WHY In winter, sustaining pierogis, stroganoff and heavenly hot dried plums wrapped in bacon; in summer, a table on the pretty patio and a bowl of the best cold borscht you’ve ever had, at least in Southern California.

WHAT L.A.’s longstanding center of Polish culinary life continues to thrive in this charming cottage on not-so-charming Lincoln. The rich food—pierogis, roast duckling with apples, hunter’s stew, potato pancakes—is consistently good.

WHO Eastern European ex-pats and romance seekers.