Authentic Polish cuisine in Broadmeadow

Every second Friday night, a quiet corner of Newcastle transforms into something remarkable – a bustling slice of Poland brought to life with the comforting scent of slow-cooked stews, handmade pierogi, and the buzz of community connection.

Welcome to Little Poland Dining, a new pop-up restaurant operating out of the Polish Association of Newcastle, created by two friends-turned-family – Justyna and Eliza.

Eliza & Justyna

“I’m from the west of Poland and Eliza is from the East. We actually met years ago on the beach here in Newcastle. Before we knew it, we were seeing each other every week,” Justyna said.

What started as a serendipitous meeting has grown into a meaningful friendship, and now, a shared vision to preserve and promote Polish culture here in Newcastle.

Their respective journeys to Newcastle echo the stories of many immigrants – marked by resilience, adaptation, and a desire to try something new. For Justyna, it began 20 years ago in the rural town of Tumut, located between Wagga Wagga and Canberra.

“The community was friendly, helpful, and welcoming in Tumut. Having no one in the area that understood Polish for the first three or four years of my time here in Australia, I really had to work hard to improve my English and cement my family into the Australian lifestyle.”

Eliza and her family’s path started here in Australia when they relocated from England in search of better weather and a slower pace of life.

“My husband’s sister lives here and we first came over in 2006 for her wedding. My husband just fell in love with the weather. We came to Newcastle 12 years ago and now, I never want to move from here,” Eliza said.

The pair have been active members of the Polish Association of Newcastle for more than a decade (collectively), playing vital roles in running events and nurturing community ties. But with a dwindling local presence and a desire to connect with a broader audience, they knew something needed to change.

“We’re always thinking about how we can get more people through the doors. We realised that food and offering an overall experience is hopefully what can do that,” Justyna said.

So, inspired by a visit to the Polish Club in Canberra and an impromptu car conversation, the idea for Little Poland Dining was born a little over 12 months ago.

“Justyna said to me in the car, ‘I have an idea, what do you think about us opening a restaurant?’ I just went, ‘oh I’m too busy, we can’t do that,” Eliza said.

But they did. Launching on Friday, April 11 2025, Little Poland Dining is already drawing quite a crowd with the first two Friday nights (and the entirety of May) completely booked out.

“We’ve been blown away with the interest and how busy we have been!”

Having been operating not even a month, this little side hustle is quickly proving to be a much wanted addition to Newcastle’s foodie scene.

Diners are showing up for the handmade pierogi (Polish style dumplings) and the rotating array of Polish comfort food – the menu is announced the week leading up to each dinner.

“We cook real Polish food. We cook it and present it exactly how we would if we were at home and everything is made fresh on the day, except for the pierogi because we make so much of it.”

The food is rich and heartwarming, reflective of Poland’s geography and history.

“With where Poland is situated, we have a lot of influences around us. We have a real mix of the cuisine from the countries surrounding us, but with our own Polish touch,” Justyna said.

While pierogi is a familiar favourite, the pair will also serve up lesser-known dishes like zupa orgórkowa (pickle soup) and zupa barszcz czerwony (beetroot soup – pictured). 

“It’s amazing but it’s just unusual. Sometimes we can be scared to cook certain dishes because it might be unusual for Australians, but trust us, the flavour is amazing,” Eliza said.

The bar, operated by the Polish Association, complements the menu with a range of Polish beers, spirits, and even a vodka tasting paddle with over a dozen Polish vodkas to choose from.

While the future of Little Poland Dining remains open-ended, the enthusiasm is unmistakable. For now, it’s the little things that make it all worthwhile for Justyna and Eliza.

“The best thing is when guests come into the kitchen saying ‘thankyou, I haven’t eaten food like that since my mother’s cooking,’ it brings a tear to my eye.”

Every second Friday, Little Poland Dining invites you to pull up a chair, try something new, and taste the warmth of Polish cooking – no passport required.