I mentioned elsewhere that I will be in Cleveland for three days for a conference, plus Tuesday night (checking in the hotel) and leaving Sunday morning.  So I will have some dowtime on Friday and Saturday to venture beyond downtown.

 

I'd was wondering for a good recommendation for eastern European, specfically Polish restaurants.  I would like one in the "old neighborhod" as I like to support places like that (I guess old neighborhood means Slavic Village/Warzawa), but am Ok to travel out to suburbia if there are good ones there too.  I'm looking for more restaurant and less bar-that-serves-food.

 

Also, if y'all have other recommendations, like maybe Hungarian, Slovenian, etc etc...I might try that too. 

I would highly recommend Sokolowski's in Tremont for Polish:

 

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

 

Slovenian: http://www.sterlescountryhouse.com/

 

I don't know any Hungarian off the top of my head.  I'm sure others can recommend.

If you're interested in Museums:

 

Hungarian Heritage Museum: http://www.jcu.edu/language/hunghemu/index.htm

Ukrainian Museum: http://www.umacleveland.org/

For Polish, I heartily recommend Sokolowski's, but you can also check out Europa and Seven Roses Delis, both in Slavic Village:

 

http://europadeliohio.com/

 

http://cleveland.about.com/od/foodstores/p/SevenRoses.htm

 

There are more places in that area, too, but those can give you a good start.

 

For Hungarian, check out Balaton on Shaker Square.

 

http://www.balaton-restaurant.com/

Check out Steele's country house maybe.

Good to see someone mentioning Seven Roses on Fleet.......Great little place in Slavic Village...and how about checking out St. Stanislaw church while near there and that little coffee shop and cafe open til 6 called "Shipley's" There is also a great visitors center over there that is near Mill Creek.. Slavic Village/Broadway Historical Center, or something like that.

 

The Hungarian Museum and gift shop is nice and located in the Galleria. Open select hours during the day. The site is in a post above.

 

Parma has a few places as well...and you may find some interesting places along Mayfield Rd. all the way to I-271.. I seem to remember seeing a few such places along that strip.

Great suggestions EC,

 

If you have time, check out St. Stanislaus Cathedral in Slavic Village.  IMO, it's the most beautiful church in Cleveland.

 

http://www.ststanislaus.org/

 

If you happen to be there on a Sunday, they have Polish mass at 10 am--very cool Cleveland experience.

It's called Sterle's Slovenian Country House on E 55th Street and it's a great place. Friday nights are good but Saturday nights are better for music. If you like a place that is like a mini Octoberfest then you will like this place big time. Very unique and awesome food.

By the way, Sokolowski's is only open for lunch during the week, plus Friday and Saturday nights.

 

For Hungarian, check out Balaton on Shaker Square.

 

http://www.balaton-restaurant.com/

 

though most of my dna is Scotch, my mom's dad was born and raised in slavic village and is of eastern european descent (hungarian).  Ballaton is the only restaurant he approves of.  If they offered free angioplasties at the clinic with each meal, I might eat there every day.

It's called Sterle's Slovenian Country House on E 55th Street and it's a great place. Friday nights are good but Saturday nights are better for music. If you like a place that is like a mini Octoberfest then you will like this place big time. Very unique and awesome food.

 

Is that the giant wood-sided building north of Payne Ave?

Hts121...yes that's it, very large dark brown colored building. The location is kind of sketchy but the parking lot is always patroled. It's a little sad because when your inside it's like being in another world and you can imagine what the neighborhood must have been like years ago. I took my family from California there and it's one of the things they still talk about today, we had a blast and the food was really awesome.

Slovenian: http://www.sterlescountryhouse.com/

There's still a strong Albanian neighborhood near Sterle's though (east of East 55th, south of St. Clair) and is relatively stable. But the restaurant's immediate surroundings are rough. It's definitely worth a visit. Most of their portions are huge (family style), so be prepared for leftovers.

I could sure go for some Parma Pierogies right now.

Last January I ate pierogi in the most authentic setting I could think of:  Warsaw, Poland (the Old Town section, to be specific). :)

 

My review? They were fried in a pan and thus a little too greasy for me. I prefer baked or grilled pierogi (stuffed with spinach and cheese, then served with sour cream).

 

Any places in Cleveland serve pierogi like this?!?!

Spinach? I'm not the expert but doubt this is near authentic. Potatoe and cheese with sour cream and onion on the side seems most traditional, and fried in a pan too.

baked pierogi with spinach? Sounds like a WASP pierogi

Big time.

I 2nd the rec for Sterle's.  I personally don't recommend Sokolowski's for anything except atmosphere, I find their food to be swimming in cheap margarine and not very tasty, but I know I'm in the minority on that one.

EDIT: Oops! I thought that you were coming up this weekend. Carry on.

Last January I ate pierogi in the most authentic setting I could think of: Warsaw, Poland (the Old Town section, to be specific). :)

 

My review? They were fried in a pan and thus a little too greasy for me. I prefer baked or grilled pierogi (stuffed with spinach and cheese, then served with sour cream).

 

Any places in Cleveland serve pierogi like this?!?!

 

Try the Pierogi Palace at the Westside Market.  Of course, you have to cook it yourself.  They have like 80-100 different types of Pierogis generally.

Wow..thanks!

 

Yes I recall St Stans from an earlier Cleveland visit, seeing it on a moody cloudy winter late afternoon ,set back in that neighborhood.  Very atmospheric.  Actually brought a tear to my eye since it reminded me so much of my old childhood neighborhood in Chicago.  So I am seriously leaning to those Fleet Street places you all mentioned

 

But the food advice is much appreciated.  The Slovenian Country House sounds like fun.  Actually sounds like the kind of places my folks used to go to (German version, that is).

 

Now, about this:

 

There's still a strong Albanian neighborhood near Sterle's though (east of East 55th, south of St. Clair) and is relatively stable.

 

Wow!  ..now is there a deli and restaurant here, too, for the Albananians?

 

 

 

 

Personally I think some of the best pierogi's come from European Delights on State right off 480 in Parma.  Big and delicious!!! 

 

Also, the Little Polish Dinner (that's the real name) on Ridge and snow in Parma is pretty good.

Since you're coming down to Akron area anyways, I'll recommend Babushka's kitchen in Northfield Center near Macedonia on olde 8.  Pretty good big pierogies among other dishes like Chicken Paprikash and various sausages dishes.