Author: Lilliane Ballesteros
When I first enter Polka’s small, shared parking lot on the corner of York Boulevard and Verdugo Road, I am somewhat overwhelmed by the excess of decorations lining the front of the restaurant. It almost looks like the front of a nursery, until I step inside and realize that I’m home. In fact, arriving at someone’s home is the best way to describe this intimate, dimly lit restaurant.
Inside, the walls are covered with burgundy laced curtains and a plethora of adornments, including a miniature deer’s head, a collection of clocks, plush animals, butterflies and a corner shelf with books and games for the owners’ children. Sitting at one of the crammed booths, I’m almost sure that the other patrons are undercover spies, meeting for a night of mystery and Klopsy-traditional polish meatballs. The restaurant has a dark and romantic feel to it, yet I still feel as if I have walked into someone’s home during dinner time.
The mood shifts all of a sudden when, before I’ve ordered a dish, I am brought the soup of the day in an oversized mug. After the first sip of this spinach soup with what seems to be a hint of curry, I melt further into the warm and comforting restaurant, allowing myself to enjoy the thick soup. Each spoonful makes me feel more at home.
What comes next is a light salad. Are those blackened sesame seeds? Do I taste celery? A new flavor hits me every time I take a bite. The best part of this little salad is that it comes with a slice of banana on top of it. At first I want to ignore it, but then I realize how refreshing it is after the little green salad.
I order the Klopsy, two tender steaks of mixed ground beef and pork and chicken in brown gravy. Rich in flavor, the meatball crumbles with a gentle push by your fork and you know that this is homemade food because I can see each ingredient, down to tiny bits of onion peeking out from the folds of meat. The accompanying carrots, corn and peas melt in my mouth, mixing with a scoop of flaky mashed potatoes that could make any stomach sigh.
Each dish is made up of simple parts, but what makes them so perfect is that they taste exactly like what they are supposed to taste like. Each flavor is right where it is supposed to be. The meat is succulent, the carrots are a vibrant orange and the mashed potatoes are touchingly homemade. This is a very hearty meal, and I want more.
The Polka tea, which consists of a freshly brewed blend of fine teas with a few drops of rum, rounds the meal off nicely as I enjoy a dessert of light custard with whipped cream and cocoa powder. The cup in which the tea is served looks fragile and it seems that the restaurant’s owners have pulled out their very best china for their guests.
By the end of the meal I find myself full but very happy. Best of all, a meal at Polka is incredibly affordable. The bill comes out to $25 and I am floored. Soup, salad, a full dinner, dessert and a tea. The next time I feel like going home, I can just head over to Polka and enjoy a warm, home-cooked meal for an budget-friendly price.
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
