Janusz
14 Jan 2006 / #1
People in Poland did not eat out much outside of the home prior to the collapse of the Berlin wall. Though small businesses such as restaurants were allowed under the socialist system, they did not prove popular because the average person did not have the extra money to spend outside of the grocery store. One kind of restaurant that was popular was the milk bar. Milk bars were a form of state-sponsored soup kitchen. Its menu was based on traditional Polish foods though not many meat products were served. The name milk bar comes from the fact that the majority of the meals served were milk-based. It was therefore a viable option, as it was affordable. There were times however when the milk bars became the only source of many food products, due to production shortages which left grocery store shelves virtually empty. Rather than buying these products, which included basic staples such as milk and eggs, on the black market for an exorbitant amount of money, one could buy a prepared meal for a low price at the milk bar. Milk bars still exist in Poland, though only a fraction of them are still open. The remaining milk bars are privately owned, but most of the basic foodstuffs, such as cooking oil and vegetables, are still subsidized by the state.
After 1991, when the new democratic government took power, a number of foreign restaurant chains established themselves in Poland. The leaders in this are McDonald's and Pizza Hut, but there are many others. Although young people frequent these restaurants, the older, more traditional people visit them less often. Among young people only those who are wealthier than the average frequent restaurants. For many families, the prices are also regarded as steep. Generally, children are the most frequent customers, as going to a fast food restaurant is seen as a treat. More popular with older people are the traditional Polish restaurants which serve polish and French cuisine, but this is usually done only on special occasions, such as weddings. Many people still prefer to celebrate even these special occasions at home. Poles are still very traditional in their dining habits, and 65% of the population customarily eats at home.
Although restaurants are not very popular with the locals, Poland does have a large selection of restaurants which serve mostly tourists, especially in the larger cities. Warsaw is one of the best places to eat in central Europe. Alongside a good selection of restaurants specializing in traditional Polish cuisine, there's a welcome trend towards culinary variety. Modern European and Mediterranean-influenced dishes have made their way onto most restaurant menus, and ethnic establishments offering anything from Jewish to Japanese cuisine are well established. Poland has a significant Vietnamese population numbering over fifty thousand people. This has lead to the creation of many Vietnamese restaurants. There are also a number of Polish fast food undertakings, Mr. Hamburger being probably the largest, with 18 restaurants in southern Poland. Another chain, Tivoli, has five restaurants in Poznan, while Subway, Polskie Jadlo, Oscar, A Petit and Non Stop are also doing well.
Another form of gastronomy that has taken off in Poland is the delivery of pizza. There was no such service in the socialist era, and the niche was filled by the Spanish-owned chain called Telepizza. Telepizza was a pioneer in the food-delivery business in Europe, and in 1992 they opened their first restaurant in Poland, in Warsaw. There are currently 94 locations in Poland, and a whole industry of food delivery has been created. One can now order almost any kind of food over the phone including Chinese and Vietnamese food.
Janusz
After 1991, when the new democratic government took power, a number of foreign restaurant chains established themselves in Poland. The leaders in this are McDonald's and Pizza Hut, but there are many others. Although young people frequent these restaurants, the older, more traditional people visit them less often. Among young people only those who are wealthier than the average frequent restaurants. For many families, the prices are also regarded as steep. Generally, children are the most frequent customers, as going to a fast food restaurant is seen as a treat. More popular with older people are the traditional Polish restaurants which serve polish and French cuisine, but this is usually done only on special occasions, such as weddings. Many people still prefer to celebrate even these special occasions at home. Poles are still very traditional in their dining habits, and 65% of the population customarily eats at home.
Although restaurants are not very popular with the locals, Poland does have a large selection of restaurants which serve mostly tourists, especially in the larger cities. Warsaw is one of the best places to eat in central Europe. Alongside a good selection of restaurants specializing in traditional Polish cuisine, there's a welcome trend towards culinary variety. Modern European and Mediterranean-influenced dishes have made their way onto most restaurant menus, and ethnic establishments offering anything from Jewish to Japanese cuisine are well established. Poland has a significant Vietnamese population numbering over fifty thousand people. This has lead to the creation of many Vietnamese restaurants. There are also a number of Polish fast food undertakings, Mr. Hamburger being probably the largest, with 18 restaurants in southern Poland. Another chain, Tivoli, has five restaurants in Poznan, while Subway, Polskie Jadlo, Oscar, A Petit and Non Stop are also doing well.
Another form of gastronomy that has taken off in Poland is the delivery of pizza. There was no such service in the socialist era, and the niche was filled by the Spanish-owned chain called Telepizza. Telepizza was a pioneer in the food-delivery business in Europe, and in 1992 they opened their first restaurant in Poland, in Warsaw. There are currently 94 locations in Poland, and a whole industry of food delivery has been created. One can now order almost any kind of food over the phone including Chinese and Vietnamese food.
Janusz