Daquise

Found Daquise on a whim and honestly—it was spectacular. I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Everything from the warm, attentive service to the food itself was top-notch. It was actually the first Polish restaurant we've ever been to, and it totally exceeded expectations. I had the fried cod with spinach and horseradish sauce, which was perfectly crispy and full of flavor. My husband got the tender beef special with potatoes and beetroots. For dessert, we tried the cheesecake and apple cake, and wow—freshly made and absolutely delicious. The whole place had a cozy, old-world charm that reminded me of being somewhere in Western Europe, like Germany or Amsterdam. Such a gem!

Loved it here! Had the salmon main and a bunch of delicious starters to share- beetroot, vegetable salad, roast potatoes, and of course dumplings. Had some cheesecake and vodka for dessert. It’s so lovely inside and the service was helpful and attentive.

Fantastic meal! The staff was very attentive and friendly. The food was simply amazing - Delicious and fresh. We really enjoyed everything. We are coming back for the sour rice soup

Popped in here for a quick bite to eat before heading to The Albert Hall. I will definitely be coming back to try more food and spend longer here. The food was great and the staff were lovely. Can't wait to go back

This wasn’t my first visit to this restaurant, and once again, it exceeded my expectations. The food is consistently delicious, offering that comforting, homemade taste that’s hard to find elsewhere. The service was excellent, and my friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We’ll definitely be coming back! The restaurant has a warm, cosy atmosphere that makes you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. It’s truly a hidden gem for anyone craving authentic Polish cuisine and a unique dining experience.

Simply delicious food served in a unique atmosphere that feels both lively and homey. The service was great from start to finish—attentive, accommodating of extra requests, and genuinely kind. The food was fantastic too, with bold, authentic flavours that truly shone in dishes like the borscht and the cheese-filled pancakes. The cozy, welcoming ambiance makes it feel as though you’re dining in the home of a talented Polish cook. A true gem amidst the many touristy, mediocre spots in South Kensington.

A hidden gem. Every mouthful the taste of true Polish food. Traditional dishes executed extremely well. Not too expensive, as in although approx £45 per person than included a bottle of wine and several drinks.

A Polish friend suggested this restaurant and we didn’t regret. Great dinner overall. The dumplings as starters are a must, loved them, especially the one with meat and the other with mushrooms. Also the rabbit as main was good. The pork was a bit too small compared to the rabbit portion. Overall happy with the food and service. The waitress kindly offered four shots of cherry vodka.

I loved everything on the menu but found the execution competent but did not live up to expectations. Everything looked so good I started with two types of pierogi and borscht soup. The pierogi were good and I really liked the sautéed onions. I found the borscht a little too sweet, maybe I'm more used to the Russian variant. I was also a little underwhelmed with the schnitzel, while okay it didn't blow my socks off. Everything was good, I might go again, but could have been a little better.

Perhaps I visited on an "off" day, but my experience was less than I'd hoped for after a strong personal recommendation. There was no clear protocol in place for arriving guests to secure a table; a young man said they simply could not accommodate me at all -- that is, until I asked if there was a waitlist I could join -- to which he replied affirmatively, and that there was just one person before me (?). After I returned a half-hour later at his behest, the server who flagged me to a table never consulted the waiting list, which made me wonder how coordinated their seating efforts were. The tables were situated extremely close together and there was no consistency in terms of who provided service to the table; I had to flag someone down more than once -- including for water and a dish which was supposed to have been served with mine -- when it didn't seem to be a terribly busy afternoon. On a plus side, my stew was quite tasty as were the pierogi. i just wish the service that surrounded them (and the wait time for the food to actually arrive) had been better.

Honestly I didn't expect my last meal in London to be at a Polish restaurant, but by some random fate our Uber driver earlier in the day was Polish and recommended Daquise. I am very happy we ended up coming here because it was delicious! We ordered 2 types of Pierogi, the first being the onion, cheese, and potato and the second being the cabbage. The chef puts it on your plate for you. For my main I ordered the pork loin with red beets. It didn't really seem like a Polish dish, but it was very good. I had it with a Polish beer. Service was also good and overall seemed like a Polish a fine dining establishment. Apparently there is a bit of history to Daquise too and has been open since 1947. I enjoyed my visit and would definitely recommend!

Don't for one minute think that Polish food is dull or bland - pick wisely from the menu at Daquise ( and that includes some vodka), and you will feel like it's your birthday. Biala kielbasa with horseradish sauce is fab; the duck with baked apple is, quite simply, sublime. A fantastic place to people watch ; all sorts of exotica will pass through while you're hear. The waiters are in uniform, the table cloths are starched, but the atmosphere is warm and buzzy. Show Daquise some love, and it will surely be returned.

Great Polish food and service was excellent. I would highly recommend and recommend the borscht just like my grandmother made.

Can't believe it was so good, but it was. Whilst the menu offers up veal meatballs will dill cream sauce; poached salmon and potatoes, and many other eastern European dishes I am unfamiliar with I opted to not venture that far. I sprung for the deep fried veal. It came with a farm fresh egg on it and a carrot salad. There were no greens to be found other than spices, but so be it. This place has hosted spies for decades and everyone knows spies don't waste their time on salads. Make reservations. Tucked away in South Kensington. No patio.

I have been to my fair share for snobby pretentious places in London with a ridiculous price tag that makes you think the food is laced with ambrosia when really, it's not even worth a fraction of what it costs. This is not one of those places. The atmosphere is a bit understated but classy in its simplicity. Depending on the time you get here, it may or may not be packed. My friend and I arrived at around 6:30 and it was almost completely empty. By 7:30 it was completely full. The menu appears a bit too simple at first glance- nothing special- and the prices might seem way too high for the kind of fare that you're eating. But trust me when I say that it is all freaking amazing! You have to start with a glass of wine. They have superb quality that whets the appetite and prepares you for the meal to come. Every ingredient is made to compliment the main dishes perfectly. The Venison Medallions, for example, come drenched in a bed of cranberry sauce which makes the meat slightly sweet and deliciously tender. It comes with a serving of dumplings which are essentially gnocchi, with a chewy consistency and a hearty finish. For dessert, you absolutely HAVE to get the Pancakes with Cheese and Raspberry Compote. It's essentially a crepe, but it is unlike any crepe you've ever had. Slightly sweet, crispy, soft, chewy, and light. It's the perfect finish to a scrumptious meal. Yes, it's a bit pricey. But for just over 30 pounds, you can dine like a CEO on a slightly special day. Totally worth it.

We didn't plan to dine here as the place we were going to closed early. Fortunately for us, we found Daquise and they were able to squeeze us in on a busy Saturday night. Had a starter of the polish styled eggs. I didn't like them as they didn't really have a taste to them. My mains was the calf's liver which was really good. Dessert was the strawberry dumplings. My partner had the chicken soup for starters which was really good. His mains was the veal schnitzel which is one of the best that I have tasted! Service was great and the ambience was aunthentic.

My husband and I had an absolutely incredible meal at Daquise in South Kensington. We walked in without a reservation and were very happy to be accommodated with what looked to be the only available table that wasn't already reserved. So I'd suggest calling ahead to secure a table. We started with a bottle of wine and the kielbasa and pierogies. At our server's suggestion, we were able to do a mix of all three pierogi varieties. The kielbasa was served over crispy fried onions with spicy mustard. Both starters were excellent and I'd be hard pressed not to order them again on a future visit. For my main, I had the beef stroganoff while my husband had the veal schnitzel, which was so tender you could cut it with a fork. It was fantastic and served with mounds of whipped potatoes and topped with a fried egg. My stroganoff was served with homemade egg noodles and was delicious in its own right, though the schnitzel definitely won out. There was no room for dessert but I have no regrets. That meal was one of my favorites of the year so far.

If you seek authentic, lovingly prepared Polish food, at prices that won't break the bank, then look no further--you have found it at Daquise. We were introduced to it several years ago and on each trip to London we return to it like swallows returning to Capistrano. The wild boar goulash is one of my partner's favorites, while I've wandered through most of the entrees with delight but usually return to the veal escalope with potato dumplings...light as air yet filling. If you can, save room for their fruit filled dessert dumplings which vary by season, or get one of their delicious pastries.

This place is excellent, right in south kensington, a stones throw from the tube station, you have to walk past it on the way back from The Natural History Museum or the V&A if you're choosing to use the underground, and that's why we ended up there. We hadn't reserved anything, but I would recommend to, we were there pretty early, and it really filled out as we were there. Dimly lit, and an odd mix of a little posh, and a little run down. The dumplings are excellent, as are the pierogies. For mains, Stroganoff and the venison. Excellent, and served from pots and pans on to your plate, with fab veggies and excellent smooth fluffy mash. A really cosy homely touch, and from excellent friendly staff. We were a little miffed when they didn't have either of the puddings that took our fancy when we'd decided to go all out, but what they suggested instead were excellent. I would definitely go back, and definitely recommend.

There is certainly no shortage of food available to people in Kensington and Daquise is proof that no matter what type of food you are in the mood for, you will be able to find it. We were growing tired of the typical fare available in Kensington and I'd been to Daquise before and thought, why not give it a try again... I'm very glad we did. Polish cuisine is not foreign to me (call it my Jewish, Eastern European roots), but food cooked by Poles living in Britain is certainly unique. The restaurant is large and airy, light pours in the windows (even when the sun is struggling to find its way out from the clouds) and the people in the restaurant are from all walks of life. Whether you go to Daquise for business or pleasure, there is nothing about the menu too complicated that you would need help from the staff (and nothing so simple that you would think you were at an American-style chain restaurant), but the menu is easy and the wait staff and cooks (who deliver your food right out of the pans in which your food was cooked near your table) are unwilling or unable to explain. We've dined at every type of establishment: from devilishly simple Starbucks and Pret A Manger for a quick bite to the most formal affair that requires jacket and tie, we've done it. That said, Daquise was wonderful and truly captured Eastern European, Polish fare with the type of service you'd expect in a fine restaurant in Warsaw. The best thing at Daquise is that the fine fare does not come with a requirement for anything more than being casually dressed and expectant of wonderful food. We started with pierogi stuffed with cabbage and others with cheese, brought hot to the table from a woman in the kitchen whose Polish was so crisp that one could tell that she and her associates had experience with this food. The dumplings were followed by our lunch course that was made up of a lovely schnitzel with fried egg (something I'd missed since my last visit to Hungary), lovely sides of everything from mashed potatoes and dill with roasted vegetables, and a lovely beef simmered in bouillon with horseradish and a large bowl of broth left at the table to keep these morsels of loveliness moist. Our meal ended with apple fritters with jelly that one could tell came right out of the iron and came from a kitchen turning out food as orders came in. We left delighted by this little restaurant and are looking forward to the return. People came in and out as we ate and many simple had an appetizer as a snack to continue on with their shopping and walking in South Kensington. We were on a mission that day that would take us from the tube stope in S. Kensington to do a bit of shopping, but the sun was out and we really wanted the walk so we ate, walked on to shop at Harvey Nichols (we pass on ever entering Harrods and intentionally walk on back streets to miss the crowds), but we had the energy to do it because the good people at Daquise fed us well and we cleaned our plates on good, hearty food that one struggles to find in a place like Kensington where (let's face it) portions are typically small and restaurants typically filled with people whose style of service is Western and many think they're simply too good for the posts they currently hold. Daquise is worth the stop.

The restaurant had a nice feel to it as soon as I walked in. It looks homely and comfortable. I noticed that the waiters were bringing out saucepans of food, which they dished out to the plates. You don't often see this service in restaurants. It's great - you almost have the feeling that you are at a dinner party and the host is serving you your dinner. We actually chose to come here to try Polish food, which is a new experience for us. The meals were great. I got the borscht with mini dumplings and my fiancée had the dumplings. The borscht had a refreshing beetroot flavour. For our mains, my fiancée got the roasted goose stuffed with buckwheat and I chose the veal escallops sautéed with tomato, garlic, white wine and cream. I enjoyed my meal and luckily had room to try some of the goose too. The waiter helpfully explained each of the desserts on offer. They had a selection of cakes and I asked for a slide of the chocolate tart. It came filled with layers of jam and a crisp icing, it was morish. I could have eaten another slice even though it would have put me beyond full. My fiancée got the strawberry dumplings, which had an interesting taste: sweet from the strawberries, but a subtle savory aftertaste. After we paid the bill, we could choose a shot of liquor, which was a welcome surprise. I chose one based on hops and honey. It went down well and it was a good way to round off the meal. It was a great dinner out. I would recommend it as something good to try and we are keen to try more Polish food now.

Thank you, yelp, for directing me to this lovely place! I'd just left the V&A, busted out the yelp app, and what do you know? Gessler at Daquise pops up with excellent reviews. And let me tell you, each good review is totally well-deserved! Walked in at about 7:50ish pm on Friday night. I was sat immediately, but I noticed towards 9:00, the restaurant was really booming, so if you want a later dinner, I'd definitely recommend calling ahead. My knowledge of Polish food up to this point extended to sausage and not much else, so I didn't know quite what to expect. I ordered faaaar too much food for one person! For starter, I ordered the pierogis, and tried a mix of the meat and the cheese/potato/onion. Imagine my surprise when the chef brought them over to serve tableside! (I'd only looked at the star-ratings, so missed the others who mentioned the tableside service) The pierogis were delicious and covered in a buttery sauce with bacon. For the main, I ordered the roast duck, stuffed with apples, and served with cranberries, mash, and cabbage. Everything was perfection. Duck, again, cut tableside. So tender and well-cooked with just a bit of crispy skin... I was tediously picking every bit of deliciousness clean of the bone, it was so good! Such a good find! I intend to visit several times.

We came here for dinner after a visit to the v&a. First and foremost, you need to reserve a table in advance. We booked a table for 21.00 and it wasn't really busy which meant it wasn't very loud. When you walk in you feel like you have been invited into someone's home. Food: we ordered meat and cheese dumplings. They were sooo good. It's a must. All 3 if us ordered different mains so we can try various plates. I hate the Snitzel with the egg which also came with carrots and it was really filling and yummy. I also tried a bit from the beef stroganoff and the pork honey & mustard. It was all very good. I think o preferred the honey &mustard dish. We were so full we had no room for dessert. Service: the service was good. They bring your food in pots and pans from the kitchen and serve you on the spot. The mash potatoes were not only made for me but others as well and the way they serve makes you feel like the meals are home-cooked. The waiter was a slow in general but really friendly I definitely recommend this place!

Stopped here for a bit of a date night, and was very impressed. The place is high end without being stuffy; it was excellent for an intimate date, but would be just as good for a more rowdy group of friends! Food is excellent. They plate the food at your table, which is a really cool touch, so you get to see the chefs and see how they create the dishes you are eating. Dumplings (pierogies) were amazing. Softly stuffed, flavorful filling - we tried the cabbage, cheese and beef, all very different, all very excellent - perfect starter. It seems as though the food is actually made from scratch as well, the potato and egg noodles were excellent - pillowy soft, and just tender enough to make it seem fresh. Very well done. Service is good, though not overly friendly. They leave you to it, but are always around as you need them. Value was decent, really great food and atmosphere at a slightly higher price point. Was worth the trip to go there, would definitely do again.

Daquise in Kensington after a day trip to the V&A museum is something I would heavily recommend. The museum is my favourite in London and Daquise has so much history (spy hangout, Roman Polanski's favourite place etc etc) and the Polish food here is the best I have tried in town, each course paired with some phenomenal vodkas. Excellent range of Vodkas (my favourites were the hazelnut & the eggnog) Lovely heartwarming food. The way it was served, by the Chef at our table (the pierrogi & the Roast Duck) was like dinner theater and a meal served by a loving mum / aunt - all rolled into one. Simple Interiors. The shabby interior just adds to its charm. Wonderful Service. Love this place, will keep going back.

One of my friends booked this restaurant and I didn't know what to expect since I had never had polish food. It was such a wonderful surprise from the way they present the food ( in pots and pans served at the table) to the food itself. All was beautiful!! I planning a second visit in the coming weeks for the dumplings and the rabbit!

I stay in Kensington for business once or twice a year. I am very much a creature of habit and rarely venture outside a three block radius from the hotel for dinner. This evening was a beautiful evening for a little walk, so I used Yelp and coin this restaurant. I am so glad I did! I started with potato pierogi sautéed with caramelized onion and parsley! Amazing! The serving size of 6 is meant to be shared, but I am so glad I didn't have to! My main course was a special pork loin in mushroom cream sauce with gnocchi. I love mushrooms and this did not disappoint! It also came with a side of beets. I did not grow up in a beet family and I am used to pickled beets being sour. So I was very unsure. I tried them and to my surprise they were warm, with a mulled spiced wine flavor, and slightly crisp! Amazing! I had a small glass of the house red, a Spanish Rioja, which was also very good, and cheap! They had a large wine and cocktail list, and a few polish beers to chose from? While I didn't have dessert, I saw several people get dessert and it looked amazing! I didn't have a reservation and they were quite busy, but they were so kind and squeezed me in between to couples that were so engrossed with each other they didn't notice me there! But if you have more than 2 I recommend reservations. The place is small, shotgun style restaurant. The kitchen is in the basement and they have a dumb waiter cabinet with the old pulley system on top! It has the look of an upscale restaurant, with the atmosphere of a casual family dinner restaurant, and he prices were very reasonable for the quantity and quality of the meal! I will be dining here again!

Very pleasant "ethnic" Polish restaurant. Good quality fare with impeccable but friendly service. Definitely needs a try, you will want to go again once a year even if you live far like I do. Congratulations Guys...

Daquise is a quiet restaurant in busy South Ken. High ceilings yet relaxed and laid-back. Starters were tomato soup and traditional zurek. The latter was good but not sour enough and the former was nothing like Polish soup in Poland. Not recommended. Then we had potato pancakes with cured salmon, calves liver with apple and onions, boar pate and ruskie pierogi. Only the pate was not right....weird flavour but maybe just not to my taste. Calves liver was particularly excellent and the pierogi was my favourite of this variety in London so far. Potato pancakes were excellent too. Main courses were veal medallions, pork chop schnitzel and poached salmon. I wish the pork hadn't been flattened and kept thick and therefore juicier but it was still good. Mash good, cucumber salad needed more flavour. Apple fritters were enjoyed, home-made too!! The most exciting and lovely thing about this restaurant is that they bring pots with the food to the restaurant floor and serve you straight from the cooking pots!! Mash from one pot, veg from another, meat from a little frying pan.....so cool!! And they do this for every guest, however busy they are. I asked. Very commendable. Overall, a good experience, good service, can imagine the vibe of this restaurant is great when it's busy. It was good and it was quiet!!

A pleasant little find! There were three of us & luckily got there just before the dinner rush on a Thursday night, otherwise I assume we would have needed reservations as it was pretty busy when we left. Cool ambiance, great food! The table side food prep was fun! Only two things prevented me from giving 5 stars; the young man who served us was a little rude & impatient and the house phone ring was strangely loud. Two of us had the pork tenderloin & one had the cod special. All very good!!!!

Wanting a restaurant near the Royal Albert Hall we found this one off Yelp and with great reviews. Polish food is not one of those foods a lot of people are usually in the mood for, maybe because they don't know what it consists of? However we decided to try it, OMG we were not at all disappointed, upon walking in the restaurant is quaint, neat and orderly and the ambiance is awesome. The service was above par so if that was any indication of things to come then we were in for a good one. We ordered the cabbage rolls, beef stroganoff, veal with cream sauce and the pork tenderloins in honey must and sauce (pictures will be posted). To say it was amazing is an understatement but seriously it was. As sides we got the carrots and the red and green cabbage. The chef brings your dishes from the basement (where the kitchen is located) and then him and his staff prepare the dishes near your table, it's super cool and unique. We loved the entire experience and made sure to let our waitress know to give our complements to the chef. If you are in the area, be sure to try this place

Alan and I first ate here 10 years ago and liked it. Characteristically, I forgot and he remembered. Even when he reminded me, it wasn't until he mentioned its proximity to the South Kensington Underground station that I remembered. We walked over from the hotel w/o reservations, arriving about 6:30, and were lucky to be given a table. Usually people in London eat later than that, but there was a concert in the area and at least three tables were heading to the concert. We were given menus and the cold beetroot soup and the duck stuffed w/ apples on the specials menu appealed to me. Alan ordered an assortment of dumplings to start and the pork tenderloin as his main. Bread was offered gratis and it was delicious, dense and crusty. Butter accompanied it. My soup was brought to the table in a tureen by the chef and was ladled into the waiting bowl. It was a pale pink, probably from sour cream, and full of grated beets. It was a generous portion and it was sublime. I shared some w/ Alan, but finished the rest. Alan gave me a taste of one of his dumplings and it was very good. Our mains arrived, Alan's pork accompanied by gnocchi-like pillows and a grated carrot salad. My duck was accompanied by lovely mashed potatoes and red cabbage. The duck was tasty, w/ crunchy skin and moist meat which contrasted well w/ the soft apples. The cabbage was warm and nicely seasoned. Alan found his pork a bit dry. He liked my mashed potatoes and I loved the taste of his carrot salad, which was intensely fresh and sweet. We chatted a little w/ the concert goers to our right and the two tables beyond them, also headed for the concert, chatted w/ each other and the people next to us. It was the most cross-table talk I can remember seeing in a restaurant. Most patrons seemed to be regulars. The couple next to us certainly were. One woman at a table by the front window, as she left, promised to return sooner than 35 years. It was a very pleasant dinner.

Such a charming Polish cafe. For beginners, try the Polish platter which comes with sample of the common Polish dishes. Pierogi, golabki, bitkos and pancakes. I like the kielbasa and barszcz (beetroot soup) A truly authentic Polish spread. Must try the Polish beer & vodka. Don't let the Soviet decor scare you, the owners are very welcoming. This place used to be a meeting point for Polish exiles back in the 1930s. Simple deco but food is przym!

I come here all the time. This little restaurant has a lot of history. Though the decor isn't anything hugely exciting, this adds to the experience - you're here for the food. And there's something about the large mirrors and raw walls that evoke the 1930s but in a wounded way; perfect for this cuisine; and the high ceilings are beautiful. I love the location, tucked away, the last building before the underground rolls past (you can watch the trains from the window in the back bit if you're into that haha). It's all about the steak tartare for me. Prepared in front of you, it's simply a must. Love most things on the menu though... The duck is my standard delicious choice for a main but the breaded veal is excellent too. If you want something special ask for jajka faszerowane. The vodka must be tried as well. This is something not fully appreciated in the UK; a shot usually served at room temp and usually some kind of abomination like Smirnoff. At Daquise ask the waiter for a recommendation and they will serve you a variety of proper vodkas, ice cold and in frosted shot glasses as they should be. The honey vodka is my personal favourite but take the opportunity to be a bit adventurous ;)

Fantastic cabbage rolls and pierogies served in cast-iron skillets directly to your plate. One of the best meals we had in London and conveniently located near the also fantastic Natural History Museum. The only thing preventing this from being a five-star review are the numerous fruit flies and somewhat dirty-looking dumbwaiter the food is hauled up on which looks like it could use either a paintjob or a thorough scrubbing. The rest of the place is very posh.

Such a simple place with excellent food. We had the cold beet soup, which I wish I could make at home here in Los Angeles. The potato salad and kielbasa made the perfect lunch. My partner had the stewed chicken and salad. I'm still dreaming about the rye bread and can't wait to go back for schnitzel! Lovely location near V & A and South Ken tube.

Have you ever read someone's dining experience and it just gets you so excited that you have to head there like almost immediately? This was what happened when I read this on The London Foodie blog. When I was in Poland, we had a nice little lady who cooked lunch for us everyday and it was simple and delicious home cooked food. In fact, I loved her home cooked food slightly more than the restaurants that I went to. So you bet I have fond memories of Polish food. So I was really excited to read about a Polish restaurant and I zipped down there at the earliest opportunity. So it was a group of us who settled in for dinner. First course Pierozki £9.5 A few of us ordered the Pierozki with some choosing meat and some going with cheese. There isn't one that is better than the other; I think it is more a case of which filling appeals to you more. I preferred the cheese version more but it was a mixed vote on the choice of fillings. The dumplings did not have a thick or doughy skin which allowed the flavours of the fillings to shine through. Clean and tasty. Barszcz £6 S ordered the Barszcz and this was well received. Mildly sweet and hearty. Second course Kura w rosole - £13 Kaczka pieczona £19 The Kura w rosole is tender cuts of chicken on the bone, served in a slow cooked broth. Dished with home made noodles, lemon sauce and broth vegetables. The Kaczka Pieczona is a roast duck that has been stuffed with apples and served with boiled potatoes, cranberries and red cabbage stewed in red wine with fried fruits It's quite a refreshing change when you get a bunch of waiters coming out to slice, plate and serve you in front of your eyes. I love the theatrical part of it. Like this order of beef tartare and it was made right in front of you. It really adds an element of understated charm. Eating here brought back fond memories of my visit to Poland. This is not fine dining but serves unpretentious honest food.

It was a random stop by on our way to another restaurant close by. We had never tried Polish food and thought it would be interesting to give it a shot here. We had some salmon, some dumplings, some soup and a ver interesting dessert made with rum (or vodka?) All the food were decently cooked and plated. The environment is a bit unique and was def a plus to our experience. A good find: )

Went here today for lunch after visiting the Natural History Museum nearby. Was fairly busy at 2pm had to wait about 5 minutes or so to be seated...but it was worth it. It looks dowdy from outside but it is really cool inside. It feels really authentic, nothing fancy but cosy. I ordered Pork Goulash and my other half had veal meatballs with dill sauce. we were both really impressed with our dishes. The goulash was totally different to versions I've made at home out of recipe books...it was served on a bed of barley (or bulgar wheat or something) with a side of beetroot. Both main courses cost around £11. The absolute best thing about this place is that the old polish dude who presumably cooked the dish serves it to you at the table out of the little saucepans etc it was cooked it. Honestly, he brought all the pans over to the table and just ladled it out onto your plate! That's what i do at home! It was very exciting!

Absolutely lovely. While contemplating Cold War history (you'll have to do your own research, they don't advertise it), you'll be served a delicate and flavorful cold beet soup by the chef - wonderfully seasoned with green onion and fresh herbs. The wild boar pierogi were delicate and flavorful, the wild boar goulash was melt in your mouth tender and was also brought to the dining room to be plated by the chef. Dessert simply must be the apple turnovers -warm and crispy, not too sweet. The service was among the best we found in London, attentive and prompt. The decor is old world elegant but not fussy and the old hewn wooden floor has seen some serious history. A true delight.

Awesome Polish restaurant. Excellent service. Very busy dinner crowd. We had the summer beet soup - so good. I had the duck, which was great. My husband had the veal, which was excellent! Portions were huge. Good wine list. Cool decor & ambiance. It was nice and intimate until 9pm-ish when it got insanely busy! Staff were good, though.

+Great Pierrogi +Great Borsh + Very friendly service + Historic and extremely interesting interior In my opinion the best Polish place in London

Went on Saturday night again -- we were initially supposed to be 6, but ended up at 4 sitting at a 6 man table. Table was a bit big, and the chandelier was quite bright so it sort of lost that cosy feel. I had the famous duck which was great, but definitely preferred my beef consomme dish from the previous visit (which was stupendous). Desert crepe things were still excellent, as was the vodka. Love this spot.

This place was good...but didn't blow me away. I'm surprised by the rave reviews, but maybe that's why I feel like it didn't live up to expectations. We wanted a good dinner on our first night in London and ended up here based on a reviews. The restaurant itself nothing to look at...in fact there is one wall with extensive water damage to it. Our table was very wobbly, but the waiter put some folded paper under to stop it from rocking, so that was nice of him. We ordered pierogis as a starter and these were excellent. We were asked which type we wanted and when we hesitated the waiter said we could try two of each kind and so we did. That was really good. I had the "Tender chicken in pot", which was chicken boiled in broth and served with veggies and homemade noodles. My husband ordered veal meatballs in dill sauce. My husband's was definitely the better of the two dishes. I found my meal lacked flavour. The chicken was nicely cooked, but not seasoned especially well. The broth was very standard chicken broth, similar to what I would make at home and the noodles were a nice texture, but lacked flavour. Dave's meal was considerably more flavourful. At the end we waited to ask for the bill, as the waiter talked with a couple for fifteen minutes. We finally had to interrupt their conversation to ask for the bill. I DID like that we coud watch as some meals were prepared fresh near the middle of the restaurant. They seemed to have a sort of hot plate station set up. They didn't make everything there, just plated items. I have no doubt to the freshness of the food, but the overall experience didn't quite cut it for me. I wouldn't be opposed to trying it again, but since I'm not in London very often, I would probably be inclined to give something else a try first.

We came here for lunch after watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. When we arrived, not many tables were occupied, and it was nearly 1 PM. In fact, we thought it was closed because it was dimly lit. Waiters were prompt in taking our order and we got our first course fairly quickly. I had the borsche soup. Then came the LONG wait for our food. I ordered the chicken in a pot soup, my husband ordered the schnitzel, our friends ordered the pig knuckle and beef stroganoff. I think it took us over 40 minutes to get our food. The waiter finally came by and told us there was an "inspection" going on thus caused the delay. I don't know if this is typical practice where the inspector just drops in on restaurants. But I was suspicious because other diners who arrived after us all received their orders. Anyway, the food was delicious! Especially the pig knuckle. The chicken soup was good, but the chicken itself was too dry, so I didn't eat it. Then came another long wait for the check. The hostess was tallying the check by hand and it took at least another 15 minutes before we could get our check and get out of there. Efficiency certainly isn't built into this restaurant, but the food is good. So if you have time to just hang out and not time crunched to go visit the museums, then I would come here again.

I got stuck in a bit of a down pour on a cold london afternoon. I had no idea what sort of restaurant I was ducking into but it looked inviting from the exterior. The host seemed a little annoyed at having to seat a solo diner but I got a nice table that allowed for plenty of people watching. The service was very attentive and they answered all my questions about the menu without any hesitation. The mixed salad was fresh and quite tasty as well as the reasonable priced house wine of which I had a couple glasses. The menu was a bit limited but the entrees were quite varied. The main course I chose was the veal which was spectacular. I especially liked the way that the chef comes out to your table and plates the fresh off the stove food right in front of you. That was a very nice experience and gave me an opportunity to chat with him as he placed my meal in front of me. I don't think I have ever had that happen before. After the meal I was given the choice of several authentic Polish vodkas to choose from as an after dinner drink. The one I chose was bitter sweet, but tasty. In the end the bill was quite high, but I didn't mind because of the enjoyable dining experience.

Once again, Yelp reviews come through for me. Started with the potato pancakes (latkes) with salmon. It was plated right in front of me. Owner (?) came over and gave me some sour cream, but it didn't really need it. It also didn't stop me from eating the sour cream. The pierogies showed me what they are supposed to be, light, filling and delicious. This is a GREAT restaurant that should be on your radar if you are ever around South Kensington. Highly recommend. I don't think it serves a wide variety of liquor, but don't let that stop you from coming here and enjoying this restaurant.

I do not have a single complaint about this restaurant. My mom and I came for lunch on a Saturday. The service was on point, they were very attentive and genuinely wanted us to enjoy the food. We had dumplings for starters and then I had a veal scallops and my mother a small chicken. What can I say. One of the best meals we've had in London. My veal scallops sauce was wonderful I almost wanted another whole bowl. And my mother says this is the best chicken she's had in a restaurant. Absolutely amazing meal and I will definitely be coming back. P.S. We loved the way our food was served! Original and personal.

I've been to Daquise with 20 Italian friends as per usual, but this time it was for my birthday. I put my birthday present next to me under the table in a little bag and in the general mess it was stolen. When I realized it, I told the owner and we were the last ones left in the whole place, they had just finished cleaning and the staff hurried out of the place without saying anything. Unfortunately it is almost certain that it was one of the staff while cleaning as it was under the table and had a necklace inside, there were few customers besides us and there was always someone at the table, except the one time we were outside to say goodbye and leave, and the staff was cleaning. No customer would go around looking underneath the tables anyway, and grabbing a random plastic bag, especially as they are having dinner in south kensington. Besides us there were very few people, especially while we are all there. Unfortunately they don't even have internal cameras, which means anything could happen in that place but they take no responsibility whatsoever. In all this the manager Ted was of a unique arrogance. He denied everything by refusing to cooperate and laughing at me. When I called him to ask if he had any news, he started screaming at me to overlap my voice, saying he did not care and hung up halfway through the phone call and told me not to come any more as this doesn't change anything for him. Saying that they have no cameras and that the woman we suspect of is working there with her mother and sister, so if anything making it all even less credible on their part and easy to deny. All this to say it was an absurd and frustrating experience, especially given the emotional value of the gift. completely unreliable staff and the manager, Ted, of an immeasurable arrogance.

When you walk into this restaurant it feels like going back in time in the old Poland, as the decor is really spot on to create the atmosphere. the food is good, really good. The staff is friendly and the service is impeccable. I have been here a couple of times and tried various things off the menu and have always been satisfied. In particular the venison was remarkable. Not on the cheap side, but worth it. They also have some real polish vodka shots!

Although this restaurant was closed a little while back following a fire, the subsequent refurbishment hasn't changed the atmosphere. The decor is old-fashioned in a relaxed, evolved-over-the-years way, comforting and not at all fancy. In fact, that would be a fair description of the food too: it's substantial, tasty and traditional. I love the vegetarian platter, a mixture of cabbage, mushroom and potato-based dishes which is somehow deeply satisfying. You can drop in for tea and pastries, or settle down to work your way through the vodka menu over dinner. Service is pleasant and prices are reasonable. A good place to relax after visiting the nearby museums.

It's a shame that this London institution has changed, because it used to be so good. Now it simply typifies the general feel of restaurants in the area, serving up over priced and, frankly speaking, not up to par fair. I still really struggle to find somewhere worthwhile to eat in SW7 and I picked this, along with my father for a brief sunday encounter. Unfortunately my forebodings were confounded and I knew we should have gone elsewhere, when half cooked dumplings came to the table. I could have done better myself at home! And when the single dessert option "Polish Pancakes" turned up it didn't get much better. If you want a slice of Poland in London, I would visit newer places, that bring fresh blood, and if you want the smell of old, then go to Wodka in High St Ken. I wont be hurrying back here any time soon, and I wouldn't recommend you do either. Definitely a case of "it ain't what it used to be".

This definitely is a gem! We came for saturday dinner and love it. the staff is wonderful and authentic, the food is simple but delicious and the vodka strong. In case you make it to Warsaw, that's where the Gessler family emporium has their main restaurants. WONDERFUL!

Nice atmosphere, reasonably priced and interesting locale. The food, I believe, is not traditional. The Borscht was tasty but lacked substance and cabbage rolls had fresh dill which was a plus but the sauce they used detracted from the rolls themselves. The service was OK.

Pics@Chopstix2steaknives http://chopstix2steaknives.blogspot.com/2011/09/gessler-at-daquise.html Have you ever read someone's dining experience and it just gets you so excited that you have to head there like almost immediately? This was what happened when I read this on The London Foodie blog. When I was in Poland, we had a nice little lady who cooked lunch for us everyday and it was simple and delicious home cooked food. In fact, I loved her home cooked food slightly more than the restaurants that I went to. So you bet I have fond memories of Polish food. So I was really excited to read about a Polish restaurant and I zipped down there at the earliest opportunity. So it was a group of us who settled in for dinner. First course Pierozki £9.5 A few of us ordered the Pierozki with some choosing meat and some going with cheese. There isn't one that is better than the other; I think it is more a case of which filling appeals to you more. I preferred the cheese version more but it was a mixed vote on the choice of fillings. The dumplings did not have a thick or doughy skin which allowed the flavours of the fillings to shine through. Clean and tasty. Barszcz £6 S ordered the Barszcz and this was well received. Mildly sweet and hearty. Second course Kura w rosole £13 Kaczka pieczona £19 The Kura w rosole is tender cuts of chicken on the bone, served in a slow cooked broth. Dished with home made noodles, lemon sauce and broth vegetables. The Kaczka Pieczona is a roast duck that has been stuffed with apples and served with boiled potatoes, cranberries and red cabbage stewed in red wine with fried fruits It's quite a refreshing change when you get a bunch of waiters coming out to slice, plate and serve you in front of your eyes. I love the theatrical part of it. Like this order of beef tartare and it was made right in front of you. It really adds an element of understated charm. Eating here brought back fond memories of my visit to Poland. This is not fine dining but serves unpretentious honest food.

A beautiful food in a great place. I truly loved the attentive and polite service. Also, my Golabki alongside with mashed potatoes were great, it was too pricey though. I was not too happy to hear there was no proper Polish dessert, I mean baked one. We were offered a Sacher cake, pankcakes or a sweet - fruity - version of dumplings...hm, no thank you. However, I will be definitely coming back to see if the pastry chef is back.

Fantastic food! Very impressed by the food, absolutely delicious and comforting! Atmosphere is with a twist of a post-WWII times. Very friendly service: feels like coming for dinner to one of your good relatives. When your food is ready, it's served on your plate by chefs themselves - a great touch! Very highly recommended! http://estonianfoodie.com