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| - I went to Sokolowski's because I knew I had to have bratwurst and pierogies before leaving Cleveland. I had a mission.
One of the first things I noticed about Sokolowski's, while standing in the slow-moving line (don't come here absolutely starving, you'll be in pain by the time you get your food) was that it's a sausage-fest both literally and figuratively. The line was about 85% male, 100% of them middle-aged. I can't explain this.
I got to the front of the line and the first thing you get to is dessert. You pick your dessert first. Seriously. But I was on a mission, so I restrained myself from picking up one of the many delicious-looking varieties of cake and proceeded to the real food.
Service, once you get to the point where you're interacting with people, was actually pretty friendly. I expected it to be rushed and gruff, but the guy at the counter took the time to explain what everything was to the guy behind me in line, and the cashier lady offered me water when she saw I wasn't getting a drink. I got a bratwurst, which comes with two sides. For me, 2 pierogies and green beans. Plus a roll. Total: a little over $8. Awesome.
The food was great. It was one of those meals that just made me really, really happy. I can't say I know what an authentic Polish pierogi is supposed to taste like, but these were delicious. I kind of wished I'd just gotten pierogies. Not that the bratwurst wasn't good--I mean it was pretty tasty, but a tiny bit too gristly and didn't come close to the pierogies. The roll was very good. The green beans tasted like green beans. They were really only there to counterbalance the heaviness of the brat and pierogies. My biggest complaint is that nothing was really hot enough. I know it's served cafeteria-style, so keeping things hot is tricky, but I don't like my food lukewarm.
Sokolowski's was my final real meal in Cleveland, and it was definitely a good way to round off my trip. If I ever find myself back in northeast Ohio, there's no doubt that I'll be making another stop.
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