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Karczma
Category: Restaurants Polish Polish [Edit]
136 Greenpoint Ave(between Franklin St & Manhattan Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Neighborhood: Greenpoint
(718) 349-1744
- Nearest Transit:
-
Greenpoint Av (G)
Nassau Av (G)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 12 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 11:30 pm
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
124 reviews for Karczma
Review Highlights
"White borscht was perfect and definitely hit the spot."
(in 16 reviews)
"I vote for Hunter's Stew and Kielbasa."
(in 18 reviews)
"I especially love their pickle soup here, so yummy."
(in 17 reviews)
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124 reviews in English
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Review from Cee B.
Brooklyn, NY
1/4/2012
imma keep this (relatively) short and sweet.
i don't make many reviews, but felt like it was my duty to share.
this place is a treasure! seriously, it's amazing to find a place like this among so many other haughty establishments that have a quarter of the charm, quality of service or great tasting food.
the hostesses and waitresses were incredibly nice, welcoming and attentive. the food was really, really good (good sized portions) and the bill was A LOT lower than expected.
i had the pickle soup, chicken kebab with onions. peppers (& salad) and tried the grilled kielbasa - all delicious and hitting just the right spot.
and the beers - the pints of austrian, german and polish beer are real huge - much bigger than the standard pints sold at the local pubs along franklin. and much better tasting too!
really didn't know what to expect when i was brought to this place, but left incredibly happy and satisfied. and sleepy from all the great food i ate. -
Review from Pamela S.
Brooklyn, NY
1/29/2012
I really love the food at Karczma (their blood sausage and white sausage are delicious.) When going with a bunch of people, we usually order a few dishes (in addition to the sausages, we'll get the pierogis, beer hocks, spicy goulash, hunter's stew, plate of polish specialties, etc.) I enjoy their pickles and sauerkraut, and usually ask for extra for the table. Word of warning: Saturday nights are insane, and service can be slow. If you want to have a relaxing meal (ie not super noisy) with good service, go in the early afternoon on a weekend (when they open for example) or a non-weekend night. Been wanting to try their wild mushroom soup, but every time I go when they have it on the menu, they are out!
Oh, their blintzes are very good too!!! -
Review from Andrzrej K.
Brooklyn, NY
1/25/2012
them- "oh my god I love Polish food, take me to a Polish restaurant Andzrej"
me- well you want real diner polish or subcarpathian restaurant polish or "babcia" style polish???
"ummm"
ok Karczma, we will go to karczma, because if you dont like Kiszka, Ill eat it and you can order the karkowka and be happy and american and preserve those taste buds
"what are you talking about"
I dont know, just Lomzynianka is a little too blandly rich sometimes and the strange diner on kent wont even serve me after the "ping-pong" catastrophy, so Karczma it is!
Its funny, because when Babcia comes down, she likes Karczma, but hates the name, maybe because its translates to something in between a szopa and a dive bar, but she approves the food, not as good as hers of course.
- This is not a big deal though, Babcia's Pierogies were voted best in the Central Beskidian Piedmont by BORSCHT! Quaterly. -
Review from Linda R.
Levittown, NY
1/20/2012
Great food. Got drunk, swaddled pepper.
Split pea soup was delicious, so was the fried smoked cheese with cranberry sauce. Really great atmosphere with great service!!!
Potato pancake was a little gummy but good flavor.
Must get.cheese blintzes with strawberry sauce...YUMMY!! -
Review from Phil M.
2/4/2012 2 photos
Greenpoint is the place to go for authentic polish food in New York City. It seems that every place has the same large seats and tables but this place has a very large full bar as well. Very friendly and extremely busy staff. The food was outstanding as well as very cheap. For appetizer I ordered the Peasant Lard with Bacon with slices of fresh dark bread. We also ordered the White Borscht in a Bread Bowl. Both were absolutely delicious. For the entrees we ordered the Pork Kabob skewers and Spicy Beef Goulash. I don't think there was anything that would have been bad on this menu. What a great place which makes you feel like you are not in this country anymore. For $30 both of us ate great food and I can't wait to have it all again.
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Review from Linda P.
Brooklyn, NY
1/21/2012
Food was delicious. Pirogi and spinach wrap tasted good.
Service was good. Nice interior and ambiance. I found that the servers were wearing Polish costume interesting. It was a pleasant experience dining at a Polish restaurant for the first time. -
Review from Minhan S.
New York, NY
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
ohh Polish food! ohh!
This restaurant is kinda funny. When I walked in with other Asian people, people in the restaurant stared at us frequently. Well I guess Asians rarely come to this restaurant.
I loved their food and their service. The waitress was very attentive and responded well to our jokes too.
And yes I am coming back to this place this week! XD -
Review from Yan T.
12/16/2011
Karczma looks like a Disney-fied rendering of a rustic Polish tavern or farmhouse, complete with a fake well in the middle of the restaurant. The Polish waitresses, forced to don "traditional dresses," are good sports, despite the amusing mix of immigrant restaurant culture and yuppy crowds. There is no doubt they can't wait to throw the folk costumes aside for more traditional Eastern European attire--high boots and tight sweaters.
You can't go wrong with the Polish Specialties platter: pierogis, potato pancakes, Polish kielbasa, hunter's stew and stuffed cabbage will fill your gullet with hearty goodness. The Spicy Beef Goulash, which comes with some of the best potato pancakes I've ever had, also didn't disappoint. Affordable drinks and a full bar round off a very nice experience.
The service is quite good, especially compared to Russian restaurants, though Eastern bloc sensibilities kicked in at closing time when the staff unceremoniously bounced us (fair as we overstayed our welcome). -
Review from Iris B.
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Such a cool cozy authentic-feeling Polish hideaway in Greenpoint Brooklyn.... with the decor reminiscent of Europe with the wood furnishings, dark colors, faux mini wooden well in the middle of the restaurant, hay covered awning leading to the bathrooms and the waitresses in traditional attire....you really feel as if you stepped into another world.
Now as soon as I walked in I had an inkling for beer even though all I had that morning was coffee and this was technically my late breakfast, but beer for breakfast...is that so unheard of?!?
Anyhow the selection of beers is wonderful... German, Belgium, and a huge selection of Polish, of course... take your pic from wheat to dark and everything in-between. My personal fav which was a recommendation from my bartender friend is the German wheat, Weihenstephan, which is supposedly one of the oldest brewed variety around.
And to add to this wonderful experience I also ordered cheese and potatoe perogies, stuffed fried mushrooms, and fat with bacon on bread with pickles. The perogies were delicious with sauteed onions on top and sour cream, but the mushrooms were fried and not really all that appealing. The bread with fat and bacon, is well, a traditional paupers dish and something to try once just for it's unusualness. Prices are reasonable, but you come here for the experience... This is a great place on a cold winter's day. Next time I will try a meal instead of just appetizers and beer so I can add to the review. -
Review from Joel N.
Ithaca, NY
1/16/2012
I got the lunch special for $8.50, -- pickle soup, the stuffed cabbage with kielbasa and I drank the heated spiced beer for ($8.00). My girlfriend got the hunter's stew. I really liked the pickle soup (a fascinating cauldron of electrolytes), and the hunter's stew, which contained several varieties of mushrooms, meats and onions. The heated beer was interesting and the stuffed cabbage was kinda bland.
The interior features a rustic polish settler feel.
I haven't had much Polish food but Karczma surpassed what expectations I had. Will definitely come back. -
Review from Sam G.
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Growing up in an 100% Polish household my standards are pretty high. I think perhaps the only 5 stars would be for my babcia's cooking. I am constantly searching for a viable competitor, however. Karczma is good but not consistant across the board.
Decor is hilarious to me - quite campy - but don't think they do it for 'mericans. They do it because for some reason, Polish people love campy throw-back mountain-man restaurants. Music is oompa polka whatever, also with mountain people stylings.
Lots of seating, mostly in bench style. The larger ones can seat eight (good for groups). Most can seat 4-6. Also bar seating.
It appears that all the waitresses here are required to be around six feet tall with bleached blonde hair. (I fear that this will attract a certain crowd now that I've said that). Being a short stumpty brunette of a Polish lass, it's weird to be surrounded by slightly bimbo'y ladies but that's me. They are, however, quite nice and all very Polish. They are also wearing costumes. Yes, really.
The sauerkraut and mushroom pierogi were by far the stars of my plate. Really flavorful. The meat pierogi were on the firm/packed-in and dry side but flavor was good. The potato and cheese were pretty good but lacked the something or other I was looking for. Dough is a bit thick - could stand to be thinner to let the filling shine.
The pickle soup was tasty and creamy - lots of julienned pickles and veggies on the bottom. Didn't pack a huge punch, though.
I guess it's up to you what vibe you want: intimate, small, sparse, home-cooked feel of Lomzynianka or wooden, large, Polish campy feel of Karczma. It all seems pretty 'authentic' foodwise to me, though.Listed in: Grouchy Servers, Delicious…
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Review from marc s.
wow..Great authentic Polish food at an amazing price! The staff is extremely helpful and will guide you to a choice that is guaranteed to be delicious! You can sense the food was prepared with care and did not let down at any point.
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Review from Dan Y.
Brooklyn, NY
10/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Walking in makes you feel like you entered a ride at Disney. Don't let this turn you off as the food is worlds better than at Epcot. I'm sure most people reading this review aren't comparing it to an amusement park in Florida, but rather the numerous other polish restaurants in the area, 3 popular ones to be specific. Lets just get it out there, this place is not better, it is as good which is saying allot since the other joints are great too.
I liked the nice large booths and pub atmosphere, makes you feel cozy with out feeling crowded. in contrast Lomzynianka feels like your sitting in some old ladies cramped kitchen. I appreciated the kitsch decor and costumes.
Lard was as you would expect...like eating fat. Could have used more bread rather than the 2 sad slices cut into 4. Unless you like eating the raw fat off bacon I would not recommend.
Pierogies here were better than the ones from Lomzynianka IMHO. Here they had a thinner skin with nice chew and far less greasy. The mushrooms tasted like mushroom and cabbage rather than just cabbage with black spots. All 3 variety were over stuffed and flavorful.
Stuffed cabbage here had too much meat packed too tight with too little cabbage. Like eating steamed meatloaf in a leaf, especially with the tomato based sauce. Lomzynianka makes this dish better.
Best dish of the night was the beer braised ham hock. Rich and tender, cooked so long that the fat has rendered and your left with nice soft skin and tendon with the meat. Fall off the bone goodness. Hot kraut, also terrific. Just enough tang. -
Review from Jared S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/21/2011
If you've been to a bunch of Polish places, this feels a bit different. They're all carnivorous and palpably Central European, but this takes it to the extreme in a good way.
I've never ordered anything other than the platter to share with friends. It's just an embarrassing amount of tasty meat and sides and sauces. You'll have to be rolled out on a gurney, but at least you'll be happy. -
Review from Joe S.
South Orange, NJ
10/10/2011
The experience at Karczma lived up to my expectations as an American of Polish heritage. I was very happy to have eaten the Polish Specialty Plate with 3 cheese and potato, 2 medium sized latkes, hunter's stew, and kapusta. The horseradish and sour cream all were 5 stars in my book. The Kielbasa was great and the Zywiec on tap was the best foreign beer I've ever had to wash down such a hardy meal.
Bardzo dobze Karczma for the wonderful time. -
Review from Jonas M.
9/4/2011
I can only express my fondness for Karzcma in troikas: meat, starch, and lard; Zywiec, drinking, and debauchery.
The restaurant will not be remembered for its Michelin-level cuisine, but just like death and taxes, you can certainly count on several things eating at Karczma: the meal will be solid, definitely coma-inducing, and a considerable value for the ridiculous amount of food that you were not man enough to finish.
When in Warsaw (or Greenpoint), eat pierogies. They come with potato and cheese, beef, and mushrooms fillings. Make sure to order all three as a combo, and order them fried: the combination of beef lard, crispy starch, and hearty fillings are a perfect complement to the Zywiec Light and Porter on tap. Don't skip on the hunter's bacon either: thick and slab-like, it's about a third of the price of Peter Luger's famous bacon side, but just as porky and unctuous.
Don't wuss out and make sure to accompany that side of bacon with a grilled meat platter for two. To quote liberally from Sir Mix-a-Lot's early 90's ode to booties, it's large and in charge, and simply difficult to get one's hands around. Kielbasa, bacon, pork chops, and blood sausage make appearances, along with slices of grilled chicken and salmon. Along with the BBQ, horseradish, and garlic sauces, it's a veritable Atkins Revolution on a hot plate. The grilled plate comes with a side of roasted, gar-licked potatoes and sauerkraut with mushrooms gratis; both of these are small meals in themselves.
Beside the $3.50 Zyweic on Thursday from 5-9pm, the mise-en scene at Karzcma never disappoints. Waitresses with peasant dresses and orange Day-glo tans, Polish hipsters with retro mullets, and Zywiec-induced stupors from bar patrons: they are all part of the whimsy that has made Karczma one of my underground favorites for the past several years. -
Review from Juan F.
White Plains, NY
10/10/2011
I haven't wrote any reviews on Yelp for months, and I need to find something new during the remainder of the year. By now, I'm feeling quite bored, so I decided to check things out through the computer. Karczma (pronounced "karch-ma") should do the trick.
I took the G train from the 7 train at Court Square to Greenpoint Avenue station. The restaurant should be very close by when I got out, but I got a little confused, so I have to seek help from the locals, who pointed out the location.
I entered Karczma and took a table for one, and once I checked the menu, I ordered a Karczma's salad, along with six pierogis (three meat and three cheese and potato) and a ginger ale. The meal arrived just as I anticipated, and though I normally don't eat salad, I reserved it for the ones designed for ethnic cuisine.
As soon as I eat everything, I realized that it was kind of quick, but that will depend on what meal you would order. A sense of time to be percise. The pierogis tasted good, with the meat version being the best. Maybe next time, I'll try the other meals just to get a feel for it. -
Review from Adam S.
Manhattan, NY
10/24/2011
This place is great!
Went with a group of 6 and we were sat rather quickly, despite being told an hour wait.
This place is really "cozy" inside, the staff is incredibly friendly and the food caps it all off.
6 of us had eyes bigger than our stomachs this night and ordered a ridiculous amount of food.
I had heard about this place on a food blog which highlighted the "Peasant Style Lard"... which is exactly as it sounds. A platter served on a wood board, slices of wheat bread, and a small dish of pure lard with mixed in bacon chunks. Simply spread on some bread and clog those arteries up... We each had a taste (lard actually doesn't have much taste) and checked that off the list of odd delicacies.. Probably won't be ordering that again but for $3.50 was worth a shot.
The grill plate for 3 is actually enough for 4 - 6 people... the pierogies are delicous.
On a whim, we ordered the pickle soup (may have been a special that day). This was delicious.. not at all what I expected. It had a light pickle taste but was also semi creamy and contained potatoes and shredded cabbage.
The stuffed cabbage dish was our least favorite but still pretty good.
Large beers are $5!!
Will definitely go back here especially on a cold night.... beer, pierogies and sausage...mmmm -
Review from Kristine S.
Brooklyn, NY
9/16/2011
Karczma has good Polish food and a better space / ambiance than most Polish places in Greenpoint. Spacious booths, and they are definitely going for an "old world" feel - the waitresses wear traditional Polish women's outfits.
Prices are low, portions are big. The white borscht is delicious. They have beer & liquor, which is a plus for me because I don't have to BYOB my own Zywiec to enjoy with the meal. I wasn't crazy about their version of Wiejska Kielbasa, but others may like it - it was much more dry and not as garlic-flavored as I am used to.
My husband and I are looking for a Polish place to replace our dearly-departed Raymund's, and for now, it looks like Karczma may be the place. -
Review from Camille M.
Elmhurst, NY
6/20/2011
Between Karczma, Lomzynianka and Krowelskie Jadlo there's no way you'll have a bad meal when traveling to Greenpoint for Polish delicacies.
I'm not sure which place I prefer, but if you asked me which restaurant I'd recommend for dinner I'd say Lomzynianka if you're in the mood for a home-y atmosphere, Krowelskie Jadlo if you're feeling fancy and Karczma is you're looking for kitschy. I've found the food to be equally delicious at all three.
The pickle soup here was particularly delish. I ordered the requisite Polish platter during my visit, because I use this order as a barometer of how to rate a Polish restaurant by comparison to it's competitors. This doesn't work. It's delicious everywhere. And this platter was particularly large and meaty.
I enjoy the ambiance here more than the other two places. I like that the waitresses come attired in traditional Polish garb. I like the large well in the center of the restaurant. And I like the wooden tables at the booths which remind me of beer garden type places I've visited in Europe.
It should be noted that they offer a couple of fish dishes here, which cannot be said for the previously mentioned two restaurants. Pescatarians, rejoice! -
Review from Will D.
Brooklyn, NY
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Swing by in the afternoon. Sit at a table and split the bacon sandwich with a friend and drink large mugs of cheap beer FTW.
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Review from Lucie T.
7/25/2011
Went here last week for dinner. great prices.
The decor is great, there was no air circulation and it was one of the hottest days of the year.. so that did not help matters.
I had the polish plate. Which was good, but it had like a 1/5 of a sausage on it? I mean why even bother.
Over all a decent meal and nice environment.
I think I would wait until cooler weather to return. -
Review from Paula I.
Brooklyn, NY
7/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
On one rainy Saturday night, I found myself invited by my friend and her Polish boyfriend to a party in Williamsburg. As I prepared myself to face a mob of hipsters, she also told me to meet them in Greenpoint for dinner, to soak up as many calories before a night of drinking.
Karczma is right in the middle of downtown Greenpoint off the Greenpoint Avenue stop, famously known for being a predominantly Polish neighborhood. And with a name like Karczma, the Polish boyfriend, and Polish neighborhood, I put one, two and three together to deduce that I was probably going to a Polish restaurant, which I had never had before so I was super excited.
I arrived a tad bit earlier than my friends and walked in to this very cute wood covered restaurant with dark wood tables all over, a freshly polished and stocked wooden bar, waitresses dressed in what I assume is typical Polish clothing, and a whole mess of people speaking mostly Polish while Polish music softly played in the background. I felt like I was in Poland, and I loved it. I sat at the bar as I waited and asked the bartender to recommend a Polish beer, not too dark but not too light, she let me try a few and settled on Zywiec, which I was soon to find out was the best choice I ever made according to my friends boyfriend. As I sipped on my delicious beer, I thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by this completely different culture.
My friends arrived shortly after and they sat us immediately. I put my entire trust in Przemyslaw (don't worry I'm still not sure how to pronounce his name) and he ordered the Grilled Plate for Three which comes with Polish Kielbasa (traditional Polish sausage), Chicken, Pork Kebab, Blood Sausage, Chicken Breast, Fresh Ham, Salmon and Bacon served with Roasted Potatoes 3 dipping sauces: BBQ, Garlic, Horseradish. If you don't think that was enough he also ordered a Plate of Polish Specialties that included Pierogis (baked dumplings), potato pancakes, more Polish kielbasa, Hunter's Stew and stuffed cabbage!
This was most definitely a feast I will never forget. The kielbasa, the salmon, bacon, cabbage, and blood sausage were all delectable. There were a few too many servings of potatoes, and I don't count cabbage stuffed with meat as a vegetable, so it would have been nice to have nice salad on the side, but apparently they don't eat stinking vegetables in Poland. If you're not a meat lover I suggest you go someplace else, but if you're down for a night of artery clogging deliciousness then try this place out, just try not to over-do it like we did. The place has great vibe, good service, normal prices, and awesome food. -
Review from John N.
Manhattan, NY
9/21/2011
Wow I am surprise I am giving a Polish restaurant a 4 star. I was quite surprise myself but the food was pretty good. I came w/no expectation because majority of the eastern europe food that I try wasn't really good. We meet up w.a group of people and we sat down to order. We been food touring all day so we were hungry so we just order the sample appetizer w/alittle of everything. We also order a large mug of dark beer to drink. The food came and it was delicious. We all stay there and drink for hr's. I want to ome back here again and try more of these stuff.
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Review from James K.
6/9/2011
We were a large group, and so we separated into three (or was it four?) tables. The waitress was very patient with us about it though.
I got the hunter's stew and the pickle soup, and the friend next to me got the plate of Polish stuff. There were three others that decided to share a plate of Polish stuff and also the grilled plate for two, in addition to the stuffed mushroom appetizer. In the end, there was so much food that two people came a little later to join our table and didn't even have to order.
The pickle soup was sourly delicious. The taste wasn't too strong, it was just right. It was warming and I enjoyed it. I tried a bit of the stuffed mushroom and that was good also. The hunter's stew had what tasted like sauerkraut with meat in this red soupy sauce. I liked this as well, although there were other things I enjoyed more since I got to try a bit of everything. The stuffed cabbage in the plate of Polish stuff (not the official name of the dish by the way) was one of my favorites. It was so scrumptious that even though I was so full I still kept taking bits of it from friends.
Both the beef and the chicken were cooked well in the grilled plate. The meats were juicy and tender. The fish was slightly overcooked, but otherwise flavored well. The blood sausage didn't particularly have a strong taste, although some people seemed scared of it. It just tasted like mushed up insides/meat to me. There was also a plate of sauerkraut, and me and one other person picked that plate clean. I also thought the potatoes were rather yummy.
We shared three desserts between six to eight people. I can't quite remember what people ordered now, but I remember that the cheese crepe was very delicious. Overall I, and everybody else, ate a LOT. Most of it was very good, and we only paid like twenty bucks each. Delicious and good value, awesome! -
Review from Amy L.
Astoria, Queens, NY
Updated - 5/10/2011
Went back for a 2nd time and it was just as good as the first.
Great service, great prices, great food...what more can you ask for?
This time around I tried their kielbasa dish. Sooo good. The only other kielbasa exposure I'd had prior to this was good old Hillshire Farm's version. NO COMPARISON. Karczma's kielbasa was the real deal and it was delicious! It came with a TON of homemade sauerkraut and I really mean a ton of it. I personally love sauerkraut so I was a happy camper. Their homemade version of the stuff is far less sour than the kind you usually find a kosher delis on hot dogs. The dish also came with crinkle cut french fries which I thought was an odd accompaniment and they seasoned at all. I would have much rather had a mound of mashed potatoes to go with the yummo sauerkraut. I'm sure that will be an easy substitution for next time because there will be a next time :)
At the end of the meal I stuffed in (literally because I was so full from my meal) a piece of apple cake - that's right cake, not pie. Also delicious. It was kind of like if apple pie and coffee cake got together and had a baby. And at only $3.50 for a generous sized piece, it was even tastier!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/5/2011
This was my first time eating out at a polish restaurant and I had a great experience. I loved the… Read more »
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Review from Cherie L.
New York, NY
10/24/2011
happened to be in the greenpoint neighborhood and wanted to try one of the famous polish restaurants. upon walking into this place we laughed at the campy decor and tall blond women dressed in traditional attire.
we ordered the plate of polish specialties which included five different things. the standouts were the pierogis. the platter included three and they were the closest to the pierogis that i had in krakow. very flavorful and the skin was grilled to a crisp.
i was a bit disappointed with the stuffed cabbage. there was not enough cabbage and the filling lacked much texture.
we also tried the grilled pork chop which was excellent and came with light and fluffy potatoes and tasty sliced cabbage. all in all, the portions here were huge and prices were super cheap.
i noticed that quite a few people had ordered the white borscht soup. a must try i bet!
the clientelle all seemed to be fun and were enjoying themselves. if you happen to be in this area, this is not a bad place to check out. -
Review from Ravi J.
3/3/2011
Upscale Polish in Greenpoint.
And by upscale, I don't mean super expensive or an overly complicated menu. Karczma does justice to Greenpoint's Polish heritage. It just does it in a "nicer" locale. Rustic benches, airy space, clean atmosphere to enjoy a plate of fried pierogies and kielbasa. If nearby standby Lomzynianka does grandma-chic, Karczma goes for farmhouse-sophisticate.
The food quality is on par with Lomzynianka, although the menu's focus is less on proletariat items such as pierogies and borscht and more on meat. Karczma is also a bit more festive with its preparations. Plate of Polish specialties is mammoth with a satisfying array of grilled Polish meats, pierogies and sides. Goulash is rich and velety, served with crispy salted potato pancakes and fresh pickles. Grilled salmon has a smokey-flavor-meets-cool-dill, while stuffed cabbage's tomato and meat taste screams comfort food, and the chicken cutlet is a delicious fried take on the schnitzel. All of these items are delicious, and few exceed $10.
Thank you, Karczma, for introducing me to a wider array of Polish specialities. -
Review from Kriti S.
Manhattan, NY
6/23/2011
I am a vegetarian but my husband (who is Polish) and other friends swear by the authenticity and tastiness of Karczma's offerings. I will give kudos to the kitschy yet pleasant atmosphere what with the wishing well, Polish knickknacks and wooden beams (and how can I forget the peasant style dresses the waitresses wear)!
The stuffed mushrooms, potato pancakes and pickle soup are delicious though you can taste the fatty goodness in every thing (no one said Polish food was healthy). My husband has tried several more items (like the Polish meat platter and even the lard that comes in place of butter with your bread - sounds scary but he swears by its spot on authenticity)! The service is just barely ok but that's not what you go to check out.
All in all, it's a good spot to stop by on a lazy weekend afternoon or in the evening for a hearty meal - especially in NYC's freezing winters. On a last note, our recent visit to Karczma inspired me and my husband to make potato pancakes from scratch - and that in and of itself put a smile on our faces! -
Review from Kyle W.
Bronx, NY
10/23/2011
Old world style decor, spacious booths, attentive service, nice bar, excellent food. What more do you want. I recommend this place.
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Review from Steven S.
ASTORIA, NY
6/19/2011 1 photo
A really solid Polish restaurant! The atmosphere is pleasant and casual. I am never really impressed eating Polish and other Eastern European food, as the color of the plate all looks the same, so does the flavor. Boy was I surprised! I can truly say each item had its own distinct flavorful touch! And you can't beat the price for the amount of food that you are served!
We started off splitting the White Borscht Soup. I've had my share of red Borscht soup but never this type. It had a a great hint of peppery/horseradish flavor to the broth. Then we ordered the asparagus wrapped in ham with horseradish sauce. Again completely surprised. The thick asparagus was fresh with a light crisp and the ham was flavorful and crispy as well. We couldn't decide what to order so for the main we went with the Plate of Polish Specialties, which came with three types of pierogis, potato pancakes, kielbasa, Hunters stew and meat filled cabbage. Flavorful food for an amazing value!
The only reason I didn't give it all five stars was the service. They were a bit hands off, as I understand a bit because they were busy. But our glasses of water were not refilled, nor were we asked if we wanted refills on our beer and sodas. Not a huge issue, but it wasn't perfect.
Overall, I will be going back! The food, value and atmosphere is comfort all the way!!! -
Review from Mason D.
San Diego, CA
10/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place has a great atmosphere and pretty good food. We only got the appetizers, and beer, but I would definitely come back to try the entrees. My favorite were the potato and cheese perogries. The ham wrapped asparagus was also really good.
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Review from Stephanie G.
Woodside, NY
4/11/2011
When you first walk in this place is fully decorated with everything Polish... The waitresses are even dressed in authentic Polish clothes...
I was in the hunt of looking for a Polish restaurant where I could take my bf... He has never tried it so I turned to yelp for help...
To start we each had a bowl of pickle soup (it was delicious especially for me because I love pickles)... then we each had a plate of Polish specialties (which had Pierogis, Potato Pancakes, Polish Kielbasa, Hunter's Stew and Stuffed Cabbage)... The waitress was nice enough to tell us which was which... It was all so delicious and filled with flavor... It definitely tastes homemade...
My bf had no more room so I decided to try the homemade dessert... I had a cheese crepe with blueberries... It was yummy!!!
Overall it was a delicious restaurant! Would definitely go back!
Worth the commute from Queens to Brooklyn on a Saturday! -
Review from Helena F.
Brooklyn, NY
3/1/2011
Great place to go when you're with a large group of people because:
1- you can feast cheaply on MEAT
2- and drink heavily on DRAFT BEER
I feel like a viking....an eastern european viking! RARRRR! -
Review from Alexandra K.
Larchmont, NY
12/14/2011
It is worth it to drive out from Manhattan to eat at this restaurant, which is what I did.
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Review from Brandon Z.
Ridgewood, Queens, NY
3/5/2011
Well, this place is trying even harder than Krolewskie Jadlo in Ridgewood, decor-wise. Not only are there wood beams and big slab tables, but the waitresses wear traditional(?) costumes, chandeliers are made from wagon wheels, and there's even a wishing well in the center of the room. Their lack of a television and Polish folk music(?) on the stereo are clear advantages over Krolewskie as well. Sort of like eating in a sanitary version of a rural stable.
The dill pickle soup was particularly hearty-- full of soft cucumber shards. The fried pierogi were as good as anywhere. Six Polish, Czech, and German beers on draft ($5 for a huge mug).
Being Greenpoint, about half the crowd seemed to be gentrifier-transplants, with the remainder Poles. -
Review from David N.
12/18/2010 2 Check-ins Here
On a whim one night we decided to try Polish food after the Polish Day Parade. I've heard about this place and decided to give it a try.
The restaurant was lovely, staring from the large wooden door at the entry that looked like the owners might have carried it across the Atlantic with them. The hostess was warm and even apologetic about the longer wait then usual. We settled at the bar for a round or two of beer while we waited. The food was delicious and it is a meat and potatoes persons dream. We started off with the tripe soup. It was just right. We shared the house special platter with the assorted sausages, pirogies, and potatoes of course. To end we tried the dessert pirogies.
It was an enjoyable meal, satisfying and hearty. It sort of trek for me from Brooklyn but I will certainly be coming back again. -
Review from Audrey F.
Brooklyn, NY
4/2/2011
I'm still thinking about this place the morning after!
Wish I had given it a chance a long time ago because I was loving it like way more than McDonalds. The BEST pierogies I've ever had in my life, they are large and seemingly deep-fried, crispy, hot and filled with delicious potato and cheese.
Pickle soup is out of control. If you like dill pickles, you MUST try this.
Strong mixed drinks, and it's clean. Definitely go here. -
Review from Patricia C.
Long Island City, Queens, NY
12/16/2010
Take the G train to Greenpoint and please, please, please bring your appetite and a few friends to Karczma, a Polish restaurant that serves the epitome of affordable, interesting and satisfying comfort food (read: lots of potatoes). Even though my palate is familiar with global culinary traditions, I had a few tasty new discoveries here. Delightful!
The menu is expansive and everything is extremely inexpensive. Begin with the pickle soup--I know! Say what?!?--and the white (!) borscht made with soured flour--again, say what?!
The first is a creamy soup with julienned pickles and boiled white potato wedges. Think of the warmed pickle slices against the melted cheese slice on your hamburger. Can you summon that flavor memory? Then there you have it, only in soup form. Very good and be sure to eat it while it's hot. And it was $2.50. (!!)
Now the white borscht. Order it in the bread bowl because then you get to experience the delicious borscht-soaked remnants. The soup is slightly sour, and savory with a slice of boiled egg. It is served with a side dish of mashed potatoes topped with a few bacon chunks. It seems superfluous until you dip a spoonful into the borscht and the silky texture fills your mouth. By the way, $3.50. And it could definitely feed two people.
We opted for the assortment of Polish specialties ($10.50) and were served a plate of 3 pierogis topped with a little bit of sauteed sweet onions (1 of potato & cheese and 2 of ground chicken), 2 potato pancakes w a ramekin of sour cream, 2 portions of kielbasa, 1 cabbage leaf wrapped around ground chicken with herbs and covered in tomato basil sauce, Hunter's stew w green peppers and beef. We should have brought one more person to be able to finish this Polish feast.
From the rough-hewn wood sign outside to the wood beams, mustard colored walls and large wooden tables of the booths inside, Karczma has a cozy, unpretentious atmosphere. The lady servers are in quaint yet flattering traditional garb: laced-up embroidered vests over white peasant blouses, shin-length colorful patterned full skirts and moccasin Mary Janes. So very nice; great service.
I kinda want to go here at least monthly in the winter. Wanna come? -
Review from Serge M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/20/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Best Polish food in Greenpoint. Period. The price is so reasonable, you'll be confused when you see the portions. They are HUGE. love it.
Try the "Plate of Polish Specialties." it's listed as an entree but get it as an appetizer for the table so you can sample a nice array of menu items.
