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A polish restaurant in the crypt of an old church? That's right. In this place you eat a hearty meal all underground.

There is more to do under the city than you might have imagined!  Have you been here already? Post your review (rating) and comments down below...we want to hear what you think of this place!

My friend told me to meet her at La Crypte Polska. She said the entrance was just to the left of the church in Place Maurice Barrès (2nd arr).  As I walked from the metro station to the restaurant I was trying to imagine how this place was in the plaza with the church. Then I arrive and realized the entrance is there because this restaurant is under the church in the old crypt.

As soon as you enter the door the wonderful smell from below hits you.  It increases as you descend the stairs, and then you enter into a very busy and lively crypt lit brightly.  It’s lined with tables, and along the walls are backlit stained glass windows. The feeling is warm and inviting, and not at all what one would expect upon entering a crypt.

The food is traditional Polish dishes, and if you try to speak any English the Polish waitresses will huffily tell you, "We speak French or Polish here, no English!!" 

Luckily though the menu is in French, Polish and English. So you can just point to items if you don't speak either of their two accepted languages.
My friend frequents this place often and was able to give me all kinds of advice, as well as ordering the wisniòwka (pronounced "vishnioovka")( it's a cherry vodka) for us.  These little drinks came in a little shot glass and were indeed not only a striking red but very flavorful. Now this is my kind of crypt drink! 

Another traditional Polish drink you could order was the cocktail made of vubrówka (pronounced: joobroovka)(bison grass vodka) mixed with apple juice, and together as a cocktail this ensemble is called either szarlotka (pronouned: sharlotka) or tatanka.  This place doesn't have it on the menu, but if you bug them I'm sure they can make it.  Apparently the first term, szarlotka, is also the name for apple pie, so it’s better to use the second name for this cocktail, tatanka, unless you want them to possibly bring out an apple-strudel-type desert to you.

Next we moved onto our starter dishes.  I had the pierogi ruskie (raviolis au fromage blanc) (white cheese raviolis). These were stuffed full of white cheese and perfectly cooked. This dish was supposed to just be the starter, but frankly I was nearly full at the end of it because there was so much.  Then our main courses came out.  My friend had taken the placek ziemniaczany z gulaszem, salata zielona (pronounced: platsek jemniatshany zgoolashem, zawata jelona) (Galette de pomme de terre avec goulach de boeuf, salad verte) (potato cakes with beef goulash and sour cream and a green salad). For my main dish I ordered the kluski (beignets de pomme de terre avec le sauce tomate) (potatoe dumplings with stuffed cabbage and tomato sauce). 

It was all fantastic, but very heavy and filling. This is about as hearty as food can get and  I didn’t feel hungry the rest of the day. It’s not too expensive for lunch, and for two people ran about 35-40 euros.  Well worth it since it’s an entire day of meals all in one.

Number: 01 42 60 43 33

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