Perhaps the Jersey Journal or Star Ledger can do a review and tell people where she moved to.

I was looking for this place a few weeks ago, and it was not easy to find. Even at the old location on Newark Avenue near the courthouse, it was easy to walk pass her business and not know that it was open.

She needs help with marketing and advertising.

i wish there was a way to get the word out to everyone who works outside in the cold and needs a decent hot meal at a more than fair price.

also, with the price of everything rising, i dont think it would be horrible if the prices were raised.

this is very odd to hear since when we went on friday at 4 there was barely a pierogi in the place, and she said it was too busy to make more...

Reality check re the future of Sava - and your chance to make a difference.

I stopped into Sava yesterday around 3pm and came away very sad. The food is terrific. All prepared fresh, home made style. The portions are generous. The prices are low. The place is spotlessly clean in the Polish tradition.

The problem is, she's not getting the business she needs. She not going to survive unless things change.

The owner is a sweet, charming and sincere woman named Jadwiga (yahd-vee'-gah). She was almost in tears. If I understood her correctly (her English has limits) I was her first customer of the afternoon. The buffet looked it. The trays were full and appeared untouched.

She did say that the past weekend was "OK" but she will not survive for long given the situation she has. Since she was open about it, and offered the information without my asking - beyond a "how's business?" - I will repeat what she told me.

At this point, she can't pay next month's rent. She says her landlord has already told her he will evict if she doesn't.

My point is, if you care about this quality of food, she needs customers.

Go eat now while you can.

Sava Polish Deli
346 Grove St.
Jersey City
201-451-1901

bolew,

very funny post, I was laughing reading that because it is right on point with what people can usually expect from Polish people.

In their defense:

I won't say that they are not people that "show preference". I cannot, they are just as "racist" as many other ethnicities, for a lack of a better term. BUT, I think with Polish people, you need to take comments like that really with a grain of salt.

they have a very unique and warm culture, and they really appreciate meeting and talking to their own kind because of it. a true Pole, from Poland, grew up in a country of white people. 98% of their country is Polish, it's a completely homogenous society, and it is surrounded by oppressive countries (historically speaking) so they learned to protect and appreciate their own kind, because every other country insisted through the years on trampelling them.

meeting other Poles makes them feel safe, at home. In Poland they have a saying which translates to "Guest in the house, God in the house," and believe me, you feel it when you are in their houses. Polish culture is all about family, health, and safety.

with that said, I still don't excuse their occasional ignorance, but that's with any culture. sorry you had to experience that, it isn't right, but try to let it slide.

Ate there tonight and was pleasantly surprised. Might not look like much yet as the place gets its footing. 17 dollars for two us and it was quite good. You can BYOB also.

I don't know much about polish food, but I had the kielbasa and potatoes and it was satisfying. It was a bit empty tonight but I imagine that business will pick up as people discover that there is good grub at a great price downtown.

Went in for the first time this evening. The proprietress greeted me warmly (I was the only customer there).

"Welcome! Come in! Are you Polish?"

"Well, half. My dad's Polish, mom's German."

"Do you speak Polish?"

"No, dad was born here in Greenpoint and he speaks some, but the kids never learned it."

"Oh, too bad! But you know Polish food?"

"Yes, a bit."

"Are you married?"

"Um, yes."

"Did you marry a Polish girl?"

"Uh...no, my wife's filipino."

"Oh! Why did a tall, handsome Polish boy like you marry a filipino?!?!"

I know she meant well, but I didn't feel like explaining the grievous sin I'd committed by not extending the royal Polish bloodline.

She went on to worry about the lack of business there. I explained (knowing it was likely useless) about this list and the generally positive reactions her place had received, for which she was grateful apart form having only a vague notion of this Internet thing.

Anyway, I got two meals, pork chops with sauerkraut and rice and stuffed cabbage with beans and "mashies", plus an order of potato and cheese pierogis.

The pierogis were excellent. I had the sizable chop this evening which was fine, a tasty breading and moist meat. The sauerkraut was also very good, the rice edible.

$17 for the three, not bad. They have chrusik, always good to know and she says they carry packzis a couple times a week.

Checked this place out last night...We ordered two platefuls of food - goulash/pierogies/cabbage and pierogies/stuffed cabbage/garden salad.

We hardly spoke as we stuffed our faces with an amazing amount of food for $15.

I felt like I was at a friend's house and her grandmother was making me a home cooked meal.

Definitely worth checking out.

Thanks!

+1

Sava's hours are m-f 9-9 and sat-sun 12-9.

go now, and go hungry.

it's awesome food and lots of it.

What are Savas' hours??

What happened to Tania's? Had the chicken cutlet @ Sava's today - Delicious - just like my mom makes it!

Quote:

Lucy and Stanley Wolf were not related to Tania, unless you want to count the fact they they are both Polish, therefore related. Tania's story is truely the American dream, she borrowed money from friends and family and built a thriving business with the loans, and repaid every penny. I doubt that Lucy and Stanley gave Tania 1 cent, in fact they used to get Polish calendars to distribute to the community at no charge, and Lucy always charged people for these "complimentary" calendars, people like that do not loan money to others.

A little background, Stanley was a clothing store that sold uniforms for Catholic Schools for many years. The owner, a Polish couple sponsored their niece, Tania, in her new business; which was the restaurant. Stanley is next door to Tania's.
Yvonne

Quote:

my co worker lives in garfield. he brings in punchkies from the polish bakery by his house on fat thursday.
i was curious if there was anywhere in jersey city that i could get them.

i mistakenly wrote fat tuesday. sorry its a new tradition for me and i apologize if i am unclear.

dont beat me.

missa wrote:

Quote:

and then wrote:

Quote:

I'm confused. First you ask where you can get "punchkies" on Fat Tuesday, which in reference to Poland, there is no such thing. Then you say that you celebrate "punchkie" day on the thursday before ash wednesday.

What?

Sava's is next to where Tanya's used to be--near DJ Garden Chinese, Postnet-that block.

Oh, and also to aid you in your search, she's across the street from a pizza place.

She's working on getting a sign up. She has one of those double-sided chalkboards in her doorway listing the dishes she has. Follow astrazombie's directions and you should find her place.

I've been wanting to go back but I've been working the last several Saturdays.

I'm not sure where the sushi place is, but it's on the east side of grove street just about a half a block north of the grove street plaza area.

Does this place have a sign on it ? I tried to find it - it is on the same side of the street as Dunkin Donuts, correct ? Further down before the sushi place ?

pierogies are potato dumplings. think of raviolis that are filled with potato, mushroom or cheese and sauteed in carmelized onions.

stuffed cabbage is yummy. sava's has ground meat and rice inside. i kinda miss mushroom gravy on the one that i had, but the carmelized onions and mushroom pierogies almost make up for it.
stuffed peppers are similar, but often have some tomato or mushroom gravy on top as well

looks like she has meatloaf, meatballs, goulash, kielbasa (smoked sausage) with sauerkraut etc.

polish food is probably best for a person who likes "meat and potatoes" because much of the dishes are based on both of those items. its very earthy food that sticks to your ribs.

I'll try this place buy I don't know a lot about Polish food. What would you recommend for a meat & potatoes person?

Quote:


we have "punchkie" day on the thursday before ash wednesday. my fiance was jealous because i didnt save him one, but now i can sneak over and pick one up for him!

also just tried sava's pierogies.

can you say polish soul food??

Folks, if you like cheap, delicious, filling food then go support Sava's. Its a great alternative to the pricier, yuppier places that have opened up. This place is so old school it could have been around decades ago. Plus, Sava is a really nice, cool person and it's good to have her in the neighborhood.
I've been trying everything on the menu and I can't get enough. This place rocks.

MargieHague wrote:

"I have seen punchkies at Europa meat market on Jersey Avenue on days other than Fat Tuesday."

punchkies = pączki

Fat Tuesday = ???. Mardi Gras???

Poland has Fat Thursday.

My fiance and i went there this past weekend after seeing this post. I just wanted to stop in and check out the new place and we wound up getting a plate of Pierogi for $3. omg they were awesome. like some of the others said she's just setting up and trying to figure out her customer's tastes, but i know i'll be going back there pretty often.

also, she told us that she'd be open alot later than she was when she was by the courthouse..... mmmmm dinnner!

Missa:

I have seen punchkies at Europa meat market on Jersey Avenue on days other than Fat Tuesday. I don't know if they have them everyday, but when I saw them several weeks ago, they looked wonderful. I don't know what they are filled with, but my mother made them with rose petal jam.

One of the most exciting posts I've read in a while. Having the variety of food that we have in the neighborhood has got to be my biggest pleasure as a Downtown res.

Oh Thank God! I literally cried when Tanya's closed.

Can't wait to try it out.