There are two branches of this popular eatery in Krakow, and we went to the one on the edge of the old Jewish quarter. Chlopskie Jadlo means "peasant kitchen," and the food served is traditional homestyle cooking.
The interior is like that of an old inn, with wooden tables and benches, which are draped in sheepskins and very comfortable. Old cooking and farming implements have been used to decorate the place, and there is an old-fashioned fireplace of the type used for cooking.
We were brought some crusty slabs of bread with two earthenware mugs; one overflowed with tasty lard containing lovely crispy pork bits, the other a delicious herby cream cheese. We ordered two huge mugs of beer. I started with the pickled herring, my partner with the smoked eel. Both were excellent, and the herring was well complemented by the shot of cherry vodka I ordered to have with the fish.
For the main course, we shared a huge plate of pierogi - a bit like large ravioli filled with tasty fried cabbage, onion, and potato chopped very finely. We also had a selection from the salad bar - in actual fact, a variety of different pickled vegetables stored in earthen pots (which made it hard to see what was on offer). This, too, turned out to be an excellent choice.
Chlopskie Jadlo restaurants are often used on day tours of the city, so it is a good idea to go in the evening, when the tourists are eating at their hotels, or just before the lunch rush, (say around noon) to make sure you get a seat.
There is good food and reasonable prices, and this is a fun place to eat!