OLD KRAKOW, West Portal, SF

From Switzerland we jetted off towards Eastern Europe by dining at West Portal's Old Krakow. Our timing couldn't have been more perfect. Reservations were made a week ahead of time and when the date came; we slogged into the city on a rainy and blustery evening, deep in the heart of winter. The downpour was tremendous and what better way to spend such a soppy and sloppy evening than supping on the meaty and tasty fare of Polish cuisine?

Now, there are members of the CSNSC who have a particular penchant for Polish cookery and Old Krakow reaffirmed a special affinity for this country's food. Old Krakow is an elegant, family-oriented venue. The wait-staff were genuinely kind and gracious. Although the restaurant seemed relatively small, there is an understated sophistication to the atmosphere. They have an excellent selection of Polish beers to whet the appetite, and we smacked our lips between sips, eager for the steady course of food to come.

We started with the all time favorite comfort food, the assorted perogies, which included cabbage & mushrooms, seasoned meats, and white cheese & potatoes. As soon as they were on the table, these perogies performed an outstanding disappearing act. They were gone in a blink of an eye. We moved on to the grilled halibut with steamed vegetables and seasoned rice. Much like the perogies, this dish could not escape our enthusiasm. Eating family-style, we feasted on the stuffed cabbage rolls with mushroom sauce. This was not as masterful as Suppenkuche's but presented a crowd of flavors that pleased the palate all the same. The breaded pork cutlets didn't seem to be as memorable either compared to Suppenkuche. What did stand up for rave reviews was the homemade polish sausage dinner. Piled gorgeous onto a plate, the object d' art wiener was surrounded by sautéed sauerkraut, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. This dish had the taste buds roaring for more, a perfect mélange of savory meat, creamy potatoes and the sweet and sour combo of crunchy pickled cabbage.

After finishing the last bites of this hardy meal, and loosening the belts and buttons to our pants, we looked up to see quite a line of people patiently waiting at the door and underneath the restaurant's awning outside, which almost shielded the assembly from the wind and rain. This should speak volumes about the attraction of their cuisine. If Old Krakow truly is "the Bay Area's only Polish restaurant" then subsequent visits may have to be on the agenda. This place packs a tasty Polish punch.

Old Krakow Polish Restaurant & Art Cafe
385 West Portal Ave
San Francisco, CA 94127 415-564-4848
www.oldkrakow.us