Staying at the Polonia Palace we were looking for a restaurant not too far away with Polish food. On the Nowogrodzka Street just behind the hotel we found this place with outdoor seating, while inside it looked more like a wine-bar cum wine shop, with...plenty of bottles on the shelves. The choice was definitely above the one encountered in the usual liquor stores of town.
A lady with a broad smile, but limited English welcomed us. They had only a Polish menu card, but then the waitress came up with an old English menu card, which although not up to date anymore, was still of help.
We sat outside and ordered drinks first. I had a Mojito, which was a touch too sweet for me, while my wife went for a 'Szarlotka', a drink very popular - I had been told - with Polish ladies. It is a mixture of unfiltered apple juice with the herb spiced Zubrowka Vodka. I got a sip to try, but my wife definitely liked the drink more than I did.
For food we then ordered Steak Tartare, where onions, mushrooms, pickled gherkins and egg yolk came separately to be mixed by the guest. It was good, but a tiny portion, more like a tapa - typical wine-bar-style. Still feeling hungry we then went for 'Opiekani Kozi Ser', grilled goat cheese from the Tatra, which we had tried before and liked very much. It came wrapped in paper with some cranberries on top. The anonymous house table wine they offer was not bad either. When asked the waitress told me it came from Spain.
Sitting outside I also understood the name of the restaurant. The floor of the indoor part with a big glass front is one meter above ground. And that is also the name of the restaurant: 'Metr nad Ziemia'.More