My next food adventure takes place at a little diner in Hamtramck, Michigan that specializes in Polish cuisine. The Polish Village Cafe is one of the tip rated locations for authentic Polish foods according to Yelp reviews. It definitely holds to these standards.
Polish Restaurant Challenges
Enjoying Polish foods can be a bit difficult on a kidney-friendly diet but not impossible. Potatoes and Kielbasa tend to be Polish staples, and these can be high in phosphorus, potassium and sodium. In order to dine at these locations successfully it comes down to moderation. It is a good idea at Polish Village Cafe and similar restaurants to plan on splitting the food in half. Split it with a friend or box the rest of it for later.
I am going to give you some ideas of what you can order when dining out at Polish restaurants similar to this one:
Dinner Entrees
- Golabki (Stuffed Cabbage): order without tomato sauce on top
- Kielbasa (Polish Sausage): stick with only eating 1/4 to 1/2 piece of Kielbasa. Save the rest for another day.
- Klopsiki (Meatballs)
- Kotlet Grzybowy (Mushroom Cutlets)
- Kurczak Miasto (City Chicken)
- Kura Wczosnku (Garlic Chicken)
- Mieso Wieprzowe (Roast Pork)
Pierogi in moderation (1-2 pieces): apple, strawberry and blueberry pierogi are more kidney-friendly. Traditional pierogi are made with potato and cheese, and are higher in potassium and phosphorus compared to the fruit pierogi. Limit sour cream to 1 to 2 tablespoons added.
Side Dishes
- Garden Salad, dressing on the side
- Green Beans
- 1 to 2 pierogi if not already main dish
So when I was dining in at the Polish Village Cafe I decided to order Golabki. I told the server no tomato sauce to reduce the potassium content. The dish was served with two Golabki’s so I boxed one of them. It was served with one apple pierogi and side of green beans. Some dishes were served with more than one pierogi. I would recommend sticking with 1 to 2 of them and then boxing the rest. Try booking your next night out at an authentic polish restaurant and be prepared to have a successful and enjoyable experience following these tips.
