104 Calistoga Rd. (in St. Francis Shopping Center), Santa Rosa, CA 95409
(707) 538-5255
Hours: Closed Mondays. Lunch: 11:30a - 2:00p (Tues-Sat), Dinner: 4:30p - 9p (Tues-Sat),4:00p - 8p (Sun)
Parking: in shopping center
Last Visited: April 16, 2011
http://www.clickcafeeurope.com/
Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$$
Don’t let the shopping center fool you. You walk into Café Europe greeted by Herbert Zacher in his black pants with white vertical stripes, and with the German almost polka type music on the speaker system and the beer mugs on the wall, it’s a whole other world. This quaint German restaurant will aid in soothing the senses. Note if you’re under 60, you’re probably going to be part of the younger crowd of patrons. Chef Robert Buchschachermair whips up a treat.
Reservations recommended for dinner. The earlier the better if you don’t have a reservation. Early patrons get more attention and the food comes faster. Go with an empty stomach and save room for the apple strudel which comes a la mode. The staff is friendly and know what they’re doing. They keep an eye on everything and make sure that the water glasses are filled. The staff also helps each other out so that if one person is busy, another will take your plates – they work well together.
The entrees include choice of salad or soup. These days, it’s a bargain to get salad or soup included at these prices. The house salad is mixed greens with tomatoes and cucumbers on the side. House dressing is great. Other dressings are available. Most dishes come with garden vegetables and some sort of sauerkraut. The great thing is that the garden vegetables aren’t overcooked. They’re done just right and have a nice natural flavor.
- Cream of Asparagus soup – A nice blend of asaparagus and potato, this soup is not overly rich, but just the right texture and flavor.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup – Shitake mushrooms and cream make up a delicious soup that has just the right texture and flavor. The scent of fresh herbs only add to the perfume of the soup. Wonderful.
- Potato pancakes are crispy and light, golden brown, served with applesauce. A yummy treat. Two pancakes $4.50
- Nuernberger Combo - Two veal and three pork Nuernbergers served with homemade mashed potatoes. They give you the mustard and all the accompaniments. It’s great for sampling different sausages. Warm and light – these are a far cry from what you would find packaged on a shelf. They’re delicious. $14.50
- Wiener Hackbraten/ Vienna Meatloaf - Lean ground beef and pork herb sausages mixed with other goodies served with a creamy mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes. More of that homemade taste the way it should be. $13.50
- Schweinelende mit Pilzen / Pork Tenderloin and Shitake Mushrooms – Grilled pork medallions with sautéed mushrooms and a potato pancake and red cabbage sauerkraut. More of the same of what is listed above and below. $15.95
- Lamb Loin Chops - One great thing is that you get really nice pieces of meat. Café Europe doesn’t skimp. You get nice cuts of meat, all tender and sweet. The chops are grilled to perfection and that little bit of mint jelly makes them taste even better. $18.50
- Bayrischer Sauerbraten – Top sirloin marinated in red wine and vinegar roasted and so tender it melts in your mouth. It comes with spaetzle which is oh so good. I hear that with Germans, sauerbraten is the dish of choice and they do a great job of it. $17.50
- Kalbs Wiener Schnitzel – Four pieces (or three pieces depending on the size) of veal are breaded and pan-fried and served with a potato pancake. Again, it’s those pieces of thin, tender, and juicy meat that hit the spot. They are served with a wedge of lemon and the lemon juice brings out the flavor even more. The pancake in the photo is a little darker than usual, but it still tasted delicious. $17.50
- Jaeger Schnitzel – Much like the Wiener Schnitzel, except this one is served with spaetzle instead of the potato pancake. This one
comes with that homemade creamy mushroom sauce with large white mushrooms cut thick and placed on top of the veal. The spaetzle, which has been ever so lightly browned on one side, soaks up the sauce and has a lightness about it. My side vegetables during this last visit included marinated carrots, marinated red cabbage, and a cauliflower floret. I love how the attention to detail is present in every dish. The veal contains light brown grill marks along the diagonal. Delicious and tender. $17.95- Hungarian Goulash – This flavorful beef stew is served with wide egg noodles. It’s a treat because it’s on the specials menu and not always available. The second time I tried it, the noodles were replaced with seasonal vegetables – carrots, pureed spinach, and red cabbage. The pieces of beef are tender and can be broken apart with a fork. It still maintains its form and pairs well with the flavorful sauce. The many spices fuse together to create a rich dark red sauce that tastes delicious.
- Hassenpfeffer/Roasted Rabbit – The rabbit is deboned for the most part is topped with lingonberries and gravy. This dish is served with spaetzle and fresh vegetables. Out of all the dishes I’ve tried at Café Europe, I probably liked this one the least. If you like chicken breast, then you might find this one a favorite, but it was on the dry side for me.
Note: The salad was wilted once out of the six or seven times I’ve been there. Otherwise, it’s been pretty close to perfect. Unfortunately, the bread is cold, but it’s always soft. Don’t let this deter you, but the chain smoker out front is more than likely your host.
During the visit in 2007, the salad was very fresh and the house dressing, creamy dill, seemed a bit thicker than usual.
On Sundays, the rolls are warmed which make them absolutely delicious. Why they don’t do this the rest of the week, I don’t understand, but the just make the experience that much better. Café Europe is a great place to get an old world experience with first rate service and food that is hearty and delicious.
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