The European Lounge Menu
4475 Transit Rd, Buffalo, NY
Polish & Eastern European bakery
Planning a visit to The European Lounge in Buffalo? Here is a guide to 35 items you can expect at a Polish & Eastern European bakery, from the pastry case to the drinks.
This is a typical menu for this style of bakery, not the bakery's official menu, and prices are not listed. Ask in store or call for today's selection and any allergen information.
Pączki & Fried Dough
Rich fried yeast doughs, most famously the pączki of Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesday.
- Prune Pączek (Powidła)Vegetarian · SeasonalClassic version filled with thick, dark, slow-cooked plum butter that is tangy, deep and only lightly sweet.
- Chruściki (Angel Wings)VegetarianThin ribbons of dough twisted into bows, fried until shatteringly crisp and buried under powdered sugar.
- OponkiVegetarianRing-shaped cheese doughnuts made with farmer's cheese, giving a moist, tender interior and a sugared crust.
- PączkiVegetarian · SeasonalRich, eggy fried doughnuts that are denser than American versions, filled with rose-hip jam, plum butter or custard and dusted with sugar or glazed.
- Custard PączekVegetarian · SeasonalPączek filled to bulging with vanilla pastry cream, finished with powdered sugar for a softer, creamier variation.
Cakes & Babka
Coffee cakes and layered slices that fill a Polish bakery counter.
- MakowiecVegetarian · Contains nutsRolled yeast cake spiraled with a thick filling of ground poppy seeds, honey, raisins, walnuts and orange peel.
- SzarlotkaVegetarianPolish apple cake with grated or sliced tart apples between layers of crumbly shortcrust, scented with cinnamon.
- Napoleonka (Kremówka)VegetarianTwo sheets of crisp puff pastry sandwiching a thick layer of vanilla custard, dusted heavily with powdered sugar.
- PiernikVegetarian · SeasonalDark honey spice cake layered with plum jam and coated in chocolate, flavored with cinnamon, clove and ginger.
- BabkaVegetarian · Popular pickTall, fluted yeast cake with a fine, buttery crumb, often swirled with chocolate or flavored with rum and raisins, topped with icing.
- Placek z KruszonkąVegetarianYeast coffee cake topped with a thick buttery crumble, sometimes layered with plums, apples or blueberries.
- SernikVegetarianPolish cheesecake made with twaróg farmer's cheese, dense yet light, often with raisins and a lattice or chocolate top.
Cookies & Small Sweets
Pastries sold by the piece or pound for coffee and holiday trays.
- PtyśVegetarianPolish cream puff with a crisp choux shell filled generously with whipped cream or custard.
- Kruche CiasteczkaVegetarian · Contains nutsShort butter cookies with a sandy texture, sometimes decorated with jam centers or chopped walnuts.
- KołaczkiVegetarian · Popular pickDelicate cream cheese pastry squares folded around apricot, raspberry, prune or poppy seed filling and dusted with sugar.
- MazurekVegetarian · SeasonalFlat Easter tart on a shortbread base covered with caramel, nuts and dried fruit arranged in decorative patterns.
- PierniczkiVegetarian · SeasonalSmall iced gingerbread cookies cut into hearts and stars, chewy and fragrant with honey and warm spice.
- RogalikiVegetarianCrescent cookies of tender yeasted or cheese dough rolled around a dollop of jam, crumbly and lightly sweet.
Breads & Rolls
Rye loaves, sourdough rounds and everyday rolls.
- BułkiVegetarian · VeganSoft, crusty white rolls with a split top, used for breakfast sandwiches or served alongside soup.
- ChałkaVegetarianBraided egg bread with a golden glossy crust and fluffy crumb, often sprinkled with crumble or poppy seeds.
- ObwarzanekVegetarian · VeganKraków-style braided bread ring, boiled then baked, with a chewy bite and a topping of poppy, sesame or salt.
- CebularzVegetarian · SavoryFlat wheat roll from Lublin topped with sautéed onions and poppy seeds, soft and savory-sweet.
- Polish Rye (Chleb Żytni)Vegetarian · VeganSourdough rye bread with caraway seeds, a chewy crust and a pleasantly sour, aromatic crumb.
- Chleb WiejskiVegetarian · VeganCountry-style wheat and rye round with a rugged crust, ideal for kanapki topped with butter and ham.
Savory & Deli
Hot and cold items often sold alongside the baked goods.
- KrokietySavoryThin crêpes rolled around meat or sauerkraut filling, breaded and pan-fried to a crunchy finish.
- Paszteciki z KapustąVegetarian · SavorySmall flaky turnovers stuffed with braised cabbage and wild mushrooms, a meatless choice for Lent and Wigilia.
- PierogiSavoryHalf-moon dumplings filled with potato and cheese, sauerkraut and mushroom, or meat, sold fresh or frozen for boiling and frying.
- Kiełbasa RollSavorySmoked Polish sausage wrapped in soft yeast dough and baked golden, a hand-held snack for the road.
- PasztecikSavoryYeasted pastry filled with seasoned ground meat, crisp-edged and traditionally served warm with a cup of clear barszcz.
Drinks
- MochaVegetarianEspresso, chocolate sauce, and steamed milk, sometimes crowned with whipped cream; a dessert-leaning drink balancing cocoa richness with coffee bite.
- EspressoVeganA concentrated one- or two-ounce shot pulled under pressure, topped with tawny crema and carrying bittersweet, roasty notes with a short, syrupy finish.
- AmericanoVeganEspresso stretched with hot water into a full-size cup; lighter in body than drip yet keeps the toasty edge of the shot.
- CappuccinoVegetarianEqual-ish parts espresso, steamed milk, and airy foam cap, giving a drier, stronger-tasting drink than a latte with a velvety top layer.
- Caffè latteVegetarianEspresso with plenty of steamed milk and a thin microfoam layer; mellow and creamy, often finished with latte art and offered with oat or almond milk.
- Flat whiteVegetarianA smaller, stronger cousin of the latte: a double ristretto under silky, barely-foamed milk for a dense texture and pronounced coffee flavor.