Polski Smak Gives Kinnelon a Taste of Poland

If you like Polish food, the fabulous smell from outside , the Polish Delicatessen located on Route 23 South in Kinnelon, will lure you in to a world of gourmet food you thought only your “Babcia” (grandmother) could cook up. Owners Teresa Dabek and Jaroslaw Satabaj, who are in-laws, opened the grocery store and deli in Kinnelon about four years ago and have been welcomed into the community by their customers.

While I was browsing their menu and specials for the day, many customers came in speaking Polish and carried on conversations while their orders were prepared. On this particular evening, Dabek was more than helpful while we sifted through the menu. “I’m here to help you, let me know if you have any questions,” she said.

In addition to the grocery items in the store, up at the deli counter I saw homemade nut rolls-a must at holidays amongst Polish and Slavik cultures. I also saw croquettes, stuffed cabbage, and fresh kielbasa. I picked up two packages of pierogi to try another night, one with meat and one with potato and cheese.

This evening I ordered the Polish Passion ($4.39) which was a sandwich consisting of pressed bacon, ham, meatloaf and cheese on a roll. The smoked flavor of the meat was delicious. The quality is amazing and the amount of meat on the sandwich definitely left me full.

My husband decided to get the Energy Boost ($3.99) which has beer sausage, bacon and cured pork (he added swiss cheese to top it off) and fell in love with Polski Smak. No sandwich is complete without some macaroni salad on the side ($4.99 per pound). We also tried the Croquette with Meat, which had a wonderfully spiced serving of meat inside a crispy shell. We could tell they were homemade and served fresh, with top quality ingredients.

I made the pierogi on a separate night while we had some guests for dinner. My sister said, “they taste like Mom’s!” Polski Smak had several varieties to choose from and I will definitely be back to try some of the other flavors.

Polski Smak's cakes and cookies are also made with natural ingredients and are preservative-free, making each one fresh.“We make everything homemade,” said Dabek. Some of Polski Smak's desserts include Mocha-Amaretto Cake, Peach Cheesecake and butter cookies, in addition to other danishes and goodies.

We were very happy with the authentic meals that came from Polski Smak and look forward to trying other items from their menu.

In addition to the menu, Polski Smak has daily dinner specials which you can find on their web site. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.