The reason most customers visit All Pierogi is in the name. This locally owned Mesa restaurant serves handmade pierogi in 15 different, delicious flavors. But after you fill up on the tender boiled or pan-fried parcels, make sure to stop by the Eastern European market next door.
There, you'll find all kinds of imported goods from Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Germany and more. Freezer cases hold packaged pierogi to go. Bottles of hard-to-find sodas line the lower shelves and some of the most delicious items at this Mesa spot are dotted around the checkout counter. Plastic containers hold small folded pastries and cookies, and there's one box of shortbread not to miss.
Simply labeled as "Caramel Cookies" at All Pierogi, these small treats are also known as Oreshki. The traditional treats are comprised of two domed shortbread cookies with a layer of creamy, whipped caramel inside. The shortbread shells are made by using a special pan with molds that shape the dough into small, hollow domes. Two cookies are then stuck together with the sweet filling to form the shape of a walnut.
At All Pierogi, the cookies stand out thanks to a buttery, crumbly but not dry shortbread that melts in your mouth. The caramel cream adds sweetness and a little burnt sugar depth. Whether you eat them whole, split them in half and savor each section or dunk them in a cup of coffee, these little cookies are a delight.
All Pierogi opened in 2010 and quickly became a staple for Ukrainian and other Eastern European specialties. As demand grew, the concept expanded, adding a full-service dining room next door. There, customers can enjoy plates of pierogi along with giant, fried schnitzel, smoked or fresh kielbasa sausages, stuffed cabbage leaves, red and green borscht, meatballs and combination plates with a little of everything.
All Pierogi offers savory pierogi ranging from sauerkraut to bacon and potato or farmer's cheese with chives. For dessert, a selection of sweet dumplings are filled with fruits, spices and sweet cheese.
We didn't need an excuse to visit All Pierogi for another plate of schnitzel or a dozen dumplings. But the buttery caramel cookies will have us heading to Mesa on the regular.
