I have wanted to go to Bistro Europa for a very long time. It's one of those little Buffalo gems that the true foodies rave about but is not extraordinarily well-known by non-foodies.
As the food is a bit more “adventurous” here, I knew I had to take a friend that would take a walk on the wild side with me, so I called up one of my best and oldest friends, Lauren.
We walked into Bistro Europa and knew immediately that we needed to sit on the patio. The interior is extremely cozy (eclectic European) but it’s intimate and TINY… since Lauren and I hadn’t seen each other in awhile, we needed to sit somewhere where we could be loud. Luckily, there are a few small tables outside, so we snagged one. I am glad we decided to go on a Tuesday evening, because I have heard that this place can get pretty crowded on the weekends.
We started with wine, but it should be noted that Bistro Europa also has an extensive beer list with many European imports. Also, the restaurant orders its produce and meats from local farmers – that’s even more of a reason to visit. The restaurant is owned by it’s chefs – a husband and wife team that you are sure to see popping out of the kitchen a few times throughout your evening here.
Europa has a small menu, but their specials change nightly. I love places that do this, because it keeps it exciting and interesting, and warrants many return visits. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and guided us through the menu with ease, while allowing us to relax and take our time making choices.
We started with the Charcuterie Platter which included cappacolo, bresola, duck prosciutto, and pate served with crackers and bread. This scared us a little bit as it was placed in front of us. I was especially nervous about the pate, ground meats including liver. And it kinda looks like cat food. Not gonna lie. But I spread it on a cracker with some spicy mustard, and it was delicious. The lard sheets were also a bit frightening but after our waiter described it as “bacon without the meat”, I gladly topped a cracker with this – it melted in my mouth and went so nicely with my glass of pinot noir. Everything on this platter was unique and tasty, and we polished it off pretty quickly.
We struggled over which entrees to choose, but eventually we decided on the Steak Frites and the Pork Loin Chop. Lauren gushed over the steak frites – the steak was juicy and perfectly rare while the french fries were herbed and salty and thickly cut. My pork chop was juicy (though a pretty fatty cut) but it was thick and perfectly pan-seared. It was served with kale and a potato gratin (that I didn’t love – it was a bit blah).
The food was so special that we felt the need to end the night on a sweet note. The desserts are made in-house, which was the final selling point for me (this decision had nothing to do with my incurable sweet tooth). We chose the lemon semi-freddo, which was basically a lemon sorbet topped with cherries, blueberries, and a tangy lemon garnish. This was the perfect ending to the meal – sweet and tangy at the same time.
The prices were fair for the high ingredient quality and the impeccable service. I can’t wait to become more of a regular at this homey little nook on Elmwood.
OVERALL RATINGS
Price: 3/5
Service: 5/5
Variety: 4/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Taste: 5/5
