Paradise for Students

 Among countless other restaurants in the Krakow old town square is one hidden treasure. Tomasza 20 resto bar is a modern industrial restaurant that offers dishes for a variety of different occasions, from breakfasts with family to evening outings with friends. 

 

The menu is vast. Pasta lovers will be happy to see a section filled with both simple as well as more unusual options. Gnocchi is perhaps one of the more boring ones, but it does not mean that it was bad. After the waiter brought a surprisingly big portion onto the table, the air filled with the smell of fresh spinach. All the little gnocchi were uniform in shape and had a beautiful golden color. The cheese sauce was perfectly savory and creamy. 

 

If the guests are not interested in a visit to Italy for dinner, they can choose a different destination. They may choose a French tartare of American beef. There is, however, no need to travel far at all. The restaurant has a vast section of traditional Polish foods. We decided to try traditional potato pancakes (placki ziemniaczane). These arrived at the table steaming and hot, accompanied by mushroom sauce and coleslaw salad. All the flavors on the plate complemented each other beautifully.  

 

The restaurant also doubles up as a bar. On the menu we can see all well known classic drinks as well as some more quirky ones like Think Pink. The pink drink was overwhelmingly sweet and fruity but still worth its price. It was a good addition to the already great dinner. 

 

The only thing about the place that might be a problem for some is the price. The food is of high quality and delicious but is also simply expensive, around 40 pln for each pasta dish. University students do not have to worry about that. The restaurant offers a generous 50% discount to the lucky owners of students' IDs Monday to Friday and 25% on the weekends.  

 

The restaurant's interior is always dimly lit and has a simple modern interior, which contributes to the fact that, even though the ambiance makes it a perfect place for casual meetings with friends, it is still a classy place fit for professional meetings.  

 

Somehow, despite the popularity of the place, there is always an empty chair for additional guests. Unlike other restaurants in such busy areas, there is no need to wait in line for a table and there is no need to call in to make a reservation. The staff is friendly and always willing to accommodate large groups. Everyone visiting Krakow should take the time to visit this hidden gem of a restaurant.