“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments, that take our breath away.”
George Carlin
The last year I visiting Poland a couple of times …. Warsaw, Gdansk and now in May Sopot … and I haven’t had one dining adventure that I haven’t enjoyed and willing paid for.
In Sopot we lived close by all places that we had dinner or coffee break on, expect one that was about 30 min walk and with our “evening” heels … not even to think about, so taxi.
Our first night I took us to the restaurant that my friends introduced me to in Sept. last year, “Rucola”. I had the most fantastic lamb dish then … and had hoped that they will have something like this – but no lamb.
RUCOLA
Bohaterów Monte Cassino 53
Sopot
Phone: 058 555 53 55
It’s well hidden in the back of the “Crooked House” (Krzywy Domek) on the main pedestrian street, Monte Cassino. Very friendly and cozy restaurant with it has a very interesting decor and food from around the world. No lamb, but I had a superb Tagine with goat meat and my friend had Chicken Masala, the best chicken dish she ever had. It served as a grilled chicken breast. My starter was a heavenly pink smoked salmon. A restaurant that is a MUST if you visit Sopot.
*****
Our favorite waterhole during the days is the “LAGUNA SMAKU”– a cafe and restaurant just by the entrance to the famous pier with a large wooden deck onto the beach. We enjoyed coffee, cakes, salads and a great tan. Doesn’t have an English website. You can’t miss it – on the right-hand side as you enter the pier.
A great spot during the day and evening. Seems to be popular for events … the view is priceless and fantastic people watching.
******
BULAJ
Aleja Franciszka Mamuszki 22,
Sopot
Phone; 058 551 51 29
Right on the beach, but away from for the town center. This is the restaurant we used a taxi for. Owned by Artur Moroz, one of Polen’s 12 best chefs. He owned a couple of restaurants in Poland. “Bulaj” is on the 100 list of the best restaurants in Poland. Nothing fancy about the place at all … very casual and the waiters are dressed in jeans and blue/white shirt.
This is all about the food. We got an “al fresco table” but we had a roof over our head and with a stunning view over the Baltic Sea. It was a pink and lilac evening.
We both had asparagus as the starter … we both are mad about asparagus and now is the season. I went for Zander fillets for my main course and got more asparagus. We had a wonderful white wine by the glass, but forgotten to ask for the winery … it was a sauvignon blanc.
The light by our table didn’t appeal to Oscar, so he more or less refused to deliver.
*****
After our day trip to Gdansk and meeting up with Magdalena and her baby Nina, we didn’t feel to put too much afford into the evening and my friend was struggling with a cold. I mentioned for Magdalena that we had a restaurant by name “Tu’gether” as next door neighbor and she told us that it’s a very popular restaurant … tiny and cozy with great food. So she booked us a table.
TU’GETHER
Grunwaldzka 65
Sopot
Phone; 0506 209 765
The restaurant has only an FB profile. What a surprise we were in for. Our table was placed by a wall that was covered by moss. They have a very small menu, but very exciting and excellent executed. I had tuna as the starter and flavorful filet of venison as main. For this place booking is necessary – it was filling up very quickly and most tables were reserved. Open for lunch too. A tiny gem that we will return to.
*****
Sunday was a perfect summer day with a small breeze at times … there wasn’t much wind during our days. Sopot was packed with families and visitors from all around the area.
In the evening, we both felt for a good steak and I had read about “CRUDO” that are a specialist on the just steaks.
CRUDO
2, Bohaterów Monte Cassino 36,
Sopot
Phone; 0512 824 500
In CRUDO’s kitchen is one of upcoming young Polish chef the main man, Jacek Majcherek – he has been working at 3-star restaurant “Restaurant Gordon Ramsay” in Chelsea, London, and Noma, Copenhagen (rated as the best restaurant in the world)
“Crudo” is a grill restaurant and specialize in meat and mostly beef. So another dinner without lamb on the menu. We both took king prawns in wine, mango, and chili as the starter …. fantastic dish and I took Roast beef on the bone with seasonal vegetables and pepper sauce as main. The beef was so tender the knife just melted through and the beef was so flavorful. I’m not a beef lover, but once in the full moon, I can crave for it … (and they didn’t have any lamb) it’s a very long time since I had such a quality of beef on my plate. Absolutely superb!!!!
Located on Monte Cassino is it easy to find.
*****
White Marlin Restaurant & Lounge
Aleja Wojska Polskiego 1
Sopot
Phone; 08 58 585 86 86
Locate right on the white sand … and already when you step into the Bistro that comes first is it like you’re in the Hampton and interior design could have been done by Ralph Lauren; blue, white and soft grey. Must be the best-located restaurant in Sopot.
It seems to belong to Hótel Zhong Hua – very funny to find a hotel with a Chinese hotel … in one of the most beautiful building in Sopot and right on the beach.
I would call “White Marlin” a fish restaurant – but it also had meat dishes and Chinese dishes. A very stylish but still casual and very relaxed restaurant. Waiters wearing jeans again .. this time with a nice polo shirt.
We had a lovely outdoor table and the sunset was magical .. it was also our last evening in Sopot. So we decided to treat ourselves and to celebrate the fantastic stay we had … two glasses of Moët & Chandon and they arrived with sliced fresh strawberries in very beautiful glasses.
We had asparagus for starters – we LoOoOoOove asparagus! Delicious!!!!! My main course was Zander again this time served with wild rice and aioli sauce … as side order spring potatoes, that was served pan fried. My taste bud had a heavenly moment. 
At the “White Marlin” and with white sand under our feet .. and a beautiful sunset – we couldn’t have a better ending on our 5 Fabulous days in Sopot.
I would recommend any of restaurants, but “Rucola” is a MUST. Because of their menu, quality and fantastic colorful atmosphere.
And as always I say … there aren’t any good parties without some damage!
If you click on this logo it will take you to other food adventures I had around the world
myguiltypleasures 
Have you no mercy? I’m sitting here with just a jar of olives 😦 😦
Girlfriend, nothing wrong with a jar of olives … if they are full of flavors. Have a great Wednesday, The sun is back with us, but a bit less heat this morning.
I posted this on my Facebook page last week…my friend Peggy was an assistant to George in the early 1980’s. Hope you hadn’t seen this before.
Isn’t it amazing that George Carlin – comedian of the 70’s and 80’s – could write something so very eloquent…and so very appropriate.
A Message by George Carlin:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Remember, to say, ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
If you don’t send this to at least 8 people…Who cares?
George Carlin
Thank you so much …. this message really made the start of my Wednesday – lovely piece … and so true. And it is wonderful to know more about George Carlin. Didn’t know anything about him. Thank you so much, Barbara! I will make a post out this … Lovely.