[Okay -- not sure how this happened -- but the quote asking about Silesian dumplings is from Cathy2, and my original post, which she was quoting, has vanished.
Don't know if I can recreate all the descriptions from the original post, but I figure I can at least list all the foods we had. (Dining with a large group, so lots of things sampled.)
And mention that they were all beyond fabulous. (Well, almost all beyond fabulous -- the chicken paw was merely "really good" amid a lot of "sensationals.")
Dark bread with butter or smalek (aka "Polish spread") -- which was bacon, bacon fat, garlic and seasonings. Mighty tasty.
Potato and cheese pierogis -- best I've ever had -- tender and flavorful.
Sauerkraut soup -- the kind of deep, rich flavor that suggests long, slow cooking.
Captain's Cutlet -- pork stuffed with cheese and mushrooms, breaded, and lightly fried -- a real "wow" -- crispy, light coating, not heavy.
Chicken paw -- chicken breast wrapped in bacon and served with "hunter sauce" -- tomato sauce with mushrooms and pickles.
"Hoof-shaped dumplings" -- swimming in butter, sprinkled with dill, light as a feather.
Carrot and apple salad, beet salad, and sauerkraut salad. (Sauerkraut salad was surprisingly not terribly sour/sharp -- really lovely and light.)
For dessert: "Attorney's Delight" -- bananas with eggnog liqueur and whipped cream. Split many ways, just to get a spoonful of something sweet at the end of a heavy meal.
Charming exterior and interior can be seen at their website.
U Gazdy
270 W. Irving Park Rd.
Wood Dale
630-694-5840
http://u-gazdy.com/