Tipped

Great Potato Pancakes

October 16, 2008

With the many expensive-but-mediocre restaurants in South Ken Daquise, it's good to know that there are a few bargains to be had in the area and some good local non-chain restaurants. While it's difficult to convince me not to eat at Bosphorus (http://www.tipped.co.uk/listings/1302/bosphorous) every time I'm in South Ken, Daquise is another solid choice: the prices are reasonable, the food is reliably good, it's right by the station, and you can usually get a table fairly easily. The food isn't fancy, nor is it trying to be; it's simple, classic Polish food (with a bit of Hungarian thrown in) with a cheery old cafe ambiance.

Try anything involving the potato pancakes, like a fluffy version of rösti or latkes; thr Jungarian pancake filled with goulash and topped with creme fraiche is particularly good, especially with a bottle of Polish lager.

Tags: cuisine: polish, polish beer, eastern european

Good Times

October 13, 2008

I've been passed this place hundreds of times and never noticed it before, thats how unassuming the windows and decor are. The interior is really simple, almost kitch with patterned table clothes and dark wood panel walls.

I've never had Polish food before so I didn't really know what to expect - I started with some clear beetroot soup with mushroom ravioli things, it was absolutely delicious and I scoffed it down pretty quickly. For main I (and both my lunch companions) chose a Hunters Stew or Bigos as it was written in Polish. Not only was the stew really really tasty (basically a sauerkraut, meat and mushroom stew) but it's name Bigos provided some pretty good table conversation.

For desert we had some pretty good cheese cake and a honey vodka - now I normally hate vodka but this wasn't too bad so I can only imagine that if you like vodka then they honey vodka would be amazing.

3 of us ate and drank for £50 which considering how full we all were afters is amazing value.

Tags: polish, bigos

Polski?

November 09, 2007

Daquise, formerly known as Cafe Daquise, is old school Polish. How else would you describe a restaurant that was opened by Poles who were otherwise here to fight a war back in the '40s? What's more, after numerous rumours of the place going out of business, Daquise is still here and going strong.

Daquise's success can be put down to two things, good location and cheap/moderately priced food. It's just down the block from South Ken. station making it ideal for fueling up after a yomp around the museums.

The food's good too... not great, but starchy and satisfying. If you're after a smaller, cheaper meal try the fluffy pancakes served with sour cream and apple sauce which certainly hit the mark.

The Polish Black pudding was something closer to a boudin than the dense, meaty British version. It was a soft and creamy mixture of buck wheat and blood in natural skins that came with mash, which unfortunately wasn't very good - too thick, not buttery and fluffy, and also served by means of an ice-cream scoop... very institutional.

Tags: Polish