Babka Bakers

POLAND 🇵🇱

Babka Bakers is a little shop that specializes in wholesale, but their Maspeth storefront is also open to the public. Whole loaves of many types of bread, as well as sweets sold by weight are displayed for walk in customers, who seem to be plenty. The neighborhood has fallen in love with Babka since they opened in 2014.

Their story is one that is more and more common as the people in this country care more about what they put in their body. Everything is made on site by hand, fresh without any GMO products. The rye flour is even imported from Poland because their home country was very proactive in the banning of all Monsanto products. This is reason enough to come support them.

Their breads are mostly made with sourdough, advertised as easy to digest and full of critical nutrients while having low sugar content. While waiting to get to the front of the line, quite a few of these loaves were the choices made by the folks further up. If you are close with any Europeans, you know how much bread means to them and how disappointed they are with the options in this country.

Next time a situation like this arises, send them to Babka to see what they think.

It is quite difficult to leave a Polish bakery without at least one pączek ($2, above and below),  the country's masterful jelly-filled donut. This of course is giving the pastry short shrift though, as it is so much more than that. The pączki here come in different options depending on the day, but this beauty is filled with plum jam.

Pączki dough is made with a small amount of grain alcohol that acts to keep any of the deep frying oils from getting to the chewy interior, as shown by the bite-away view below.

The most exciting purchase of the morning may have been the Kraków-style cheesecake ($8.50/lb, above and below), a crumbly and dry version of one of New York City's favorite desserts. The defining characteristic besides that texture is the use of dried sultana grapes and the lattice pattern on top formed with a buttery crust.

This same crust is used on the bottom as well rather than the more common cookie crumb version. A line of some type of sweet jam also runs through cake parallel to the crust.

A $2 slice of sernik Krakowski.

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MASPETH Queens
60-45 Maspeth Avenue

Map of Eat the World NYC:

Kopernik Polish Deli

POLAND 🇵🇱

The neighborhood of Rockaway Park is always spoken of as heavily Irish, but a walk down the two blocks of Beach 116th Street, the main commercial drag in the area, does not give this away. It has the feel of any random neighborhood in Brooklyn, Queens, or the Bronx with takeout Chinese and sushi joints, a red sauce Italian restaurant, pizzeria, some clothing stores, and yes one Irish pub. To get a better sense of the Irish community here, come on the day of the Queens St. Patrick's Day Parade, the second largest in New York City.

Amidst all of this, and just off of Beach 116th Street is a small and modern looking Polish deli by the name of Kopernik. This address has been home to a Polish deli for the better part of ten years, but this iteration is less than two years old. It does not seem like much on first inspection, but it turns out to be the perfect place to pick up food for a little picnic on the beach.

On any given day there are always plenty of gołąbki ($3 each, above), and these should not be missed. A solid filling of deliciously spiced minced pork is wrapped in boiled cabbage and can be sliced up easily even without a proper table or cutlery. A whole tray of these is usually available, but do not take too many as they are quite filling.

Instead, grab a cup of chłodnik ($3.99, below) also. This creamy beet soup is meant to be eaten cold and perfect for a hot beach day, nevermind the fact that you only have access to a cooler and not a stove or microwave. This is a staple of humid summers in Poland, immediately transforming your day at the Rockaways into the northern beaches on Baltic Sea shores. The beets, crunchy cucumbers, yogurt, sour cream, and dill all taste so fresh and act as an immediate coolant.

Another perfect score from the daily offerings is pasztet cielęco-wieprzowy (below) sold for $6.50/lb. This is a pork and veal pate or spread that is soft and savory. Unlike some French pâté, it seems lighter and not as liver-forward, allowing you to eat many slices of bread with it. A rack of loaves is there for selection, but the proprietor recommended a white rye bread (chleb zytni) to pair with it perfectly.

There are a few desserts available, but the iconic Polish pączek (below, plural: pączki) is irresistable. Grab one for each person in your group, as the fluffy pastry is hard to share given that the jelly filling never makes its way thoroughly through it and half the fun is finding that perfectly-proportioned bite. Unlike jelly donuts, pączki dough is made with a small amount of grain alcohol that acts to keep any of the deep frying oils from getting to the chewy interior. Chef's kiss.

On weekends the selection is larger, with pierogi and other items available for purchase already cooked. If they do not offer you a side automatically, grab a small container of sour cream and really get in the spirit. Kopernik also has plenty of packaged goods so all your crunchy and sweet beach snack needs can be fulfilled Eastern European style.

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ROCKAWAY PARK Queens
115-07 Rockaway Beach Blvd

Map of Eat the World NYC:

Słovianka Deli

POLAND 🇵🇱

Over the last decade or so, as Greenpoint gets infiltrated by the privileged and monied, northern Ridgewood and southern Maspeth have set themselves up as the premier destination for Polish food and culture. Fresh Pond Road and Forest Avenues are full of Polish delis that offer daily fresh food on steam tables.

Just before Forest Avenue dead ends into Metropolitan, one of my favorites is definitely Słovianka. After a recent visit by a friend, I was inspired to head back and bring home a feast.

The one negative about it is that there is no seating inside, so you are forced to get everything to go and either find somewhere to eat in the neighborhood or take it home. I opted for the latter. At the steam table, the options are a little overwhelming, there are salads and soups and everything in between.

Everything is sold by weight in different categories, so be prepared to see a lot of plastic used. At home it was easy to combine everything and enjoy things together.

The full spread, for something like $17.

In the back below, gołąbek, a stuffed cabbage full of meat and rice. Closer and the same shape is kotlet schabowy, a breaded pork cutlet with the consistency of a meatball covered in a dill cream sauce. The beet salad is obvious.

Barszcz biały is white borscht full of potatoes and sausage made sour by a mixture of fermented rye flour and water. 

One placek (potato pancake) was purchased and then smothered with a small portion of goulash.

Mizeria is a salad of sliced cucumbers with sour cream and dill.

This was just a small sample of everything available. If you are around someday, grab a meal and let us know what your selections were.

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RIDGEWOOD Queens
62-42 Forest Avenue

Map of Eat the World NYC:

Chris's Restaurant

POLAND 🇵🇱

Besides the odd place or two, Polish restaurants in Brooklyn are quite rare when you go south of Greenpoint. Attracting stray Polish people down in this area though is an interesting outpost on 86th Street in Bensonhurst. Chris is actually Krzysztof, and runs this place that has been offering hearty meals and Zywiec on draft for the better part of a decade.

Some of these "strays" were sitting at the bar when we arrived for dinner, and were still there when we left, full of big laughs. The bar has a nice TV for weekend European football, and the white eagle coat of arms of the country. Wood and brick and some faux-stucco make the decor like a comfortable country home, a nice place to eat a warming meal in winter.

In that spirit, we ordered a cup of white borscht ($3.50, below) to begin the warming of our bones. This traditional Easter soup is generally eaten around the holiday, but can be found year round. Each ingredient signifies something from the basket that might be taken to church on Easter Sunday to be blessed. The "broth" is sharp and sour, with buttermilk, vinegar, and sugar mixed in with sour cream.

Whether white or red, any borscht will of course include Polish kielbasy, an ingredient that is also on the appetizer Polish platter ($14, below), which gives you the chance to sample a lot of the classics. In addition to the sausage, three pierogi topped with caramelized onions, a nice portion of sauerkraut, and a stuffed cabbage also populate the plate. It is all executed very well.

In the mood for seafood, an order of the filet of bass ($16, below) was also decided on to finish off the meal. These grilled filets are served on top of sauteed onions, mushrooms, and zucchini, and comes with a choice of side.

Barely visible in the background are the two available sauces, mushroom and dill. The darker mushroom was a favorite, and could be slathered over the fish or any other dish on the table.

 With half liters of draft or bottled Polish beer only running $6, this is the type of place that is really comfortable to come and spend some time in for food and drinks without breaking the bank.

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BENSONHURST Brooklyn

1866 86th Street

Terminal 1

POLAND

From the outside, Terminal 1 does not have the appearance of the type of place usually seen on this website. It just has the look of a normal Staten Island sports bar, and maybe that is the idea. Its tinted windows do not reveal anything inside until the door is opened. On a weekday late in the afternoon, you might be the only one here, in which case the friendly staff will give you their full attention.

I am not sure how to describe the interior, half sports bar and half attempted glitz. They also seem to do a brisk business for the NY Lottery. I feel comfortable here somehow with the nicely framed televisions and Polish football hanging from the ceiling.

That football is the only outward hint towards the country of birth for the chef. Opening the menu shows all those sports bar classics, but then some Polish words intrude and start to frame the whole story. The appetizers go both ways and include nachos & cheese and bigos, a classic Polish stew side by side. Further down in the "American Classics" section, oddly one can find A Taste of Poland ($16, below), the combo I chose to get a sense for the most possible on one visit.

On the plate is 1 kielbasa, 1 stuffed cabbage, 2 potato pancakes, and 3 pierogi. The stuffed cabbage and kielbasa end up being the tastiest, both excellent versions. The pierogi are all different, cabbage, potato, and meat. The potato pancakes, unfortunately are a bit greasy and unappealing. All in all though, this plate and beer is the perfect bar food.

The menu has many choices for mains too, soups and plates of sophisticated Polish food beyond the classics. Unless you desire a filet mignon, most dishes are under $15. There is a certain charm here that caters to both Polish people and Staten Island people. I am not sure where I fit into this, but they only charged me $5 for the half liter of Zywiec lager, and I can always occupy a seat at that kind of bar.

ARROCHAR Staten Island

323 Sand Lane

Johnny's Cafe

POLAND 🇵🇱

Johnny's Cafe is the type of place that Polish people understand better than you or I do, and that is exactly what the draw is. On a hot sunny day in May, I found the front windows thrown open to the street and a small crowd on a weekday lunch. There is a small bar in the front, and if you are lucky enough, the end seats are right next to the window. TVs flank the bar and the dining room, so if sports is your thing, they can probably find it on here.

It has been many years since I had white borscht, so I was quick to pick up their version of paluszki z kurczaka ($4.50, below). There was a vinegary sourness to the broth and deep smoke flavors from the chunks of sausage, a great combination. Parts of a hard boiled egg are also interspersed.

On this day I was in the mood for sausage, so a plate of grilowana kielbasa z kapusta ($8.50, below) came my way, grilled sausage with cabbage. The cabbage was actually the most forgettable part of the meal, but I could have eaten several of these finely grilled links if they were in front of me. On another visit, there will hopefully be more stomachs involved and plates of pierogis, potato pies, and goulash.

The dining room here can handle a lot of people, so feel comfortable bringing a group. The menu is expansive, and warrants many people ordering.

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MASPETH Queens

60-39 Fresh Pond Road

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!