Daquise in Kensington and Chelsea

I have heard about Daquise from friends, they all recommended the place. To be honest, I expected more from the food, as the menu looked promising. Nothing wrong with the dishes we ordered, but felt like something was missing!? Quite sloppy. Good wine, service was attentive. Decor was interesting, fair prices as well. Not sure if I would visit again.

Really good experience. Very friendly staff. The food was fantastic. Recommend.

I have been to the restaurant a handful of times. It has a nostalgic link to my Polish heritage and my sister remembers our dad taking her there as a child (65 odd years ago). But, my visit on 23rd February resulted in me subsequently experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea, which suspect was due to veal meatballs not being heated through enough. Sadly, food not being warmed through enough is a recurrent experience, but not been ill before. Received a response today, including a voucher just over the value spent, but hesitant to return due to experience. Advised they need to review their food serving processes.

Superb food and authentic atmosphere.

You make a booking through their website and then they just cancel it with a rude message, terrible service

Went over the weekend so glad to have tried this gem!

A true classic! Excellent food in atmospheric surroundings. Good value and friendly service. Go before TfL changes the area for good!

We wrer happy to have stumbled on Daquise on our way to the V&A & felt lucky to have snagged a table during a busy lunch service. It’s lovely old place full of charm & character with an interesting Polish menu, but unfortunately it promised more than it delivered. We waited 45 minutes for our food whilst people around us who had arrived later had all been served. When I asked about this I was told “the confit chicken takes a long time”. Well.. yeah it does, but presumably it’s not being cooked in real-time.. When the food eventually arrived, it was a mixed bag. The schnitzel were ok, but the confit chicken we had waited so long for was basically a dry, overcooked roast chicken breast but as we were so hungry it was eaten without complaint. The other disappointment was the liver dish.. thin, slightly overcooked slices of liver overloaded with onion & apple with no other accompanyment. The veg sides were ok apart from a small bowl of anaemic overcooked carrot slices & everything was tepid on arrival. Strangely I probably would return & try some of the more classic Polish comfort-dishes as it is a nice place to be & it really is an oasis amongst the local tacky burger joints & tourist traps but on this occasion it fell flat on the food & service front. So one star for the food & 4 for the environment

We came for an early evening meal after a visit to the V&A and before getting our train home. Friendly staff, excellent food - simple but well-prepared. As my wife is gluten-free, they prepared a bespoke dessert for her - I wish I had had it!

Nice place, not too expensive for South Kensington.

Good and service is awesome. Central heating can be a bit warmer during winter.

Fabuloso, excéntrico, peculiar y delicioso. Qué velada tan encantadora tuvimos mi hijo y yo aquí. Mi hijo había comido aquí anteriormente con su novia y lo recomendó. Adorablemente anticuado y tradicional con una lista escrita a mano de mesas reservadas y factura escrita a mano al final de la noche. Menú encantador aunque el vino por copa era limitado. Dos panes diferentes con mantequilla a la mesa. Entradas de albóndigas y embutido con ensalada de patata, mains de ternera con ñoquis y goulash con trigo sarraceno, guarniciones de espinacas cremosas y col roja con albaricoques y ciruelas pasas. Excelente relación calidad-precio. Ambiente auténtico y sin sensación de prisa. Una noche de gente mirando a los otros comensales, todos los cuales tenían encanto, historia y rezuman tanta personalidad como el personal y el edificio en sí. ¡Qué placer!

We were a group of eight friends. The food was great (if you like Polish food) as was the service. However, one of us brought a very old and tatty drinks voucher for £75 which she had been given by a business associate just before the pandemic. The manager was extremely rude about it not being valid. We had spent a lot of money and the Pole among us had introduced a group of potential future diners to the restaurant (a professor, a TV director, three Cambridge grads, the CEO of a housing association, a BBC lawyer amongst others). It would have been nice if the manager had been nice and maybe offered a complimentary bottle of wine with a charming apology. Daquise had definitely had the £75, even if it had been a few years back. So the evening ended on a slightly sour note, and I was left wondering if we would have been treated differently if we hadn't been a group of late-middle aged women.

Overpriced, Poor service, flavourless food, Very disappointing

This wasn’t my first visit to this restaurant, and once again, it exceeded my expectations. The food is consistently delicious, offering that comforting, homemade taste that’s hard to find elsewhere. The service was excellent, and my friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We’ll definitely be coming back! The restaurant has a warm, cosy atmosphere that makes you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. It’s truly a hidden gem for anyone craving authentic Polish cuisine and a unique dining experience.

Fantastic food. The dumplings were spot on. I had the veal escalop and it was perfectly balanced. Personable waiter, very professional and friendly (thanks Philip) Will be coming back.

Simply delicious food served in a unique atmosphere that feels both lively and homey. The service was great from start to finish—attentive, accommodating of extra requests, and genuinely kind. The food was fantastic too, with bold, authentic flavours that truly shone in dishes like the borscht and the cheese-filled pancakes. The cozy, welcoming ambiance makes it feel as though you’re dining in the home of a talented Polish cook. A true gem amidst the many touristy, mediocre spots in South Kensington.

We had a great Christmas meal with my team. Lovely food and great service. Venue was authentic and would definitely be going again. This was my first at a Polish restaurant. Amazing experience.

If you want the feeling of being in a Polish grandma's kitchen, come here, because she's working. I opted for a three course dinner, starting with some lovely Rye? Bread. My appetizer was a sausage with a crisp casing and a delicious, sour, cream sauce that was incredible. The Duck Confit dinner was large and delicious with wonderful crisp skin. The ligonberries? (Not sure what was on the side) were lightly sweet which complemented the well seasoned duck and grain on the side. The Apple Fritters were loaded with real apples and they were deliciously sweet. I'd come back just to try those fritters. They were such a real treat. Very grateful to the kind and helpful staff working!

Después de tomar una copa en un pub cercano que estaba hirviendo (antes de Navidad) lo primero que te llama la atención de Daquise es el espacio. Las mesas están bastante separadas - ¡qué refrescante! La decoración es básica - paredes de azulejos blancos y suelos de madera. Los techos han visto días mejores, pero, como el restaurante está en peligro de ser cerrado por el propietario independiente, esto es comprensible. Comida sencilla en un menú fácil de entender. El vino de la casa tiene un precio razonable al igual que la cerveza polaca (se vende tanto por botella como por pinta). Un gran valor, lugar bastante diferente. Si se cierra será bastante triste. Esto es un pedazo del viejo Londres

I absolutely adore Daquise. ❤️ They will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Food is tasty. But they have the weirdest booking system where you need to confirm their confirmation email. We thought we had a table but turned out no. We then sat at a small table and the service was very rushed as they wanted to free up the table asap. They forgot one of our sides and then brought it when we finished. They need more staff to cope with the busy times.

Traditional Polish food, service with a smile. Freshly made.

Disappointing,not good enough for the price Used to be great,change of the management????

We ate here at the suggestion of my sister & I am so glad that we did. I chose dishes that I remembered from my childhood and whilst they were very tasty, they weren't as good, with the exception of the pork knuckle in aspic jelly, as the food my long since departed mother would prepare. All in all a delicious trip down memory lane & we will definitely be going again.

Excellent borscht, I recommend the fritters too. The interior requires renovation, but the group of Polish rulers and photographs of our commanders are heartwarming.

Great place to enjoy scrumptious food and atmosphere

Delicious food, lovely service, great atmosphere and a good location! Bit on the pricier side but it's definitely worth it. Will be coming back for sure.

One of the most authentic spots left in London! No drama, or thrills. Just high quality food, delivered with old school (high quality) service, all set in a beautiful family owned establishment. If you’re after a real Polish dining experience in London, visit Daquise 🙏

A great traditional POLISH restaurant since 1947!!! It's simply nice!!!

The slowest service we’ve ever received.

Not always easy finding choices for a vegetarian in a Polish restaurant but we had no problems here. It's a while since I was here but the food is as delicious, the service swift and charming. Sadly this terrace is under threat of being knocked down by TfL so get here whilst you can, it's an institution.

This was our first visit. It came highly recommended but we really didn't like anything about this restaurant. The staff was standoffish and not helpful when it came to the menu. The service was slow. the food was mediocre at best and the wine choices poor. Not sure why this gets such great reviews cause we couldn't find anything too exemplary.

One of its kind. The place to nature my home-sickness with delicious specialties. Always a treat. See you soon!

Original Polish cuisine quite long wait But nice staff

Great experience at this historic Polish restaurant in South Kensington. Great range of meals, the veal in 🍅 and cream is really lovely, highly recommended. This dish was judged best by our panel! Drinks prices are average. Service was fine, not silver salver stuff but more than acceptable. Overall price very fair. Recommended.

Solid food considering the prime location, prompt service. Borscht is pleasantly peppery and served straight from the pot, rabbit more average, current menu didn't have venison dishes so disregard their online menu. Prices are decent (mains for 20-25 pounds), reservations recommended for groups of 4+. Limited toilets, it seemed 1 per gender, too little given the high number of covers.

Expensive way to get diarrhea. Slow service too.

Really interesting spot that I would call 'genuine' with food and service that reflected it's Polish roots. Managed two courses but had no room for any more. Worth a visit.

A lovely Polish restaurant. Staff were very friendly and helpful, and advised on the menu; the atmosphere was great, buzzing on a Saturday late lunchtime. Food was fine; some highlights (the dumplings were fantastic) let down somewhat by a greasy black pudding that left us with heartburn, and a goulash that was tough beef cubes in a thin sauce, and not enough of the sauce to flavour the pile of unseasoned buckwheat it came with. On the other hand, the confit goose leg the other tables around us had looked and smelled amazing, so maybe we just got very unlucky. I'd come again and try other dishes next time.

Had such a delicious meal! I love Polish food and it was just like babcia's! The vibe was just enough energy and noise to feel comfortable and relaxed with my friends. Beautiful setting. Cozy. One issue we had was our booking time wasn't honored. We were asked to wait quite a bit for a table. We didn't mind! The staff looked after us once seated. But next time I'll book an early dinner time slot to avoid this situation. Highly recommend:)

Stupid rude staff, waste your time hoping to just take your money and rush you out.

Amazing food for a fantastic price. The barszcz soup was fabulous, the meat balls delicious. The interior design is a great mixture of old meets new. Thanks for this experience

One of, if not the best polish restaurant in London. Good for all occasions.

rude staff .... super rude never gonna back again I dont recommed at all

Not a great experience, maybe resting on their previous reputation…. Service disappointing. Blonde lady (FOH) very disrespectful to almost everyone who walks in the door, not pleasant when you can hear this from your table at the front of restaurant. Food mediocre, had far superior food at smaller Polish restaurants (Miod Malina & Kuźnia Smaku) Venue and general atmosphere very good.

We found Daquise by mistake. But, eating there was no mistake. The food was delicious, I had Polish black pudding to start, and my hubby had Gnocchi. Our main course was pork tenderloin medallions in a honey/mustard sauce for me, and Goulash for my hubby. Both dishes were amazing, we also had a side of Mizeria (cucumbers in cream, outstanding). Daquise, has it all, good food, ambiance, and great service. *****

Traditional Polish food made with love and original twist. I had a duck dish with cabbage and potatoes. It was excellent. Cheesecake, at the end, was fun-tastic. Definitely you should give it a go.

Excellent food and service, as always

I absolutely love this restaurant. Food is delicious, service from Anna is excellent and the atmosphere is great.

Charming place, very authentic Polish food with lovley service. Had a great meal and a great time.

Excellent value for money in South Kensington

Delicious food. One of our favourite places to eat in London.

Really terrible service. They all seem so stressed and unable to get the food out fast enough. And it's much too expensive.

Food is decent Waiters have become rude and unwelcoming. Pity, this used to be an institution.

Food was delicious and very close to the way my grandma used to make it. The atmosphere is cosy, but the AC was blasting and made me have a cold after.

Me and my partner visited here last weekend before our visit to natural history museum. We were hoping for a quick and easy late lunch. The food was very nice however service was not great. Firstly my mash potatoes arrived cold, they were replaced shortly after, but we felt the waiter was not unconcerned, and generally disinterested. We were never approached to ask if everything was fine, nor if we wanted a dessert or a bill later. We had to go and gind staff ourselves to ask if we can order a pudding and much later if we can get the bill. Our waiting time for being served didn’t make it a quick lunch( restaurant was not busy) and inattentive service made us feel undervalued. We went to find our waiter to ask if we can pay as at that point we were late for our time slot for the museum. We were never shown our bill, however later realised that a service charged must have been added (as the totals didn’t add up), which considering our experience was very disappointing.

Once an iconic place for the Polish community in the UK, now such a disappointment. I didn't like the dumplings, and I didn't like the wine either. Rude Indian waiter who doesn't speak Polish in a Polish restaurant. No good desserts. Small portions, high prices for quality. Plus cover charge, tip added to bill. I recommend the Ognisko restaurant. Much better experience.

The service was pretty shocking. The waiter came to our table and put down bread and butter whilst on the phone…?! Food was tasty but portions tiny for the price. Nice experience but won’t be going back.

Excellent food and atmosphere. Chicken soup was superb. Just a little over-priced but perhaps inevitable given the location.

Consistently good food! Will definitely return! 😊

We visited this restaurant a week ago and I wholeheartedly recommend it. The lunch dishes are very tasty, they taste like home-made. The restaurant has a very nice atmosphere and the service is also great. We would like to thank the very nice waiter, Mr. Jan, for his professional and friendly service. ❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍😍 When we come to London, we will definitely visit our favorite restaurant. ❤️❤️❤️

This place came recommended by a friend and it didn't disappoint. Very tasty Polish food, professional service and an interesting story of the place, all make it quite special. I think there could be more vegetarian options available. I'm glad that I could have potatoes cakes with wild mushroom sauce although it wasn't on the menu. Vegetarian stuffed cabbage roll from special menu was tasty but on a small side even for a starter and a bit pricey too. Overall, I would recommend the place. It's a great experience. Our waitress Ania was amazing, friendly, professional and made some great recommendations. Thank you!

Great food, wine, and service. The scallops were my favorite thing. The mashed potatoes were so creamy. I'll be going again next time I'm in London.

We had a great Birthday Dinner with a large Group of Friends here. The Service was exzellent and the food amazing! It was the Perfect Night and we will definitely come back! Thank you for making the Night so special!

Apparantly you need a reason to remove the service charge of 12.5%. The reason of "The principle of it" was not adequate. Still got it eventually removed but it felt like a massive hassle. Food portions are tiny for the price, even in London, but tasted nice.

Food was okay, not bad but also nothing to write home about. Portions are quite small for the price, and the hygiene was somewhat questionable - years of dust on the chandelier above us and the on the dumb waiter. Service was quite slow as well.

Locale caratteristico in South Kensington; buon cibo e bella atmosfera. Abbiamo gustato damplings, veal schnitzel e pork tenderloins e per finire raspberry e vodka terrine; prezzi nella media del luogo.

Probably the best restaurant in London with Polish cuisine. 😀

We were surprised to pay a cover charge (£1 per person), service charge for the kitchen staff and then it was suggested we left a tip for the waiting staff as we were told they didn't get anything from the service charge. We enjoyed the food, the ambience, the location but not the hidden costs.

Always food, service and ambiance.

I visited With my Friends to celebrate my birthday. I didnt experience such a fantastic Service in a very long time in London. Filip was attentive, friendly, funny and very engaging. He made our experience truly special. Food was fantastic, everything was made to perfection. I’ll definitely be back. Na zdrowie !

Lived nearby this place and the first time with Polish food. Freshly prepared and good portion with lots of meat inside. Good decoration and very supportive staff. Excellent. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We went for a late lunch on Saturday and had the best time. The restaurant is beautiful inside and has a distinct charm, like a place frozen in time. The food was delicious. We had the dumplings and salmon starters, pork and veal meatballs for main and a cheesecake for desert. Absolutely everything was perfect and the dumplings were so good we ordered more! Service was perfect, everyone was very friendly and attentive; topping up wine and water without us having to ask. They even threw in some free vodka shots at the end! Very much recommend to anyone and we’ll certainly be going back!

Beautiful food, friendly service, great vibe

The place has a story! Google it! Some of it is recalled by the pics on the walls. The food is good and the portions are filling. Service is excellent and the environment makes you feel at home. Desserts and soups highly recommended

A great meal. I'd love to go back and explore the menu thoroughly, but it's a little pricey for what you get. Great service and atmosphere. All 3 types of dumplings were tasty but especially the cabbage and mushroom. Chicken soup was cracking. Veal escalopes cooked a touch more than I would like but with a great sauce, cod was tasty and well cooked but the raw spinach served with it is not particularly exciting. The fish doesn't come with anything else, and I felt both mains could have used another little something on the plate (veg or carbs respectively). The cheese pancake was wonderful and generous (other desserts looked substantial too) and reminiscent of the Topfen that appears in Austrian sweets. Good quality homely food, cooked well. Service was high quality but not aloof and honestly in terms of atmosphere, Daquise is absolutely how a restaurant should be - filled with conversation but not crowded, classy but not austere, and homely without feeling dingy. Thank you for the lovely lunch.

A very nostalgic and historic place that has seen various famous and some infamous people, that does not seem to have changed since its early years. The food was delicious. We had schabowy/schnitzel and cheesecake.

We were looking for something different in our long weekend in London and Daquise more than delivered. The restaurant was cozy, the service attentive and the food was delicious. We had the dumplings, stuffed cabbage and Hunter’s stew….they would have made my Polish grandma proud. Finished up with the plum cake which was also delicious. Oh and the varieties of yummy flavored vodka only served to highlight the experience. I will be back.

Best home made style Polish restaurant in London!! 😊

Nothing more nothing less. The dishes offered taste like in a Polish home. Very nice atmosphere, family atmosphere. I recommend it especially to people who want to experience real Polish cuisine. The place may require advance reservation.

Well, we didn't even realise this was a Polish restaurant. The food was of an excellent standard as was the service. We will not hesitate to return.

The best lunch I’ve had in years. Food delicious and service excellent. Bearing in mind it’s located in South Kensington, it’s also terrific value for money. I can’t recommend it enough.

Really lovely place, great ambience, service and absolutely delicious food. Will definately come again

I really enjoyed herring as a starter and a roasted duck salad as main. Very casual and friendly staff. Definitely worth a try. I would go back again.

The food was amazing and it was great to try the polish cuisine, the waitress was lovely and suggested some amazing dishes.

Apple cake was amazing. Goulash was good.

A Polish friend suggested this restaurant and we didn’t regret. Great dinner overall. The dumplings as starters are a must, loved them, especially the one with meat and the other with mushrooms. Also the rabbit as main was good. The pork was a bit too small compared to the rabbit portion. Overall happy with the food and service. The waitress kindly offered four shots of cherry vodka.

Daquise is one of the most iconic restaurants in South Ken. We have been coming for years and it does not disappoint. We always order the veal schnitzel and the dumplings. Love the atmosphere and decor. Always a good option.

Just a cute, cozy polish spot. Great veal meatballs. Staff looks to be very hard working while keeping their cool at the same time. Great service.

Lovely restaurant! Made me feel like I was back in Poland. The food was great. My partner and I shared barszcz (beetroot soup) which was tasty although could have been more seasoned. We had some pierogi alongside the soup and for mains my partner had schabowy and I had potato cakes with mushroom sauce. The atmosphere was great and the staff were lovely. If you want to try some Polish alcohol this place has an extensive menu!

Nice to come back to such a wonderfully delicious place! Dishes, as always, served in a delicious form, both for the eye and the palate! Portions are just right to enjoy them and still have room for a wonderful dessert, today I was lucky to eat pancakes! Delicious! Go and eat Polish cuisine in its wonderful form!

The food was delicious and the staff were very nice and attentive. We originally had a reservation for 2 and I asked if we could change it for 5. They were able to accommodate. Highly recommend!

Great Polish restaurant with lots of atmosphere. Delicious plum cake! Convenient for South Kensington and Exhibition Road

The food is delicious. The atmosphere is pleasant, too. Great location. Very impressive, overall.

One of the best restaurants in London - everything about it is fabulous. As soon as you walk through the door you know you’ve arrived at a special place - wonderful atmosphere, terrific service and the food is absolutely delicious. Love this place so much!

The best polish restaurant in London that I tried and in fact we go there quite often. Very good food, friendly staff and cozy place. Must be tried. Unfortunately the table was slightly too low and there wasn’t enough space for legs.

WHAT A SHAME! After coming here as a local for years with my family, the service and atmosphere has definitely gone down hill. I brought a friend here with expectations of a great experience. I received an email saying we would have the table for 2 hours, however after just 1 hour the waitress came over saying we couldn’t have dessert and had to leave. I showed her the email as I was confused, she couldn’t seem to care and said there was nothing she could do.The other tables around us were allowed to stay. They clearly picked on us as younger female patrons. They obviously lure you in with a “2 hour” time slot and then make you leave when suits them. Had I known I would get the table for only 1 hour I wouldn’t have booked. They’ve changed from a quality service to a tourist trap of churning out customers. Food is still nice (not that I was allowed to stay to eat a full meal) Such a shame. Luckily there’s plenty of other good options in the area.

Me and my partner honestly couldn’t be more pleased with our visit to Daquise! I’m polish and I miss the cuisine, and this place really brought my taste buds back home… my boyfriend also loved everything that we ordered. The food is prepared with love and it’s very authentic. It’s on more expensive sided but it’s worth every pound. We also had a lovely waiter, unfortunately didn’t catch his name but it was a young male. His service made our night and we will definitely be back more often. Just make sure you book in advance!!!🫶🏼

Highly recommended! Authentic Polish food with cozy vibes! Dumplings and Schnitzel are must to order. Visit my food blog for a full review.