I’ve given up on expecting proper glassware when ordering a drink. I’ve accepted that when I ask for a red wine, I may get stumpy stemware as opposed to a taller glass with a nice, large bowl. Or, instead of having my Bloody Mary in a highball glass, I could be handed a cup that reads “Coca-Cola” and was just holding a Sprite moments before.
But what’s a Food Snob to do? Not order drinks? That’s crazy talk.
I recently visited the newly opened Old Europe Restaurant, 76 N. Main St., for a night-on-the-town with my significant other. Like any good date, we started it with a round of drinks. My beau selected a Spaten Oktoberfest ($4) from the small, yet varied beer list and I went with the Old Europe Sidecar ($7.50).
Then, something jaw-dropping happened. My companion’s beer came with a tall, frosted glass, and my cognac-based beverage came in a large cognac snifter.
Yes, you read that right. Cognac in a cognac glass.
To calm my excitement, I sipped my drink. A sidecar is traditionally made with cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice, and Old Europe’s version tasted just about right. The drink’s blend of sweet and sour reminded me of candy, which we know can be both a good and bad thing.
Next, we ordered our food. Selecting an appetizer was easy, as there wasn’t too much to choose from. There was vegetable and meat antipasti, assorted salads, soup and calamari. We went with the calamari ($9).
It took us longer to settle upon our main course. Old Europe’s menu is full of traditional Italian favorites, with a few Eastern European items sprinkled in from the Bistro Rustica menu (the restaurants share owners). Although I was left wanting a little more non-Italian choices, I was pleased to see moussaka on Old Europe’s menu – one of my favorites at Bistro Rustica.
I eventually decided upon the chicken marsala (sautéed with a wild mushroom medley and served with polenta, $19), and my significant other selected the carbonara (proscuitto and pancetta sautéed with shallots, reduced with cream and finished with an egg in linguini, $15).
While waiting for our appetizer, our server brought out bruschetta. The tomatoes were fresh and the bread crispy. It was a nice, light way to tide us over without spoiling our appetites.
Our calamari followed. Immediately, my companion remarked on the skimpy portion, but I thought there was just enough. I appreciate when an appetizer is just an appetizer, not a mound of fried food covered with cheese and topped with gravy and bacon bits. Appetizers should leave you wanting more, not make you so disgustingly full that you want to swear off food forever.
We both agreed that the calamari was tasty and liked that it was lightly fried and not too chewy. The aioli dipping sauce it came with didn’t do much for either of us. It wasn’t bad, but it could have used more flavor.
Between courses, we ordered another round of drinks. Just for kicks, I ordered a pinot noir to see if it came in red wine glass. It did.
The wine and my companion’s beer came just in time for the main course. I’m happy to report that proper glassware wasn’t the only thing I was excited about – both meals were great. My date’s carbonara was creamy and smoky. Between mouthfuls he remarked the dish “has good cheeses.” Whatever that means.
The marsala more than met my high standards. The chicken was so tender I didn’t need a knife, and the light, peppery sauce was so savory and flavorful I didn’t use salt – and I always use salt. The mushroom medley was the most impressive part, however. My chicken was covered with full, plump mushrooms of varying textures and tastes. This is certainly a meal made with mushroom lovers in mind.
After polishing off the chicken, the polenta served as a edible sponge to sop up remnants left on the plate. You’d think we’d be full at this point (we were) but we still ordered the tiramisu ($5.50) per our server’s recommendation. It did not disappoint, but I can’t say it was the best tiramisu I ever had.
What I enjoyed most about Old Europe Restaurant was the fact that everything tasted incredibly fresh and homemade. Even the plates the food was served on had a homey feel. Instead of enormous platters, the dishes were average-sized and reminded me of something I could find in my grandmother’s kitchen.
The cozy atmosphere, soft lighting and large, roomy booths make the restaurant an ideal spot for a date. During our visit, we spotted several couples snuggled up on the same side of the booth. We sat on opposites sides, but only because such romantic behavior could potentially spoil my appetite.
As of now, Old Europe Restaurant only serves dinner. On the back of the menu, however, there was a promise that lunch would be coming soon. I’m curious to see what type of selection will be available.
As long as they keep up with the exceptional barware and classic, delectable dishes, Old Europe Restaurant is all right in my book.
