polish yacht club detroit mi

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Detroit Digest: The Polish Yacht Club, a Hidden Treasure Still Sailing After More than 100 Years

Before downtown and Midtown gave birth to a cluster of new restaurants and bars, some of Detroit's best destinations were hidden gems off the beaten path.

After more than a century, the Polish Yacht Club, aka The Ivanhoe, is still one of those gems. Drive past empty fields and worn homes on a residential stretch of Joseph Campau in Detroit, about six blocks south of I-94, and you’ll stumble upon the restaurant-bar housed in a big red-brick structure with a flat roof -- almost like a little home on the prairie. Despite its name, it's landlocked, with no yachts to be seen.

Inside, there’s a hand-carved marble bar with a dark wood top, and dining rooms with little lamps on the tables and a menu full of comfort food: Kielbasa, pierogi, potato pancakes, fried shrimp, frog legs, creamy cole slaw and the house favorite, fish and chips, with a choice of walleye, perch or catfish. 

Detroit DIgest host Carlos Parisi recently stopped by and worked his way through the tasty menu.

►  Polish Yacht Club , 5249 Jos. Campau, ( 313) 925-5335 . Limited Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

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Step Back in time for some great Food - Ivanhoe's cafe

• United States    
• Michigan (MI)    
• Detroit    
• Detroit Restaurants    

“Step Back in time for some great Food” Review of Ivanhoe's cafe

Also known as the Polish Yacht Club, this place is located n a dilapidated neighborhood (to put it kindly). Generally only o[en from about 11 to 3 on Monday through Thursday and 11 to 7 on Friday. Great Polish food, perch dinners and lots of it. Pickles and a soup of the day generally come along with every full lunch. Definitely call ahead to make sure they are open as they sometimes close for vacations. You'll nver go home hungry.

• Excellent 6
• Very good 3
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• English  (12)
• English (12)

2 - 6 of 12 reviews

It's definitely located in a sketchy part of town; ok, the ghetto but the history is amazing. Give the doorman a few dollars to watch your car and it will be safe and sound. This is the only building on the block. Once inside, it's a throwback to the days of yesterday. The food is solid and plenty of it. They are known for their perch dinners and I recommend it. You also get a nice plate of pickled items and cole slaw. If you ask, any of the staff can tell you stories about the place. It's been around for 100 years. The hours are very limited with dinner only being served on Friday nights. If you love history, this is the place.

My husband brought me to the Ivanhoe having had fond memories from years before. Though not the best neighborhood the bar has the charm of a neighborhood Institution serving a wonderful Polish food from the area. From the menus that have been in place forever, to the autographs and pictures on the wall. This place is the real deal Polish neighborhood bar. The we arrived just after the traditional lunch hour. The place was still emptying out and we waited a long time for our food. The Ambiance, the complimentary coleslaw and pickle plate kept us occupied while we waited. I ordered the slim jim sandwich for $8.95 and it was one of the best I've ever had. It was loaded with Dearborn ham and just the right amount of cheese, tomato, lettuce and sauce. My husband was craving the perch so he ordered the light perch dinner which included a cup of wonderful chicken noodle soup, fries, and 5 very sweet small perch fillets that were cooked just right. We ended up both being very happy with our meal.

We met there with friends for lunch (about noon). From the outside, the building appears as a non-descript corner bar, where it’s been since the early 1900’s. Go there to read more of the history. There are few external windows. The former Eastern European and Polish neighborhood is mostly grass today. The side entrance has a sign overhead that tells you it is the Polish Yacht Club (PYC), also called the Ivanhoe Café. They have a short dining schedule - from 11 AM to about 3 PM. There is a gentleman outside. He watches the cars and opens the door for you and group. Our purpose in visiting the PYC was manifold; to return to the area where we grew up, have a meal with friends, and to enjoy the ambience of a real Polish style bar/restaurant. And in this regard, the PYC met the requirement. We were seated quickly, a member of the wait staff brought a large plate of Cole-slaw and pepperoncini to snack on before ordering. All of it was fresh and tasty. We also ordered drinks. We had Żywiec beer, though there are other Polish beers available. As part of the meal, all of us had a cup of chicken rice soup; homemade and very meaty and satisfying, We had three orders of fresh perch with fries, one was substituted with pierogi, and one order of Kielbasa w/kraut and fries. As an extra, you can order potato pancakes. The perch are pan-fired, and were tasty, very close to being more than enough. The tartar sauce provided with the fish was good. They mentioned that the perch were good and we would be coming back again. The smoked Kielbasa was cut into slices and also pan-fried. It was tasty, if a bit salty, and provided with spicy horseradish as a condiment. The sauerkraut had a bit of caraway flavor and was not overcooked. Pierogi (potato filled) appeared to have been not home-made though they were first boiled, then fried, like my grandmother did. No fried onions however. The potato pancakes also seem to be commercial, not homemade. Both pierogi and potato pancakes were served with sour cream. The commercial made items were not expected to taste like homemade, but overall the meals were filling, as we took some home with us. The menu is Polish based and adequate. The food was good. Service was good too.

Glad to be introduced to this historic restaurant. Everything was excellent, from the friendly security man at the door, great food, polish beer and friendly attentive staff. The fish was amazing, kolbassa, perogies, coleslaw and polish beer. You will not be disappointed to venture off the I-94 for this meal. Be sure to check their hours of operation, although limited it is worth planning your day around their schedule. Only open Friday nights for dinner until 7.

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Ivanhoe Cafe

Among other Polish cuisune places to eat at, this cafe can be one of the greatest. You can have nicely cooked chicken noodle soup , coleslaw and walleye at Ivanhoe Cafe . It's a pleasant experience to order good pancakes . Here you may drink delicious draft beer . It might be nice to enjoy great coffee .

This place is famous for its great service and friendly staff, that is always ready to help you. Also, visitors recommend this spot because of average prices. When you enter this place, you notice the spectacular atmosphere. This cafe has received Google 4.7 according to the guests' opinions.

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Our History

Founded in 1909

The Ivanhoe Cafe was founded in 1909 by Stanislaus Grendzinski who had eight children, one who was named Agnes.  Agnes married Stanley Sienkiewicz in 1927 and ran the bar for 60 years. Big John Sobczak took over the helm in 1987 and is now owned by his wife, Lucille and is managed by their daughter, Patti Galen.  Still in the original building on Jos Campau and Frederick The building bears the Grendzinski name. In what remains of the old Poletown neighborhood, this small working class bar with great food prepared with all fresh ingredients, modest prices and excellent service is a Detroit institution that has defied the odds.

You’ll always find fresh flowers on the tables and a wonderful old time neighborhood atmosphere.  Some photos of recognizable people hang on the walls of the Ivanhoe include Sonny Eliot the weatherman, Phyliss Diller, Dick Purtan, Ray Lane, Xavier Hollander and others.  Have they been there?  Maybe!

The Polish Yacht Club, which is part of the Ivanhoe’s heritage, was founded in 1961. “Big John” Sobczak who passed away in 1994, was the force behind the Polish Yacht Club, which was formed to provide some of the “regulars” with a reason to attend monthly meetings at the bar.  You don’t need a boat to be a member, though.  At one time during its existence members once asked the Detroit City Council to dig a canal from the Detroit River to the Ivanhoe so they could have dockage space near the bar.

The tongue in cheek group is  “dedicated to clear sailing for good deeds”  and conducts fund raisers for local charities.

©  2024 Ivanhoe Cafe. Built using WordPress and the Mesmerize Theme

Bill Galen passed away suddenly Monday, December 12th.

The restaurant will be open this tuesday dec 20th through friday, dec 23rd.,   then closed until january 10th.    please check back for further updated hours..