Community Highlights Europe Friendly Reunion in Warsaw

Friendly Reunion in Warsaw

By Vic_IV

Published 27 Sep 2025 · Poland · Comments

On a fine August day, Ernest, an American friend of mine (aka atufft on VT), invited my wife and I to Warsaw to have dinner together with two of his other Ukrainian friends. They were coming back from their month-long journey across the Baltic states and had a stopover in Warsaw. We agree to meet in Starówka, the Old Town Square, near the famous Warsaw Siren monument. Ernest asked me to choose a nice restaurant nearby. I am not a connoisseur of Warsaw restaurant, but Google Maps came in handy. I proposed to go to The Wide Danube Restaurant that is located in Wide Danube Street, as Ernest approved of my proposition.

We took the same train as during our previous visit to Warsaw and used the same railway station well-known to us to reach the Old Town. It was a walk of about an hour and a half.

A view of the Palm of Warsaw

The Palm of Warsaw, General de Gaulle Roundabout, Warsaw / The Palm of Warsaw memorial plaque

The Palm of Warsaw against the background of another office building being built, Warsaw

Buses in New World Street, Warsaw

Cafes and bistros on our way to the Old Town, Warsaw

On the way we visited the Palm of Warsaw, New World Street and other good old places, a well as some new side streets such as Foksal Street (aka Rue de la Focschal) with its lavish mansions.

The restoration of two several tenement houses in under way here. We admired the stunning and unique architecture of Foksal Street, which runs near Nowy Świat Street, a shopping and entertainment street with excellent restaurants and pubs. The tenement house No.19 strongly captured our imagination. From the late 19th century until the outbreak of World War I, the tenement houses here were the residences of the capital's aristocracy and influential entrepreneurs.

Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, Warsaw

Copernicus monument (left)

We also walked along Krakowskie Przedmieście Street until we reached the good old Castle Square.

Palace Square, Warsaw

At last I managed to get a clearer picture of this monumet. The monument to King Sigismund III Vasa is located in Castle Square in Warsaw, right next to the Royal Castle. It was commissioned by Władysław IV Vasa to commemorate the life of his father, King Sigismund III Vasa. The monument was unveiled on November 24, 1644. It is the first column depicting a lay person in modern Europe and is also the oldest secular monument in Warsaw. King Władysław upset the clergy because such statues had so far been intended only for the Virgin Mary, Jesus and saints in those times. The monument is 22 meters high and is made of marble, granite and bronze. The king was depicted in armor and a coronation cloak with a crown on his head.

The Old Town Square, Warsaw

The Old Town streets in Warsaw

Warsaw Mermaid monument in the Old Square

We met my friend Ernest and two of his Ukrainian fellow travellers. The restaurant selected by Ernest is nearby. Sheroki Dunaj Restaurant has been operating in the Old Town of Warsaw for several months. It is owned by the Crimean Tatar couple Shevket Yuzbashev and his wife Aisha. Sheroki Dunaj Restaurant is located in a reconstructed tenement house from the 18th century, which is located on the street of the same name at 13 Sheroki Dunay Street in the Old Town of Warsaw.

Wide Danube Street in the Old Town, Warsaw

The Wide Danube Restaurant, Warsaw

The establishment offers its visitors traditional Polish dishes, but with Tatar accents. The renovated tenement house itself, within the walls of which the restaurant is located, has 4 floors, stylized for different eras: from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. In addition, the establishment hosts various cultural events, including meetings of the Ukrainian Women's Club of the Ukrainian Home Foundation.

The welcome sign at the restaurant entrance reads, “Our restaurant, located in the historic Executioner's House on Szeroki Dunaj Street is a place where you can truly feel the spirit of the old Warsaw. This unique building, constructed in 1784 as the city executioner's residence, has witnessed many significant events throughout history. Although it was destroyed during World War II, it was carefully rebuilt in the 1960s, preserving its original architecture and distinctive character. We are proud to offer you not only exquisite cuisine, but also the opportunity to experience the rich history of this remarkable place in the heart of the Old Town. Discover the taste of history with us!»

The Wide Danube Restaurant, Warsaw

At the restaurant entrance / The elephants exhibition

According to legend, this house once belonged to an executioner, hence its informal name: “The Executioner’s House.” The house itself, like almost all of Warsaw, was destroyed during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. The reconstruction of the city center began immediately after the war, but this tenement house was one of the last to be restored, in 1956. Since then, the premises have belonged to the management of the Workshop of Various Crafts (an association of craftsmen of various professions), and later it could be rented out.

The restaurant has four floors, each with a different interior. The basement is the only original part of the building that survived the war and comes from the building that was located here from the end of the 15th century. The hall on the first floor looks like an apartment from the first half of the 20th century. On the second floor is the dining room of the craftsmen of the Workshop of Various Crafts from the times of communist Poland, which has retained its color. The walls of the room are decorated with old documents and photos related to the history of the building. On the top floor is a large space for banquets. At the same time, the restaurant opens a summer terrace for visitors, which is located right under the city walls.

We met Aisha, the wife of the chef and the restaurant owner. According to her, the Crimean Tatar restaurateur Shevket Yuzbashev, has been working in the restaurant industry for over 20 years with her. The couple had several restaurants in Crimea, but after the Russian occupation began in 2014, they were forced to leave the peninsula. The family first opened a new restaurant in Lviv, but then moved their business to Kyiv. In parallel with running the business, the couple organized various banquets on request within the walls of the Ukrainian Parliament, as well as buffets during the visits of the Ukrainian delegations to the countries of the European Union.

An unexpected encounter with Alex the bagpipe player from Ukraine, Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, Warsaw

Adam Mickiewicz monument, Warsaw

Adam Mickiewicz monument, Warsaw

Our friends saw us off all along Krakowskie Przedmieście Street until we reached the Royal Lowered Lawn located at the rear part of the Royal Palace. Then we went to Belvedere Hotel, here we had some coffee and cakes at the hotel cafe. Thanks a lot, dear Ernest!

Our company at Belvedere Cafe, Warsaw

At Belvedere Cafe, Warsaw

The Royal Lowered Lawn information board, Warsaw

The information board at the entrance to the Royal Lowered Lawn reads,
“The Royal Lowered Lawn is reminiscent of the Baroque style, covers an area of 1,500 m². It is filled with high-quality turf and surrounded by a collection of over 65 varieties of perennials, creating a colorful floral frame from spring to autumn. This is where the main garden axes converge: the longitudinal and transverse. The grass is nourished according to the principle of "in harmony with nature." We use only organic and natural fertilizers and Emerald grass seed mixtures for lawn care, supported by our best knowledge and experience. This ensures it looks beautiful year-round.»

The Royal Lowered Lawn, Warsaw

Ernest emjoying the grass on the royal lowered lawn

A grassy depression called a lowered lawn was very popular in Baroque gardens. Typically, the lowered lawn had a geometric shape and was accentuated by a small earthern slope. Its purpose was to highlight important areas in the garden, adding depth and spaciousness to garden spaces. The most famous lowered lawn is located in Versailles (Grand Trianon) in France. Various motifs decorated the lowered lawn's interior: sometimes it was just grass, but often intricate embroidery, sculptures, or water pools enriched its interior. The royal lowered lawn covers an area of ​​over 1,500 m². It is filled with excellent-quality turf and surrounded by a collection of over 65 varieties of perennial plants. It is here that the main garden axes converge: the longitudinal and transverse. The grass is nourished according to the principle "in harmony with nature," meaning only ecological, natural fertilizers and preparations based on sugar and plant extracts are used in the lawn care. We really enjoyed our relaxation time on the lawn.

Grey crows enjoying their stay in the Royal Gardens, Warsaw

A grey crow on a railing of the Royal Gardens, Warsaw
We have not seen such crows in Ukraine and do not see them in the city we are staying.

Fall in love with Warsaw / The coat-of-arms of Warsaw

This featured blog entry was written by Vic_IV from the blog Our Stay in Poland.
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