Affogato - Piotrkoska 90 - Lodz

There is a little Caffe bar & Restaurant called Affogato, its menu is a mixture and fusion of different cuisines from a variety of country's. It's entrance and ground floor caffe reminds me in styles of London in the late 80's & 90's and I say this in a nice way, it gives the place charms and warms. Upstairs we find the restaurant also well decorated.

The service is extremely friendly and professional, the food above expectation. Everything is well done and well presented. I did have flash backs of my time spent in London's with some of the dishes, good memory's.

The pasta dishes are very well done, the meat and ducks spot on, The food taste the way it should - great - as per the wine list not big but well assorted. The total bill is correct and fair.

You can go for business or pleasure I am sure you will be happy and will enjoy this a little gem, congratulation to the cook.

I do highly recommend both restaurant and ground floor bar.

Food: ****

Service: *****

Atmosfere: ****

Price/Quality: ****

www.affogato.pl

Go and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, take your time with the food and have a affogato caffe at the end.

Pic by Roza

Pic by Roza

Pic by Roza

Antica Roma - Lodz

Another one bites the dust, this is a restaurant that think having an Italian name like Antica Roma and a beautiful decor will make up for the bad service and mediocre food . 

I went 3 times, just to make sure I was not on a unlucky strike, as the reviews kept on saying how wonderful the food and service are. Maybe I am just unlucky but any one telling you that this so called high-end restaurant think good food and service go hand in hand has great delusions.

The menu may be inspiring with the amount of choice you think you may have, but if out of the 3 items you asked, at least one to two are perpetually unavailable, then it becomes a farce. 

The service is mediocre if not bad depending on who serves you,  maybe I did not wear a suit or look the part in this supposed high-end restaurant, next time I will be slightly more posh.

One of the waiting staff is impressively arrogant, the others staff where ok, excluding one, who - on my first time there- I really felt sorry for, as she was obviously uncomfortable and was trying her best to serve 3 Italian that new exactly what they were talking about.   

As per the food, the pasta, gnocchi and salads are average, what did surprise me positively is the pizza, good and frankly probably the only think worth on that menu I have tried up to date.

Food: **  

Pizza: *** (For Lodz standards) 

Service: **

Atmosfere: **

Price/Quality: *

If you are into Zen and Yoga then it could be an interesting night out, as probably your patience may get stretched to its limits.

Piwoteka - Ul. 6 Sierpnia - Lodz

For all of you Beer lovers, if you are in Lodz do go to the Piwoteka in Ul. 6 sierpnia. 

You will find a variety of beers from a wide range of countries around the world and a pleasant atmosphere, the extra bonus is that the place is not a loud one, so conversation can be enjoyed.

If you do not know or have doubts about what kind of beer you would like, take a look at the offer board on the wall beside the bar, and ask one of the bartender to guide you, they are friendly and do know enough about the golden brew to be helpful, surely you will find the beer that suits your mood and the weather outside.

For the smokers, there is what I call the fish bowl or Tank on one end of the room, so you can sit comfortably, having your beer and smoking your cigarette, with out having to go out on the freezing cold weather.

If you feel like you can have a game of cards or scrabble or just sit for a quite talk or just ponder about life, yes the place has its charms and that extra  je ne sais pas quoi, that gives it that life pleasant sensuality.

Friendliness : ****

Drinks : ***** (for the variety of  Beer presented)

Charme: ****

Price: *****

Pic by Roza

Tokyo Sushi Bar - Lodz

Well, what can I say, I went there for the first time last night not really convinced I was doing the right think, I walked into this unpretentious Sushi Bar slightly weary, it was full but in few minute the girl made place for us and I started to look at the menu card as usual all in Polish, but pics do help so this is what I took:  A Big Sushi plate, it may not have looked artistically great, nor the way the fish was cut was exactly as it should be but it was good and well presented, the taste well above expectations ; the krevetes with Kavior where also very good. I then passed on to the hot food, Krevetes in garlic and fried chicken, both well presented and tasty I must say.

So if you feel like having a relaxed and casual drink and dinner around a Sushi bar table I would recommend Tokyo Sushi, it is the place to go, the pricing more then fair,  the food and service are above good level.

Food: *****

Service: **** 

Atmosfere: ***

Price/Quality: *****

A pleasant surprise and a wonderful relaxed casual evening.

TOKYO SUSHI BAR, ŁÓDŹ

A zatem, cóż mogę powiedzieć- byłem tam po raz pierwszy ostatniej nocy. Nie do końca przekonany, przekroczyłem progi tego bezpretensjonalnego sushi baru, nieco znużony. Restauracja była pełna ludzi ale po kilku minutach kelnerka znalazła dla nas miejsce i zacząłem przyglądać się karcie menu, która jak zwykle była tylko w języku Polskim, ale zdjęcia pomogły mi w wyborze. Zdecydowałem się na duży talerz sushi, który może nie wyglądał specjalnie artystycznie, tak samo jak sposób pokrojenia ryb nie był dokładnie taki jaki powinien być, ale danie było dobre i ładnie wyglądało. Smak przewyższył moje oczekiwania. Krewetki z kawiorem także były bardzo smaczne. Później przerzuciłem się na na gorące dania- krewetki w czosnku i smażonego kurczaka. Muszę przyznać, że obie propozycje były dobrze podane i smaczne. Więc jeśli masz ochotę zrelaksować się i swobodnie wypić drinka i zjeść obiad siedząc wokół stołu do przygotowywania sushi, polecam Tokyo Sushi. Ceny są bardzo zadowalające, a jedzenie i obsługa plasują się powyżej dobrego poziomu.

Jedzenie: *****

Obsługa: **** 

Atmosfera: ***

Ceny: *****

Miła niespodzianka i wspaniały, zwyczajny, relaksacyjny wieczór.

Pic by Roza Van Der Blaast

Pic by Roza

Pic by Roza

Restaurant Polka - Manufaktura Lodz

I went to the Polka Restaurant with great expectation, it has been the talk of the city so one does expect great thinks, we got in and sat for our dinner with a smile, ready to be delighted with what every one was acclaiming to be great food and atmosphere.

The service, was above average near the good level, but not up to the standard I would expect from all the hypes I was given, so I must say openly and frankly that I was disappointed.

As per the food, I was also disappointed as it was just ok, not good and frankly very far from excellent,

The pate maison was ok, the Herring was good,  the two different duck plate where average (and there I am being nice, as one of them was well bellow mediocrity) and the sauce disappointing, as per the potatoes I better not express myself; haaaaa but something great was given to us initially, the bread on the other hand was very very good served with a pasta of mackerel that was also wonderful, but this did not really help pushing the average up.

As per the music played in the background there is much to say; the hall is not small and with so many people talking the music should help creating a relaxed atmosphere , seducing you towards the food, well dream on, the music played that evening only created a cacophony of sound and killed the atmosphere of the place.

Food: ***

Service: **** 

Atmosfere: ***

Price/Quality: **

The expected romantic mood is killed on the spot, nothing romantic nor sensual - if nothing is done to adjust the style and food then it will just be another restaurant selling smoke and illusion to the masses.

RESTAURACJA POLKA, MANUFAKTURA, ŁÓDŹ

Wybrałem się do restauracji Polka z wielkimi oczekiwaniami, ponieważ była ona "na językach" całego miasta, dlatego też można było oczekiwać czegoś wyjątkowego. Wybraliśmy się zatem na obiad z uśmiechem i gotowi na delektowanie się tym, co wszyscy rekomendowali jako świetne jedzenie i atmosferę. 

Obsługa była powyżej średniej, blisko dobrego poziomu, ale nie zgodna z normą jakiej mógłbym oczekiwać po tych wszystkich entuzjastycznych komentarzach, które słyszałem; także muszę przyznać otwarcie i szczerze, że byłem rozczarowany.

Tak samo zawiodło mnie jedzenie- było w porządku, ale nie koniecznie bardzo dobre i szczerze mówiąc  dalekie od czegoś wspaniałego.

Pasztet był w porządku, śledź dobry, kaczki średnie ( i tutaj jestem miły, ponieważ jedna z nich była raczej poniżej krytyki), sos również rozczarował, łącznie z ziemniakami, o których lepiej się nie wypowiem ;) haha. Ale coś świetnego zostało nam podane na początku- chleb, który był naprawdę dobry z pastą z makreli. To było wspaniale, ale i tak nie pomogło podnieść mojej oceny całości. Tak samo jak muzyka grana w tle, która w dużej sali, wypełnionej rozmowami ludzi powinna pomagać kreować atmosferę sprzyjającą raczej relaksowi i uwodzić nas w kierunku jedzenia, ale nie tutaj, ponieważ muzyka tego wieczoru, raczej budowała kakofonię, a jej dźwięki zabijały atmosferę tego miejsca.

Jedzenie: ***

Obsługa: ****

Atmosfera: ***

Ceny: **

Oczekiwany romantyczny nastrój jest zabiajny natychmiast. Nie stworzy się niczego romantycznego czy zmysłowego, jeżeli nic nie jest zrobione w kierunku dopracowania stylu i jedzenia... powstaje wtedy po prostu kolejna restauracja sprzedająca mrzonki masom...

Pic by Roza 

Pic by Roza

Pic by Roza

Pic by Roza

Ristorante del Popolo, Breganzona - Switzerland

Meat lovers, welcome to my world. During this trip to Switzerland I went back to the Ristorante del Popolo, which has being run now by its second generation and has become a institution in Lugano.
Its trade mark are good quality meat , great quantity of food, friendly service and most of all affordable family prices.

The meat fondue is exceptionally good, the steaks, T-bone Steaks and what ever else you wish to have is of good quality; the restaurant is not great looking nor made for a snobbish evening but you will be surprised at who you may find and meet inside it, from the mayer of a souranding town to famous artists mixing up with families, students and workers. all of them in a casual and low tone atmosphere,  yes it is a family affair and you can feel it.

Just a little draw back, when getting out of the Restaurant you may smell of food, fried or cooked, but frankly speaking it is worth it.

So if you travel to Lugano, try to book a table at the Restaurant, it is just in the outskirt of the city and enjoy its meat in good company .

Restaurant Bellanapoli - Manufaktura - Lodz

I entered the almost empty restaurant at around 1715, it was my second time there and frankly I did not know what to expect, the first time I had mix feeling about it and now I would know exactly how I felt.

Food wise, a side some criticism on the pepper sauce for the steak (made up with a bland tomato basis - sadly), was a pleasant surprise and I must say who ever was in the kitchen at the time did a great job.

The pasta was done properly, the steak cooked as asked to the waitress and the calamarri in pomodoro where delicious.

Service wise, surprisingly, it was slightly slow and for this there could be no excuses, as there where no more then 4 tables full and the serving girls could not have been so busy.

The place is big, with tables stuck one beside each other  with no much space nor privacy between them, Character wise we could have been anywhere, not much to relate to and the Italian music in the background, sadly, did not really do much to uplift the atmosphere.

But if you are at Manufaktura and you want a good meal (I do recommend the fish dishes, I had fish both time and both time it was excellently made) and are not in any rush, before a movie or after it or during your shopping I would consider it, however be careful as I think it is slightly overpriced for what it gives.

Food: ****

Service: *** 

Atmosfere: ***

Price/Quality: ***

Do not search for seduction nor emotions in the restaurant atmosphere  but concentrate on the food, the kitchen does deliver the real taste you search for in souther Italian cuisine , so enjoy it. 

Pic by Roza