Serbian Restaurant Offers Free Meals to Polish Guests, Honoring WWI Doctors

In the Serbian city of Valjevo, a unique tradition offers Polish visitors a heartfelt welcome: free food and drinks at the Corner restaurant. This gesture of gratitude stems from a century-old debt of honor for the assistance provided by Polish doctors during World War I.

Čorđe Momić, the owner of the Corner restaurant, initiated this tradition to commemorate the selfless work of Polish physician Ludwik Hirszfeld and his wife, Hanna. Momić was inspired to express his thanks to Poland after meeting filmmaker Paweł Wysoczański, who was working on a documentary about Polish doctors' contributions during the war.

Since then, every Polish citizen visiting the restaurant is treated as an honored guest, able to dine and enjoy beverages without charge. The Polish Embassy in Belgrade has confirmed the tradition, with a representative reportedly told by a waiter that the bill was settled a century ago by Dr. Hirszfeld himself.

Ludwik Hirszfeld, a distinguished Polish bacteriologist and immunologist, along with his wife Hanna, traveled to Serbia during World War I to combat a severe typhus epidemic. Their efforts in treating the infected and preventing the spread of the disease saved numerous lives. Hirszfeld later continued his scientific career in Poland, becoming a pioneer in his fields.

While many Polish tourists embrace this unique hospitality, some choose to pay or leave money as a sign of respect for the owner's gesture. The tradition continues to foster goodwill and remembrance between the two nations.

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The bill was settled a hundred years ago by Doctor Hirszfeld.