We dined at Nova Europa for the first time tonight. The food was excellent! All of the ingredients were fresh and perfectly cooked. My husband had the grilled octopus and he said it was the best he had had since he ate it in Portugal. I had the rockfish and it was delicious. The service was very good and we really liked meeting and talking with Manuel. read more

This was my second visit to this restaurant. My companion and i ordered from the happy hour menu which is on the back of the full menu. It is a $24.95 flat price offering an appetizer, entree and dessert for that price. (Only available Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 5-6:30 pm). There were about 6 choices each for appetizers and entrees and 3 for dessert. My companion had a mussel appetizer and I had French Onion soup. My soup was a great example of the classic preparation. Bubbly and browned cheese over a deeply flavorful broth of onions and a slice of French bread. My companion loved the mussels. As to the entree I had what was called Beef Diane, a twist on the classic Steak Diane. It consisted of tips of filet in a delicious gravy flavored with cognac. My companion had Rainbow Trout and was very happy with it. For dessert we both had cheesecake with strawberry sauce. A good example of a New York style cheesecake. Both entrees were served with well cooked mixed vegetables. The portions were not a scaled down size but normal size. The meal comes with fresh baked toasted bread served warm. Delicious. The service was attentive which was to be expected because there were only 3 tables occupied. A complimentary shot of a what I think was kahlua was served at the end of the meal. The atmosphere is lots of dark wood and a classic bar. Great food and a great experience. Don't pass up this great value!! read more

Came here last night and it took an hour and a half for our entrees to come out. There was no apology or acknowledgement at all. The place was emptying out by the time we got our meals. They tried to appease the pair of diners next to us with free shots of something, but nothing for us because we went an acquaintance and his sister who are regulars, so they knew it didn't matter if we were happy or not. Food was terrible. I had the rainbow trout which seemed like it might have come frozen. Topped with dull brown gravy and canned mushrooms. Got a large dollop of bland mashed potatoes with it and a few green beans. TLDR: this place is for senior citizens who take comfort in familiar cafeteria level food. I'm perplexed how it's in business with high ratings. I've come here numerous times because the person I know (who's about 25 years my senior) comes here every Friday night. read more

I cannot believe that I have lived within walking distance to this restaurant for the past three years and never have visited. Hey, better late than never. Because of an unexpected change of plans, we decided to have a weekend dinner here, and it turned out to be a great decision - based on the food and service. What really worked for us was that the restaurant has a few outdoor tables, and the outdoor seating is dog-friendly. First, the restaurant has a pretty extensive menu with diverse options. I will admit that I was a bit overwhelmed when the waitress mentioned all of the specials for the evening. It seemed as the list kept going, going and going. Also, the restaurant has a dinner special for about 35 bucks that includes either a 3 course meal or a 2 course meal + a glass of wine. For my dining pleasure, I went with the baked (or maybe it was broiled) flounder that was served with potatoes and green beans. Overall, I thought my meal was absolutely delicious. I do wish the portions were slightly larger. Overall, I thought the service was absolutely wonderful. Our waitress was very friendly and constantly checked in with us to make sure everything was going well. Although we visited around 5:30 pm on a Saturday, I was a bit surpised with how crowed the restaurant became around 6:30 pm. If you are planning to visit around this time, I highly recommend making reservations even though this section of Wheaton can be relatively quiet. Also, the restaurant seems to be very popular with the eldery community. During our visit, I'd say the average age of diners was somewhere in the 60s. read more

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Wish we had discovered Nova Europa earlier - we've been a fan of Portuguese cuisine for a while & finally read about this place. We made reservations for the early evening & when we arrived, the place was hoppin' - nice upscale vibe. Service was good - this isn't a place you want to rush in and out of, but the timing of food & drinks was perfect. We ordered Shrimp de Gallo & Steak Portuguese and the food was AWEsome. Definitely worth coming back - a cut above the standard dining experience! read more

Nova Europa Restaurant - Shrimp de Gallo - Portuguese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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I went with my cousin for the first time and it was amazing! Everything was fabulous. Even the salad dressing was special. The long time chef, I believe his name was Manuel, talked us thru the menu and when he said everything was good, it was true. Then he gave us Portuguese pasteles for dessert topped with a bit of cinnamon... we were in frickin heaven. This was the first time we went but it will not be the last. read more

Had a wonderful dinner and was happy to see the same server had been there for over 40 years! The food is awesome and I can't wait to go back! It's a hidden treasure! Love supporting local restaurants. read more

Nova Europa Restaurant - This was seafood with linguini with pink sauce amazing!!! - Portuguese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Went when visiting family. Was crowded. Waited a bit for the table which is fine. Got sat. Someone eventually came over with side plates and silverware. No one had asked us a if we wanted drinks. Finally got water. Still no server. Eventually someone showed up and asked if we knew what we wanted. Food orders. After those were said we had to ask for drinks. They took forever. A cosmo not a cosmo. And then we waited. And waited. And everyone got bread. We had to ask where it was and told it was being baked. Still other tables got bread before us, those that got there after us. And two hours later we finally got our food. Which was adequate. Definitely not worth the wait. Very disappointing. Don't usually eat dinner at 9pm. Can't recommend. read more

To start with, I'd estimate that the average age of the diners here might have been 65+. The ambiance is very dark and almost European. The food is solid, but in no way exciting. It's like a comfort place to go with your parents. read more

We ate at Nova Europa for a pre-Christmas family dinner. The restaurant is nicely decorated and dimly lit, and the ambiance was perfect for the occasion. The complimentary bread was also a highlight - warm baskets of baguettes served with butter - some of the best bread I've had at a restaurant. I would recommend the 3-course dinner special if you want an appetizer, dessert, or wine with your meal. It was very reasonably priced at ~$32 for 3 of these 4: appetizer, entree, dessert, and wine. I'd recommend the Cacerola Nova Europa (clams and mussels in marinara) for appetizers. For entrees, we tried the Frutos Do Mar (mixed seafood with fish over linguine) and Veal Nova Europa. The Frutos Do Mar was basically a platter full of seafood with very little linguine - this was good value for the money and it was yummy, but not something I'd recommend if you're looking for a pasta dish. The veal plate seemed to be a lot smaller. We tried the chocolate cake and creme caramel (flan) for dessert. The cake was a bit too sweet and we couldn't finish the whole thing. The flan seemed to be the better option here. Service was just ok - not terrible, but not spectacular. I would come back to try more on the menu if I'm in the area! read more

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I just came back from Portugal, so I have decided to try this Portuguese restaurant. It's an old fashioned restaurant, with white tablecloths. Each entrée comes with fresh salad. The food is good, very friendly staff. read more

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we have lived by this restaurant for many years and finally decided to try it. We waited about 10 minutes for someone to come into the main dining area to see us waiting. We were then led to a booth which, upon sitting, learned was broken and had to move. Once seated, a waiter came by to get our drink order. I have never smelled a stronger odor of cigarette smoke by a human in a long long time. It was VERY strong. I ordered the fish special and it was just ok. A few hours after leaving the restaurant my stomach was off - then i was having symptoms related to food poisoning every hour for the next 13 hours. it was bad. The food I ate prior to the restaurant was nothing new so I can only attribute this reaction to this restaurant. Good luck if you decide to try it - but I would pass if I were you. read more

This is a fantastic neighborhood secret. We came on a Friday evening as a party of three and all of us loved our food. Entrees come with a house salad and there's an after dinner aperitif that made the experience just seem so special. Four stars because of a few things: the tables feel too short for the chairs. My plate felt miles away. It was also pretty tight quarters where we were sitting on the upper level and the aisle between our table and those across from us was frequently backed up with servers and diners trying to get back and forth. We'll definitely be back on a weeknight when it is (hopefully) a little quieter. read more

Tried this hidden gem for the first time--food was very good and the menu extensive. More appropriate for a romantic meal or group dinner rather than a family meal. No kid menu in sight. Service was friendly, knowledgeable, and responsive. We will definitely return. The only caveat -while my wife and I both loved our meals the portions are small by American standards. read more

Went to this restaurant again last nite and as usual everything was scrumptious. Everything is prepared with skill and who knew that a neighborhood restaurant would have linen tablecloths and napkins. You really feel as though you're in Lisbon. My sincere compliments to the chef and the staff...everything was so beautifully presented. The Early Bird dinner is $23.99 and includes your choice of an appetizer, entree and dessert. No need to get dressed up or would be a great place to go before another event. Enjoy! read more

Another infuriating example of a restaurant that I knew was there but hadn't tried...for all 22 years I've lived in Montgomery County. Now I'm kicking myself for not having gone earlier. We went for Mothers' Day 2022 where they had a special menu but I think that the things we ordered are on the regular menu (at least the main courses). I had the Steak a Portugesa which was cooked perfectly. Medium rare, tender, and the flavor of the meats, egg, and gravy together was amazing. Mom had the lamb chops which were also flawlessly cooked and tender. Our appetizers were portabella mushrooms which were very very good (I hate mushrooms and actually kinda liked them) and the shrimp cocktail (which was fine but not earth shattering). We also made the mistake (not a mistake) of getting dessert. Mom & son had chocolate mousse which was light and airy and quite chocolatey (is that a word?). I was in the "when in Rome" mode and stuck with the Portuguese dessert, Pasteis De Nata (as seen on "Somebody Feed Phil"). Both desserts were excellent and worth saving room. There is a 100% chance that I'm going back to this place...many many times in an effort to make up for 22 lost years. read more

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Over 40 years, and consistent during all those years. Excellent! A place where you can have a conversation over dinner without yelling. Wonderful waitstaff. Weekend specials are wonderful. This restaurant is in an unlikely location, but delivers wonderful food and drinks, in a perfect atmosphere. read more

I do not get the high ratings. We ordered take out. - filet mignon and lobster, good - manicotti, thick shell, flavorless, very little flavorless filling, bitter, odd tomato sauce - totally average fried calamari with bitter, odd tomato sauce - completely plain bread, broccoli, noodles, carrots - literally no seasoning of any kind If this is portugues food I am way out. For sure never coming back here. read more

Should be called "Old Europe." We went at 8pm on a Saturday night. There were about 6 tables sat out of 20 or so. The hostess didn't offer us the coat check. Extremely rude waiter, who nearly refused to serve us just dessert, and overcharged me for a tiramisu that i never got. The desserts I did get were extremely uninspired, and room temperature. The whole place is outdated, and is covered in French paintings and Scotch whiskey ads despite being a Portuguese restaurant. I generally see no reason to go back, unless you collect overpriced pasta and bitter espresso. read more

Nova Europa has been one of my favorite local eateries for decades. It always feels like a special occasion when I dine there. White tablecloths and servers turned out in in formal attire. The service is exceptional. The food is consistently on point. I don't know why I don't visit more often! read more

I went to this restaurant yesterday and I loved it! For 1 the food was phenomenal ( do not pass out the Pastéis de Nata cause they are absolutely delicious) and Manuel, our server, was so knowledgeable and gave us amazing recommendations. For appetizers We had the basket of bread, which was so warm, the caldo verde with their authentic chouriço (would highly recommend trying if you like soup) and the shrimp in a lemon and garlic sauce which was divine. For entrees we had the octopus, YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS DISH and the Bacalhau and it was absolutely amazing, it felt like I was back in Europe. The food was so so so good that we just dug into it and forgot to take pictures! But we have one of the Pastéis de Nata, which is the original recipe from Lisbon. read more

Nova Europa Restaurant - Pasteis de Nata - Portuguese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Just hopping on to update my prior review, to add that if they have the their lamb shank on special, for gods sake order it! It's delicious. Though it was my first experience with lamb shank, and the server (who I believe is also the manager and whose niece, I think, is the owner) had to show me how to cut into parts of it to not miss the best bits. I normally order seafood there, because I NEVER get enough seafood in my life and they have a fine hand with it - but they do damn well with lamb, too. read more

Wonderful menu, food, and atmosphere. A true gem in the neighborhood. It was recommended by a friend and it was truly a great dining experience. Thank you Manuel for a delightful dinner. We will be back. read more

We went on a Saturday night and it was full! We had the French Onion soup and the sardines, both were fine. My husband had the octopus which he devoured,. He raved about it. It came on a bed of sautéed spinach. I had the Salmon Wellington. Lovely piece of salmon en croute. We finished up with some aged port. The service was attentive and the food was wonderful. Kudos to our server, Maria! We will be back! read more

What's up foodie fams. Over the weekend I visited my first Portuguese and European restaurant in Silver Spring, Maryland. This is a nice little fancy place with such tile ambiance for those who enjoy light chatting environment and slightly intimate setting. I digress, food time! I ordered the escargot and sardines for appetizers. My main entrees were the fillet mignon and lamb chops. The escargot was is a butter garlic sauce. These tasty morsels where full of flavor and meatier than other escargot I've had before. The sardines were Portuguese sardines fried with onions in a vinaigrette sauce. These were pretty good and kind of refreshing after eating the butter escargot, kind of like cleansing the palate with and acidic taste to set your taste buds back to neutral. The fillet mignon was seared to medium raw deliciousness. It just melts with every bite you take. The lamb chops were smothered in a garlic wine sauce, really yummy flavoring. I only wish there was more because I one bites each one lol. I enjoyed my time here. Appreciate the wait staff Maria and Andrew for helping me during my stay. Till next time, stay safe and healthy folks! read more

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Amazing food fun craft cocktails cozy atmosphere and some of the best service I have had in years!

I agree this restaurant deserves the hidden gem label. We only got to know it through a Food Delivery app and it was kind of a sleeper pick. Nothing on the menu jumped out at me, but figured I'd give it a shot and I'm glad I did. The chicken marsala was solid. What I enjoyed most was the surf-and-turf; the filet was very nicely cooked, as was the lobster tail. We had the pasteis de nata and they were fine. I think this is just a very good restaurant in the area that I anticipate ordering from again in the future. read more

They tried to seat us at a small table wedged between the bar and a barrier. We opted to sit near the windows. The waiter was pretty inaccessible; we have special diets, especially gluten free. The salad was good with traditional european olive oil dressing. The liver was dredged in flour (gluten) and was covered with a nasty red wine gravy and onions. The place only had retirees at lunchtime and has not been updated for 30 years. I used to like this restaurant, but the restaurant has gone from a great European restaurant to a tired cliche. read more

This place is a gem! The food was delicious, well presented, and very reasonably priced. The star of the show is the service. The owner, Manuel made a point of introducing himself to us and told us the incredible history of the restaurant and his journey from Portugal. Seriously... check this place out! read more

The food at Nova Europa happens to be some of the best Italian cuisine i've tried along side some decent appetizers and desserts. My only issues happen to be with trying to return to the restaurant. On their outside of their door it says they close at 10 pm every night but then online it says they close at 9 pm. Even then I've shown up at 8 pm to try and dine and both times, this has happened twice. They have turned me away and told me they were closing. This is bad service and just confusing times? If you close at 8 update your restaurant hours. read more

This restaurant is a hidden gem in Silver Spring. I have been living in the DC area for 20 years and didn't know about until now. But the restaurant has been there for 39 years, so I'm just glad a friend who moved close to it found out. I love Portuguese food and we do not have lots of options in DC, so this was a very welcome discovery for me. During this pandemic, they're doing a lot of take outs, but we actually had a chance to dine in yesterday, lots of social distancing measures in place - and the manager, Mr Manuel, was so welcoming and explained even how to properly eat their sardines appetizer. Plus, they have French and Italian dishes on their menu, so they can please an array of customers. My top favorite were the Caldo Verde and the Sardines. Amazing! Will become a regular, al the way from northern Virginia! read more

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Disclaimer: We went on Mother's Day. We had a lovely waitress our appetizers were great, however a hiccup sprung from one of our entrees. It was advertised as a "salmon topped with shrimp in lobster sauce". The dish came with one shrimp on top of the salmon. One. Shrimp. Since it didn't meet our expectations we asked for it to be sent back to the kitchen and removed from the bill. We were rudely met with "you want more shrimp, how many?!?" Ended our meal on a sour note. read more

Nova Europa Restaurant - Salmon topped with shrimp in lobster sauce - Portuguese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Ordered a seafood dish. Specified 'no calamari' in writing on the order. Meal arrived full of....calamari. Yes, I could pick it out, but when I called to complain, was just told, "Sorry". While this was a taste preference, what if it had been an allergen? read more

Very disappointed in poor mismanagement on Valentines Day. We booked a reservation for 7 PM on Valentines Day more than a month in advance. When we arrived for our 7 PM reservation we were met with a line out the door and to the sidewalk of other people who also had reservations and hadn't been seated yet. We stood in line and waited in the freezing cold for over 30 mins with absolutely no communication from anyone about what to expect in terms of timeline. Eventually, after 30+ mins of no one communicating and no one exiting the restaurant, we gave up and left to find a another spot that would actually seat us. Had heard good things about this restaurant and was really excited to try it. Very disappointed we didn't even make it inside. read more

The service was OK on a busy night, and friendly, but the food was a big disappointment. The salmon was overcooked and suffered from freezer burn, (Was it the special because they were trying to get rid of salmon that had been hanging around their freezer too long?) The mashed potatoes were instant mashed potatoes! Unacceptable at this price point. The vegetables were good, and the flan delicious. However, I feel the food overall has been going downhill. We won't be eating there again. read more

First time visiting even though it's been around for years. Old world charm and service. We had 6;30 reservations and by 7;30 it was fully booked. I had the rack of lamb which cooked perfectly. Likewise my wife's steak, our friend's octopus and seafood combo. The selection of Portuguese wine we chose complimented the food perfectly and the 10-year-old Port after dinner rounded off a perfect meal. We missed out on many years, but we will now return often. Highly recommended! read more

Food has a nice Portuguese vibe. Service is formal but friendly. They seem to cater to an older crown - this is the kind of place we would take our parents to. The food is really good and well presented. read more

I was very pleased when I visited Nova Europa in the past, and I gave it five stars when I wrote my review. Everything was perfect, as one could expect in a restaurant where they use white tablecloths and the servers do not wear blue jeans. I recall that the dish I had included six large scallops, and that it was delicious. My impression on October 31, 2024, was vastly different. The new management appears to be more focused on capitalizing on the old establishment's good reputation rather than maintaining its high standards. When we were seated, a server brought us the menu and left the table. At a better place, when they bring you the menu, they also bring bread and butter, sometimes even more. She did not bring us the usual water, nor did she ask us if we wanted to order something to drink. A few minutes later, a waiter came and asked if we were ready to order. I was happy to see that they still offered scallops, and I ordered the same dish I liked so much before. One of my companions wanted to order the same. The waiter said that they ran out of scallops., and we ordered something else. We asked if we could get some bread and butter, and the waiter assured us that he would send someone. When the same server who had brought us the menu brought us bread and butter, we asked for the drinks list. After some time, the waiter came with the good news that despite what he had said before, he could serve us the scallops dish. I was the only one who then changed the previous order and accepted his offer. Then the server came and dropped off the drinks list, but it was only a wine list. I called the waiter and asked if they served beer. They did, so I and a companion of mine ordered a couple of beers. The waiter came promptly and brought the beer and glasses. I clearly remember that he did not bring these on a tray. He carried the glasses in one hand and held the beer bottle necks between his other hand fingers. Thus, whichever way the beer would be consumed, it would wash the area the waiter's fingers touched. When the food arrived, I was very disappointed. Instead of the nice round scallops I expected, the dish contained small pieces of something that could be leftover bits of scallops. Why would any place cut any grade scallops into pieces? Good restaurants are normally proud of the size of their scallops. When the bill came, they deserved no tip, but I added a little above 15%. It earned me a waiter's nasty look every time he passed our table. I won't give him another chance of that again. read more

Great food! Hardworking group of folks. A bit aloof if they don't recognize you as a regular (just my opinion), but that's ok. Food is still great. read more

We were looking for authentic Italian food that was not just pizza and pasta (as most Italian restaurants in this part of Maryland are). Although not strictly Italian, Nova Europa had many delicious seafood, pasta, and veal dishes. My husband got the sardines and I asked for the grilled octopus as an appetizer. Both were amazing. Our entrees- cioppino and chicken parmigiana were also amazing. Our waiter, Manuel, who also used to be the head chef and is the uncle of the current owner, was very hospitable and we felt the family effect of the restaurant. We highly recommend for those looking for good food with warming service. The restaurant itself is old fashioned with a half moon bar, but it adds to the charm of the place. read more