complex.

The entrees continued the theme of excellence. A pork chop on the bone with buttery cabbage and a lovely sharpness from fresh horseradish was as light as the lightest schnitzel. And the slow-cooked beef in a scrumptious deep mahogany wine sauce melted in my mouth and was perfectly complemented by a carrot-fennel puree.

And I keep coming back to the seemingly simple side dish of steamed new potatoes and dill, which was perfect in the way that Joel Robuchon's famous mashed potatoes transformed simple, limited ingredients into a taste of heaven.

Dessert did not disappoint - a carmelized fresh apple cake with vanilla sauce and tart blackcurrant compote as a fine finish.

The whole feast cost a fraction of the price of equivalent restaurants elsewhere, making the value proposition here unbeatable. I highly recommend you stop by for a meal worthy of the elegance and richness that is...

The food here was wonderful. I had the pate to start and the quality was obvious, with rich but not fatty flavors. The duck was perfectly cooked as a main course, though you will need to order a side for vegetables or a potato dish, as it arrives pretty much as just duck. Desert was equally good, with rich but not overpowering flavours. The service was excellent, with the waiter thoughtfully asking if we wanted champagne flutes or white wine glasses with the champagne. The waiter was attentive and knowledgeable about the food and wines, which was good, but that he was genuinely enthusiastic just added a nice dimension. It's a little pricey but worth the money. This is traditional Polish food done to a very high standard indeed. The menu is relatively compact and I find that normally a good sign, which it was here. Good wine list, with a range of prices. The restaurant is actually quite large and there was a party of ten when we were there: they seemed to be having a great time and food was served promptly. Sometimes restaurants can struggle when full or with large parties, but Kogel seemed to be fine. The only slight niggle for me was pianist in the entrance area, which was too close up a handful of tables and we made the correct decision to sit elsewhere. It's a nice idea, but it didn't feel quite right given the space. This is really my only niggle - don't be put off! The place is frankly wonderful and it's one of the best meals I've had for a long time. The care and thought is evident throughout - from the food, to the wine list, to the staff training, to the decor....