Editor’s Note: Our columnist is not a trained or paid professional, nor does he get complimentary meals from the restaurants visited. He and his party arrive unannounced and do not reveal that they will be doing a review. Comments or questions may be sent to Sam Geati, greengeezer9@comcast.net
And now for something different!
It came to my attention that there is, of all things, a Polish restaurant in Marengo! My curiosity piqued, I called Dave and Marlene Mahlke, who agreed to join us for dinner at Bigo’s Polish Buffet. They agreed to help us evaluate this establishment. The restaurant is located on Route 20 on the western edge of town. It’s about a 25-minute ride from Huntley.
The building is not new, as another restaurant used it previously. The dining area is unpretentious, but there is a large variety of foods to sample including many Polish varieties. Many of the selections featured pork, including shanks, cutlets, patties, ribs, bacon, and, of course, sausage. Stuffed cabbage, pierogis, goulash, kopytka (finger dumplings), sweet cabbage, and blintzes were available on the Polish buffet. The menu changes daily with items like duck, lamb shanks, and beef brisket. The cold table included homemade coleslaw, beet and cucumber salads, and a number of other salads, in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables. Desserts were not their strong suit. When it was time for something sweet, the cake was gone; all that was left were puddings and cookies.
Highlights for me included the pork hocks, goulash, deep-fried codfish, meatballs in dill sauce, and a wonderfully unique baby beet soup. Dave, Marlene, and Judy agreed that they were the best of the available selections. We also enjoyed some of the non-Polish offerings such as the Greek chicken and potatoes. Everything is made from scratch with fresh vegetables.
Service is simple since it is a buffet. Our wait person was there promptly to remove plates and kept our water glasses and beverages filled. As for pricing, lunches are $9.95 and dinners are $12.95, except Sundays when they are $14.95. Hours are Tuesday – Saturday 11-8 and Sunday 12-8.
Here’s how we rated Bigo’s, based upon 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the best:
Food – We thought that the food was average, but an extra point for having a unique menu with several items not found in any other restaurants in our area. 3.5 points.
Service – Based upon the buffet setting, this a 4.
Value – Comparing it to many of the Chinese buffets in the area, the price was average, or a 3.
Ambiance – Very average, or 3.
In summary, this was a mixed bag for the four of us, as each of us found some very unique dishes that we enjoyed, although we were disappointed with the limited desserts.
Bigo’s Polish Buffet. 24015 W. Grant Hwy. Marengo, IL 60152. 815-568-4740
