There are restaurants and bars in Warsaw that will make you feel like you were in the land of the Statue of Liberty. Forget fast food, below you will find the addresses of places that best know how to prepare a genuine steak, BBQ sauce and American brownies. In these restaurants, you will feel very close to the United States.

Champions Sports Bar Restaurant at the Marriott Hotel, 65/79 Jerozolimskie Ave., tel. 0-22 630-51-19, www.champions.pl

This is a place where devoted sports fans can gather and watch the talented athletes who visit Champions. You can watch several events simultaneously on one of the bar's 34 TV sets, soccer on one, for example, while squash and volleyball on others. Popular events are shown on two of Warsaw's largest TV screens. The walls display T-shirts from American basketball gods Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, boxing gloves worn by Dariusz Michalczewski, official balls that were kicked during soccer World Cups since 1966, the first model of the legendary Converse All-Star and many more pieces of sports memorabilia.

The sports spirit is present in the menu, too-which features the largest steaks and burgers in town, and real American coffee. We recommend the mushroom Power Chowder, Shaquille O'Neal's favorite dish. The restaurant specializes in the contemporary cuisine of both Americas, but it also serves a wide selection of international dishes. Some of the more notable dishes include the Mexican Wave (zl.13)-a corn tortilla with cheddar cheese and tomato salsa, quesadilla with chicken (zl.32) and hockey sticks (zl.25). The Final Countdown (zl.28) is juicy roast beef served with a horseradish sauce and coleslaw. You can also go for the Bambino spare ribs or the Cowboy's Steak (zl.55).

The largest hamburgers in town cost zl.41 for two gigantic sandwiches, served with bacon, Swiss cheese and French fries. To complete your order, try Trofeum (zl.21), an American chocolate cake with ice-cream and whipped cream, or Marathon (zl.19)-New York City cheesecake with strawberry sauce and whipped cream.

West Side, 17 Usypiskowa St., tel. 0-22 668-81-61, www.westside.pl
This restaurant is situated in a beautiful villa with a summer patio. The name suits the Wild West atmosphere, with its wooden features, lively colors and rodeo hats. There is both regular live music and evenings of dance. The menu features international cuisine, including American dishes, and a separate children's menu.

For starters, you can choose chili con carne (zl.16), beef crepes topped with roasted onions (zl.14) or from a selection of salads (Nicoise, Greek, Caesar's, Balkan). As for main courses, fans of American cuisine should be happy with the West Side Steak (zl.34)-a sirloin stuffed with blue cheese, or the steak au poivre (zl.32). Another recommendable main dish is the spare ribs (zl.25) served with honey-mustard sauce, French fries and vegetables. Interesting fish dishes include the salmon steak (zl.30) with a lemon and white wine sauce and the butterfish (zl.31) in a brandy sauce, served with wild rice and vegetables. Desserts are a little more traditional, and include a banana split with ice-cream and whipped cream (zl.9), cheesecake with nuts and chocolate topping (zl.10) and crepes with fruit and whipped cream (zl.9).

Subway: 31 Jerozolimskie Ave., tel. 0-22 745-53-33, Galeria Mokotów, 12 Wołoska St. store no. 307, tel. 0-22 541-32-77; www.kanapkowauczta.pl
The Subway chain has over 25,000 restaurants in 84 countries around the globe and are famous for their submarine sandwiches, or subs-which are made fresh before the customers' eyes. Both of Warsaw's Subway outlets, like those around the world, freshly bake five kinds of bread throughout the day, including Parmesan/oregano and five grain. Customers choose all the ingredients for the sandwiches themselves, picking from a wide range of options.

At Subway, you can also get fresh salads, including tuna, Greek, chicken in addition to hot soups, which were recently added to the menu. Subway also bakes delicious American cookies.

The sandwiches come in two sizes; 15 and 30 centimeters, with a choice of five kinds of bread, eight kinds of cold cuts and 14 original sauces. The menu includes sandwiches such as Spicy Italian (salami, pepperoni, cheese, vegetables), Seafood and Crab, Subway Club (roast beef, ham and turkey breast), Cowboy Style Turkey, Cheesesteak, and many more. We recommend the wrap, which is a delicious tortilla filled with meat, cheese and sauce. Sandwiches can be ordered as a meal, and are then accompanied by a beverage or salad. Children under 12 can choose a Kid Pack. All sandwiches can be served either hot or cold.

Subway is a good alternative to traditional, greasy fast-food.
Louisiana, 82 Jana Pawła II Ave. (Arkadia Shopping Mall), tel. 0-22 318-12-25, www.louisiana.pl
The restaurant takes its name and culinary inspiration from the southern U.S. state on the Gulf of Mexico. Culturally, Louisiana sits on the border of different cultures, and the state's cuisine reflects this diversity, with influences from Mexican and French cuisines. Dishes in Louisiana and those found at the Warsaw restaurant are lavishly seasoned.

Try dishes like the Jambalaya-a rice-based dish that blends meats and seafood, American burgers and soups, including clam chowder and Gumbo, a thick and spicy soup with chicken and clams. Vegetarians can choose between vegetarian tortilla, penne with grilled vegetables and for starters, nachos with two kinds of cheese.

One of the most filling dishes is a selection of meats with potatoes served with a salad. To finish off, guests can have a truly American dessert-hot apple pie with ice-cream.

Visitors to Louisiana can also watch sports and movies on the TV sets and projector. Chicago's, 41 Żelazna St. tel. 0-22 890-09-99, www.chicagos.pl
This stylish restaurant recreates the atmosphere of 1950s America. Chicago's is housed in an old apartment building, with souvenirs and various photos from the era on the walls. The people at Chicago's say no bar in Chicago would be ashamed to offer a selection of drinks like the one found in Warsaw, and the menu is just as enticing. You can't go wrong by starting off with Chicago's Hot Wings (zl.12 and zl.20) or Chicago's Breaded Shrimps (zl.29). Main courses, which come with rice, baked potatoes or fries, include Chicago's BBQ Ribs (zl.22 and zl.32)-pork spare ribs with spicy Chicago-style BBQ sauce, fries and salad, and Grilled Pork Tenderloin (zl.26). Make sure you don't miss Chicago's Black Tiger Shrimps (zl.48), baked with garlic and thyme and served with baked potatoes and vegetables.
For dessert, ice-cream (zl.15) is served with fruit and chocolate chips.

Jeff's, 12 Wołoska St. (Galeria Mokotów), tel. 0-22 541-34-90, www.jeffs.pl
Warsaw has two American Jeff's restaurants with truly American cuisine. One is situated at the popular Galeria Mokotów mall and the other is on Żwirki i Wigury Street (corner of Banacha Street), in the Pola Mokotowskie park. The interiors of both places are replicate modern American restaurants, complete with photos, posters, brick walls, wooden furniture, music, lively colors and smiling waiters. Jeff's serves unique and very filling Tex-Mex cuisine (a Texas take on Mexican specialties).

Jeff's invites you to take a culinary tour of the United States and Mexico. You can start with crispy and spicy Chicken Wings and then take a quick trip to Mexico for the Santa Fe Taco Salad, served in a large taco shell. For something more filling, order the Baby Back Ribs. The classic American Cheeseburger at Jeff's is served with double cheese. All burgers and sandwiches come with French fries and coleslaw and can be cooked medium-rare or well-done.

Jeff's has a lot of grilled dishes, including New York Steak with herb butter, Teriyaki Pork Steak served on a hot plate with Wasabi sauce and Southern Sam's Baby Back Ribs that are served with BBQ or honey-nut sauce, corn on the cob, fries and coleslaw. For dessert, you can have a White Chocolate Brownie that is served hot with vanilla ice-cream and maple syrup.

Restaurant '99, 23 Jana Pawła II Ave., tel. 0-22 620-19-99
Opened in 1997, Restaurant '99 boasts an open kitchen with a wood-fired oven, a central grill and a modern interior. It was designed by San Francisco architect Cass Calder Smith. The place offers a creative, international menu and wines from around the world. Some of the more interesting proposals include duck Carpaccio served with a truffle dressing and the Caesar salad with bacon, chicken and beef. You can also try the unusual beef tenderloin (200 and 400 grams) served with fried potatoes, snap peas and Peruvian red and orange anticucho sauce. Restaurant '99 serves a roast loin of New Zealand lamb on eggplant with dumplings, with a thyme dressing and a rucola salad. Gourmets will appreciate the Bourride Chowder with salmon and green onions and the Salmon Fillet, served with a butter-and-lemon sauce and pea risotto.

Every day, Restaurant '99 runs special promotions, such as handing out free bottles of wine with dinner.