Guests' Sausage: Americans from Paris in Warsaw!

On a recent visit to Warsaw, Louis and Maggie reveled in the culinary delights of Poland and its Eastern European brethren. They were so satisfied by and grateful for A's restaurant recommendations that they asked permission to share their excellent experience with all of A's blog readers, just in case any of them found themselves in Warsaw without A around. Thus was this guest post born.

Just around the corner from A's apartment, on Plac Konstytucji, there's a restaurant called U Szwejka. According to A, this means At Švejk's. But it also reminded us of Meredith, whose last name is eerily similar, and whom we missed dearly during our unofficial music-grad-students-abroad-on-fellowship-weekend-frolic-in-Warsaw. Anyway, back to the restaurant.

A can tell you who the restaurant's mascot is, and whether he has anything to do with the neon smoke-stack and animated puffs advertising the restaurant. In any case, the façade alone tells you that this is a spirited, "folksy" restaurant. It's kind of like the Polish Applebee's.

Except the ambiance is way, way more spirited (and of course more Polish). While we waited for our food, we enjoyed not one but two separate concerts by roving musicians.

Finally, the main event: the food. Portions were generous - no, make that ginormous. With four different kinds of sausage and lots of accoutrements, a single appetizer was more than enough for the three of us.

The main platters were almost insurmountably large and oh-so-heartily delicious. From top-to-bottom, some before and after shots of Louis' schnitzel, A's ribs, and Maggie's goulash:

We tried really, really hard to finish all the food, we swear. Thanks, U Szwejka, for filling our bellies with deliciousness and filling our spirits with joy!