Antoni Stępkowski

Antoni Stępkowski (1831–1889) was a merchant and restaurateur, who moved to Warsaw in 1849. Stępkowski opened a shop selling wines and spices on ul. Długa, which he moved to ul. Wierzbowa 9 (Dmuszewski’s former townhouse) in 1858. Shortly afterwards, he opened the restaurant ‘U Stępowskiego’ [Chez Stępowski], commonly known as ‘U Stępka’, which enjoyed a great deal of fame. Bolesław Prus mentions the excellent caviar and asparagus polonaise that ‘invigorated with their “Rhenish sparkling”’ in his ‘Chronicles’ in 1886. A reference to the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) being delighted with the plum pudding served at ‘u Stępka’ has also survived.