The Villa Foksal restaurant is located downtown on quiet Foksal Street. The menu features Polish interpretations of international cuisine. Villa Foksal, which opened six years ago, is successor to the former Zachęta restaurant. The menu is the result of both restaurants' nine years of experience.

First impressions of Villa Foksal indicate that it is an exclusive place. Marble floors match the rest of the interior, there is a large garden... in other words, everybody thinks it is an expensive restaurant and as a result some potential guests do not even look at the menu. "That is a mistake," says Robert Graliński, the manager. "I truly believe that for this quality of food, interior decor, service and neighborhood, the prices are not high at all. Salads cost zl.24-30, cold starters zl.24-30, pastas around zl.30 and for a main course you will pay zl.38-60. The one exception is the Argentine tenderloin for zl.79."

Inside the restaurant there is room for 150 people in four rooms. Separate lounges can also be arranged for guests at no extra charge. The 1,200 square meter garden can accommodate up to 500 guests.

According to Graliński's observations, foreign visitors to Villa Foksal can be identified by the kinds of meat they choose. The French are enthusiasts of beef tenderloin and duck, while English speakers tend to order a lot of meat dishes but are not interested in poultry. Italians, in turn, savor tenderloin and veal. Pork loins are an absolute hit with Poles and foreigners alike. Guests also pay a great deal of attention to the sauces, pork loin in porcini sauce being very popular. Foreigners who have lived in Poland for a while enjoy the flavor of Polish tenderloin; Americans say it is far better than in the United States. The difference in the quality of meat stems from the fact that cattle in the United States are primarily corn-fed.

Interest in meat tartar is declining and so the restaurant serves many kinds of fish tartar, including salmon, herring and tuna. Tastes are changing. Just three years ago, patrons ordered a lot of fusion dishes-East-West, everything on one plate. Today, Villa Foksal's guests are returning to their roots and increasingly order Polish specialties, such as pork chops with potatoes and fried cabbage.

The wine list features vintners from all the more important regions of the world, such as France, Southern Europe-which is a new region as far as wine is concerned, Chile, South Africa and Australia. Even the most demanding wine connoisseurs can find their favorite bottle at Villa Foksal.

Villa Foksal Restaurant
3/5 Foksal St., open daily from noon to 11 p.m. For reservations call tel. 0-22 827-87-16, info@restauracjavillafoksal.pl