Polish Restaurant in Chicago

I've got only one shot at this one, so it needs to be a winner. In other words, I need a great recommendation for one evening and that's it. I'm looking for an authentic, old-fashioned, tasty, but not necessarily pricey Polish restaurant. The kind that resurrects memories of my grandmother's cooking. Calories and cholesterol be damned. There has to be a place like this in Chicago. Any suggestions to a person who has not visited Chicago in about 40 years?

Ted K

Hi Ted. I can't give you any personal recommendations but you can check out www.metromix.com/ There you can click under dining and then search for Polish food. There used to be a place called the Orbit and the Busy Bee Cafe but they are both gone now. Good Luck!

I think what you are looking for is at: http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/dining/ . On the right hand side under Find a Restaurant in Chicago, under Cuisine, click on Polish. It will come up with 57 possibilities. I see at least a couple that sound like what you are looking for. The other URL comes up with a blank page.

Thanks. I did look up some likely prospects on the web site suggested. I just wonder if I could get some personal endorsements. Maybe a little better than taking a stab in the dark. If not, I'll just take my chances and go with what looks best.

Ted K

I like the Red Apple, on N. Milwaukee. A few years ago, when I was going to beer school, I was put in charge of meals for a week. I brought in food from the Apple one day, and ten years later, I'm still hearing comments.

Przyblo's White Eagle Restaurant and Banquet Hall located at 6839 north Milwaukee Avenue in Niles is a family restaurant in business for over 50 years. The White Eagle is open daily for lunch and serves dinner Thursday through Sunday. Visit their website at www.thewhiteeagle.com and enter "restaurant," then enter "menu." My all time favorite is Paprikash located at 5210 W. Diversey in Chicago. I would eat there every day of the week if I lived in Chicago. Food like my grandma's! www.paprikashrestaurant.com Don't miss this one!

My favorite Polish restaruant in Chicago is Halina's Cafe on the far NW side of Chicago. One of gth many times I have written about it can be found here:

http://vitalinformation.blogspot.com/2004_01_18_vitalinformation_archive.html#107464954202659105

The Red Apple is a good one, no doubt. The buffets at Bobak's markets are good as is Sawa's Old Warsaw at Cermak and 17th in Broadview.

I wish I could remember the name of the one we went to for a funeral lunch, it was near the Polish cemetary off Milwaukee and near White Eagle. It seems to me it was a little house. The food was fantastic, served family style. The people were very nice, little English spoken, the deceased was a frequent customer and they did a lovely job in respect to him. Bohemian Crystal is another good one but I don't think Polish as much a European, that's in Westmont.

If memory serves me, "Bohemian" means dumplings. Delicious dumplings, but nothing like Polish pierogi. Please keep those Chicago recommendations coming. In the meantime, here's what I make my Polish/Lithuanian partner from New Hampshire happy with here in San Francisco. Got Trader Joe's? Get one package each of the potato and chicken pierogi, a pound of kielbasa, 1/4 # of butter and an onion. Put the butter in a 14" skillet, and put on low heat to melt. Slice or chop onion and put in skillet. Slice kielbasa into pieces, add to skillet. Per package instructions, poach pierogi, one box at a time, then add to skillet. Turn up heat when everything's in the skillet, then brown for 10-20 minutes, until every pierogi is browned on at least one side. Serve with Del Monte Bavarian Sauerkraut, unless you have real Chicago Polish saurkraut in your pantry.

quote:

Originally posted by kland01s

I wish I could remember the name of the one we went to for a funeral lunch, it was near the Polish cemetary off Milwaukee and near White Eagle. It seems to me it was a little house. The food was fantastic, served family style. The people were very nice, little English spoken, the deceased was a frequent customer and they did a lovely job in respect to him. Bohemian Crystal is another good one but I don't think Polish as much a European, that's in Westmont.

OMG! I have been trying to remember the name of that very same place! We had lunch there when my aunt died in '93. It is really damn good.

PS: I noticed in your cinco de mayo post that you work at a community college...it would not happen to be COD?

PSS: If I remember correctly you are the Cajun Connection fan, right?

Kasia's Deli is another winner. I believe it is on the corner of Chicago Ave. and Noble St. in the Ukranian Village neighborhood. If I remember it is not much of a sit down place. Man, they have some really great hunter's stew.

www.kasiasdeli.com

Hey Roadfooders, while you're on the subject, can someone tell me what ever became of the "Busy Bee?" I used to frequent the joint when I was a local, and now I've heard I'ts no longer there!

Bobak's is good, but I just tried the Jolly Inn (Irving Park just west of Narragansett) for the first time last Saturday. It was recommended by a Polish immigrant friend, and the food is superb.

The Busy Bee closed because the neighborhood (Wicker Park) is going yuppie, and they couldn't afford the much higher rent.

quote:

Originally posted by daveritzdog

Hey Roadfooders, while you're on the subject, can someone tell me what ever became of the "Busy Bee?" I used to frequent the joint when I was a local, and now I've heard I'ts no longer there!

The closing of the Busy Bee ranks high atop my list of Roadfood tragedies. That was a great neighborhood crossroads with delicious, cheap food; and it seemed indomitable, having survived Wicker Park's worst days in the 1970s (Chicago cops have told me about chasing bad guys through the restaurant with guns blazing!). How sad that escalating real estate values put it under.

stormycat, we're going to the Cajun Connection on Sunday and I work for Waubonsee. Yes, that Polish place was very good, I also remember meeting same uncle at one on Ogden in Downers Grove, again, cannot remember the name of that one either, seach of Metromix didn't come up with much.

Ahh, the Busy Bee... It was the best, half the time you would only hear Polish spoken. Just a great diner.

If you are familiar with the area there is another tragedy brewing, Leo's Lunchrom has been sold to new owners, let hope it doesn't lose it's charm.

Gentrification can be such a drag.

I think the Lone Tree Manor at 7730 N. Milwaukee is the great Polish restaurant others have mentioned. Their buffet is delish. They used to be in a house turned into a restaurant but since have expanded to a new beautiful restaurant/banquet hall. You can't go wrong here.

quote:

Originally posted by kland01s

Yes, that Polish place was very good, I also remember meeting same uncle at one on Ogden in Downers Grove, again, cannot remember the name of that one either, seach of Metromix didn't come up with much.

I live in DG and the only place that I can think of on Ogden besides for the Crystal is The Golden Duck. It too is Bohemian. I have not been there for years but I have been thinking about going back for there Friday fish fry.

Yes! The Golden Duck, I went there with my uncle and his SO, I mostly remember that it was so heavy and rich that I had a stomach ache and that it took a long time for me to fall asleep. For a bit of a drive, Old Warsaw is in McHenry on Rte. 31 before you get in to town. They have a buffet as well as odering off the menu.

Kland01s & Stormycat,
I believe the polish restaurant on Milwaukee that you're both trying to remember is the Village Cafe at 6873 N. Milwaukee. A small house just north of The White Eagle, on the east side of the street across from the cemetery. It used to be named something else (which I can't remember).

Try Lutnia at 5532 West Belmont. You can have a good dinner for under $35 here. Don't miss the pierogi. Hunter's Stew is a specialty of the house -- they also serve stuffed quail.

quote:

Originally posted by chicagostyledog

Przyblo's White Eagle Restaurant and Banquet Hall located at 6839 north Milwaukee Avenue in Niles is a family restaurant in business for over 50 years. The White Eagle is open daily for lunch and serves dinner Thursday through Sunday. Visit their website at www.thewhiteeagle.com and enter "restaurant," then enter "menu." My all time favorite is Paprikash located at 5210 W. Diversey in Chicago. I would eat there every day of the week if I lived in Chicago. Food like my grandma's! www.paprikashrestaurant.com Don't miss this one!

NEWS FLASH


Today's Chowhound Forum reports that the Paprikash Restaurant has been sold, prices have increased, portions have diminished in size, service has slowed, and food quality has suffered. I cannot confirm or deny this. The posts are on www.chowhound.com midwest/chicago area message board 12/3/04.

This recommendation is not for a Polish restaurant but Ukrainian restaurant. I understand much of the food is similar. It is called The Magic Jug and I think it's around Lawrence and Narragansett or perhaps Irving & Narragansett. Cheap, lots of food and rather cozy.