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The demise of stalwarts like Leshko’s, Alice’s, Teresa’s, and Kiev has made the East Village ever less Eastern European, but Little Poland can still be relied upon for hearty, homestyle Old World food. A traditional menu handles blintzes, borscht, and pierogi, the latter plump and thick-skinned, and available in eight different iterations. Pork chops come in a hubcap-sized serving, with crisp breading over tender, flavorful meat. For beef, stuffed peppers and cabbage join goulash and stroganoff, along with a diner-classic hamburger. A long list of soups covers savory lentil, earthy mushroom barley, and a chicken noodle topped with a generous piece of poultry. Authenticity is confirmed by a homemade kompot, a sweet punch garnished by thick chunks of fruit. Breakfast is a popular meal here, with farmer’s cheese and kielbasa enlivening omelettes, and French toast available in babka or challah forms. The interior is coffeeshop standard, over-lit, with parallel rows of booths, tables, and counter stools. The wood paneling hasn’t been updated since opening day in 1985, when the Eastern Bloc was still in business, and the local diner competition was a little stiffer. — Ethan Wolff

Pierogi, $9.25/8 pieces; combination platter, $15.25; breaded pork chop, $13.95