Alef

A really splendidly-decorated and furnished restaurant in Kazimierz will evoke life in this part of the town before the war - elegant and rather cultured. Naturally there's a predominance of Jewish specialities on the menu, such as Tchorba, Carp and Herring, and live concerts of Jewish music regularly accompany meals here, but there's little sense of artifice. Friendly staff and a couple of friendly cats make this a pretty homely affair, and there are welcoming guest rooms available as well to make the experience complete.

Alef

"Thoroughly disappointed with our meal here. The staff were surly and unwelcoming. The beetroot soup was good but the main course was bland and unappealing. We did not hand around for pudding. To be avoided I think."

Bev Miller
United Kingdom
Mar.12.2007
Overall rating 1/5

"Lovely surroundings and good staff but food was dreadful. I had the roast goose which was overcooked and tasted like how I would imagine rubber would be. 'Vegetables' also lacked taste. Expensive for such very poor quality. I had looked forward to eating here and was immensely disappointed. Concert was good though! My advice? Go elsewhere!"

Jill
United Kingdom
Aug.29.2006
Overall rating 1/5

"friendly staff - where are they? certainly not at this rather over rated restaurant. We were served stale bread rolls and goose pate by a waitress who was bordering on hostile! The waiter wasnt any better I have to say. This is the second time I have tried this place - last year it was very busy so I put the stand offish attitude down to the fact that the staff were rushed. No excuse this time. Alefs have lost me as a customer not that I expect they care."

Sarah
United Kingdom
Mar.13.2006
Overall rating 1/5

"this restaurant is a delight! the food is excellent, particularly the herring - a must try for any visitor to krakow. maybe the service has been improved since the last reviewer's attack. we thought it was pretty good by polish standards. the waiters are quite abrasive at first but soften as your meal goes on. the atmosphere is cosy and beautiful. we had a great experience and will be going back again."

elizabeth
Australia
Dec.29.2005
Overall rating 4/5

"This is one of the worst restaurants I've ever been to. Service is horrible, food is not tasty at all and to us it seemed like they served home made vine in glasses. (This is the only explanation for charging less for pr glass, than when you buy a whole bottle) We found flakes of something at the bottom of the glasses and the taste was awfull. We were not offered new vine and had to argue with the waiter when we diden't want to pay for this vine. Music is so high you have trouble talking to the others around your table and the prices are about the highest i Cracow. Stay away!!"

Stig
Norway
Sep.26.2005
Overall rating 1/5

"Have been going to this restaurant regularly for the last year, and always impressed. Yes, the service is 'relaxed' but that's what you expect in Poland - it isn't the fast-paced West! I've heard that it is best to go on a weekday evening when it is often less crowded, the service is more attentive and the kitchen less rushed. Two dishes stand out for me; firstly the Stuffed Goose Necks, and secondly, arguably my favourite dish in Krakow, the Roast Goose"

Simon
Poland
Jun.17.2005
Overall rating 5/5

"We first ate at Alef on a rainy night in fall 2002 and had a superb experience that was a highlight of our trip. So much so that when traveling the next year we just had to again visit wonderful Krakow and the wonderful Alef. Delicious kugel, herring, borscht, mushroom soup, all out of this world, in such a cozy and inviting place, complete with a very sweet cat. Don't expect the fast paced dining we Americans are used to at home; they will let you sit there all night unless you tell them you're ready to go and want the check. If you're anywhere near Krakow, don't miss this place."

An Alef Fan
United States
Jun.18.2004
Overall rating 5/5

"Great interior, but miserable service. After waiting 15 minutes just to place an order, we simply couldn't have been bothered to try the food, however good it might have been. These guys have obviously gotten used to a captive audience and couldn't care about customer service. Bring on the competition!"

Michael Roberts
United States
May.22.2004
Overall rating 1/5

"We really liked this on our trip to Krakow. They have a very nice courtyard where you can have a coffee. Inside you can have a romantic candle-lit dinner. Its like time stopped in the 1930's. Well worth popping in."

Richard Fowler
United Kingdom
Sep.22.2003
Overall rating 4/5