What is a Bar Mleczny?
T he literal translation of Bar Mleczny is a ‘Milk Bar’, and in simple word it’s a Polish form of a cafeteria. The raise of this type of small restaurants was after the end of the I World War. Mainly because, in such difficult times, people were able to find cheap but delicious and nourishing food there.
Which Type of Food Can You Eat in a Bar Mleczny?
As the essence of this restaurants remains intact, the type of food that you will find here is Traditional Polish Food! And in case you are not familiarised with Polish cuisine, don’t worry, I will mention now the most popular Polish dishes you will find in a Bar Mleczny, and believe me, they’re delicious:
What is a bar mleczny?
A bar mleczny — literally "milk bar" in Polish (though not to be confused with the Australian milk bar) — is a Polish cafeteria which during the communist era provided government-subsidized traditional Polish cuisine at low cost.
What was the idea behind Warsaw milk bars?
Menu of one of Warsaw's milk bars, 2019. The prevalent idea at that time was to provide all people with cheap meals at the place of their employment. At times, the price of the meals served in the workplace canteens was included in a worker's salary.
What did milk bars serve?
Apart from raw or processed dairy products, milk bars also served egg ( omelets or egg cutlets), cereal or flour-based meals such as pierogi. After the fall of the communist system and the end of the centrally planned economy, the majority of milk bars went bankrupt, as they were superseded by regular restaurants.
When was the first milk bar invented?
The first milk bar, called "Mleczarnia Nadświdrzańska," was established in 1896 in Warsaw by Stanisław Dłużewski, a member of the Polish landed gentry. Although the typical bar mleczny had a menu based on dairy items, these establishments generally also served other, non-dairy traditional Polish dishes as well.
Why did people have milk bars in the 1960s?
In the mid-1960s, milk bars were common as a means of offering cheap meals to people working in companies that had no official canteen. They still served mostly dairy -based and vegetarian meals, especially during the period of martial law in the early 1980s, when meat was rationed. Milk bar at Floriańska 14 in Warsaw.
