U Gazdy Polish Restaurant

I don’t know that much about Polish food… but I do know this: U Gazdy serves some of the best I’ve ever had, and I’m married into a Polish family, so I don’t say that lightly. The place itself is incredibly inviting, all warm wood, cozy corners, very Bavarian lodge meets Polish soul. It was busy and buzzing, and Polish was the main language at nearly every table… except ours, which was happily bilingual in Spanish. It felt authentic, lively, and full of life. The service was friendly, fun, and patient, guiding us through the menu with enthusiasm. We shared a feast: pelmeni, Highlander-style pork shank, kiszka, Real Man’s Meatballs (Męskie Klopsiki), and other delicious goodness that made the table groan (in the best way). Every dish was hearty, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. It was also my birthday, and just when I thought the night couldn’t get better, the staff surprised me with dessert and sang Happy Birthday in Polish. I loved it. Big smiles, full heart. The food was so good that I stayed behind afterward to order takeout for my husband, stuffed cabbage (gołąbki) and pierogi, because sharing joy is important… and leftovers are sacred. U Gazdy isn’t just a meal, it’s an experience. One that fills your belly, warms your spirit, and makes you want to come back hungry. 🎉🥟🍖

Love the wood decor. Did not feel welcomed when entering. Felt like outsiders. Like we shouldn't be dining/entering there. But the service & food was beyond amazing. Potatoe pancakes were super crispy. Pierogis were delish, especially slathered with the mushroom sauce. Stingy with applesauce & sour cream...needed a lot more (am Lithuanian). My dad loved the bbq ribs & mashed potatoes. $9 for 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream? We'll be back for take-out.

Have been going to this Polish restaurant for many years but now decided to do a review. The food is consistently good. The prices are also good. The problem comes to the service. We came in on a busy Sunday afternoon put our name down and stood next to the bar waiting for our table. The owner came up to us and said, move out of the way you are in the way. Where else are we to stand? Kind of weird getting told by the owner to move out of the way. The waitresses don’t really care about you also. Very mediocre service.

Stunningly delicious food served by a warm, friendly staff in a charming, rustic atmosphere! We had potato pancakes, sauerkraut pierogi, sauerkraut soup, red borscht with meat dumplings, stuffed cabbage with dumplings and apple pie. All of the food was heavenly, even the complimentary bread and smalec! Very much looking forward to dining here again!

Decent Polish place. A small interior with one server. Several beers to choice from. Plenty of choices. The saurkraut had a strong mushroom taste. Duck was tender, and good potato pancakes. The bill was on high side.

Food was amazing. Restaurant has a very rustic cabin vibe with painted mountain murals on the walls. Ordered the Polish duck which was delicious with a crispy skin. Boyfriend ordered the chicken pinwheels that were very tender and flavorful. Will definitely visit again.

Simply delicious! Clean restaurant...wonderful service and the Pork tenderloin and Captain Cutlet was on point. Must visit and come back!

My Polish partner hyped me up about this place so I agreed to check it out for the first time yesterday October 30th (I'm not Polish). The restaurant was not really packed as it was almost 3pm on a week day. We ordered quite a bit of food and it was all good. And even though this was my first time eating Polish food, I liked it. My only complain was the terrible service. We were basically left alone after they served us our food: none of the servers even dared to touch even more so collect our empty dirty plates so the table was a mess. There was one female server that took away my partner's empty plates away but never of mine (it felt weird, I've never experienced this type of disregard from the many restaurants of different cuisines that I've ever been too), it takes a looong time to get the server's attention even asking for boxes and the bill. They were just simply inattentive and didn't care. After the mains, we initially planned to order more but because we were put off by the service, we just decided to get everything to-go and leave. Bottom line is, food was good, terrible service esp to me who's not Polish, and we will def go somewhere else to eat Polish food.

My husband wanted Polish food and he came up with this place and why wouldn't I want to eat here with a maiden name of Gazda? Dorota our server was working her first night and explained she didn't speak English well, she did just fine and she was very nice. I got stuffed cabbage with mushroom gravy and dumplings ( an up charge of $2) and he got a stuffed potato pancake (we can't remember the name of the dish) it came with the Polish salad that consisted of beets, cucumbers and carrots, all very tasty. They started us off with bread and a cup of spread, we have no idea what it was but it was heavenly, we also were offered a choice of soups. The portions were generous and everything we ate was well seasoned and very enjoyable. See you soon

We were wanting some good German/Eastern European food and we found it here. Totally unexpected but quite good. Servers are very nice and the place looks like a Bavarian lodge. Wish they had more sausages on the menu. Like more options for different ones. But it's super authentic and the food they did have (potato pancakes and goulash) was amazing. And the mushroom soup was to die for. Highly recommend!

Once again you hit it out of the park U Gazdy... The Mushroom/Sauerkraut Pierogi, Pelmeni & White Borsch soup.... - Boom ! One must also try the pork shank, pickle soup, polish plate, the rabbit , lamp chops and the steak tartare - all on point . ....and...don't forget the " Mad Dog" shots . ~ być twoją przyszłością

I've heard so much about this restaurant! I haven't been there yet , but I've made reservations for my birthday on October 1st.....I'm Italian and LOVE LOVE LOVE Polish food!!! We'll, I finally went and was extremely disappointed. The establishment is very nice, clean and in the Highlander style. Warm bread was served and we ordered appetizers. Pierogis were good but the zucchini patties were flat and rubbery. The meals looked good but we're definitely not prepared fresh. The meats, both pounded steak and rolled chicken were as hard as rock....definitely not prepared that day. The pork shank was spectacular but the bone came out effortlessly (which should be good) but was also dry. I'm a bone picker, and the bone was DRY. The sauerkraut was so overcooked (or old) that it was brown and melted away. We left a good portion of our meals on the table or threw away the carry outs. I really anticipated this to be great, but sadly it was not.

Great food. Friendly staff. Good drinks. You feel like you're in the woods with the decoration. Very different to other polish restaurants.

Food seems homemade. Reminds me of what my Slovak grandmother made. Fast service and attentive. Homey atmosphere with country side paintings, wooden tables and many eastern european speakers enjoying the food.j

The food was 5-star quality. Prepared from Best ingredients and served as a fine dining plate. The ambiance was extremely friendly, almost like I left Wood Dale and stepped into a Country setting. The dining area had plenty of light, with quiet environment so you can talk and enjoy your food. My wife and I were very impressed with this restaurant. We both would highly recommend to everyone for a nice place to have a very nice dining experience. The prices are very reasonable based on quantity and quality of the food choices.

I searched for authentic Polish food near the airport on our way out of town. Thank goodness I chose this place-it was AMAZING! Very old school authentic Polish feel good food. We had the beef stroganoff with potato pancakes, and the Polish Plate w/ a cabbage roll smothered in mushroom gravy, Polish sausage, pierogis, and potato pancakes as well. The cabbage roll is to die for!! Best I've ever had. The beef stroganoff was also absolutely delicious. We can't wait to come back to Chi-town just to eat here. The service is also top notch. Very nice gal behind the bar.

Saw the reviews and wanted try it. I love the collection feature on Yelp. I had it under Polish Restaurants. We all had the chicken noodle soup. It was good. No crackers. I had the Polish plate. It was a stuffed cabbage, polish sausage, pierogi and a potato pancake. Outstanding. My other diners had the meatballs and beef stroganoff. They enjoyed their choices. Great service very clean. Definitely will be coming back.

Decent. Depends on what you like really. I don't think the food was bad. Everything was cooked well and made fine. Servers were polite. Restaurant was clean. Atmosphere was nice. And There were a lot of people enjoying their meals, so I'm convinced I'm just not a fan of that style. But I guess I can recommend it for someone who likes this kind of stuff.

I finally got to try U Gazdy Restaurant and loved it. The servings were more than enough for two meals. Staff was friendly. We had a great time. I'll be back the next time I'm in the area.

I don't occasionally eat Polish food but this was a good spot. I liked their selection of beers and food was as polish as it can get. I also got the beef tarter which was red and super delicious (very rare to find in the states). I love the decor, it reminded you of Highlander places in Poland. Will definitely go back!

Just an average polish cuisine. Good, usually fresh food with reasonable prices. Nice atmosphere and friendly service. Recommended

A MUST try if you're in Chicago. You know U Gazdy is good Polish food when you enter and everyone is speaking Polish, including the waitress. U Gazdy is a traditional Polish half bar-restaurant with a homely feel, loads of wooden decor and generous food sizes. I was recommended this spot by a Chi-town friend and it definitely feels like an authentic Polish experience here. Now I don't know any other Polish foods other than the Kielbasa, but being adventurous I wanted to try the Pork Shank. It came with a very delicious rosol (chicken soup), complimentary bread with a dip that I think is called smalec, a pork-based buttery/creamy dip with onions, bacon bits, and garlic. I also ordered a Polish IPA. Don't know the exact one but was pretty good. Pork Shank - 5/5 Wow. Meat is so soft and tender. It is bone in and I was eating this down to the bone. It is VERY large and fills you up pretty hard. Rosol - 5/5 Amazing Chicken noodle soup. You have peeled veggies, chicken bits, fresh parsley, and starchless noodles to fill you up fast. It wasn't overpowering with salt that I normally expect with regular soup. More soupy than creamy. It is PERFECT for cold days like the one today and I was surprised something so simple can be delicious. Smalec- 5/5 I actually like this thing the most. The bread and the pork butter was perfect. Fresh and crispy bread complimented the gooey spread really, really well. Their menu is pretty expansive so there's more than what I listed. Duck, Goulash, rabbit, they have a LOT of meat options. Definitely one of the best places that I tried while visiting Chicago. Will be back when I come back to Chitown.

U guessed it, U Gazdy. Stopped here for the first time today. Very much worth it and surprised at what was found. I've passed this place for many years and never stopped. Outside can be a little deceiving. But plenty of parking in the back and side with an entrance at the back and front. Surprised when walking in to see such a cool, unique environment fitting for this restaurant (see photo). Restroom was also very clean and maintained. The very welcoming staff greeted me right away, and the food and beverage ordering began. Starting with the fresh Chicken Noodle Soup to the end of the Chicken Pinwheel entree, U Gazdy provided some wonderful food. Prices were very reasonable and well worth the quality, quantity and tastes. The only thing I can make a comment of anything not as appealing was the refilling of beverages. Having to wait to get the attention of our server who appeared to be visiting with others, especially considering everything other excellent part of our visit, kind of stunk. But it all worked out. Not enough to deter a return trip. I will be back and look forward to experiencing more U Gazdy has to offer.

There are certainly better polish (Highlander) restaurants in the area. Soups were quite inconsequential that came with our meal and the schmaltz bread spread had no taste. The Highlander dinner for four was plenty for our palette but the pork cutlets were skimpy and they doused the potato pancakes in sauce rendering them mushy. My in-laws think they have a new chef owner or both. Word of advice... Don't order a martini as I believe they randomly pour a bunch of stuff in a glass and give it to you. Stick to draft beer as they can't really screw that up.

Traveling through from Dallas for the weekend and tried out U Gazdy on a whim. From the moment the bread came out with the Polish spread I immediately teleported back to holidays at my Polish MeMaw's house. It was truly a special experience. The roasted pork shank had all the flavors I remember growing up spending summers at their house. Betty is a master of her craft and I want to thank her for bringing back so many memories with her wit and passion for true hospitality.

This is a rating of the restaurant's vegetarian options. There aren't a lot, but there is an entire section on the menu, which is astonishing for a Polish restaurant. I haven't seen this many choices since a vegetarian group took over a Polish restaurant for a special party. Options include zucchini pancakes; potato pancakes; a pancake with mushroom gravy; a Polish salad; or some type of grilled cheese with cranberry marmalade. There are also two vegetarian types of pierogi: mushroom/cheese and sauerkraut/mushroom. Vegans might have three options if you skip the sour cream/cheese. The staff are perhaps less familiar with the vegetarian options; I called and was told "oh, we'll have our vegetarian take your order" - she took good care of me but did propose a salmon dish and I think a turkey one. The Polish salad was disappointing: it's bland, drenched in sour cream, with iceberg lettuce, chopped egg and radish, topped with cucumber slices. It would benefit from more chives, or maybe some pickled vegetables or Bacos. I was pleased with my other choices, notably the pierogi and the zucchini pancakes. The pancake with gravy (and maybe 1-2 T of melted cheese) was unremarkable, a bit chewy and greasy. It came with tiny portions of "Polish vegetable salad" - finely chopped beets, finely grated carrots, and finely chopped cabbage in slightly different vinegar based dressing. I liked the cabbage the best. This comes with a pint of gravy with big slices of mushroom; mild but with a slight peppery finish. I'm trusting the staff that it's actually veg. The highlights: I got the sauerkraut mushroom pierogi at the staff's recommendation. They're excellent; boiled rather than baked, with a great balance between the mushroom/sauerkraut, with tender pasta and minimal greasiness. My only complaint: the sour cream was a bit stingy. The zucchini pancakes had a lovely soft texture, not tough or greasy at all, and came with enough sour cream (the menu says "creamy garlic sauce") that I'll be finishing my pierogi with them. I'm not a huge zucchini fan but these were great and I'll get them again. I can't tell you much about dine-in since I got takeout; it was about 4pm on a Friday and my order was ready in 20 minutes. The exterior / interior has a cute hunter's lodge vibe, and I imagine dine-in would be nice.

Finally tried U Gazdy for a business meeting, my partner in crime surprised me with this location. It's true Polish Highlander type restaurant! We were greeted and seated immediately, our Waitstaff was "Irka" her Polish was spot on. We sat down an ordered Hot Tea, it was becoming a long day already. We were served the traditional Sessoned Bacon Fat spread with a healthy Polish bread. Brought back good memories from the Fatherland. I wanted my associate to get a true flavor of Polish Cuisine, so we ordered the Polish Plate: Gołabki, grilled Polish Sausage, Sauer Kraut, Pierogi, and Pork Cutlet. Looking forward to trying other delicacies on our next visit! Dziekujemi, Szmacznego, Mangia & Cheers!

Stepping in to this restaurant is like taking a huge 5,000 mile step directly into Warsaw Poland. From the atmosphere to the authentic polish cuisine, everything is the real deal. The Borscht soup with meat dumplings stole the show with the most amazing flavor. It was so delicious that we actually got an extra helping to take home. My disappointment was in the service. Be prepared to spend ALOT of time waiting for your food. The three of us spent over 2 1/2 hours ftom beginning to end with the longest wait being our main course which we ordered at the same time as our appetizer. But when you're going for the most authentic polish cuisine in the Chicago area, an extra few minutes of waiting may not be a deal breaker.

Really good polish food and great portions! The restaurant has a cozy vibe! Love the soup!

Everything is homemade and delicious from the bread to the soups and entrees. I love this place!

Authentic polish food, like your Babcia made it. The food is delicious with a wide selection for anyone.

I heard so many good things about this restaurant so I had to stop by The food is just delicious. The staff is above and beyond friendly the prices are great and the beer selection bathrooms are super clean and you can feel the typical Polish atmosphere everybody around you had a lot of fun, I ordered the duck what is actually a hard to make dish the nailed it well done I definitely will be back I can highly recommend them to anybody who wants great food and a great time

We went for an early dinner. I had the "Real man's meatballs" my sister had the cabbage rolls, both delicious! Service was excellent. Do try the blintzes with sweet cheese for dessert! Authentic Polish menu, no American kids items like Mac n cheese. Order your kids some potato dumplings (hoof-shaped dumplings on the menu) they will love it. The only negative is the cramped parking lot entrance, and that will not deter me from returning.

Hells NO ever again! Called to make reservation on a Sundsy for 3 person party & 1 in wheelchair. Bar guy answer phone says we don't need reservations! We all meet there and there's no tables avail 4pm. Then they clear us a high table by the door of all their promotional ads but it's too tall for a wheelie-friend to eat at in her wheelchair! Are we supposed to fling pierogis & sausage to her mouth because she's 3 feet lower than us at the table? 10mins later another large group of hungry customers arrive and we get moved further in to a regular sized table because other patrons see our plight and make room at their tables! I am 4th generation Polish, German & Irish., other friend German and Wheelie Friend is Serbian. Our food comes but tastes kinda bland. Wheelie Friend also ordered like a breaded meat dish and we asked server to take back to kitchen bc it wasn't cooked enough. While waiting for her plate to return; the Owner is making the rounds and asks how things were and we told her the Truth. The Owner then proceeds to ask our Nationalities 1st and then tells my Wheelie friend that Serbian cuisine is over-seasoned and Polish cuisine is always under-seasoned! I turned to my Wheelie Friend and say, "She's just offended the both of us in one breath!" This visit was 5 years ago. I had been here once before and sat at the beer garden in back and had a Polish Beer with other Friends! I would NEVER have guessed this place to still be open for so long in the community with that type of attitudes brewing in the Owners blood. And I don't shop at her deli store next door anymore either! Both are in walking distance of my home! U Gadzy has been a staple for over 20 yrs that I know of and yet I don't understand The Attraction to the place!!! Maybe everyone is drunk and can't taste anything anyways!!! Not4Me & Polish cuisine I had growing up was never under seasoned nor over seasoned!!! WTH

Polish fare. Great food. Not very expensive. Seakif Oolish helps, but nit absolutely required. Appetizers to die for. Drinks are generous. Friendly service.

COME CHECK IT OUT! Great experience and the food is absolutely delicious, I recommend it 100% Is always good to try different cultures culinary taste.

Visited while in town on business, the food is authentic and incredible. Friendly service, place is clean and cozy. Highly recommend the pierogi and polish plate.

Great food, good value. I had the stuffed cabbage rolls with mushroom gravy. Fabulous. Found our what smalec was, too late. Tasty, but very unhealthy. Chilled creamed herring appetizer - fabulous presentation tasted great. $ 60 for two dinners, with tip.

We are always looking for some good Polish food, so we thought we would try this restaurant. When you walk in , it is like walking into a cabin and a warm and homey feeling. We stopped in on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. They have a large bar and the tables are wooden with benches and chairs to sit on. They do have a lunch menu which is available even on weekends, but we opted to order from the main menu. We tried the borscht soup with dumplings, Captain's cutlet - a stuffed pork cutlet and pork goulash. The borsch was very good . The Captain;'s cutlet was a large , breaded pork cutlet stuffed with mushrooms and cheese. Because the cutlet was so large, it was a bit dry even though it was served with a sauce. The pork goulash came in a kettle, and was piping hot. The pork was so tender , it fell apart on my fork. Each entree came with a choice of soup, potatoes or dumplings and a three side salad. The three side salad was a beet salad, cucumber and carrot salad. The portions were very generous. Service was good, not outstanding and customers who came after us, were serviced first, but the food did make up for the service.

The food is delicious! It's our go-to restaurant for special occasions or just a really good meal. The restaurant itself is really cute and the workers are very nice.

After visiting another Polish restaurant in Schaumburg that was a horrible experience because we do not speak polish, I was nervous to try another one. My husband grew up in a polish family and we wanted to honor his late Grandpa on his birthday by eating polish food so we came here. I guess all the tables were reserved but we were able to sit at the bar. The bartender was very nice and friendly. They were out of the beer I wanted but she recommended a different one. She was understanding when I tried my best to pronounce the names. When we got out food, we were blown away. It was just amazing. When she came back over to check on us, I told her about our prior visit to a different location and how welcoming they are here to non natives. I cant wait to come back to try other things on the menu!

Food was good, drinks were good. The dumplings were fantastic (just like grandma makes it) The place is very small and was pretty packed so the servers weren't as attentive. Overall, would recommend and will probably return in the summer to sit outside and to try something else.

Betty is the most wonderful host of this genuine Polish restaurant. Very responsive to special requests. Red borscht soup with dumplings, rack of baby back ribs - all incredible and fabulous to to palate. When you enter, you hear not a word of English. The cleanliness is squeaky clean. Wait staff is super friendly. Betty, the wonderful owner of this fabulous place will treat you like family. Definitely go there.

Restaurant had a slightly musty smell, as a cabin closed too long over the winter but the space was cozy and inviting. Bread was tasty, the mushroom soup was exceptional, generous portions of stroganoff, cabbage rolls, and rolled chicken. The potato pancakes were a little greasy, but not too bad, and the horse shoe shaped dumplings a little gummy, but again, not bad. Less one star because my husband found a hair in his soup that he didn't say anything about while we were there so I don't know how they would have handled it. I would still go back.

Awesome vibe right as you walk in. Great log cabin aesthetic inside. The food is just as great as the atmosphere. I ordered the pork shank based off of both personal recommendation and because it was the top posted menu item here on Yelp. It did not disappoint, the meat was cooked perfectly and went well with the sauerkraut, which was not too sour. It also came with mashed potatoes and very fresh horse radish on the side. Perfect blend of flavors and smells. It also came with a choice of soup, which I had the beet soup (not sure on how to spell it) but the veggies were soft and the soup had a creamy texture. It was my first time at a Polish restaurant and this place definitely gave me a great first impression and sets the bar high for any other places I may try.

Fabulous food! Authentic Poland atmosphere, just like the food in ZAKOPANE, Poland. I had my daughter's shower there. Everyone loved it!

Great place to eat but reservation is a MUST. We just got here (after driving 3 hours from Wisconsin Dells) and this place is packed. Delicious food and great service but reservation is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Authentic polish cuisine with tasty dishes.Some of them a little too polish for me but it was a pleasant experience.

Great food family owned don't miss this one!!

After trying food from a Polish deli last weekend, I was so looking forward to trying this restaurant. I placed an on-line order first thing this morning and received an email stating that the order was placed but not yet accepted. Three hours later I received an email stating "order missed, we couldn't confirm your order". The email stated to call them which I did. No one answered so I left a brief message stating what had happened. After of this writing, no one has called me back. The food might be great but their on-line ordering system is not. I will look for another Polish restaurant to try.

Best pierogi around!!!! I deffff recommend everyone try them out! I'm polish by blood, but ONLY eat the pierogi and they are AMAZING!!!!

Great food, great service, and the Hungarian pancake and goulash was awesome! Definitely coming back when I'm in town again.

Delicious Polish food in a cute, highlander-themed restaurant. Wait staff was very attentive. Will be coming back.

Came to Chicago on business and made it a point to eat here...Was not disappointed. Ordered the polish plate for lunch. It was a hearty meal of traditional polish favorites. Of note were the pierogi. While I perfer them fried in butter and onions, they came boiled and were some of the best pierogi I've ever had (and I'm Polish!). First time I've ever eaten Golobki in a mushroom sauce...my family preferred tomato-based sauce. It was a tasty alternative and I'd order it again. When in Chicago...YOU MUST EAT HERE!

I have been coming here since I moved to Chicago a year ago. I can honestly say this is such a great restaurant. The staff is friendly, the prices are fair, the setting is cozy, and it's the best Polish food outside Krakow.

Date: 28-January-2020 Time: Dinner Total (before tip): $56.84 Server: Aru Grade: A- My girlfriend has found this joint and thought I would enjoy it, with me being Eastern European and all. So we came here for dinner. I am glad we did it on a weekday, the place is on a smaller end. We were seated and started to look over the menu. We decided to start with some appetizers, we figured, if we don't finish something, we'll take it home. We ordered Pierogi, Zucchini Pancakes and White Borsch to start with. My girlfriend ordered a Pork Tenderloins plate and I ordered a Real Man Meatballs dinner with no mushroom sauce and a side of Gypsy Fries. I kind of wanted to know what they looked like and tasted like. It did not take long for White Borsch to come. I was surprised as to how good it was! It had a nice sour taste to it, all parts played real well together! Definitely, my new favorite! Pierogi and Zucchini Pancakes came out not too long after. Pierogi were good, about what you would expect in a typical Eastern European restaurant. Zucchini Pancakes were a bit disappointing.... They did not hold the form, the taste did not quite translate, so not something I would order again. It took a few for our main course to come out, which I thought was good, since I felt like they were making it to order. Both of our dishes came out at the same time. The portion size, I thought, was pretty good. I liked the meatballs, the texture, and the put togetherness was excellent. I just wish I had it in some kind of sauce. The only thing they forgot were our soups, that come with the meal, but we took them to go. The service was excellent as well! Definitely worth checking out! A-!

Friendly staff, nice atmosphere, good food. Large menu selection of traditional Polish dishes. Bring your appetite and sense of adventure.

Been here many times. always a real treat service is great food is awesome Wanted to hang out with my friends They never bothered us about leaving Food always comes fast and hot