💡 At the bakery you say poproszę (may I have) and name the amount: dwie bułki, chleb, drożdżówkę (sweet bun). On Tłusty Czwartek (Fat Thursday) everyone buys pączki.
💡 In Polish bakeries bread is often sliced free of charge: Pokroić? is how they ask. It is sliced on a machine and put in a paper bag.
💡 At bakeries they ask Podgrzać? (warm it up); Smacznego! means "enjoy your meal", and you reply Dziękuję, wzajemnie.
💡 Order a cake (tort) a few days ahead: give the day, the number of guests, the flavour and the inscription you want on it.
💡 Kawa czarna is black, kawa z mlekiem with milk, latte and cappuccino are known everywhere; they ask the size (mała, duża) and na miejscu czy na wynos.
💡 Polish cafés often have sernik (cheesecake), szarlotka (apple pie), makowiec (poppy seed cake); they ask na ciepło? (warm) and ze śmietaną (with cream).
💡 In most Polish cafés you can sit and wait to be served, but in some you order at the counter; if unsure, ask: Czy mogę tu usiąść?
💡 In Poland BLIK is very common - a payment by a code from the bank app; ask Czy mogę zapłacić BLIK-iem? Cards are usually paid contactless (zbliżeniowo).
💡 Small cafés and markets are sometimes cash or BLIK only; ask beforehand: Czy mogę zapłacić kartą?
💡 Wifi in cafés is often free; the password is written on the menu, a board or the receipt.
💡 Kranówka is tap water (colloquial), safe to drink in Poland; you can ask for it in a café, but some places charge a small fee for a glass.
💡 In Poland you buy ice cream by the scoop (gałka): jedna gałka, dwie gałki; it comes w rożku (in a cone) or w kubku (in a cup).
💡 In a restaurant you usually wait until the waiter shows you a table; say Mam rezerwację na nazwisko... if you booked.
💡 On menus look for danie dnia (dish of the day), zupa dnia (soup of the day) and polecamy (we recommend); Smacznego! is the standard wish when food is served.
💡 Allergens (alergeny) are marked in the menu by numbers or letters; nuts are orzechy, gluten gluten, lactose laktoza. Asking about this is normal.
💡 A tip (napiwek) in Poland is about ten percent and not mandatory; you say Reszty nie trzeba (keep the change) or add it on the terminal.
💡 Pointing out a mistake politely is normal: Przepraszam, to nie jest to, co zamawiałem. The waiter usually replaces the dish at once.
💡 Krzesełko dla dziecka is a high chair, menu dla dzieci a children's menu; many restaurants have play corners (kącik zabaw).
💡 At weekends it is wise to book a restaurant ahead: you give the day, time, number of people and surname; if you are late, phone and say so.
💡 In Polish restaurants on weekdays there is a zestaw obiadowy or danie dnia: soup and a main course at a lower price; schabowy is a breaded pork cutlet.
💡 Paying separately is normal in Poland: the waiter asks Razem czy osobno?; you tip (napiwek) by rounding up, usually about ten percent; say Reszty nie trzeba.
💡 Pierogi ruskie are not "Russian" but dumplings with cheese and potato (the name comes from Ruthenia); they have no meat. Ask directly: bez mięsa, bez ryby.
💡 Say a complaint about food calmly and politely: Przepraszam, ...; waiters usually put it right gladly, so there is no need to feel shy.
💡 Zapiekanka is a baked baguette with cheese and mushrooms, Polish street fast food; they ask for the sauce: keczup czy czosnkowy?
💡 A bar mleczny is a cheap canteen with Polish food: you order and pay at the till, get a number, and the food is handed out from a window; you can eat on site at shared tables.