Tips for Dining, Eating, and Food Shopping in DC/Baltimore and Suburban Virginia
Start New ThreadI have a friend that mentioned Viener Schnitzel.
Not having had that, where in the D.C. area can I find a good to excellent traditional offering?
Thanks!
By RobertM
on Oct 27, 2011 09:31 AM
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Not to sound like a pedant, but it's actually *Wiener* Schnitzel (but pronounced as you spelled it.)
You might try Old Europe or Cafe Berlin or Leopold's Kafe. All three are in DC. I'm not a meat eater so can't comment on how these restaurants prepare this dish, but all three have it on the menu and all three restaurants are German or Austrian.
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Leopold's Kafe
3318 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Cafe Berlin On Capital Hill
322 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC
Old Europe
2434 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
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The schnitzel at Old Europe is poor. Fried at too low a temperature and really greasy.
The best schnitzel I've had has been at Serbian and Bosnian restaurants, which makes sense since both were under the Austrian Empire. Balkan Grill makes an excellent schnitzel, but the place is pretty much a carryout with a couple of stools. Cosmopolitan Grill is more of a sitdown place, theirs is also pretty good. Euro Bistro is more formal than the other two, and more convenient to the Beltway. All three are within a 15 minute drive from eachother.
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Old Europe
2434 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
Cosmopolitan Grill
7770 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306
Balkan Grill
5902 N Kings Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22303
Euro Bistro
6027 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22307
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Cafe Mozart has good Schnitzel but I like Cosmopolitan Grill as well, if not better. Generous serving with a great salad and price is lower that CM.
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Cafe Mozart
1331 H St NW # 1, Washington, DC
Cosmopolitan Grill
7770 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306
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I don't know the name of the restaurant, and I'm not sure if it's still there, but there used to be a place on Wisconsin Ave in Glover Park, a couple of storefronts down from the gas station that served German Food. You may have to venture closer to Baltimore for German food. In Jessup there's Blob's Park and in the City there's a place called Eickraus (sp?) in Brewer's Hill right off of Fleet Street.
FYI - vienerschnitzel is simply a think breaded boneless porkchop that has been fried. I had it in Germany and didn't think it was a good representation of German food.
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Blob's Park
8024 Max Blobs Park Rd, Jessup, MD
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"FYI - vienerschnitzel is simply a think breaded boneless porkchop that has been fried. I had it in Germany and didn't think it was a good representation of German food."
Actually, *authentic* (oh no! i said the a-word!!!) Wiener Schnitzel is a breaded veal cutlet that is pan-fried in oil and butter. Lots of it. Served with a slice of lemon and an anchovies filet.
I agree that it's not a good representation of German food, since Vienna is the capital of Austria.
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It is traditionally veal, but since veal is so expensive you will commonly find pork. Either way, it is pounded very thin (sometimes it will cover your whole dinner plate), fried, served with lemon. It's the kind of dish that might be just as good at a cafeteria as at a fancy restaurant.
Wien = Vienna, Wiener=Viennese so the name originates from Austria. It is served all over Vienna.
I do not know of a great version here, but I had it the last time I was at Cafe Tirolo in Arlington.
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If you are willing to take a drive some of the best Schnitzel (pork or veal) as well as incredible pork shanks,red cabbage and apple struesel is at Schmankerl Stube restaurant in Hagerstown MD.
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According to their online menus, you can get Wiener Schnitzel at Cafe Mozart (1331 H St NW) or at Biergarten Haus (1355 H St NE). I've never been to either place and can't vouch for the quality, but there you go.
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Cafe Mozart
1331 H St NW Ste A, Washington, DC 20005
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Cafe Mozart is meh, overpriced.
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Cafe Mozart
1331 H St NW # 1, Washington, DC
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My entree of choice is WS, so when I go out to a German restaurant, that is what I order. I didn't care for it at Old Europe but I did enjoy it at Cafe Berlin.
I normally go to The Bavarian Chef in Madison, Virginia around this time of year for it. That is my favorite German restaurant.
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Old Europe
2434 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
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Cafe Berlin can be hit or miss. on a good night it's great and on others I think I'd have been happier with a nice Veal Picata at a good Italian place (kinda similar).
another reason why some replace the veal with pork as explained to me once at a stellar German place in SF was "veal is too political" whatever. was still good.
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Try Euro Gourmet in Herndon. Great stuff and they bring in kegs on special.
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Out towards Annapolis in Edgewater is the Old Stein Inn. Just recently re-opened. I haven't been yet, but they have veal, pork and chicken schnitzel.
http://www.oldstein-inn.com
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Old Stein Inn
1143 Mayo Rd, Edgewater, MD 21037
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