Northside Bakery

POLAND 🇵🇱

In technical terms, this place goes by Old Poland Bakery & Restaurant, and also has a couple other branches in the general area. On the awning, it says Northside Bakery, a little more general, but once inside still very Polish. This Nassau Avenue location indeed has two distinct parts, a bakery, and a small steam table operation selling prepared hot food by the pound.

One exception to this pricing system is the soup. My bowl of pickle soup ($3, below) was hardly hearty, but very delicious and definitely whetted the tubes for further things to come.

In total my order came to $10.22, so the weight of everything in the next two photos came to just over $7 and was definitely too much for me to eat comfortably. They have both potato and cabbage pierogi (below), so I grabbed two of each. These little guys are ordered by many and thus very fresh, a great find. Be sure to ask for a little bowl of sour cream for dolloping on these and other things.

To round out the rest of my hearty lunch, I asked for a plate with two potato pancakes and a portion of goulash, both excellent and also well-paired with that sour cream I had too much of. The gravy or soup from the goulash could realistically go with just about anything on offer here.

Just from my short time here, maybe 20 minutes or so eating, a steady stream of Polish men and women came in to place orders at the steam table and the bakery. It is obvious that this place is a neighborhood favorite.

If you are interested in Polish baked goods, pick up a pamphlet to see all the variety of "old style" bread and rolls they make, some available daily and some made to order. Options of bread loaves on offer are almost 20 and include Granny's 100% Rye Bread with Honey.

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GREENPOINT Brooklyn

190 Nassau Avenue

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Karczma

POLAND 🇵🇱

Invariably when mentioning the words "Poland" and "food" in the same sentence here in the United States, people will immediately say and think "pierogi." While these dumplings of potato or cheese or spinach are indeed delicious, there is also a more finely-tuned and in fact complex world of Polish cuisine. A good place to start sampling is one of Greenpoint's most prominent restaurants,Karczma.

The only staff we interacted with was the woman who also served our table, and judging by her, this is one of the friendliest places in the city. Karczma is a way of describing a Polish country-style lodge accommodation, and the interiors are designed to suit. It all feels fun, and the food does not disappoint. Hefty appetizers in the $6 range preceed $8-10 mains. A good start is the tatar wolowy ($6.50, Steak tartar) and szparagi z grilla zawiniete w szynce ($6, grilled asparagus wrapped in Polish ham, below). It is almost impossible to come here in a group of more than one person and not order the "Plate of Polish Specialties" which has all the favorites and costs only $10.

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GREENPOINT Brooklyn

136 Greenpoint Avenue

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Eat the World NYC is and always has been free. No advertisements block the content or pop over what you read. If this website has helped you explore your city and its wonderful cultures a little better and you have the means to contribute, please consider doing so. Eat the World NYC is a labor of love, but also takes a lot of money and time everyday to keep running.

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Królewskie Jadło

POLAND 🇵🇱

Greenpoint location.

It is always enjoyable to sneak in the door through the two armed knights guarding the entrance, into the medieval-themed dining hall. Explore the traditional menu much deeper than pierogies and kielbasy to find how complex Polish cuisine can be. This is literally "royal food" as the name translates, and it feels that way once you're full.

The last few times I have dined at this restaurant, it has taken place at their Ridgewood branch. This neighborhood has taken over as the main Polish concentration, especially along Fresh Pond Road.

Ridgewood location.

On weekdays, this location has a very economical lunch special (below) that gives you a choice of soup and entree for $11, and guarantees to stick to your ribs.

I recently paired the sour pickle soup known as ogórkowa (above) with the hunter's stew bigos (below) which comes with a side of mashed potatoes. Both dishes are spot on, like most everything in the restaurant.

Don't forget a half liter of Żywiec lager to wash everything down.

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GREENPOINT Brooklyn

694 Manhattan Avenue

RIDGEWOOD Queens
66-21 Fresh Pond Road

I COULD USE YOUR HELP

Eat the World NYC is and always has been free. No advertisements block the content or pop over what you read. If this website has helped you explore your city and its wonderful cultures a little better and you have the means to contribute, please consider doing so. Eat the World NYC is a labor of love, but also takes a lot of money and time everyday to keep running.

You can Venmo me @JAREDCOHEE or click here to send PayPal donation, no account is necessary. Thank you!