Polka — Restaurant in Warsaw

If you want to spend money to be disrespected, this is exactly the place to go. The waitress (a blonde girl very agressive) came to take our orders. We could not decide. I thought she would help, give some advice about polish food for example… not at all. She was staring at us. I felt like we were bothering. But we ordered. For some reason she was loud. Came with our plates and was almost shouting « enjoy your meals !!! », like she is trying to be nice but she is just agressive actually. The cocktails were too sweet but we did not bother asking. We said nothing. We enjoyed our meals and were actually doing what people do at a restaurant. Talk to each other, having fun, taking our time as we should in holidays. She finally appeared at our table to kick us out « we are closing so you need to go »… still loud and smiling in the same time… I really felt agressed by her attitude. It was a way to say you ate your food now just leave… which is rude… we are from France where you can eat for as long as you want. Then we had to pay and here she shows her true face: rolling her eyes when it comes to split the bill as we all do. The payment had to suit HER. Cash was not what SHE wanted. A friend of mine proposed to pay with a card and she came right away with the card machine. Almost running to get all that payment thing done. So rude. I could see her rushing around and talking to her colleague in polish and laughing in the same time. Of course we don’t understand polish. So she was probably talking about us. How can we know?! So on a friday night in the touristic city of warsaw you are being kicked out of a place at 10 by a childish waitress and that’s the way it is. It is expensive for what it is. This restaurant is empty. 20% of the table were occupied. All other tables were empty. I know why. People are not going to pay to be disrespected like...

I visited Polka with Polish colleague two nights in succession.

The food was excellent on both nights and the beer, which I am told is brewed on the premises was truly wonderful.

Such a combination meant that my guest was keen to return on the second night. The food and the beer were consistently good fully justifying our desire to return.

However, our waiter really needs to select a new career path. The first night the restaurant was quiet with only two other tables occupied in our room and two in an adjoining room. genuinely not busy. The second evening it was even quieter.

On our first evening I ordered a starter and a mains. My guest confirming our order on Polish each time.

Each course was delivered with incorrect dishes ! No apology, I acceoted the first incirrect didh in order to be accommodating.

Insited on being govdn the correct dish for mains. The waiter was inattentive and almost bordering on the rude.

The second night... We made certain there was no misunderstanding on our order but the service was appalling ! Some of the worst I havd ever encountered anywhere. We were repeately ignored. The waiter either feigned deafness or was genuinely unable to hear our loud calls for service as he walked across the almost empty room. He avoided eye contact at almost all times on entering the room, unless zctually stood at our table.

I had to get up from the table on nimerous occasions to find cutlery, gind the waiter etcc... etc..

This is a high class restauramt with an enviable reputation for excellent food, run by well known, patron chef in the lovely old town of Warsaw.

Would recommend the food and the beer without hesitation. The waiter needs to identify an alternative career...

Very few restaurateurs dominates the Warsaw scene like Magda Gessler, and Polka is one of her Polish restuarants located in the Old Town of Warsaw. Upon entering you are greeted by a hostess and a long corridor leading to different beautifully adorned rooms and simple wooden tables. I had the sense that I had walked into somebody's house for dinner - the space felt relaxed yet regal.

The menu of Polka is firmly Polish with a twist on some traditions including pierogi, bigos staropolski, ribs and bread with a festive mackrel spread. In addition to the a la carte menu, Polka offers a seasonal pre fix menu for a good price per person. I would highly recommend the mix of pierogi with okrasa, which are the traditional potatoes dumplings with a delicate filling of meats, cabbage and spices with a rich side sauce. The bigos staropolski, which is shredded pork Polish stew served in a bread bowl was delightful as well. For dessert, the carrot cake was amazingly fresh and a good alternative to the heavier and creamy dessert choices on the menu. The service was outstanding with our waiter not only fluent in three languages but an absolute mastery of the menu. The total bill for two mains, two starters, two grapefruit juices, one bottle of sparkling water, two side dishes and one dessert was 233 zloty including the eight percent local tax but not the optional service tip. Polka is a great establishment for couples and groups looking to experience Polish cuisine with a twist in a regal homely setting which do not mind...