History of Sawa’s Old Warsaw
Decorated war veteran Walter Sawa opened Sawa’s Old Warsaw in Broadview, IL in 1973. Over 40 years later, the restaurant is as popular as ever serving up great tasting Polish~American cuisine.
Founder Walter Sawa was a pork butcher in Poland until 1939. He then went on to serve his country in World War II, receiving medals of Honor from both the Polish and British Armies. Sawa escaped from a prisoner of war camp and lived in Scotland before immigrating to the United States with his wife and son in 1948.
In the early 1960’s, Walter opened several restaurants in the Chicago area, the first being Warszawinka. The restaurants featured homemade Polish dishes like Pierogi, Polish Sausage, Roast Duck and Cabbage rolls. In 1973 Walter opened the Sawa’s Old Warsaw in Broadview because of the diverse ethnic background of the community.
Just like when the restaurant first opened, the Polish~American style smorgasbord is still the feature cuisine.
Sawa’s Old Warsaw is currently managed by Walter Sawa’s son, Stuart. The restaurant has become an icon of the Broadview and surrounding community. Several community organizations gather at the restaurant for meetings, parties and of course, the great food!
Come and join us! Plan your next family dinner or group get-together at Sawa’s Old Warsaw, 708 343.9040.
Wars and Sawa
There is a legend about the name of Warszawa that derives it from the names of twins Wars and Sawa. Their godfather was a Polish king, who had hunted at this place. Thanks to the king’s bounty the twins established a settlement, which grew into a city – Warsaw. In fact, the name of the city derives from the name of Warcislaw (Warsz in short), who was the owner of the settlement. Many villages took their names from their owner’s name, with ‘-owa’ added to the end of the name – hence Warszowa (Warszawa).
Historical Archive & Awards
The following is a series of photos, articles, and awards that are currently displayed in the front foyer of Sawa’s Old Warsaw. You may click on any of the images to view a larger size. Use your browsers BACK button to return to this page when finished.
