Thursday, August 8, 2024

Little Poland appreciation post

We've always appreciated the no-frills, old-school dining experience at Little Poland, located at 200 Second Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street.

Little Poland, around since 1985, is the last of its kind in this neighborhood. Its longevity is a testament to its quality and reliability. (Remedy Diner is fine, but it's no Little Poland.) 

We stopped by between the lunch and dinner shifts on a recent summer day. There were a few people at tables by the front windows (and eventually, two brave souls sat outside in the heat). 

There's quick and efficient table service, decent prices and breakfast specials until noon (well, 11:59 a.m.) And, per the menu: "The food we serve is as good, as music of Chopin." (We know that extra comma.)

Next year marks the diner's 40th anniversary. We need more places like Little Poland, and we hope that it can celebrate many more anniversaries here.
Little Poland is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Get them a call: (212) 777-9728.

20 comments:

  1. My family have always been big fans of Little Poland.

    And for a long-time felt lucky that it had not been discovered by the social media/tourist like Veselka.
    But eventually, the Instagram set did discover Little Poland.
    So must be more strategic in what times to go :)

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  2. Uh oh. Happy Little Poland will get more business but hope I won't need to make a reservation next time I want to go there.

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  3. It always feels like home in Little Poland. Great food, great space, best servers. Here's to another 40 years, Na Zdrowie!

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  4. Funny to see this today after yesterday when I was thinking about the Polish GI. I miss their fish fry Friday & Saturday's.

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  5. Love Little Poland. Love their Bigos, love the mushroom gravy, love the cucumber salad.

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  6. Kasha! Kasha with Gravy! Krasha with gravy and onions!

    only place left with kasha in the neighborhood anymore...

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  7. Thanks for the reminder, Grieve!

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  8. They make blintzes with plum sauce that are amazing!

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  9. Teresa was the best in my 27 years in the neighborhood.

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    1. OMG! I forgot about Teresa! Wow. Thanks for the reminder!

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    2. Teresa’s was my fave too. You didn’t always get what you ordered but who cares! The people there were so warm and friendly, and the food was excellent, and the prices were great.

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  10. Remember when they were the new kids in the neighborhood! Found that they can be inconsistent, but when the are on their game they are excellent. Haven’t been in a while. I too, will try to take a
    Break from the always excellent but pricey Veselka, and pay a visit with the family.

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  11. Little Poland is fine enough. But this reads like a paid advertisement. Is it? From what you’ve posted of the menu, I’m reminded of why I’ve never been a regular. Prices on par with or even higher than Veselka, but without the atmosphere or reliably clean restrooms.

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  12. I'm there at least once a month! Renata is there, too, she used to work at Polonia.

    I far prefer it to Veselka...at least my food comes out hot.

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  13. Kiev, Teresa’s, Little Poland, Neptune Diner and Veselka have been among the best of the best restaurants in the East Village. There’s something about Ukrainian and Polish food Either late at night or early in the morning that is so satisfying to eat. Way way back when, Kiev was the place to go at 2 AM for pierogies or potato pancakes. People would spill out of the bars and clubs and head straight for Kiev you sat elbow and elbow eating their cheap and greasy, but delicious food, It was owned by the Hyrnenkos who became infamous after their building across the street from where he used to be blew up in a gas explosion. Theresa’s had a restaurant up in Kips Bay before it moved to the East Village which was even more crowded during weekend brunches than the one downtown. The food was great, but business wasn’t, and my last time there are the waiters were having a huge fight with the owner over money. Before you knew it they were closed too. Neptune diner may have been my favorite. They had a backyard, which was great to sit in and warm weather. Sipping a Zwyiec beer and having a combo plate in the warm evening, air was a pleasure. The old version of the Veselka was better than the new,. There was a little back room where you could go and have a little more privacy and quiet. And the grill man was one of the best on the planet. I’ve never had a better grilled cheese sandwich in my life. When he left to go back to Ukraine, it was never the same. Let’s appreciate the places that are still open while we can because you never know.

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  14. 40 years is an outstanding run especially in these turbulent times.

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