Opening the doors to Piech’s (pronounced “peaches”) Polish Restaurant and Delicatessen in Libertyville is like entering Mom’s house for Sunday dinner. The aroma of homestyle cooking-potato pancakes grilling, handshaped meatballs cooking and homemade soup simmering-urges you to enjoy a meal prepared the Old-World way.
Maria and Marek Piech are the hosts. “We came directly from Poland to Chicago years ago,” Maria said. “We always used to take rides to see the countryside. We stopped a few times in Libertyville. The heart of Libertyville always reminded us of our small towns in Europe. We eventually moved here.
I noticed that there were no authentic Polish restaurants around,” Maria said. “All of the food served at various places seemed so commercial. I told my husband one day I would like to have my own restaurant with a deli section,” she said, “a place to sell our stuffed cabbage made our special way.” The result for the Piechs has been good and for the community delicious.
“We grind our own beef here,” Maria said. “I don’t trust anyone with the meat that goes into our cooking.” The Piechs also pride themselves on their hand-kneaded pierogis. Absolutely no machines are used in making these delicious dumplings stuffed variously with meat, sauerkraut, cabbage, cheese, mashed potatoes or fresh fruit.
“In the beginning it was very hard,” Maria acknowledged. “I didn’t know that it would cost so many sleepless nights. But now we have many cutomers!” she added with a smile.
Piech’s dining room is intimate-so far the restaurant boasts only seven tables with an extensive deli section nearby. “People who know the food wait,” Maria said. “It makes me feel high-spirited.”
Piech’s prices are reasonable, with potato pancakes for $3.99, a plate of pierogis for $5.75, and a Polish sampler platter for $7.95. They also provide a catering service with everything prepared and boxed to order.
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Piech’s, 318 S. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Phone 708-918-1888.
