Polonia Restaurant

Service was great. The inside was super clean and had really nice decorations on all the walls. There was also a full bar with sports playing (couldn't say drink that day.. lol.. but looked like a chill place to grab a few drinks with friends). The food was delicious. We dropped in for a small lunch. We ordered a shareable appetizer (pictured), corn beef and roast beef sandwich. Like many great spots in Hamtramck, this restaurant is located on a residential side street. There was plenty of street when we showed up for lunch.

First timer! Had bacon spread, and some sort of "Greek pizza." Then the city chicken which is of course not chicken. Omg, so delicious . It was a carbish heavy night. Breaded meat on a stick with mashed potatoes and cabbage. Had some sausage and delicious pickle soup. So good and so filling! Bring an extra tummy... or just bring it home. It actually reheats well. Will definitely go back- easy to park- just don't forget to pay.

This is the single best Polish food I've had. Anywhere. Period. The interior makes me think that my passport has been stamped by a customs agent within the past 12 hours- and I couldn't be happier about it. I'm not terribly familiar with Eastern European interior design/aesthetic (or any interior design/aesthetic for that matter), but it's warm in its simplicity. As this is a food review...moving on.Service was wonderful. Considerate, attentive, prompt. Explanations, guidance, and recommendations were all spot on. The folks who work the shop are invested in it, and this extends to the customer's all-around experience while dining.Food: look at the pictures. Portions are both bountiful (culinarily) and frugal (fiscally). I wanted to say that there's a buttery subtlety behind the kraut and the meats- if fat is flavor, then sign me up for that buttery ride through the northeastern European costal plain.And then there's potatoes. Typically I see the spud as an also ran. Save it for the Irish stereotypes where the tuber gets boiled and plopped on a table. Oh, no, no, no. Not here: the watchword with respect to the potato is versatility. As a main: crispy meets soft of the pancake. As a side: put through a "softening up" as would the Służba Bezpieczeństwa (yes, I googled 'Polish Stasi' to find that out) a dissident in the 1960s and doused with gravy (ahhh, the gravy), a counterpoint to the kraut and sausage perfectly presented. Dumplings also terrific, though as a component rather than a feature. The sausages: I'm not giving a hierarchy of preference; they're all world class. Seriously. Good luck figuring out which one you prefer. I can't.Maybe I'm tainted by the fact this is a Bourdain place. Or maybe Bourdain really knew good food because he could tell from the feel of the space, the character and mannerisms of the staff, the intangibles that only a chef can pick up on. If the latter is the case, the I'll concede the former as well.Some eateries break the boundary of culinary constraint of being a restaurant. Those places, few and far between in my experience, offer the experience of and institution. And by institution, I'm not talking about a place or a building. It's the sum of experience reduced to memory and feeling. That's what Polonia is to me; hopefully others as well.

I am so absolutely impressed with the renovations at Polonia. The place looks amazing. The atmosphere made me feel right at home. And the food was great. Our service was wonderful and I can't say enough about John and his team. I would definitely recommend you give this place a try. My mouth is watering thinking about going back.

Service was ok, ambiance was fair and the food was pretty good. The food came out fairly quick so that was a good thing! I recommend the polish combo plate and cabbage soup! Parking is in the street or pay for lot parking right next door.

I was in the mood for Polish food. In the Detroit area, there's no better place than Hamtramck when it comes to Polish food. The decor has notes of the old country wherever you look: paintings, porcelain that looks like it's been passed down from generation to generation, and polka artifacts. Polka music plays, providing a festive mood.There are specials with reasonable prices for drinks; a Zywiec (an excellent Polish lager) is $6 on tap, and a Warsaw Mule is $8. Service was brisk...the drinks were served no long after the order was placed, and the food also arrived quickly. I ordered the salmon potato pancakes, and so was warned that the salmon is smoked. I love smoked salmon. What you get is basically bagel and lox with potato pancakes and sour cream instead of a bagel and cream cheese. The potato pancakes are served with raw vegetables as the only side, so I added a bowl of pickle soup. The pickle soup here is like a cream of chicken soup with some dill added. The effect is subtle...I like to be punched in the mouth by a dill pickle soup, but this is still good.The jalapeño pierogis were terrific...just enough heat, and a bit like a quesadilla when topped with sour cream.The only misstep we're the cheese pierogis. You're expecting cheddar, but instead you get something that tastes like cottage cheese. Strange. Some dishes come with a housemade sauerkraut that's more savory than the kind you're probably used to having. Get it as a side if it's not part of your dish. Portions were massive. Other than the cheese pierogis (which no one wanted to eat), there was so much food that everyone had plenty for another meal. I feel like downloading polka music now so I can recapture the mood. Definitely worth a return trip.

Fantastic food and ambiance. Friendly and attentive staff. Looking forward to my next visit.

Food and service were amazing. Staff was sooo friendly and knowledgeable about all things Polish. Special shout out of appreciation to the bartender who taught us a thing or 3 about appreciating a good polish vodka. (Str8 or on ice preferred, but he was very accommodating in recommending a cocktail as well). After a full day of tourism, I can safely say that Polania is the true envy of Detroit, Mi.

The food was real good. Although not the most amazing flavor but that's expected with Polish food. The staff was friendly and fast. The atmosphere is very beautiful and family friendly.

Parking can be done either in the adjacent pay lot or free on the narrow residential street. Enter the space through the red door on the left and you'll find the friendliest and most efficient staff serving wonderful Old World Polish cuisine and beverages! I loved the decor too, including the Polish pottery and the mural on the back wall!I tried a tasty cup of the sweet and sour Czarnina on this visit. It was delicious! My side salad with creamy Italian dressing on the side was fresh and crisp. My companions raved about the sausages, both fresh and smoked. Indeed, the Polish know sausage making!