Smakowski’s Deli

My grandparents were Eastern European, Slovak, and I remember the food having a lot more flavor. The pierogi eps are kind of bland, and honestly if you put 3 or 4 different varieties in a sampler plate, I’d be hard pressed to tell you hat was in each.
I’m really disappointed, as I’ve yet to find a deli that brings back those tastes I grew up with.

A good local polish deli, though on the expensive side. We ordered a number of the kielbasa, and some perougies. Overall it was a good experience with friendly staff that helped us make up out minds. I wouldn’t come here to get much more than a few sausages though.

I had a hankering for high quality old world hot dogs with that crunchy snap to them when bitten (type with skin on) without having to make the trek out to the Wisconsin border.
So these Polish Deli’s throughout the NW burbs came to mind. Decided to try Smakowski’s. The place was rather small compared to Krystyna’s, EuroFresh, and Farm Fresh. All they had in the hot dog dept were veal wieners at $ 4.79 a lb. So I got 7 dogs for $ 7.60.
They looked great and tasted good but their skin was so tough, it ruined my beautiful Chicago Dogs. They didn’t snap and crunch but instead my sandwich went smush and became a slippery mess when I had to fight the darn thing and pull it from my clenched teeth like a play toy from a dog.
Never coming back here for dogs. So frustrating that they could not get something so simple right.

I was driving by and hungry. I have been to Tony’s a bunch and thought about turning around. But decided to try a new place. I went in for a sandwich. They are an authentic polish deli. Every thing was in polish. I asked if they made sandwiches. The counter person was very nice and helpful. She gave me some cards with 6 sandwiches, but I could get what ever I wanted. I ordered the Polish sandwich. Duhhh. The bread was amazing. They make it fresh and the oven just finished a batch. The meat was very good and a lot of it. Price wise it was a five star. The meat tasted very fresh and flavorful. It was tied for the best italian sandwich in the area in my opinion. Didn’t give it five stars because I don’t think a sandwich can ever be five stars.

A wonderful deli with fresh-​made food, an amazing array of cold cuts and cheeses, a little bit of fresh meat, and lots of amazing baked goods.
I usually come in ever week or every two weeks to stock up on sliced ham, swiss cheese, polish mustard, pickled beets, veg pierogi w grilled onion topping, rye bread, berry sufganiyot, and some fruit and nut chocolate.

Not bad. First when I walked in I didn’t think they made deli sandwiches since I didn’t any menus up or anything but when I asked, the girl was nice about handing me the menus of what sandwiches they had that were supposed to be hanging up.
Anyway, I got the turkey sandwich on rye. It was pretty good. Definitely wouldn’t say the best deli sandwich I’ve had in that area, especially compared to Capri deli, right around the corner which I dearly love. However, it was good enough to satisfy my taste buds.

Darn good polish deli. Lots of fresh meats and a better selection of sausages (both smoked and unsmoked). Staff is very friendly. The bakery looked and smelled amazing. It’s small in general but does carry the essential groceries.

I went to the Southside Polish Fest yesterday and had a craving for Kishka!(Blood Sausage) and assumed this would be the vendor to get my fix from. Boy, I was wrong. $ 6 for a burnt, dried out sausage, 2 pieces of stale rye bread, and a small serving of very basic cole slaw.(I know Fest Food isn’t cheap, EVER) It was almost as if they gave the American the bad piece from yesterday because I wouldn’t know better… You were wrong… Been with my Polish Wife for 10yrs!
In the end I will say THANKS… I shouldn’t be eating that crap anyway…

for a long time you could not order anything from the deli in english. This has changed as now they have english signage and employees who understand english (more or less). Once you’ve ordered you’re in for a treat. their sausages are good and for 5 dollars they will build you a sandwich that is an ENTIRE days worth of food. serisously, i work a 14 hour shift and will eat 1 of their sandwiches throughout the day. also, some of their customers travel great distances for this polish deli… which leads me to believe they’re even better then this irishman can understand. get a sammich… you’ll agree.

A lot of products on shelfs are out of date. The lemons that I want to buy was mould. Sorry that I have to say that but you have to be careful and check if the products are fresh, because mostly they aren’t. I like «goralska» sausage there. But if you see the white thing on sausage don’t buy it, it means that is old and salt is coming out. I hope that they do not wash sausages during the night.

Pros: Smakowki’s is a Polish Deli. Their variety of deli meat and Polish food is amazing! The meat is always fresh and very appetizing! I absolutely adore the soups! OMG! They’re so AMAZINGLY GOOD! Plus I’ve found that they make for a really good lunch because their so fulfilling. They also have a very good variety of freshly baked breads. Their actually really healthy as well. Their Polish Desserts look and taste amazing. Really REALLY worth trying! Their shelves are also packed with a variety of polish foods that can be found in Poland. It’s really great place to get Polish food and Deli.
Cons: Although I think this place is great. I have some concerns with it. My grandmother and I go there two to three times a month (she doesn’t drive, so I make the trip out to where she lives to take her shopping.). While she seems to enjoy Smakowski’s, I have noticed that they treat her differently. I don’t know if they don’t hear her when she talks, or if they don’t want to answer her questions or if they don’t like having to repeat themselves, or if it’s just that they don’t like her. I don’t know, but what I do know, is that I don’t appreciate the lack of attention she seems to get from them. I don’t speak Polish, so I’m not really of much help to her.
Keep in mind that this is a Polish Deli, so the workers are Polish. Now I don’t speak Polish, but my grandmother does. There have been numerous times where they have not understood her when she has spoken in Polish. So when, on occasion, I understand her I tell the lady behind the counter and then I realize that she speaks little to no English. So she now doesn’t understand both my grandmother and I. PERFECT EXAMPLE! My grandmother and I were there one weekend doing the usual shopping routine when she found a cake she liked. Well she asked the question in Polish and the woman didn’t understand her. Then I try to say it in English. Lady doesn’t understand me. Well as it worked out there was a child probably 9 or 10 years-​old who decided to translate for us. If it wasn’t for the kindness of that little girl, Smakowski’s would have lost our business.
Oh and It’s located in a VERY VERY small and tight store. If there is two of you split the list in two.

We tried this deli after my negative experience at another local deli (click on profile to read my «review»). This place is very cozy, and not very big at all. But WOW! Service is Exceptional here! My wife and I were very surprised at how much they care about the customer. They have adequate foods, and service is big with me. Their prices are very reasonable, and compared to the prior deli we used, sometimes half!
My wife gave an example of where she asked the lady about a recipe, and the lady took time out to explain a recipe for making Zurek, a type of borscht. She was able to manage my wife and other customers very well, while wearing a smile! I definitely recommend this Polish deli to others in the area.