Tasting Poland at Lomzynianka

I recently accompanied a food club to one of New York City’s best pierogi joints. We visited Lomzynianka in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a small Polish restaurant that lightens the diners’ spirit with its abundance of streamers hanging on the ceiling and flower leis around a deer’s head.

Diners will know they are getting an authentic experience by peering into the kitchen, which looks more like a family’s kitchen in Lomza, Poland—the region that inspires many of the dishes—than a commercial one.

I shared my food with a fellow diner. We started off with the Pierogi Sampler, which offers a plate full of the dumplings (you can have them boiled or fried).

It would be a disappointment for anyone who visits this restaurant and doesn’t have them. Each pierogi bursts with flavor and didn’t exhibit the bland doughy taste that many restaurants settle for. Order the pierogies stuffed with potato and cheese, as well as the ones with meat; I found it hard to pick a favorite.

We also had the Polish Platter which included three more pierogies, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, bigos and potatoes. While I visited the restaurant for the pierogies, the rich rustic taste of the stuffed cabbage was the highlight of the meal.

Better yet, the tab for two full diners was less than $20.

Polish Platter

Pierogi Sampler

(Photos taken from Yelp.com users)

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Exposing South Williamsburg's Café Moto

No other borough in New York City is as protective of its neighborhood secrets as Brooklyn. And Café Moto in South Williamsburg is one of those secrets.

Located almost directly under the J-M-Z train, the restaurant shows an unassuming exterior, with peeling walls and a rickety old bike hanging in place of a sign. Because of the narrow space, Café Moto can easily come off as stuffy. Instead, the live jazz entertainment (provided nightly) and laid-back neighborhood crowd immediately makes the restaurant warm and inviting.

For appetizers, my table had toasted bread with a gruyère cheese dip and the steamed artichoke. The dishes were simple yet flavorful, a perfect precursor to our main entrees.

I ordered the pork ribs rubbed with coarse black pepper and spices. It was accompanied with creamy mashed potatoes and a small salad dressed with balsamic vinaigrette. Overall, the food was tasty and satisfying.

This, in addition to the ambiance, left me eager to return and try more of Café Moto’s food. This could be bad news for South Williamsburg residents. For if most diners left as pleased as I was, then their secret won’t last for long.

Additional tip: After your meal at Café Moto, walk a few blocks West to Trophy Bar for great music and drinks.

More on Café Moto:

The Anti-Tourist

Thursday Club NYC

Yelp Customer Reviews

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