Barbakan (CLOSED)

The real Barbakan is a gateway to the old city of Krakow in Poland. This one? The gateway to traditional Polish food for novices. Located in the heart of Chicago’s Polish district, Barbakan leaves no stone unturned with a massive menu of greatest hits. Of the half-dozen housemade soups, venture out with the flaczki (tripe) soup, a hearty old-school soup with bits of tripe floating in broth heady with bay leaf. Move on to kotlet milenijny, a crispy boneless pork chop oozing with cheesy mushrooms and topped with a fried egg. The gluttony doesn’t stop there: End with sweet cheese or blueberry pierogi, dusted with sugar and served (of course!) with sour cream for dredging.