The Polish Club. A pork knuckle review

The food there is fantastic, the beers are good.

To the vegos, go to sumo salad and pay $9 for some lettuce and dressing.

Personally I’d prefer it if it remained a well kept secret, but there you go…

Please don’t label young professionals as vegitarians, I resent that comment.

Thanks

I used to think vegetarians were difficult, then i endured a month in California with a ‘raw vegan’ as one member of the party. Every meal and shopping expedition was a special hell.

I asked about vego meals here exactly because I understand that the club is largely for the Polish community and therefore I didn’t want to go in and demand a vegetarian meal; it might be rude. Although I agree that traditionally, many peasants didn’t get that much meat! Also, it seem to be a little strange to argue that because half a pig is traditional Polish fare, the restaurant can’t serve anything else. That’s almost suggesting that they’re poor simple people, without the ability to adapt, which is obviously offensive. Some traditionally very meaty places, such as Germany, probably have more vego establishments than many other countries.

As to the person who said you’d be shot in France for requesting a vegetarian meal, at bistros at least, they often have salads. And snails are half mushroom, I understand.

poetix said :

Are there any vego options? Apart from the vodka?

There are two vegetarian options: make do or f*** off.

poisonivy said :

It’s a *struggling* Polish restaurant in a struggling club, which just happens to be in an area close to the ANU and populated by young professionals. They’re not in the old country anymore, they’re running a business. Some slight adjustments to the treatment of the vegetable items on the menu would deliver a loyal local clientele in the long term.

LOL.
yeah catering to that massive vegetarian market is going to have them rolling in cash.

poisonivy said :

It’s a Polish Restaurant FFS. As is common in most European cuisines, meat is central to the meal.
If you don’t like meat, don’t go. Also, I think you’ll find most soups are based on stock…

It’s a *struggling* Polish restaurant in a struggling club, which just happens to be in an area close to the ANU and populated by young professionals. They’re not in the old country anymore, they’re running a business. Some slight adjustments to the treatment of the vegetable items on the menu would deliver a loyal local clientele in the long term.

You’re lucky we even tolerate vegetarians in this country, in France and Argentina you’re either deported or shot.

On

yellowsnow said :

poisonivy said :

Just like in the old country, where we call this sort of thing ‘hamstwo’!! Maybe they’re doing intentionally it to make the people nostalgic.

You hit the nail on the head yellowsnow.

imarty said :

poisonivy said :

yellowsnow said :

poetix said :

Are there any vego options? Apart from the vodka?

Pierogi (dumplings). The ones with potato and farm cheese stuffing. You haven’t lived till you’ve tried them

If you like your ‘vegetarian’ dumplings garnished with lard and bacon bits, go right ahead. My vegetarian friend and I had a long conversation with the staff about our needs and understanding appeared to reign on all sides, until the meals came out, complete with animal fats and bits.

Soup I never touch in restaurants – in a Polish restaurant you can just about guarantee it’s been made on some sort of stock.

The management knows that this is a problem, and given their local demographic they really need to do more to pull in ALL sorts of diners, not just the carnivores. Stayed tuned, and should you venture there, be VERY specific about what is not acceptable on the plate.

It’s a Polish Restaurant FFS. As is common in most European cuisines, meat is central to the meal.
If you don’t like meat, don’t go. Also, I think you’ll find most soups are based on stock…

Unless it is the 1980s and you live in Central/Eastern Europe…. then cabbage and beets are central to the meal and meat is a distant capitalist fantasy.

poetix said :

Are there any vego options? Apart from the vodka?

You’re kidding, right?

poisonivy said :

It’s a *struggling* Polish restaurant in a struggling club, which just happens to be in an area close to the ANU and populated by young professionals. They’re not in the old country anymore, they’re running a business. Some slight adjustments to the treatment of the vegetable items on the menu would deliver a loyal local clientele in the long term.

True, the operators seem to approach it as if they were begrudgingly serving the club members out of obligation to the Polish community, rather than to make a profit or attract outsiders. I once went there at lunch on a Saturday, ordered a pork schnitzel and chips, but they wouldn’t give me the chips because the deep frier was turned off, and then when i asked for potatoes they couldn’t do those either because peeling them would be too difficult. In the end they gave me a piece of stale-ish bread to go with the meat, and it was served with dollops of attitude. Just like in the old country, where we call this sort of thing ‘hamstwo’!! Maybe they’re doing intentionally it to make the people nostalgic.

Nevertheless, it was a great meal, and the beer made me forget their transgressions. When you go, just don’t expect good service. Or — on a Saturday — potatoes.