Janik’s has been serving up classic Polish dishes since 2015. You can get Borsch, Lecho, Bigos, Golabki, Zapiekanka, Kielbasa and Pierogi, all made from old fashioned recipes that have been in the family for generations. They also serve classic breakfast cafe/dinner food and Panini and they sell traditional Polish ceramics like tea cups and bowls. Fully cooked cold or frozen to-go pierogi are also available to be pan-fried at home. Under COVID spacing requirements they have table seating for about a dozen people.

The Dumplings: The Pierogis come boiled or boiled and then fried, in orders of 6, 9 or 12, with sour cream added for $1, bacon bits added for $1 or loaded with sour cream, bacon bits, and caramelized onions for $2. It is not listed on the menu, but you can also get a side of blue cheese dressing. The choices of filling are: Traditional Farmer’s Cheese & Potato; Sauerkraut & Mushroom; Sauerkraut & Kielbasa; Veggie with Spinach, Red Peppers, Mushrooms, Onions and Cabbage; Spinach & Cheese; Buffalo Chicken; and Fruit which are made as ordered. On the breakfast menu they have breakfast pierogi which are described as 3 pierogi drowned in eggs & bacon on a pan, served with rye bread.

I got an order of six Pierogi, three of the traditional and three of sauerkraut and mushroom. The Pierogis were fat and well stuffed with filling and came smothered in butter and sweet sautéed onions. I also got the bacon bits and the side of blue cheese. After I took the pictures below I poured the blue cheese dressing on top of everything. The dish was delicious, but to be honest a little too rich and I probably did not need the blue cheese on top of the butter. The slight sourness of the excellent sauerkraut pierogi cut the richness and was a welcome contrast to the dairy topping I had created. The traditional pierogi was well seasoned but I found the farmer’s cheese to be a little bland, I would have preferred a sharper cheese. Next time I am going to get the 9 pierogi order, hold the blue cheese.

The Location: Janik’s Pierogi Cafe is in the heart of Westfield, MA on Main Street about a block from Elm Street. It is about a 5 minute drive from the Mass Turnpike (Exit 41) and well worth getting off the highway and visiting for lunch or dinner.