Restaurant Relax Blog
Polish Food, Culture & Stories
Since 1997, we’ve been serving Polish food on Newel Street and collecting a few stories along the way. Stories about Polish food, culture, and traditions that traveled across the Atlantic, the dishes generations grew up with, and the holidays that still bring people together around the table.
Here, we share a little of the history, humor, and everyday life behind Polish food. You’ll find celebrations worth remembering, local Greenpoint stories, forgotten characters, familiar flavors, and the occasional confession about pierogi.
Some stories begin in Poland. Others begin right here in Brooklyn. All of them are connected by food, memory, and the people who have walked through the doors of Restaurant Relax.
Pull up a chair. There is always another story to tell.
Felix Miklaszewicz: The Polish Pirate of the American Revolution
Who was Felix Miklaszewicz?Everyone knows Pulaski and Kościuszko but have you heard of Felix Miklaszewicz? A Polish noble who fought the Russian Empire, lost, and fled into exile then joined America's fight for freedom at sea, hunting British ships with a license from...
Polish Father’s Day
Father's Day at RelaxFrom holding the bike to watching them grow up, a dad's job is a series of quiet, core memories. The hands that shaped our days in a thousand little ways. Now the practical part. American Father's Day is today, and on Sundays we are, as tradition...
The Cold Savior
Chłodnik: The Cold Polish Soup That Saves SummerMeet the absolute master of boiling hot summer days: the legendary Polish chłodnik. It is creamy, tangy, crunchy, and packed with old school Polish summertime magic. We serve it in two refreshing ways to rescue your...
Homemade Pierogi. This is how we do it!
Pierogi made fresh by hand at Restaurant RelaxAt Restaurant Relax, we make our pierogi the way they were always meant to be made: one by one, by hand. With flour, patience, and a little Polish stubbornness, every batch is shaped fresh in our Greenpoint kitchen. No...
Memorial Day Weekend
Closed for Memorial Day Weekend & a Family Graduation!Please note that restaurant Relax will be closed from Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25. We are traveling to North Carolina this weekend to celebrate my nephew's graduation and to enjoy the holiday with...
A Mother’s Love
“All I want is mother love…”Freddie Mercury sang these words near the end of his life. And maybe that’s why they feel so true. No matter how far we travel, how old we become, or how strong we pretend to be, there’s still a part of us that longs for the warmth only a...
Sinful Indulgence
Which one is your guilty pleasure?Welcome to Sinful Indulgence at Restaurant Relax where discipline ends and pleasure begins. Be honest. Is it the deep red borscht with little dumplings? The slow cooked goulash with creamy mash? The sizzling sausage with onions and a...
Happy Polish Flag Day & Polish Heritage Day
🤍❤️ Where Poland's White and Red Come FromThere are many stories about where Poland's white and red come from — heraldry, medieval coats of arms, the legend of Lech and the eagle's nest. But the version that stayed with me is the one my grandmother told me as a child:...
Wait… is that wine at Relax?
Wait... Wine at Relax?!Strictly speaking… no. It’s just our signature Clear Red Borscht showing off. Deep, dark ruby-red. Pours like the finest vintage. Tastes like pure Polish comfort. Served warm on chilly days. Served ice-cold on hot summer days. Come for the look…...
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