The Birchwood Tap Room

I was on Long Island for work and my friend from the hamptons recommended this place. I am polish and my boss has never had polish food but we both LOVED IT. Very homey traditional polish restaurant with MANY American options and all the essential polish options. Great draft beers and friendly servers. Huge portions but I took the rest home for lunch tomorrow- very affordable!

great little place in riverhead. friendly staff, and more importantly, great food. The classic grilled chicken sandwich is perfect. if you and a few friends are feeling ambitious, the poo-poo platter is the way to go. Its a huge portion of appetizers.

The Polish food is eh, nothing to write home about. Not really homeade like some of the places in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, but more like TGI Fridays meets beginner Polish line cook. First off, no krauts and cabbage apps, just very stale "rye flavored" bread. American steamed veges were flavorless and maybe worthy of a hospital or maybe Jet Blue. The stuffed cabbage, typical "American" style, flavorless ground beef and rice, wrapped in a tough cabbage leaf, topped with what tasted like an eye-talian marinara sauce. Potato pancakes were exactly like the breakfast potato things you get at Burger King, the worst version of Eastern European potato pancakes or latkes  ever had. Perogis, again not explosive like I've had at other authentic Polish joints. The kelbasi tasted like basic supermarket type you would get in plastic shrink wrap. Actually I was very shocked that the town is heralded as "Polish Town USA", had such a limited traditional local flavor and vibe. Two stars for environment and presentation only. Sorry, better luck next time.