PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAHow aptly named is the spin-off from Windsor’s Polish vodka bar, Borsch, Vodka and Tears. Adjoining the Classic Cinema, After the Tears is a little more bright and breezy than its Bohemian Chapel Street cousin, which suits the cinema-goers who want to squeeze in a meal or maybe just a quick convivial Polish beer before a movie. It has similar touches – distressed gilt mirrors, candlelight and antique lamps – that make it a welcoming place to linger, and the menu still features a large vodka selection and typical Polish dishes such as borsch, goulash and pierogi (dumplings). The backlit tableau of vodka bottles dominates and serves to remind diners of the omnipresent spirit, making it a little tempting to skip the film altogether – the flaming absinthe perhaps contains more theatre than a mere movie can offer.
There is an express menu of soups, stews and antipasti on offer if time is of the essence, but it is worth allowing some extra time to tuck into the heartier offerings. A trio of char-grilled Polish sausages, or the bigos – a hearty and satisfying hunter’s stew of sausage, pork, cabbage, prunes and mushrooms – will stave off the winter chill and sustain you amply regardless of the length of the movie. Earnest post-cinema discussion is not mandatory but is recommended over a shot or two of sour cherry vodka and some excellent strudel.
Angela Costanzo, August 2008