BACOWKA-BUNGA!!!

Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.

We are working 24/7, day and night, through rain, sleet, snow, and arthritis, to find new restaurants for our loyal readers. There is no rest for restaurant critics! On our recent trip to Riccardo’s Ristorante in Schaumburg, we noticed an area in the parking lot that was jam packed with cars. Being the trained professionals that we are, and it being a Saturday night, we assumed a restaurant was in the vicinity. Lo and behold, we found the Bacowka Polish Restaurant for a future review. A few weeks later we decided to go old school and return to Bacowka for an early Sunday dinner.

We arrived around 2 p.m. to a jam-packed parking lot once again, and when we walked in the hostess gave us the last remaining table. The dećor puzzled us. There were split log tables and chairs, antler chandeliers, murals and pictures of mountain scenes on the walls. After much “googling,” it was discovered that Bacowka means mountain shelter in Polish. By 2:15 p.m., there was a line out the door waiting to get in. Boy, we made it just in time!

On to the jedzenie (food). We started off with Rosól (chicken soup) for $3. This was a huge bowl of chicken broth, carrots, fine noodles, and lots of chicken meat. This was almost as good as Nancy’s homemade soup. Notice I said “almost”; I’m not that big of a moron…

Jim, as usual, found a “mountain” of food on a plate. He ordered Zbojnicka Micha (Sampler Plate) for $15.50. This came with (3) pierogis (meat, sauerkraut and mushroom, and potato and cheese) with bacon onion topping, (2) potato pancakes, (1) stuffed cabbage, Polish sausage with braised cabbage, and mashed potatoes. Jim was out of control, the only thing left on his plate at the end of the meal was a little piece of Polish sausage with some braised cabbage and a little bit of mashed potatoes. I just watched as he devoured a plate big enough to feed half of Poland. It was not a pretty sight…His favorites were the stuffed cabbage and potato pancakes. He also liked the braised cabbage, which tasted like mild sauerkraut.

Nancy had to try their (10) Pierogis for $8.50. She couldn’t have an assortment, so she went with the potato and cheese with a bacon onion topper. She ordered them pan fried for a $1 upcharge. She also ordered the Placki Ziemniaczane (Potato Pancakes) four for $6. She was a little disappointed in the pierogis; they weren’t like hers. She ate all of her potato pancakes since they were awesome. These were a little different than the German style potato pancakes. They had more body and crunch on the inside of them.

Time for dessert. When I looked at Jim he was looking so pathetically miserable that all he could do was mumble incoherently. Since I am not a dessert eater, no matter what Jim says, and he was in a food coma by this time, we passed on dessert.

This is a very authentic restaurant, and when we were there, we seemed to be the only English-speaking patrons. We both know some Polish words, none of which, however, are suitable in mixed company. If you like Polish food, make the trip, it’s only Schaumburg after all. Give this place a try; you won’t be disappointed.

The price for Jim’s food coma was $45.92, Dziekuje (Thank You).

FYI: This restaurant is handicap accessible and they don’t accept reservations, but it’s worth the wait.

Jim’s take: I couldn’t stop eating my sampler plate, it was that good. The meat pierogis were like Polish potstickers.

Nancy’s take: I agree with Jim, I tried his meat pierogis, and they did taste like a Polish potsticker! I couldn’t stop eating my potato pancakes.

Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at thediningduo@gmail.com

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