Well Today was a bad start to the Blog idea - actually it could be considered a fantastic start.. in fact it was the main reason for the creation of this web site - A dinner experience that will not be forgotten for many years to come!
Today my bride to be and I went out on our weekly dinner date - and decided to go to: Ski's Polish - American Restaurant in Sylvania, Ohio - On the verge of the Polish American Festival we thought this would be a great way to get in the festival mood. Polish food has always been one of our favorite.
My wife to be had received an email coupon for a buy one dinner - get one free.. so we decided to give it a go!
First, let me point out that this restaurant is quaint - Red and white decorations throughout and photos of celebs that are Polish or that claim Polish ancestry. In the background they play Polish music, so you can get the Polish atmospheric feel! They have a very small area in which they sell novelties and even a bakery stand (which was empty) for the potential to sell baked goods.
Now to the service and dinning experience - we walked in to an empty house - many tables only 2 others were taken, the waitress allowed us to sit where ever we wanted and promptly came over to get drink orders.
The Start of the Bad Experience - Ordering
We looked over the menus and decided on Stuffed Cabbage Roll Dinner and The Meat Loaf Dinner normal sides - Green Beans, Mashed Potato's and one choice side - she wanted Cottage Cheese - but was told they were out of it - so she ordered a salad instead. I had ordered Cole Slaw.
When the waitress returned - she had brought my Slaw and my wife to be's Cottage Cheese - stating "she didn't realize they had bought some more!" Huh? she was the only waitress - in the place and she didn't know what they had or were out of ... OK..
Literally within minutes the dinners arrived - literally MINUTES! I'm not exaggerating - it was within seconds of finishing our slaw and cottage cheese - that our dinners were produced. My immediate statement was WOW that's one fast Chef!
The Food - On a 1 - 10 scale - I would give it a (-2)
The Food was depressing horrible - the Cabbage Rolls - considered by many Polish People to be comfort food - reminds them of their grandparents home cooking - reminded me of SLIME - with a luke warm center at best! the cabbage was barely warm and the meaty center was cold. The Mashed Potato's - NASTY and Cold - in fact I'm almost positive that they were INSTANT - right from a box! So much for home made. The Green Beans - well lets say they were lacking freshness - as with everything else they were definitely PRE-MADE - Or Canned!
I had mentioned to the waitress the meal was cold - she asked me if I would like something else or have the cook heat it up in the microwave - as if I wanted to pay $12.99 for a microwaved dinner. I decided to give the Cabbage rolls one more shot - so I ordered just the Cabbage Rolls - No beans - No Instant potato's.
This time I received two Blazing Hot Cabbage Rolls - Again within literally one minute - The waitress came up and said the cook said they are very hot! They were Microwaved to perfection!
I could barely stomach them - but was hungry enough to eat them as I had to pay for them anyways!
The Meatloaf Dinner was lacking as well -Potato's were Cold and Probably INSTANT! the Beans were less than Green, and the Meatloaf was smothered in gravy - But my wife to be actually enjoyed the flavor of the meat - so Not all was horrible - although she did not touch the potatoes after noticing they were cold!
Desert - NONE!
The waitress came up to ask us if we wanted desert - Only she did it in a way to make light of our unfortunate dinning experience - At first she made an excuse that the steam table was not up to temperature and thanked me for letting her know - the cook has made the adjustment to the temperature. I wonder how many other things were sitting out not staying warm. Honestly it was almost like she was throwing the cook "under the bus" to take all the blame.
Anyways - to end our dinning experience desert was offered - Only and I quote "Would you like something Cold that is supposed to be Cold?" With that - we asked for our bill - paid and left.
My dinner didn't sit well with me for about an hour or so after we left - it could have been knowing that it was sitting out in an under temperature steamer - or that it was all canned or instant. Or maybe it was just that I paid for a meal that was micro-waved. Not really sure!
What I am sure about is that this experience gave me a BAD TASTE for this Restaurant, even though my wife to be, actually enjoyed her meatloaf - the rest of her dinner was less than desirable!
So here it is everyone - EAT There at your own Risk - Their Slogan is: "You Don't Have to be Polish to Eat Polish". If that is Polish Food - Canned, Instant and Cold - I would rather be anything but Polish!
Wow, I wonder what happened. I found it to be really good, but that was over 4 years ago. The owners were really friendly and it was so owned by a family that "Mama" was the cook. The only way I can understand this would be that "Mama" passed on and the younger gen didn't have the "feel" for the business.
ReplyDeleteJoan, thank you for your comment. Shortly after writing this blog Ski's Polish Restaurant Closed in Sylvania. Perhaps I was not the only unsatisfied customer. It's a shame because Toledo has such a rich Polish community and could use a place that these people could enjoy!
ReplyDeleteComment made by the Average Guy!