So, errrr, have you tried SOWA?
What better way to spend a cold and rainy Thursday evening than with a fellow foodie at one of Ealing’s fine eateries. In the case of this Thursday, Sowa, located on High Street in Ealing Broadway with Emma from @Epsom_Living. Having a number of Polish friends, we still find it shocking that we haven’t really tried a lot of Polish food and their famous dumplings (nothing rude, thank you very much!) So, we decided to rectify this at one of Ealing’s favourite Polish restaurants, Sowa. Having already tried twice previously to secure a table at this popular spot (and failed), we finally hit upon a brief quiet period for this place and nabbed ourselves a nice cosy little nook by the window.
Well, I never!
What a lovely feeling to be ushered into the calm, warm atmosphere of the restaurant by their staff and instantly be given the choice of two equally well positioned tables. The chance to cosy up near the back and watch the comings and goings of the restaurant, or right in the window to enjoy watching the world go by whilst feeling very snuggly and smug! We opted for the window and were taken to a beautifully prepared table. Smart and elegant is the general feel in Sowa which we weren’t expecting. With other, newer, kids on the block in Ealing who have certainly raised the bar when it comes to fine dining in the borough, Sowa doesn’t do enough to shout about their perfect atmosphere for a date night, or a night out catching up with close friends. It’s simply perfect for either occasion, and also for group dining for which they certainly have the space!
Get ready, set …… starters 😋
Once seated we ordered a glass of their house red, having already been advised that red was the way to go with the heavy, meaty dishes on offer, and we weren’t disappointed. Even though we then ordered a fish starter, it suited perfectly and moved with us neatly onto the much meatier main. Our foodie companion ordered dumplings with smoked cottage cheese in a buttermilk sauce whilst EatInEaling ordered the marinated herrings, cucumber, pickled onion, escargot caviar, apple and beetroot starter which came with thin slices of fresh bread and butter. To say the portion sizes when these dishes arrived was generous would be to do a dis-service to the chef. Our food arrived and what perfect presentation, particularly for the herring. Almost like a fish tartare, appetising to look at with it’s cold, fresh appearance and sprays of bright colour and what we knew would be additional flavours dotted in orbit around the main show. We wolfed it all down and it was beautiful. The cottage cheese dumplings were moreish and comforting for a cold January evening, whilst the marinated herring was deliciously salty, but not too much so, thanks to the pickled cucumbers and onions around the plate.
Goosey goosey gander…..
Once the remnants of our starters were cleared, we prepared for our mains, and boy, were we ever in for a good feed. Once again, on arrival at our table we did share a moment of panic at just how generous the portion sizes were but we soldiered on! 😜 For our companion, old Polish-style beef roulade, Silesian dumplings with beetroot and horseradish. Alongside the generous slices of roulade were no less than 5 fat, golden dumplings. They were thick, moist and ever so good and hearty. A perfect response to fending off the miserable weather outside. For ourselves, Goose meat pierogi with shallots and truffle sauce. We were given 6 of these huge beauties to slowly destroy and savour. Almost like eating large, flattened out gnocchi with a deep, meaty filling. Soft to cut into, smells to savour and textures which melt-in-the- mouth. We certainly should not have made it our mission to clean the plate, but clean the plate we did (sadly our waist lines were a bit horrified with us afterwards. 😮)
Dessert or desertion?!
Plates cleaned, wine drunk, top buttons popped. The prospect of dessert winking at us from their patisserie counter which you can visit during daylight hours. We just couldn’t and so decided a second visit for elevenses or afternoon tea would need to be arranged. We’ve seen their captivating desserts daily displayed in the windows whilst out doing the mundane tasks of a regular week. This is certainly now an excuse to pop in for a breather and moment of quiet calm with a slice of something perfect and a cup of something hot.
Sowa, you are a quiet gem in the heart of the borough and we love you just a bit .😚