My fiancé and I took my mother here for dinner while she was visiting us in the city. We made a reservation a few days in advance which I definitely recommend now that all the tables were completely full by the time we got here at 6:15pm on a Friday. We passed the security area and then found the cafe immediately on the ground floor. The host greeted us kindly and showed us to our table. This cafe is just stunning-- the wooden furniture and walls, large windows facing the park, the dim lightning, all create a cozy but refined atmosphere. It gives off pristine Central European vibes. We were also lucky and they had a live pianist while we were eating which really elevated the ambiance further. Our waitress was very pleasant and available to help us with all our needs. She took our orders and answered all our questions. We ordered some mulled wines which were perfect for the cold weather, they were spiced and not sweetened at all which I liked. While we waited for our food, we also got some complimentary bread and butter. The bread had some seeds and a nice flavor to it. The butter was creamy and a little salty. The food came out very quickly! We tried:
- Smoked trout crepes: perfect to split! This comes with 3 small crepes which were filled with generous smoked trout and came with a side of creme fraiche. The trout was smoky without being fishy and the cold crepes were the perfect light but bright starter. There were some tangy elements from the pickled cucumbers it came with and fresh cherry tomatoes. Very refreshing. The creme fraiche was very good and I used the leftover on the complimentary bread which was also amazing!
- Chicken paprikas: my mom ordered this and really enjoyed it. The chicken was so tender it fell off the bone. It came in this very rich and thick tomato and paprika sauce. The dish came with a side of creamed spatzle which are egg noodles and had a creaminess that balanced out the rich spiced sauce. Very comforting.
- Beef goulash: my fiancé got the goulash which similarly had super tender beef in a rich sauce and paired with spatzle for a comforting balance. This sauce also had hints of paprika but was far more subtle than that of the chicken paprikas. Very nice dish, really filling. If you like goulash, definitely order this!
- Wiener schnitzel: having had schnitzel in Vienna, I had cautious hope about this. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. The breading was slightly thicker here and less airy in general and the meat a bit less tender but I liked how it was not so greasy and I did like that the breading was overall very thin. The lingonberry sauce was quite sweet and would have preferred it on the side. The potato salad though was really amazing and reminded me of that we had in Vienna. It was the perfect side to have with the schnitzel with its pickled, tangy, and herbal elements.
- Warm cheese strudel: this dessert was perfect! It came warm and had a moist consistency, almost like a hybrid between a tres leches and a French toast. The cheese was a bit sweet but had little hints of savoriness which really helped balance the dish.
- Sachertorte: nice chocolate and apricot cake. This was a lot breadier and less moist than the ones we had in Vienna, however, still good! I thought the chocolate, apricot, and rum balance was perfect.
- Hot chocolate: best hot chocolate I have had in a while! Creamy but not too thick, perfectly sweet without being too overwhelming, and had the right amount of chocolate. The whipped cream was light and added a really aesthetic and refreshing touch. They offer a version with rum as well but the original was my favorite.
Overall, I had an amazing dinner here! The service was good, the food was amazing and perfectly comforting for the cold weather, and the ambiance was just impeccable. I think this is the perfect spot to bring parents to impress them and have a nice meal. I definitely want to try their brunch/ lunch one day although know those are walk in tables. Would recommend for dinner and or coffee + dessert! read more