Calling all curious foodies eager to explore new flavors! These three Slavic restaurants in Paris offer the best pierogis, borscht, and schnitzels with a touch of avant-garde flair that will make you want to return again and again.
Polish Delights at Matka
Atmosphere: Polish cuisine has often been underrated, but chef Piotr Korzen is changing that. Located on the charming rue Quincampoix, Matka feels like stepping into a Pinterest-worthy family home, with wooden accents, floral vases, embroidered curtains, and quaint knick-knacks. The bar opens up to a spacious room with a high ceiling and a typical courtyard view.
Specialties: Matka, meaning "mother" in Polish, brings the chef’s childhood memories to life in a modern bistro style. Highlights include buckwheat blinis with trout, kohlrabi, and buttermilk sauce (€16), cold beet soup Chlodnik with cucumber and dill (€12), and potato pierogis with grilled onions and sour cream (€23). Don't miss the ultra-tender chicken roulade with carrot, raisins, almonds, and apricots (€30). Lunch menus are available on weekdays for €29. The wine list features selections from Poland, Hungary, and Austria, including a sparkling wine by the glass (€12).
Matka, 78 rue Quincampoix, Paris 3e. Tel: 01 44 93 58 14. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 pm to 2 pm and 7:15 pm to 10 pm.
© Géraldine Martens
Ukrainian Comfort at La Datcha
Atmosphere: Chef Maksym Zorin (Le Meurice, Allard) brings the warmth of a Ukrainian countryside home to Paris with La Datcha. The restaurant is filled with the scent of hay and features rustic wood tables set on hay bales, surrounded by fresh and dried flower arrangements.
Specialties: Maksym Zorin combines French and Ukrainian culinary traditions with a focus on vegetables. Start with salmon ravioli (a twist on pierogis) with zucchini, celery purée, and mustard sauce (€18). Follow with perfectly cooked octopus served with buckwheat risotto, roasted multicolored carrots, pak choi, and a sweet carrot jus (€29). The red mullet with beurre blanc and grapefruit (€33) is a standout. For dessert, try the poached peach on a buttery flaky pastry (€14) or the poached rhubarb with vanilla cream, crumble, and granola (€14).
La Datcha, 62 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, Paris 11e. Tel: 01 88 61 49 65. Open Monday to Sunday from 12 pm to 2:30 pm and 7 pm to 10:30 pm. Online reservations available.
© Salomé Rateau
Balkan Flavors at Ibrik Kitchen
Atmosphere: Located on a quiet street in the Sentier district, Ibrik Kitchen, run by Romanian Ecaterina Paraschiv, offers a relaxed and cozy vibe. The interior features a large bar with high seating, elegant black marble tables, pink banquettes, and a central communal table that seats up to 10. A charming terrace adds to the appeal. At night, the restaurant glows with candlelight, creating an even cozier atmosphere.
Specialties: Ibrik Kitchen’s menu blends Eastern European and Mediterranean flavors. Must-tries include smoked mackerel kefta with light mayo (€11), schnitzel with poultry in breadcrumbs, garlic potato, pecorino, and scallion sauce (€19), and Souvlaki with marinated poultry skewers cooked on a barbecue and served with mint cream (€19). For sharing, the barbecued smoked sea bream with confit vegetables (€24 per person) is a highlight. For dessert, the Papanas—cheese-filled churros with jam and cream (€12)—are a sweet delight that will have you coming back for more.
Ibrik Kitchen, 9 rue de Mulhouse, Paris 2e. Tel: 01 70 69 42 50. Open Tuesday to Sunday from noon to midnight.
Discover also Ora Farmhouse, the trendiest bucolic spot of the moment, and three pop-up menus to try right now.
