Milkbar Tomasza: Modern Polish Milk Bar in Kraków, Poland

Located in Kraków’s Old Town is Milkbar Tomasza, a modern interpretation of a Soviet-style milk bar, or cafeteria found across Poland. The ubiquitous milk bar or bar mleczny served poor citizens cheap meals. Dishes included dairy products, traditional Polish dishes, and pierogi (dumplings).

After World War I, these self-service milk bars started appearing nationwide. Many opened after World War 2 and throughout the Cold War era (1947 to 1989). But, with the collapse of the communist bloc, most milk bars closed after going bankrupt.

Around 2010, Poland saw a resurgence of milk bars. These small and inexpensive restaurants were popular with those nostalgic for the past, especially during the communist period.

If you are looking for more information about Poland, I highly recommend you pick up a guidebook such as The Rough Guide to Poland

Interior of Milkbar Tomasza

Small but open and bright interior, Milkbar Tomasza, Kraków, Poland — Small but open and bright interior

When you think of a Soviet-style milk bar, you probably think of a no-frills restaurant with a plain and dreary interior. Milkbar Tomasza was not your typical milk bar. The interior was modern, chic, and inviting. You had black and white checkered floors, bright green accents, a white ceiling, and brick walls. I didn’t expect this modern design for a milk bar.

Though small, the dining room was bright thanks to the ample lighting and large front windows, which allowed natural light in during the day. The room was quiet except for the kitchen sounds and music playing lightly in the background.

Communal table in the center of the dining room

As mentioned, the open dining room was small. With limited space, tables were packed tightly together around the room wherever there was space. At the center of the room was a large communal table, perfect for small groups and solo diners. You might have to wait for a table to open up when it gets busy during lunch and dinner.

Milkbar Tomasza Menu

Being a self-service restaurant, I had to grab a menu from the front counter before finding an open seat. Once I looked over the menu, I returned to the counter to place my order. After paying, I returned to my table and waited for my food to be delivered. With food prepared fresh to order, wait times ranged from 15 to 30 minutes.

The menu at Milkbar Tomasza was much more extensive than expected. There was a wide variety of dishes, including traditional Polish dishes such as pierogi (dumplings). But, you also had a large selection of all-day breakfast dishes, paninis, and main courses. The menu also featured a Daily Special (Zestaw Dnia). This special, priced at 20 zł (or about $4.94), included a main course and soup of the day.

Even more surprising was the affordability of the menu. Dishes started at 6 zł (about $1.47), with the most expensive item being 25 zł (about $6.14). Most dishes were less than 20 zł (or about $4.91), a fantastic value.

Other than food options, the menu featured a good variety of drinks, including coffees, teas, and soft drinks, priced from 4 zł (about $0.98) to 11 zł (about $2.70).

Irish Breakfast

When I think of traditional Polish dishes, the last thing that comes to mind is an Irish Breakfast (25 zł or about $6.14). Since I was hungry and hungry for breakfast, I decided to try it. This dish had two fried sausages, bacon, two eggs, tomato, potato wedges, baked beans, toast, and butter.

The first thing that caught my attention when the plate was placed in front of me was how large it was. I was glad I was hungry. Also, it was colorful and beautifully plated.

There were two types of meat: bacon and fried sausages. The bacon was not your typical bacon. It was more like ham both in appearance and taste. The salty and smoky bacon had a tender yet meaty texture after sliced thin and grilled to perfection.

As for the fried sausages, I expected them to be crispy and springy. But, the sausages were tender and soft without any texture. The meat almost melted in my mouth. While I had no issue with this, others might not like the texture. As for the taste, just as with the bacon, the fried sausages were smoky, salty, and delicious.

While simple, I enjoyed the tender and moist beans. Cooked to perfection, they had a meaty texture but not to the point of falling apart. The beans were sweet and smoky, like traditional baked beans.

Hidden under the baked beans and slice of tomato, were two fried eggs. Both eggs, crispy on the bottom, were cooked differently. One was sunny side up, while the other was over hard with no runny yolk. While I would have preferred a runnier yolk, the eggs tasted fresh and delicious, so no complaints.

Two slices of white bread and large potato wedges finished this breakfast. The thin slices of toasted bread were simple, but the rich, soft butter made each slice taste great. As for the potato wedges, they weren’t crispy nor soggy, but just right. They did taste fresh cut, so that was a plus.

While the Irish Breakfast was the most expensive item on the menu at Milkbar Tomasza, I recommend it for those who are hungry and want something different than Polish food. I enjoyed how each component’s flavors, textures, and colors complemented each other.

Meatballs with Mushroom Sauce, Potatoes, and Side Salads

The colorful Meatballs with Mushroom Sauce, Milkbar Tomasza, Kraków, Poland — The colorful Meatballs with Mushroom Sauce

Next up was the Meatballs with Mushroom Sauce, Potatoes, and Side Salads with a side of Minestrone Soup (20 zł or about $4.91). This dish was part of the Daily Special (Zestaw Dnia) menu. The other special was a Grilled Chicken with Pesto and Tomato, Potatoes, and Side Salads. The other soup option was Cream of Green Peas with Mint.

As with the Irish Breakfast, this dish was colorful and plated well. On the left, you had a trio of julienned Side Salads. The crisp white cabbage had a light, refreshing taste with a hint of acid, probably from vinegar. The carrots were sweet and earthy with a crunchy, tender bite. By far, my favorite salad had to be the beets. The bright, deep purple color was beautiful. The tender beets were sour, sweet, and salty. They were delicious and made me realize that I enjoyed eating beets. Who would have thought?

In the center of the plate were medium-sized meatballs smothered in a mushroom cream sauce. The mushroom sauce was thick, reminding me of beef stroganoff.

Mixed into the hearty, delicious sauce were mushrooms, diced peppers, celery, carrots, and red bell peppers. These additions added a crunchy texture, complementing the otherwise soft meatballs.

The meatballs weren’t very moist on their own, but they weren’t dry either, and this is where the mushroom sauce played an important role. The sauce made the meatballs taste better and added moisture to each bite.

The final component of the dish was simple sliced potatoes topped with sliced scallions. Each potato was tender and filling, as expected. And a quick dip in the mushroom sauce elevated the taste of the otherwise basic potatoes.

Minestrone Soup

Since I ordered the daily special, I had the option of two soups. I settled on the Minestrone Soup with Noodles.

Inside this homemade, hearty soup were thin, tender noodles and a generous assortment of vegetables. Vegetables included tomatoes, onions, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, cauliflower, squash, and basil. Each vegetable was tender to the point of falling apart. I enjoyed the flavors and textures of each spoonful.

The light, fragrant broth was just as impressive. It tasted as if it had been simmering for hours, soaking up all the flavors of the vegetables and herbs. The depth of flavors of the broth, especially the tomatoes and aromatic basil, could be tasted in each bite.

While simple, this flavorful minestrone soup had it all. It was a meal in itself.

Service at Milkbar Tomasza

For a self-service restaurant, I was expecting the service to be non-existent or lacking. But this was not the case. I found the staff at Milkbar Tomasza to be friendly, and the service was efficient.

Food arrived quicker than anticipated. Finally, I appreciated how the staff cleaned tables promptly after one guest left to ensure the wait was never too long.

Conclusion

Milkbar Tomasza, located in Krakow’s Old Town, is a modern interpretation of a traditional, self-service, Soviet-style Polish milk bar from past times. What you will find here is classic Polish fare and international dishes. Not only does the food taste great, but it’s also affordable.

If you are looking for a unique dining experience in Kraków, which won’t break the bank, then Milkbar Tomasza is an excellent choice. I can’t wait to return to try some of the other items on the menu.