POLOMBIA — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

I chose Polombia for my lunch when we visited Time Out Market. I was super intrigued by the combination of cuisines/heritages (Polish + Colombian) and couldn't pass up a chance to try something so unique.

I was sitting up on the rooftop with some friends and was able to order and pay on my phone after scanning a QR code and selecting Polombia as my restaurant/stall of choice. The process was easy and very straightforward and I received a message stating when my food would be ready.

I headed down at the stated time and on my way I got an extra text message telling me my food was ready and to come get it. Yay for thoroughness and punctuality!

The friendly employee at the register asked my name and had my food waiting for me. Easy as pie (although climbing back up a couple stories with a heaping tray of food was a little less easy, haha).

I ordered the arepa-ski with roasted chicken and a side of potatoes. This was my first time trying an arepa and I enjoyed it. It reminds me a bit of sopes, but the cornmeal patty is a touch airier. The honey ricotta added a subtle sweetness and the chicken was tender. Texturally, it was a very fun dish, and beautifully plated, too. I thought it tasted good, but I will say I thought the flavors weren't quite as punchy/bold as I was really expecting. Not sure I tasted the aji sauce at all, but maybe they used a light hand. The potato side was delightfully buttery and salty, so all delicious there.

My friend got a "la zapiekanka." I didn't get a chance to try a bite, but she said it was really good.

Overall, Polombia is a super cool concept that offers fun and unique dishes that are accessible to newbies to both cuisines, like me. :) I would recommend this...

I couldn’t wait until I went home to write this. At first, I was skeptical on how Polish and Colombian flavors could be combined beyond pierogi and empanadas. I couldn’t be more mistaken. We ordered the Arepa-ski since the flavor combination sounded so intriguing. It is made to order, so please have patience as it’s totally worth it. I took a bite with everything first to test the waters, and it was an explosion of flavors and textures I couldn’t imagine were possible. The arepa masa itself was sweet, delicate with a nice crispy outside. The ricotta and honey with the arepa was amazing to eat on its own. Heck, I would just have that every day as a snack. The pickled beets and carrot mixture was such a new thing to me, and the sazón decorated on top tied it together. The ají was perfectly balanced and offered a nice underlying spice without overpowering the whole dish. The coffee-braised short rib was so tender and bursting with flavor.

Every single component played a key role, culminating into a well-balanced dish. I couldn’t be any more pleased, and I full-heartedly support this establishment and believe you should too. It’s truly a unique gem that highlights the beautiful and rich history of cultural diversity in Chicago.

P.S. Their fig kołaczki are SO good. The cookie dough was delicate and flaky, reminiscent of sugar cookies I’ve had in various panaderías across Latin America and here, but the fig filling really tied together both cultures. When I come back, I look forward to trying the...

I had a deeply unsettling experience with Cynthia, who is part owner of Polombia. While we were only distant acquaintances and never friends, I was shocked by her response to a post I made on Instagram expressing concerns about women's rights in the aftermath of the presidential election. Instead of having a civil conversation, Cynthia immediately reached out to me demanding that I provide proof of my concerns, which I felt was both intrusive and inappropriate.

When I chose to exit the conversation and block her on social media, things escalated. Cynthia then proceeded to contact me from her husband's account, insulting me further. She also sent me a long text message to my personal phone, continuing the harassment. It felt like an unprovoked attack on my personal views and my freedom to express myself.

As a business owner, I believe Cynthia's behavior reflects poorly on Polombia, and it worries me about the kind of environment she may foster at her establishment. I am deeply concerned about the treatment of employees and customers who may not share her political views. Everyone should feel safe and respected, especially in a public business setting, but it seems that Cynthia is more interested in imposing her political opinions and creating a hostile environment for those who disagree.

I have all the proof of the interactions I’m describing, including messages and screenshots of the attempts to contact me. I would not recommend supporting a business where this kind of behavior...