A Polish restaurant on 20th Street in New West has been receiving nothing but rave reviews on social media.
Some Facebook users give Iwona Pierogies five-out-of-five stars, posting comments like "The pierogies here are phenomenal! Homemade, perfect taste and texture. Honestly, this place is my new favourite."
Another comment reads "The real deal! If you want an authentic pierogi, you gotta eat here."
Business has been booming ever since Richard Mavziaj and Iwona Mieszkowska opened the doors to their family-owned restaurant last November.
"Every month, we do much better than the last. We have many say, 'Oh, it's just like coming to grandma's house,'" Mavziaj told the Record. "I think people enjoy the very intimate and warm atmosphere."
The dining area is modest, with five tables that could seat 15 people. Antiques are scattered around the room, including a painting from 1892 and an old sewing machine. A wall dedicated to pictures is currently taking shape.
The menu itself has something for everyone. You can choose from a list of 16 different pierogies, like sauerkraut and mushroom and potato and onion. If you don't fancy dumplings or cabbage rolls, there's also a variety of salads, paninis and soups (the red borscht has become the No. 1 seller).
"Everything is made fresh in house, so you can expect authentic food. We wanted to bring a pierogi place to New West because there's nothing really like this around here," Mieszkowska said.
Prices, meanwhile, have been kept at an affordable level. Combos cost $12 while eight pierogies will set you back $9.
"We've actually had customers tell us we're charging too little for what they're getting. One guy said, 'What? Only $12? How can you make a living from this?'"
Before opening the restaurant, the couple had been making pierogies in Richmond and selling them wholesale to surrounding delis, but the idea of starting something of their own bounced around for a bit.
"Originally, we thought of having maybe two tables in a small café and selling the pierogies over-the-counter, but then we found this location and it worked," Mieszkowska added.
When asked about naming the business after his partner, Mavziaj smiled and explained Iwona Pierogies has a second meaning.
"I want a pierogi. Get it?" he chuckled. "We were also thinking Pierogi House or Pierogaria."
A big advertisement tool for the restaurant has been the nearby traffic lights. Mieszkowska said because drivers are forced to stop and look around, their eye usually catches the black and white sign.
"It's not the most attractive area, and we don't get a lot of people walking by, but it hasn't been too bad for us," she said.
Located at 806 20th Street, the restaurant is open seven days a week for now, until the pair can decide on which day to close. And with only two other helpers in the kitchen, things can get hectic when there's a full house.
"It can be stressful back there because you want to be fast and not make mistakes with the pierogies. People will order four, but all will be a different kind," Mieszkowska said.
In their fifties and sixties, the couple has no plans to retire anytime soon.
"This is our hobby," Mavziaj said. "We want to share our pierogies with everyone, not just the Polish people, but with those who have never tried them."
For more information and to view the full menu, visit iwonapierogies.ca.
