Wierzynek, Krakow

If you want traditional Polish food that is excellent in taste, combined with style and glamour then this is the restaurant to visit. Not one of your cheapest, therefore this is a place where you go to treat someone or be treated.

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It's not often that a restaurant gets listed in publications such as "1000 Places to See Before You Die". Good enough reason to enjoy a meal there on the last night of our first visit to Krakow. Reading the history of the restaurant reveals that it dates back to 1364 and has hosted every visiting head of state for the last 500 years and is arguably the oldest operating restaurant in Europe.
We elected to dine in the ground floor Galician Room which turned out to be elegantly furnished and as expected had an ambiance to match. Waiters were very attentive without being overbearing.
We chose from the a la carte menue which listed : Starters 9 choices : 22-440 zl
Mains : 15 choices from all popular food groups 59 -115 zl : Desserts (available but we try to avoid them)
There are Traditional Polish Set Menus - two choices both four-course with a glass of wine/ glass of Vodka 165zl or 185zl.
Checked out the other rooms and the cafe at the end of the evening - will try next visit perhaps?

Favorite Dish: We chose to drink a bottle of French Sparkling blanc de blanc.
The amuse bouche : fresh mountain cheese with capsicum.
She chose to start with Lobster Soup (36zl) and he, looking for the local touch had Borsch..
For Mains - madam enjoyed duck with red cabbage and he rabbit with pasta (68zl).
Service impeccable. Silver service , of course. We enjoyed the food : rating it eight out of ten. All in all a rewarding evening costing about the same as a better than average restaurant at home.

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Here on Market Square is the oldest restaurant in Krakow, dating to 1364. That's pretty astounding for someone who makes a big deal out of 1700's architecture in the United States.
You are greeted by a hostess dressed in period costume, and led to your table in one of several rooms spread amongst three floors. Some of the rooms are used for private parties to dine separately. The food was excellent, the restaurant beautifully appointed and rather formal. This is where we had our VT meeting with Matcrazy1, his wife Ursula, Gosia and myself. We enjoyed touring the building with its grand staircase and unique decorative heaters.
I had worn some Halloween earrings that were battery operated to light up and blink... which everyone was charmed with. They were pretty silly, but I figured everyone would have a laugh. The waiters were whispering and chuckling. I don't mind being the brunt of their laughter in a case like that. Everyone seemed to have fun. At the end of the evening I made them a gift to Urzula.

Favorite Dish: I ordered a Roast Pork dish which was served as a pinwheel with their traditional prune sauce running around with the pork. When the main entre arrived...there were three or four waiters with silver covered dishes who arrived at the table and lifted all the covers off our dishes in unison. A very dramatic touch. The presentation of each dish was superb. Garnishes and drizzles in abundance.
I felt the evening was positively splendid!!

Very upmarket restaurant. Conveniently situated on the main square. we had to book 2 days in advance but it was worth it. Not the cheapest place to eat in krakow, but extremely good value compared to British restaurants. We had a set four course meal each, and every course was nice - the cost being only about £15/$35 per person including wine.

Favorite Dish: The pierogi was stunning (traditional polish pasta/ravioli style). The service was amazing, the courses were presented on silver platters. The surroundings were very plush. Instead of one large room, there were several rooms over a couple of floors, giving a more intimate ambience. The decor was traditional and opulent and all the staff were dressed to impress, with the waiters in dress (dicky bows) and the waitresses in traditional polish dress.

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this as got to be the finest restaurant i have ever eaten in,nothing could be faulted,the service was excellent,the food excellent,the ambience,truly a night to remember.where you can eat like a king at a very reasonable price.

Favorite Dish: i had wild mushroom soup as a starter,sirloin in wine sauce as a main course,and chocalate and cherry mousse as a dessert,followed by a glass of polish cognac.

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This place goes back to 1364 and is known for serving meals to kings and noblemen from all over Europe throughout the centuries. Even nowadays the most notable foreign guests, politicians and artists, dine at the Wierzynek.

The restaurant may seem a bit on the formal side but I wore jeans and was still admitted ;-) It is known for excellent old traditional Polish cuisine and I must say the food is really good and served to look as a piece of art. Their desserts look almost like sculptures!

A major weakness is their rather limited menu... which I found irritating for an old Polish cuisine place. The food and service was excellent but you may feel somewhat confined when going through their list of dishes. And it is definitely at the far out expensive end of Cracow restaurants...

Well, glad I ticked that one off my list as a definite must, but I don't think I will be coming back... It was excellent for special atmosphere though.

I wonder, did Steven Speilburg eat in this dining room?

I imagine he got some ideas for filming "Shindlers List" in this room, do you think so?

Many Kings, politicians, and famous people have entertained here for dinner.

This restaraunt was established 1364.

Famous people that ate there were:
Steven Speilburg
George Bush
Bill Clinton

Favorite Dish: This lady is in the entrance as you walk into the restaraunt.

She is made of Chocolate and a VERY Sweet lady!

In real, Wierzynek Restaurant consists of cafe (ground floor), old-Polish restaurant (1st floor) and cellar underground.

When you pass the first gate you go inside a cafe - quite nice place to drink cafe and try local dessert (cheesecake recommended). You can try Polish beer there as well.

Favorite Dish: A large cup of cafe au lait (cafe with milk) and Polish cheescake - delitious (both).
Local beer if you like :-).

Have you ever ate a chocolate woman?

Ok, please don't answer that question! :o)

This lady is 100% chocolate, doesn't quit look like the top of the dessert menu, does she?

She is enclosed in glass, is this a wierd custom or what?