Czarna Kaczka / Black Duck

We happened to walk by this restaurant by chance and decided to give it a try and I am so glad that we did! Immediately when we entered we were greeted by Hannah and other staff members who were so welcoming and kind. We had to wait a bit for a table but we didn’t mind because it smelt so good in there and the atmosphere was great. For food we ordered the 12 dumpling platter to try and it was incredible! For our mains we got the duck burger, the duck breast with plum sauce (swapped the potato dumpling for mash potatoes— highly recommend), the potato pancake with goulash, and cabbage rolls. Everything was phenomenal!! Prices are also very reasonable for the quality of food. Hannah our server made our experience amazing and she brought out an appetizer (duck pate with pickles) and shots after our meal. Highly recommend this restaurant if you are visiting Krakow and want authentic Polish food and great vibes.

The service here was some of the best we had in krakow. I’m glad we made reservations as when we came (Friday night in January) others were having to wait a while. Our meals and wine were excellent. Everything was well prepared and we both were very satisfied with our everything we ordered. We had the duck with cherry sauce, half roasted duck, and spicy duck dumplings. Prices were excellent for those used to USD, possibly on the pricier side for PLN. No complaints !

If i have to give my honest opinion about the food it would be 1 star review. Duck salad was with a lot of meat , but no spices and a old of raspberry pure sauce. Fried dumplings were a bit easy to eat. The potato cheese pancakes were so greasy that we left most of the plate. Services was excellent and we had to wait 10 min to be seated. They gave us compliments which was nice. If this is one of the best polish restaurants i dont wanna know about the rest.

Excellent food: extremely tender duck, juicy chicken, very good żurek served in edible bread, and a great dessert. Friendly service with nice complimentary extras (duck lard with bread at the start and a schnapps at the end). Prices are fair and the atmosphere is cozy. Downside: despite a phone reservation, we had to wait quite a while (7 adults + a baby). Our table was near the entrance with strong cold drafts, and many guests were standing behind us waiting for a table, which made the experience uncomfortable, especially with a baby. Overall: outstanding cuisine, but organization and seating during busy times could be improved.

Recommended by our hotel receptionist & we can definitely see why! We didn't have a reservation & even on a week day evening they were very busy but managed to find a table for us. Staff were very friendly, helpful & attentive. Food was freshly prepared, arrived quickly & was amazing. Pulled duck meat burger was delicious, melt in the mouth duck meat & fresh crispy salad. (Photo doesn't do it true justice) Customers are also given a complimentary duck pate starter. Staff noticed that it was my daughter's birthday & also provided her with a free dessert!! Lovely atmosphere, tasteful, surroundings, delicious food. They have everything right!! Can't recommend highly enough. Thank you.

We ordered the duck burger and the goulash with potato pancakes. Both were phenomenal. The goulash was honestly the best we have ever had in any country we have ever traveled to. The service was good and the homemade lemonade was also delicious. We shared the apple pancakes dessert and really enjoyed it. Top place in Krakow.

We went around 6 pm without a reservation and found a table immediately. By the time we were leaving around 7:30, people were already lining up outside. Since we were two, we finished the whole duck ourselves. It was perfectly cooked. Except for the starchy potatoes, we really liked all the side dishes. The sauces were delicious as well. The place, the food, and the waiter’s guidance were all excellent. We definitely recommend it.

Exceptional service vs. Disastrous food The food was a complete disaster. I ordered the roasted duck, which was incredibly greasy yet bone-dry and lacked any juice. The mushroom sauce was sour and astringent, offering zero umami or freshness. The beetroot salad was so overpowering that it was practically inedible. To be honest, I’ve had better experiences with German Sauerbraten—which is saying a lot. The Apple Pie was another letdown; it was so intensely sour that I honestly cannot call it a "dessert." Furthermore, I was told the restaurant does not provide tap water, which is a first for me during my stay in Poland. The only reason I didn't return the food and walk out was the service. The two waitresses were exceptionally warm, friendly, and went out of their way to assist me throughout the meal. The management should seriously consider raising their salaries or giving them a bonus—their professionalism is the only thing keeping this place afloat.

Some places you just know are going to be delicious when you walk by. You could tell from the aroma and the happy diners chatting inside. We walked by this place on our first night in Krakow and we knew we had to come back. Luckily we were able to get a table on our last night by waiting until the end of the evening - and it was so worth it. I would suggest making a reservation in advance if you can. The menu has traditional Polish dishes with a focus on their specialty, duck. I had a pulled duck burger, the meat was so tender and juicy and it really hit the spot. My husband had the schnitzel which is his favorite and dessert, of course. Our waitress was so nice - she gave us great recommendations and was so sweet and friendly. Her colleague came to chat with us too and we had a great time visiting with them. Since we were there late we were one of the last tables in the place. I got to try a few vodkas - the ladies flight (not sure what made them good for ladies, but I went with it) and then we get a cherry vodka shot at the end too. So yummy!

The Black Duck is so good that we ate there twice during our stay. Both visits we had to wait to get a table so i would suggest making a reservation. Service was good as our server was always close by and we did not have an empty glass during our stay. As for our food, the stuffed cabbage was the reason we came back a second time. My wife had to have it again. The pork cutlet was very good. As for the duck, it was a little dry. They bring a shot of cherry vodka at the end of your meal. I would return.

Very authentic Polish restaurant, a bit difficult to choose what to get, but fortunately we had a native in our table that ordered for everybody, everything was super flavorful, food took a little while to come out just because the restaurant was at capacity.

Great traditional polish food and done well! One of the few restaurants in old city that is priced well with amazing food and quality a native would enjoy for it's authenticity. The food was fresh and seasoned to perfection with the smell of duck luring you inside. The service was great and the outdoor garden got seating is very cute. This is a restaurant worth trying!

Make sure you have a reservation!!! Food was good. On the expensive side for this type of food. Very fun and a nice date night.

I was in Poland for about 3.5 weeks and tried new restaurants everyday, but this is the one that ended up being my favorite and it was so good that I had to come back for a second meal. The restaurant is nestled in a somehow very quiet block on the edge of the very loud and busy old town neighborhood. It's attached to the hotel, for which it shares a bathroom actually. This place is open only for a late lunch (1 pm and later) or dinner. I made it here for both a late lunch and a dinner across my 2 visits, although they both feature the exact same menu. Both times it was incredibly packed with only 1 open table, but I was lucky enough to be seated immediately. I think it makes sense to make a reservation for this place if you know that you're going to be going. The service is very friendly and attentive, and the place definitely attracts it's fair share of tourists and locals alike. They start you off with a nice round of bread with duck pate. It was so savory and a perfect intro to how good the food will be. Across my two times, I ordered the raspberry lemonade, żurek, pierogi sampler, potato pancakes, and pierogies ruskie. The raspberry lemonade and the żurek are must gets. I think the raspberry lemonade is the best lemonade I've ever had anywhere, filled with fresh citrus, raspberry, and mint, it is just so refreshing even in the cold Polish Spring. As for the żurek, it is served the traditional way in a bread bowl and it is so hearty and perfect for those cold afternoons. The potato pancakes were honestly a miss, and I wouldn't recommend these. However, the pierogies more than make up for it. The first time, I tried all of the flavors, but my favorite was by far the ruskie (potato and cheese) so when I went back the second time, that's exactly what I ordered. These were the best pierogies I had during my trip to Poland. And then to top it all off, they bring you complimentary shots of their house plum vodka and it is so sweet and tasty. Great way to end a meal!

The food was amazing. Definitely worth going. For inside a reservation is needed. For the outdoor patio which is lovely we were able to be seated without a reservation. The weather was perfect for the patio. Would be a great place to take a date. I had the golabki and pierogi ruskie. The mushroom sauce on the golabki was incredible and tasted so good with the pierogi's. My only regret was having no room for dessert. Their dessert list looked amazing. My friend had the goulash with fried potato pancakes and enjoyed them along with the fried cheese appetizer. Service was great. Would definitely go back to try more.

My husband and I walked here from our rental apartment for brunch. It was great to take a quick stroll through the park to get here. We were quickly greeted and told to sit wherever we pleased. The waitress was very patient with us as we read through the entire menu. I chose to get the połówka kaczki pieczonej po Krakowsku (Krakowian duck with mushroom sauce) and my husband got the żurek staropolski in the bread bowl. The żurek was very fancy, way fancier than any żurek I've ever had. The duck was outstanding, it was perfectly cooked and the mushroom sauce was delicious. My friends are coming to Kraków in a couple weeks and I will highly recommend they stop here.

What a wonderful restaurant in Krakow. So many traditional Polish selections. Super service. Super cuisine.

So far, my best meal in Krakow. The name of the restaurant translates to the blacktop, duck being their specialty. I had a duck entrée with red currant sauce, which was out of this world. I could have drunk the sauce alone, but added with the duck, it was divine. There's also a very nice outdoor patio on warm days. Very good service, excellent food, very nice establishment in a pretty neighborhood not far from market square. Reasonable price for the quality and quantity of the food.

Huge fan of this restaurant! Despite the name Black Duck in English, they have a wide variety of offerings. Their duck dishes are stellar! I've tried the duck pâté, the duck confit and the half duck Kraków style - all incredible. I have also had fish and their żurek is amazing! One of the things that sets them apart is the service- FIRST CLASS! Yes, it's a touch touristy, but don't let that scare you. Plenty of locals dine there too because they really run a great operation.

Had good food and beer. Ambience is pleasant, waitress was nice and friendly. Toilets are clean

Where do I begin? Great service. I had the Hefeweizen and my wife had the white house wine. Both fine. They served a complimentary duck pâté that was delicious. I ordered a flight of vodka (for men, not the women's flight--silly, but that's how it goes) and I highly recommend trying it. Smooth and delicious. Borscht soup that we shared. I had the crispy potato pancakes and goulash and my wife had the chicken with chanterelle sauce. Every aspect of this meal was delicious and the total, including the modest tip they suggest, was $62. Treat yourself!

Came here wanting to eat some traditional Polish food. This place did not disappoint! Great Polish soup selection (I got the Rye in bread bowl) that was hot and filling. Very perfect and balanced taste. For my dinner I got the mixed Pierogi plate. The mixed plate has 4 different types. I can't remember all of them right off the top of my head but I know one has meat, another is spinach, one is mushroom and I think the last one is the Russian one with potato and cheese. I can't and won't eat duck. I just can't. They are too cute and I like ducks. I know it's probably dumb for most people to read this but I'm just not a duck guy so I stuck with the soup and Pierogi plate. Both were super delicious!

My friend and I were searching for traditional Polish food located close to the Square. Czarna Kaczka was perfect. We enjoyed a perogie sampler (12 pieces with four different flavors) as an appetizer followed by the most delicious beer-braised pork knuckle and potatoes. This made me miss grandma's cooking like no other. Perfectly seasoned and served piping hot. Huge portions, delicious beer and out the door for roughly $45US for all this food! We arrived around 2:00pm and were asked about reservations. Having none we were still seated promptly. The other guests seemed to have ordered whole roasted duck ahead of time (maybe the reason for asking about reservations?). Might have to try that dish next time since six tables around us were eating this dish.

Excellent service. Attentive and polite. The food is divine. Fancy without pretention

I really enjoyed my late lunch at Czarna Kaczka. I received a very warm welcome as a solo diner and was quickly seated. I had hot wine, goat cheese salad (that was amazing), and fantastic potato pancakes. As a vegetarian, there were many options for me to try! The meal was finished off by complimentary plum wine. Overall, very nice meal, service, and ambiance.

It must be the best food in town. We really enjoyed our food and Arthur was a great host , his recommendations were spot on.

You should definitely try and come here for a Polish dinner one night. Reservations are helpful, especially on the weekends. Plenty of different Polish cuisine options; different duck options (the restaurant is called The Black Duck), pierogis, and traditional beef dishes. We had the spicy duck pierogis which were so great, a little crispy and not very spicy though the sauce was. Pan seared Russian pierogis were one of my favorites because of their crisp; was starting to tire a little of the chewier dumplings. Strawberry perogis were a nice dessert option that I would recommend- something a little different! The beef goulash was so delicious and fun to eat because of how it was served. If you have a less adventurous eater I think I remember there being some easier dishes they could order- the beef goulash was essentially crispy latkes and a beef stew which to me is a manageable, not totally exotic meal. I found the service very nice and accommodating throughout my whole experience here. The prices here were also reasonable given how nice of an experience you have and the food is.

Most authentic polish food in the area - highly recommend to anyone visiting town. Michael is beyond kind, willing to answer any questions and so hospitable. To leave town without trying this food would be your loss.

Delicious!! Put yourself on their list and make it one of your stops. Even my mom liked it and she doesn't experiment with international food very much.

This is an update/correction to the previous post. I meant to write duck (not "suck") carpaccio. That was written in a hurry and deserves the correction now.

Yelp! was right again! The food and service here are amazing! Tried this place at 6 pm on a Friday night. I learned that hard way that in the evenings in Krakow if you don't have a reservation you are out of luck. Consulted Yelp! and this place came up. It is not easy to find as it is in a quiet alley and not well marked. I was lucky and got the last open table. I ordered Zurek soup in a bread bowl, duck breast, and fried cabbage - all were exceptional! It was the second Zurek soup I had in Krakow and this one much better and the presentation in the bread bowl excellent! Duck breast was beautiful but I had a hard time breaking away from the simple traditional side dish of fried cabbage. Service was very friendly. I offered to hurry to they could have my table to give to those waiting but they said no problem and did not rush me. Free shot of vodka at the end. Only negative to me was as seating was outside, there of course had to be the one rude person smoking. Highly recommend you find this place and give it a try! If coming on a Friday or Saturday night, make reservations.

This rating is about the service, not the food - because I never got to try it. I went on a Thursday night with no reservation, and it was a bit busy, so I wasn't expecting to be able to get a table but I thought I would try. Without even asking me if I had a reservation or what I needed, I was escorted out by the host and told they were full. Like - maybe that's true, but how would you know why I'm even there? I could be meeting people or have a reservation or just be a human being you don't dismiss for no reason. His behavior really didn't sit right, but I thought I was overreacting. So, about an hour and a half later - after 9 pm now - I still haven't eaten so I swing back past as I'm in the area. I can see many empty tables and people reading the menu outside. They are discussing if they want to go in, and one couple decides to do so. They clearly didn't have a reservation, as they are discussing that plainly in front of me. I go in behind them. He greets the couple in front of me, allows them to wait for a table. As soon as my feet hit inside, he sweeps up to me and says, "Back again? I have said we are full. These people have 9:30 tables! Goodbye now!" And sweeps me outside. lol I'm really not sure why he's a discriminatory asshole. Maybe he doesn't like women, or single tables, or single women. Maybe he thought I look poor or ugly (it was raining pretty steadily). I'm going with - he's just a dick and shouldn't be in the service industry. So, fuck him, and fuck this place.

It was my first time trying Polish food. My AirBnB host highly recommenced this place. I was blown away by how delicious everything I had that night. My friend and I went there early around 5pm and we was lucky to get in without a reservation. Half an hour later we saw many ppl got turn away :( For sure this place is popular among the locals. This place is well known for Duck. Our server brought out some bread and duck spread with some pickle on the side for the table. My friend and I shared a deep fried spicy duck dumplings appetizer and duck broth soup with meat dumplings. The spicy duck dumplings was super good. It's a must try dish!! The duck meat inside was very tender with a perfect spiciness. The soup was also delicious and the dumplings inside were cooked nicely so it wasn't mushy at all. Then we had an old style Polish Duck with cranberry sauce. Wow it actually came with the whole duck! Again it was perfectly cooked and the sauce was sweet and tangy...just the way I like! Another dish was a fried potato pancake with beef goulash. The pancake was tasty itself without the sauce. Beef goulash was great. Bell pepper in there add more flavor to it. Very flavorful goulash. My friend and I didn't leave any single drop of that goulash behind lol. Pierogi (dumpling) is one of the most popular Polish dishes so my friend and I decided to get the sweet one as our dessert. It was a fresh strawberry filling...WOW it was so good we almost order another one. As you can see from my picture, the strawberry was so fresh and the dough was again perfectly cooked! I can't really explain how much I love this place. Everything was so good. Our server was very nice and the owner was lovely. I'm looking forward to come back here again soon.

Very nice place, good service and food. The inner patio is lovely, even on hot summer day.

Wow this place was amazing. The food was outstanding, the drinks were superb, and our waiter Daniel was one of the best waiters I've ever been served by. He knew how to guide us towards the best dishes and wine pairings and did everything and more to make us feel comfortable. He even provided us complimentary duck Tatar appetizer and complimentary after dinner cherry liquor shots. I am definitely recommending everyone I know to go here and ask for Daniel.

This place is a amazing place to eat. The service is amazing and they are very approachable. It feels like a very safe place for travellers. The food is so amazing I had the goulash and I do believe it is one of the best things I have ever had. You have to try here.

This restaurant was a highlight on a recent trip to Poland. I came here with some picky eaters and everyone was able to find something to eat and LOVED the food. Of course I had to try one of the duck entrees and was not disappointed. Surprisingly my favorite dish was a side of mashed potatoes with onions, seriously amazing! This place is the best value too! Four people ordered entrees, sides, drinks and shared desserts for ~$80 USD. I highly recommend making a reservation. I emailed the restaurant a few weeks before my trip and had no problems. In Krakow, once a restaurant is booked for the evening there is no waiting for a table, only sorry come back another night.

Ein wirklich gutes modernes Restaurant. Der Entenburger war wirklich sehr gut und die Gerichte vom Rest von uns sahen auch sehr gut aus. Die Bedienung war schnell, freundlich. Preis hat auch gepasst

I have to say that I cannot overwhelmingly recommend this restaurant. Yes, staff was friendly and helpful, but the food was just so-so. I'd have to say that out of my entire meal, the thing I liked best was...the salad dressing, which, is an odd thing to stand out, but I guess that's my point... This place is just not that memorable, food-wise. Between us, we tried the trout, duck (the restaurant's namesake), a salad, and the chicken dish. All just mediocre (though I was able to ensure my chicken dish was gluten-free). Apparently the duck is better than what you usually get in the States, but it was not the best we've had in Poland. I'm not sure where all the high ratings come from for this place, but in my opinion, you're better off skipping it and finding something of better quality, or even similar quality but on the main square. Good luck.

My sister found this place while my family was visiting Krakow. It is tiny and seems to be very popular - we originally tried getting a table at 7 but they were booked for the night so we made a reservation for the next day. The food was very hot, pierogis were delicious, and the service was excellent. They even gave us all a free shot after we were finished! Definitely recommend coming here!

Highly recommend if you like duck this is the place to go!!!! I would make reservations had to get in close to old town square

The service was amazing and friendly. We should have made reservations, the restaurant was very busy, but the owner was able to get us a table! Thank goodness because the food was delicious.

Our entire meal was delicious. The four of us had a different item from the dinner menu and every single dish was yummy. Fresh Polish food with very welcoming service. I would gladly come back here, and we will the next time we visit Krakow.

Hard to believe when you see five stars that a restaurant can live up to that reputation, but this one definitely does. Everything we ate was delicious. We shared three different dumplings between four people. This was the best and we got to try the pan fried, deep fried and steamed. I ate the sour rye soup and then finished with the half duck old polish style. You will not be able to eat all this food, but the flavors are amazing. This restaurant is a must if you are coming to Krakow.

So happy I found this "off the Beaton path" polish restaurant right near the square! Friendliest staff and amazing food! Delicious, flavorful, and a must if you visit krakow!

Absolutely delicious food and excellent service. The restaurant isn't large but we came in without a reservation and were accommodated immediately. We tried the spicy duck dumplings - we weren't expecting fried dumplings but they were still very good. They give you a small app of pickles and duck pate which was a nice touch. For entrees my husband had the Cracovian duck and carrots/horseradish, and I had the goulash- both were excellent. We split a vodka flight too - I had no idea vodka could taste so different! They finish your meal with a complimentary plum vodka shot, another very nice touch. All for a price better than most chain restaurants in the US! Highly recommend.

08/2014 Had Dinner, Breakfast and Lunch at various times. Authentic food of the region. Service, Atmosphere and service was spot on! We stayed and the Hotel that is connected to this fine establishment...definitely staying here when in Kraków again. Smacznego & Cheers!

Very good food! I had the beef pirogies, which was the first time I had them in Poland! They were very meaty and the soup was wonderful. Also, the Cherry vodka they gave us at the end was delicious. We decided to sit outside and it was wonderful!

Excellent choice. Came to the town square on a whim as found this jewel. It was an hour wait but well worth it. Spicy fried duck dumplings were on point!

I came here for dinner and was lucky to get a table. The place was fully booked and during my meal at least four groups got turned away for service. I guess it's a testament to the reputation of this restaurant. The menu is duck focused with some other specialties. I got the duck Krakow style. It was well cooked, savory, presentation left something to be desired. Overall great service and very comforting atmosphere. Would recommend for date night or quiet evening dinner.

On the pricier side, but the food makes you smile and the service is better than average. Try the dunk with cherry sauce, stay away from the Black Duck shots. Minus for the gendered drinks menu (apparently men and women enjoy different types of beverages based on their sex, who knew).

Stumbled in by chance and to be short : just fantastic. Had a zurek and a bigos and they were made how they meant to be; right taste and presentation. Both in a bread as they should be. Service was good and a little glass of red liquour was offered by the house when asking for the bill. As knowing something about the taste of these dishes; have some polish friends who made me taste their food, I just can recommend this place. They have also a kind of garden in the back where you can eat.