Cafe Europa

Europa and the outdoor patio

Cafe Europa!

Nestled on Main Street in Covington, Europa has been making some waves around town for their fantastic deserts and Sunday Brunch. Rico and I stopped in on Friday just before lunch time so there was no one else in the restaurant. Walking in the front door you are greeted by a classic row house store front, display cases filled with home made deserts, meats, cheeses, and some coffee machines.

Rico and I took a seat outside on the patio, the weather being too beautiful to sit in the back dining room. In the winter months I can see the dining room being a lovely place to eat, walls covered with local art, all for sale, and a small fireplace to heat the room.

Be sure to read both of our reviews, as well as the Sunday brunch update at the bottom of the page. Also don't forget to follow us on twitter @EatingCinci for all of our instant posts and pictures (only posted on Twitter) while we are out around the trisate. It's also a great way for you to suggest your favorite places for us to visit!

Rico's Review

This time around Schwebler and I were rushed so we went to a cafe I had never been to. Cafe Europa in Covington had the makings for the best fall lunch. A small outside patio, with the tables under a roof made of vines. Frank Sinatra was playing out of a old stereo as the breeze and sun made the set up perfect.

On the inside they were hand making crepes, desserts filled coolers and the sight of gelato took me back to Rome.

Things were going great... until I ordered my food.
I got a Spicy Italian Panini, or as they called the "hobo."
The sandwich had: salami, capicola, pepperoni, provolone, roasted red peppers, vinaigrette all on a baguette. I'll start with my side dish though, basic potato salad. How can a restaurant mess that up. Well they can.

Cafe Europa prides itself in having everything home made with the best ingredients. Well my potato salad tasted like it was from Walmart... A cheap mass produced summer staple. The very plain mustard base dish left me regretting the choice.

So I moved on to the sandwich, first it wasn't on a baguette, it was on thin bread that was smashed on the press. The meat and cheese was good, warm all the way through. The problem came with the peppers. They were cut so thick they were cold in the center and over-powered everything else.

Needless to say I was not impressed with the food.
Overall you couldn't ask for a better place to sit and enjoy the meal... The problem comes with the meal. It only cost me $7.37 so maybe I get what I pay for... What you get is a great environment with generic food.


Justin's Review

I first have to apologize for doing another entry from Northern Kentucky, but since Rico and I both live on the south side of the river, our schedules and time constraints simply weren't working this week. Regardless, we snuck in a good lunch time review at Cafe Europa in Covington.

Inside the shop

I had been to Europa once before, but only for some blueberry bread pudding and coffee with the parents. Both of which, from what I remember, were outstanding. Today though Rico and I were putting their lunch menu to the test. There's lots to choose from as long as you like panini's, although there are a number of daily soups and salads, as well as a few select appetizers.



Half of the two page menu.

We decided to lunch on the shaded patio outside, taking advantage of the beautiful streak of weather we have been having. I ordered a cafe mocha to drink, I was a bit tired after class and needed a good pick me up. The coffee and tea is one thing that makes Europa a great pit stop.

My French Panino

To eat, I chose the French Panino. They called the bread a baguette, but I would consider it a standard grilled panini. On the bread, some thick pancetta, a hearty melted brie cheese and some thin green apple slices. Personally I had never had apple on a sandwich before, and I actually really enjoyed it. The pancetta was salty, savoury, and everything you could expect from a well cooked pig, but the apples really tied it together, giving the sandwich a sweet, crispy alternative to onions or peppers. The brie was a little overdone. It's not that I don't like brie, there was just too much. It simply overpowered the pancetta and apple.

Cafe Mocha

 My side was garlic pickles. I realized that I ordered pickles at Wunderbar too, so I guess I may soon become the all around expert on Cincinnati's pickled hot spots, a title to be proud of I'm sure.... Like I said at Wunderbar, the pickles were tasty but still just pickles; let's face it, they're hard to ruin.

The desert window

The portions weren't huge, but it was definitely a full meal, and besides I chose a very light side item.

My tally was $11.34, not bad.

Overall I would say it was a good lunch, although I think from now on I may just stick to coffee and deserts. One thing I forgot to mention is that their gelato is fantastic; some of the best I've had this side of the Atlantic.

As a side note my parents have gone to Europa's Sunday brunch a number of times and have given high marks, especially since there is live music on the patio on Sundays.

The tea selection.

Home made gelato

Be sure to hop down to Covington, perhaps to grab some authentic German food at Wunderbar, and then head over to Europa for some great home made deserts and coffee. Thumbs up from me.

Regards,

Justin.




Sunday Brunch Update

After our lunch on Friday I (Justin) had to give Europa another chance at redemption. I had eaten there before and knew of the great food they can really produce. My parents had raved about their Sunday brunch and so I decided to join them after church along with my grandparents.

I have to say right off, it was one of the best breakfasts I've had in the Cincinnati area. I had "The Kentuckian," three eggs any style (I got sunny side up), apple wood smoked bacon, Sicilian potatoes, Italian bread, and some fruit salad.

The eggs were good, cooked well on the outside and just enough runny yolk on the in. The potatoes and bacon were heavenly, the bread was crisp and the fruit salad was fresh and sweet. I was so relieved that the Sunday crew at Europa renewed my faith in the restaurant.

We ate out on the patio again as Rico and I had done, but on Sunday mornings a soft 3 piece jazz band plays from 11-1. They were great, not to loud and great musicians and vocalists all around. I will be back to watch them again, and to eat some of Europa's faith restoring Sunday brunch. Check it out and follow us on Twitter @EatingCinci for all the tweets and pictures not seen on this blog.

Talk to you soon and happy eating!

"Wunderbar"- A new contender for the tri-state's best German food.

Wunderbar is Northern Kentucky's newest German themed restaurant. Located on the newly renovated 12th Street, Wunderbar offers a hole in the wall feel, with old country charm. The restaurant itself has only been open since April of 2012, and has already gained some reputation for quality German/American cuisine, and their use of local meats and produce.

Location

The restaurant is exceptionally easy to find. For anyone not in Covington, head East off of the 12th St. Exit of I75. You can't miss it, just up the road on your left, a white two story building complete with German and American flags blowing in the wind. Wunderbar doesn't have a parking lot so you have to find one of the limited spots on 12th St in front of the building, or on Lee street. The revamping to 12th Street has definitely made this a much more comfortable place to park and walk around, after all this is not the high rent district of Covington. Don't let that deter you though, Wunderbar is a German diamond in the slowly improving rough.

Justin's Review

I had heard a couple rumors about how good Wunderbar's food was, and being of German descent, I figured this would be a perfect place to put my genes to good use; especially since this is our first ever review. My Grandma (from Germany) was one hell of a cook, just say I was raised spoiled on the potential greatness of German home cooking, something that is often butchered in hokie lederhosen filled imitation joints. Caugh Caugh.... Hofbrauhaus.

Anyway, I was itching to see what all the fuss was about. Walking in the German flag trimmed door, you immediately see what your in for. Picnic tables for seating, or the bar. All the beers scratched in chalk above the bar, and the menu on the chalkboard behind the bar as well. This is gonna be good. The bartender (not wearing lederhosen thank God) jumps right up and tells us to order whenever and he'll bring it out. Some Covington locals stare opaquely at the "new guys." I set my camera down and got to it.

To drink, beer of course. I was a little befuddled looking through the chalk beer menu above the bar, fantastic selection but random in order. I saw the Brooklyn Pilsner, yes please.

Next, on to the food. The menu isn't huge, which I like. It offers simple home made meats, produce, bread, and mustards of varying varieties. One of my laughable favorites was a fiery sausage known appropriately I'm sure as the "Feuer Wurst;" leave political correctness at the door.

I skipped over the sausages however and went to the old classics. I settled on Liverwurst and Sulze (head cheese), which came with a home made pretzel bread roll, 4 slices of home made rye, pickled veggies (green beans, cauliflower, and pickles), and to finish a sample of the black pepper, and horseradish mustards.

In short, it was awesome. The liverwurst was well solidified, I like mine sliceable and not so much a spread like you get at some places. It was sweet, with great liver flavor, and not over minerally... if that's a word. The head cheese was decent. The bartender said it was their first batch. It didn't have much pork flavor, and some of their meat was in too large of chunks, but overall a good head cheese if you're into that sort of eating. The breads, all home made, are dynamite; the mustards as well, especially the black pepper. The pickled veggies were well, pickled veggies. I was surprised a bit by the pickled green beans which were quite spicy and crunchy, a good mix. Overall, a good experience, good food, and for once a solid representation of real old country cooking.

Rico and I did agree to split a pretzel after our meal even though we were both stuffed. It was of course home made and fantastic, at least what we could eat since it was also twice the size of my face. Their cream cheese dipping sauce was also fantastic for the pretzel, mild cheese flavor and super light; also home made.

The Damage Tally: All that and splitting the pretzel ran me only $20! I know right? I would have paid 30+ at the Hof.

In summation it was very good. Not great or life changing, but very good. I will be back.

Justin.


Rico's Review

Wunderbar!

Since Schwebler (who really calls him Justin?) covered most of the atmosphere I'll make it quick. Here's a shot of the bar/menu and I think it describes the place very well.

The menu was just written on the wall and you walked up to the bar, ordered, and then they brought you your food. Simple... but instantly gets you involved with everyone there. Makes you feel welcomed.

 

Now for the food, I had a brisket sandwich with sour kraut, Swiss cheese all on a pretzel roll. I could try and sit here and dissect what was wrong with it but that would be a waste because it was delicious! The homemade pretzel roll held together the perfectly tender brisket. The sour kraut is one of the only menu items not homemade and I must say it was some of the best kraut I've ever had. The Swiss cheese oozed off the sandwich and balanced out the strong kraut beautifully. Oh did I forget to mention that they topped off the heaven between two pretzel rolls with bacon? Because they did.

My side dish was very interesting though, kale chips. I've never had these or even heard of them before so I was really nervous. The best way to describe them is "Hot Fries." I swear they tasted exactly like the gas station snack.

Even though I was beyond full Schwebs made me split a pretzel with him. Little did we know that we ordered "the mother ship" of all pretzels. It put every ballpark salty snack to shame. The dip it was paired with had to be made from the same out of this world genius because I had never had such a creamy cheese dip.

 

Total cost for my meal $17 and trust me, I couldn't eat another bite and I wanted to!

 

Now if you've skipped to the bottom of the blog for a summary here it is:

Small restaurant/bar with amazing atmosphere and even better food. I not only recommend it I say grab all your friends and fill the place up and gorge until you can't walk.

 

Rico

Hey guys, hope you enjoyed the first edition of Eating Cincinnati! Glad to see Rico is feeling better. Be sure to check in weekly to see our next eatery adventure, and remember to follow our blog and our Twitter account @EatingCini for daily updates and food stop suggestions!

Launch Day!

Well it's official. Rico and I are ready to start gorging ourselves sick all across the tri-state area. We stopped into the Wunderbar in Covington Ky tonight for our first meeting and review. Be sure to check in later this week for the official review. Look forward to sharing all the great gastro establishments with you all.

Be sure to follow us on twitter as well @EatingCinci

Regards,

Justin