Collegian Court

Yet again, I find myself stumbling upon another fun Western Mass restaurant that has been right under my nose the whole time!

A lovely little gem is Chicopee’s own, Collegian Court. Inside these kitchen walls are where homemade pierogies, made from their own generations old recipe, are pinched together and served fresh to you with another local favorite, Blue Seal Kielbasa. Another favorite at Collegian, are the Polish platters- they let you sample all your favorite Polish foods including Kielbasa, kapusta, pierogi, golumpki and rye bread, to top it off. That comes in two sizes depending if you are sharing with the table or just having one for yourself or just want personal Polish food overload!

The atmosphere is clean and comfortable, including a full service bar with adequate seating and TV’s to watch the games! There is a beautifully crafted list of cocktails for the adventurous type and an extensive wine menu to pair with the many types of entrees served at Collegian Court.  The dining room is as intimate or as spacious as one needs it to be, perfect ambiance for a romantic date night and large tables to accommodate the bigger parties.

Now for the good stuff! FOOD! Sampling from the restaurants most popular dishes, I began my meal with the complementary pumpkin bread. This is what Collegian Court is famous for- the most adorable, warm, fluffy,  so wonderful, you-don’t-even-need-butter pumpkin bread!

Next on the list was the Polish Platter: Kielbasa, kapusta, pierogi, golumpki and rye bread. Delicious flavors that all compliment each other so nicely. A nice touch on the pierogies was the crumbled bacon on top and that you have the choice to have them served pan fried or boiled. I say, “go big or go home!” Pan fry it and pile on the bacon 🙂 

If you happen to be in for lunch or enjoy a lighter fare, the sandwiches are filling and flavorful. An icing on the cake, is that the sandwiches are served with perfectly crispy and right out of the fryer, house-made chips. The perfect partner-in-crime. If it’s not chips you crave, you can substitute for coleslaw or french fries, but these awesome chips come with your meal automatically and are the perfect crunch and awesome for dipping should the need arise! They serve the classics, like burgers, but who wants that (okay, I can get it.. everyone loves a good burger,) but when the list of specialty sandwiches is astounding, it definitely takes precedence! From the Polish Hammer- kielbasa, kapusta and horseradish served on rye, to the Court Rachel-  a corned beef or roast turkey sandwich stuffed with coleslaw, swiss and court sauce served on rye, there is a variety of sandwiches loaded with savory goodness.

Moving on to the entrees, the Yankee Pot roast and Beef Marsala were the items that tickled my taste buds. The Yankee Pot roast is a great choice for many different foodies- A slowly braised beef, served with gluten-free gravy, soft carrots, tasty onions and celery, and fluffy mashed potatoes. I enjoy mixed flavors in my meal and the ability to pile my veggies into my gravy and meat and I did just that. The Beef Marsala was another appetizing choice. The mushroom and marsala wine sauce complemented the meat and potatoes very nicely. I can’t wait to try the seafood entrees next time I visit.

Get the full menu, here and if you are looking for good quality Polish comfort food, look no further than Collegian Court in Chicopee!