Chef Sarah Dworak has quietly staged one of Cincinnati's great food takeovers, turning a humble Findlay Market pierogi counter into Sudova, a downtown Eastern European restaurant that just landed her a James Beard finalist nod. Her path runs straight through Babushka Pierogi, into Wódka Bar, and on to Sudova on Court Street, and she is not done yet. Dworak is already plotting a second Sudova space next door that will lean into preserved foods and charcuterie-style plates.
From Findlay Market To Fine Dining
Dworak launched Babushka Pierogi inside Findlay Market in 2012, serving family recipes that quickly grew into both wholesale and retail businesses within the historic market, according to Findlay Market. The success of those pierogi gave her room to experiment. After a run with Wódka Bar, she opened Sudova on Court Street in late 2024, according to WCPO.
James Beard Finalist
The James Beard Foundation named Dworak a finalist on March 31 in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category, according to a compiled list of nominees by Resy. The awards ceremony is scheduled for June 15 in Chicago, per the James Beard Foundation.
What To Order
Sudova leans hard into Eastern European comfort food with cheffy ambition. The menu features a layered medovik honey cake, a towering kulebiaka packed with salmon and rice, and halushki with caramelized cabbage and brown butter, all listed on the restaurant's menu. Sample plates, hours, and reservations are detailed on Sudova.
“I just wanted to share the food I grew up eating,” Dworak told Cincinnati CityBeat. CityBeat also reports she is opening a second Sudova next door that will focus on preserved foods like smoked meats, sausages, sauerkraut, and pickles, giving diners a more casual option alongside the Court Street dining room.
Why It Matters For Cincinnati
Dworak's recognition is part of a bigger moment for the Tri-State. Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky placed multiple chefs among the 2026 finalists, a sign that the region's food scene is finally getting national attention. Local tourism and food outlets say that kind of acclaim can draw visitors and lift small producers who supply markets like Findlay Market, per Visit Cincy.
Sudova is located at 22 W. Court St. Reservations and menu details are available on Sudova or via OpenTable. Babushka Pierogi continues to operate inside Findlay Market at 1801 Race St., selling frozen pierogi and Eastern European staples, according to Babushka Pierogi.
