21st
Karckzma Pod Zbojem | Restaurant Review
Nope, I can’t pronounce it either. In fact the world of Polish cuisine was completely alien to me before sampling this fantastic hidden gem.
When it comes to food the nationalities to choose from are certainly varied. Italian, Chinese, and Indian restaurants are two-a-penny in Nottingham, but I’d never seen let alone ventured into a Polish restaurant before. I mean what is it the Poles like to chow-down on? What’s their national dish? I was venturing into new territory.
That new territory as it happened was in Hyson Green. Not the cultural heart of Nottingham I must admit, but it only made for a much more pleasant surprise when we arrived. Carefully placed between a hair-dressers and a pound-shop, we were greeted by the warm glow of pine furniture, and the unmistakable smell of really good grub. A smell all too absent from most restaurants with modern air-conditioned kitchens. It’s the sort of pong that hits you like a wave when you first walk in, enveloping you immediately and telling you that without doubt - tonight’s dinner is going to hit the spot.
We were immediately welcomed into the restaurant by Anna, one of the many family members who run the place. Instantly spotting we were newcomers on the scene, she quickly set about selecting dishes for us to try. All washed-down of course by an almighty glass of Tyskie, a not uncommon Polish beer.
Now when I say I didn’t know what to expect, I really didn’t. I had a feeling it was going to be more meat and potatoes than Haute cuisine, but nevertheless I had a nagging worry. “What if they serve up something utterly disgusting and horrible which I can’t eat!” What came first wasn’t about to placate my paranoia.
Arriving at the table was a steaming, bubbling bowl of fluorescent liquid, with three pale beige round-things floating in it. Three pale beige round-things, that looked suspiciously like eyeballs. Gulp…or not, as the case may be.
Looking in the menu as to what this dish actually consisted of, we were relieved to find this dish was in fact Beetroot soup, and the beige round things were in fact meat-filled dumplings. And boy was it good. They say never judge a book by a cover, well don’t judge a soup by it’s colour. Or the dumplings for that matter.
Pierogi followed; semi-circular dumplings with a cheese and potato filling, topped with crispy bits of fried onion. Really really tasty, but also very filling. To follow came pancakes filled with cream cheese and amaretto, a heavenly combination, and ridiculously decadent.
We met other diners who enthused about the restaurant’s roasted meat dishes, their parties and their hospitality. A sure-fire sign of committed hosts. Altogether a great experience, and an ideal adventure for the student pocket. All in all our meal would have come to a little over £15, and with 20% student discount (yes twenty!), you’re laughing. So if eating-out to you means a Wetherspoons curry, maybe a culinary adventure is in order. If so; you’re in safe hands here.
Karckzma Pod Zbojem (The Robber’s Tavern), Near Asda, Radford Road, Nottingham. http://polishrestaurant.biz/
Originally written for Platform Magazine
