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| Polanium |
Walking
through the front entrance and into the lobby of Mareva's Restaurant (now
closed), was like stepping back in time. You were immediately greeted by a 7.5'
x 11.5' edge lighted, etched and carved glass wall mural, titled “Polanium.” The
mural depicts some of Poland`s most famous people, including Nikolaus
Copernicus, Casimir Pulaski, Thaddeus Kosciusko, Frederic Chopin, Adam
Mickiewicz and Marie Curie. The mural was the first impression of what was to
come.
Moving further into the restaurant, the opulently appointed oak, brass and etched glass, was tied together by the rich emerald green velvet seats and floral carpeting. A small lounge with a granite topped bar and a baby grand piano. When it comes to the food, many called it "nouvelle Polish," and some called it "Polish with panache." A better description might have been "pan European." The menu was eclectic, with offerings of the ordinary to the extraordinary.
The second (150 people) and third floors (225 people) is where the banquets were held, operating as Oaza Palm Terrace. With kitchens on the first and second floors, and prep areas in the basement, a European bakery completed the operations.
It wasn't long before the business was expanded to include manufacturing of thier polish specialties, including, pierogies, potato pancakes, vegetable pancakes, sweet potato pancakes, cabbage rolls (golabki), and potato dumplings (kluski).
When it comes to dessert, a complete line of European desserts was offered, including chrusciki, kolacke, poppyseed cake (makowiec), babka's, and vanilla roulades, to name a few.
Oaza (Oasis) Palm Terrace banquet and catering specialized in off-premises catering.
Moving further into the restaurant, the opulently appointed oak, brass and etched glass, was tied together by the rich emerald green velvet seats and floral carpeting. A small lounge with a granite topped bar and a baby grand piano. When it comes to the food, many called it "nouvelle Polish," and some called it "Polish with panache." A better description might have been "pan European." The menu was eclectic, with offerings of the ordinary to the extraordinary.
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| Gourmet pierogies |
It wasn't long before the business was expanded to include manufacturing of thier polish specialties, including, pierogies, potato pancakes, vegetable pancakes, sweet potato pancakes, cabbage rolls (golabki), and potato dumplings (kluski).
When it comes to dessert, a complete line of European desserts was offered, including chrusciki, kolacke, poppyseed cake (makowiec), babka's, and vanilla roulades, to name a few.
Oaza (Oasis) Palm Terrace banquet and catering specialized in off-premises catering.
In the latter part of the 1980's marked the beginning of Operation Dessert Shield, culminating in Operation Dessert Storm. This marked the beginning of the end for fine dining across this country, with Chicago being hard hit by the uncertainty of the economy, or the war.
If you’re like me, you know that restaurants of the 70’s and
80’s were examples of culinary extravagance. With names like La Tour, The Cape
Cod Room, Trader Vic’s, Morton’s, Don Roth’s Blackhawk, The Berghoff, Gene
& Georgetti’s, Prince Of Wales, and Mareva’s, Most people in the hospitality industry took on a survive until 95 strategy. One by one fine dining restaurants, with American bistros rising up in their place.
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