Balkan Bakery & Cafe Menu

Pączki & Fried Dough

Rich fried yeast doughs, most famously the pączki of Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesday.

• Custard PączekVegetarian · SeasonalPączek filled to bulging with vanilla pastry cream, finished with powdered sugar for a softer, creamier variation.
• Prune Pączek (Powidła)Vegetarian · SeasonalClassic version filled with thick, dark, slow-cooked plum butter that is tangy, deep and only lightly sweet.
• Chruściki (Angel Wings)VegetarianThin ribbons of dough twisted into bows, fried until shatteringly crisp and buried under powdered sugar.
• OponkiVegetarianRing-shaped cheese doughnuts made with farmer's cheese, giving a moist, tender interior and a sugared crust.
• PączkiVegetarian · SeasonalRich, eggy fried doughnuts that are denser than American versions, filled with rose-hip jam, plum butter or custard and dusted with sugar or glazed.

Cakes & Babka

Coffee cakes and layered slices that fill a Polish bakery counter.

• BabkaVegetarian · Popular pickTall, fluted yeast cake with a fine, buttery crumb, often swirled with chocolate or flavored with rum and raisins, topped with icing.
• Placek z KruszonkąVegetarianYeast coffee cake topped with a thick buttery crumble, sometimes layered with plums, apples or blueberries.
• SernikVegetarianPolish cheesecake made with twaróg farmer's cheese, dense yet light, often with raisins and a lattice or chocolate top.
• MakowiecVegetarian · Contains nutsRolled yeast cake spiraled with a thick filling of ground poppy seeds, honey, raisins, walnuts and orange peel.
• SzarlotkaVegetarianPolish apple cake with grated or sliced tart apples between layers of crumbly shortcrust, scented with cinnamon.
• Napoleonka (Kremówka)VegetarianTwo sheets of crisp puff pastry sandwiching a thick layer of vanilla custard, dusted heavily with powdered sugar.
• PiernikVegetarian · SeasonalDark honey spice cake layered with plum jam and coated in chocolate, flavored with cinnamon, clove and ginger.

Cookies & Small Sweets

Pastries sold by the piece or pound for coffee and holiday trays.

• KołaczkiVegetarian · Popular pickDelicate cream cheese pastry squares folded around apricot, raspberry, prune or poppy seed filling and dusted with sugar.
• MazurekVegetarian · SeasonalFlat Easter tart on a shortbread base covered with caramel, nuts and dried fruit arranged in decorative patterns.
• PierniczkiVegetarian · SeasonalSmall iced gingerbread cookies cut into hearts and stars, chewy and fragrant with honey and warm spice.
• RogalikiVegetarianCrescent cookies of tender yeasted or cheese dough rolled around a dollop of jam, crumbly and lightly sweet.
• PtyśVegetarianPolish cream puff with a crisp choux shell filled generously with whipped cream or custard.
• Kruche CiasteczkaVegetarian · Contains nutsShort butter cookies with a sandy texture, sometimes decorated with jam centers or chopped walnuts.

Breads & Rolls

Rye loaves, sourdough rounds and everyday rolls.

• BułkiVegetarian · VeganSoft, crusty white rolls with a split top, used for breakfast sandwiches or served alongside soup.
• ChałkaVegetarianBraided egg bread with a golden glossy crust and fluffy crumb, often sprinkled with crumble or poppy seeds.
• ObwarzanekVegetarian · VeganKraków-style braided bread ring, boiled then baked, with a chewy bite and a topping of poppy, sesame or salt.
• CebularzVegetarian · SavoryFlat wheat roll from Lublin topped with sautéed onions and poppy seeds, soft and savory-sweet.
• Polish Rye (Chleb Żytni)Vegetarian · VeganSourdough rye bread with caraway seeds, a chewy crust and a pleasantly sour, aromatic crumb.
• Chleb WiejskiVegetarian · VeganCountry-style wheat and rye round with a rugged crust, ideal for kanapki topped with butter and ham.

Savory & Deli

Hot and cold items often sold alongside the baked goods.

• Kiełbasa RollSavorySmoked Polish sausage wrapped in soft yeast dough and baked golden, a hand-held snack for the road.
• PasztecikSavoryYeasted pastry filled with seasoned ground meat, crisp-edged and traditionally served warm with a cup of clear barszcz.
• KrokietySavoryThin crêpes rolled around meat or sauerkraut filling, breaded and pan-fried to a crunchy finish.
• Paszteciki z KapustąVegetarian · SavorySmall flaky turnovers stuffed with braised cabbage and wild mushrooms, a meatless choice for Lent and Wigilia.
• PierogiSavoryHalf-moon dumplings filled with potato and cheese, sauerkraut and mushroom, or meat, sold fresh or frozen for boiling and frying.

Soups

Daily soups served by the cup or bowl, often with a slice of bread on the side.

• Chicken noodle soupSavoryClear, savory broth with shredded chicken, wide egg noodles, carrots, celery and fresh parsley; homestyle, warming and gently seasoned.
• French onion soupSavoryDeeply caramelized onions in beef broth, topped with a toasted crouton and a blistered cap of melted Gruyère.
• Lentil vegetable soupVegan · Gluten-freeHearty soup of brown lentils, carrots, celery and tomato with cumin and thyme; earthy and filling.
• New England clam chowderSavoryCreamy chowder with clams, potatoes, onion and a touch of bacon, thick enough to coat a spoon.
• Tomato basil bisqueVegetarian · Gluten-freeSmooth, creamy tomato soup brightened with fresh basil; a natural partner for a grilled cheese or a hunk of baguette.
• Broccoli cheddar soupVegetarianThick, velvety soup of tender broccoli florets in a sharp cheddar base, often served in a sourdough bread bowl.

Drinks

• AmericanoVeganEspresso stretched with hot water into a full-size cup; lighter in body than drip yet keeps the toasty edge of the shot.
• CappuccinoVegetarianEqual-ish parts espresso, steamed milk, and airy foam cap, giving a drier, stronger-tasting drink than a latte with a velvety top layer.
• Caffè latteVegetarianEspresso with plenty of steamed milk and a thin microfoam layer; mellow and creamy, often finished with latte art and offered with oat or almond milk.
• Flat whiteVegetarianA smaller, stronger cousin of the latte: a double ristretto under silky, barely-foamed milk for a dense texture and pronounced coffee flavor.
• MochaVegetarianEspresso, chocolate sauce, and steamed milk, sometimes crowned with whipped cream; a dessert-leaning drink balancing cocoa richness with coffee bite.
• EspressoVeganA concentrated one- or two-ounce shot pulled under pressure, topped with tawny crema and carrying bittersweet, roasty notes with a short, syrupy finish.