Warszawa, Santa Monica

Warszawa Polish Cuisine
1414 Lincoln Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401
http://www.warszawarestaurant.com/

Telephone: 310.393.8831

Restaurant:
Tuesday - Saturday:
6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Sunday:
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Patio:
Wednesday - Saturday:
6:00 pm - 2:00 am























Yesterday (Friday) night was a late night at work, but I escaped early, around 8:00, and ran off to go meet some of my friends at Warszawa, a Polish restaurant in Santa Monica (close to the Promenade).

I know it's a Polish place, but I have an affinity for tequila and haven't had any in a while, so I stuck with margaritas. Then one of my friends decided that I needed to try a tatanka, a drink made of Zubrowka vodka (made in Poland) and apple cider. According to that particular website, Zubrowka means "bison grass," which is not something I feel like I would want to willingly put in my mouth.

Since I didn't know any better last night, I drank the tatanka and almost died. It was ... not pleasant. Strong and bitter with an oddly sweet aftertaste, I really did not like it. There are few types of alcohol that I am vehemently opposed to (gin, for one), but Zubrowka's made the list. Gross.

Besides my run-in with the Polish vodka, it was fun. Warszawa (try typing that three times fast) is a casual, weird little place. The patio is outdoors but covered with clear plastic tarp set up in a sort of umbrella shape around a tall palm tree. There's a firepit, a huge projection screen (they were playing baseball and basketball games and then switched to "The Spirit"), several tables, and a pretty well-stocked bar.

Their bartenders were both really nice and very patient with my friend that couldn't decide on what she wanted. One of them put up with my sass when I mouthed off about the type of tequila he was putting in my margarita. Good-natured guys, those two!

I haven't actually eaten at Warszawa, but I've heard the Polish sausage is delicious. Maybe someday I'll go back and actually make it in time for dinner!

Though parking in Santa Monica is awful at best, Warszawa tries to help out with a couple little parking lots, so that was a bonus.

I believe the margaritas were $8 for a pretty large cup (they do clear plastic cups with colorful straws), so the price was right.

Between the company and the drinks, it was a good night.

Too bad I'm still at work the next day, tired from getting home too late!