And, now, we present our weekly restaurant review from our friends at Eat It: The Brooklyn Food Blog. This week’s feature is Cafe Steinhof in Park Slope:
Searching for adventure, some friends and I picked Cafe Steinhof (422 Seventh Ave. at 14th Street, 718-369-7776) for dinner, not knowing what to expect. I don’t know anyone who’s eaten here, but I’ve been curious each time I’ve passed it on other Park Slope excursions. It bills itself as “Austrian Comfort Food” and there certainly is a large assortment of Schnitzel and Sausage on the menu to satisfy those cravings, but there were other, more surprising items like whole fish, vegetable ravioli and Mussels.
The interior was a bit confusing to me. On the window sills there were the obligatory beer steins and ‘old world’ knick knacks, but on the center divider between dining area and bar was a humongous potted palm, and on one wall about 10 photos were displayed and underneath it said, “These photographs were taken in various New York City neighborhoods during the period of 1981-1982.” Not sure how that relates to Austria, but I still liked them, with shots of Coney Island, Converse All Stars and short shorts & knee socks (on men). There were also lots of strings of lights that made the place feel festive, and everything was done in brown and red which made it feel cozy as well. Good for a cold January night. Some of the tables were too cozy though. We were initially seated at a round “table for four” that was too small for two people. We asked to move to the bench along one of the walls where we pushed two small rectangular tables together for more room.
All the main courses come with some kind of vegetable and some kind of starch (rice or potato). The sausages come with potatoes and either sauerkraut, lentils, red cabbage or salad. There are six soups and as many salads to start with, and the desserts were surprisingly good. All together we ordered Roesti (Potato Pancake entree), Roast Trout, Sauerbraten and Bratwurst. The trout was delicious – tender and flavorful; the sauerbraten was incredible and fell apart at the touch of the fork. To hear about the rest, plus dessert, click here!
7 responses so far ↓
1 SomeGuyInBrooklyn // Jan 23, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Café Steinhof has delicious cheap Austrian/German inspired hearty food, cheap beer and drinks (especially during their generous happy hour), and some cool people hanging out and working there. Ok, maybe with the exception of the transsexual waitress/hostess, who needs her Adam’s apple shaved down…
2 Judes // Jan 23, 2009 at 5:07 pm
If you go on Monday nights, they have $5 goulasch! I think the trout is $5-6 as well. Sundays they show movies, though I’ve never gone (Army of Darkness this Sunday).
But nothing beats their anniversary party every fall, when the goulasch is FREE, beer is cheap, and they show The Sound of Music, complete with audience participation and a burlesque show between discs.
3 Eat It Brooklyn // Jan 23, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Um, since when are transsexuals not cool? Let’s keep the focus on the food and service and away from people’s personal choices – if it doesn’t interfere with the food and service. I found the hostess to be warm and helpful. Nuff said.
4 KD // Jan 24, 2009 at 11:06 am
Please, don’t yuo know that Brooklyn is totally homophobic? But, I agree, it is about the food and the wonderful Eat It Blog, which is totally cool and helpful.
5 apple // Jan 28, 2009 at 1:58 pm
i find it interesting that anti-homophobic comments get moderated, but blatantly homophobic ones don’t. since when is GL in the business of promoting hate and homophobia?
6 rsguskind // Jan 28, 2009 at 4:54 pm
You’ve got to be kidding. If it’s the comment I was thinking about it was full of so much vulgarity and offensive rhetoric that it was moderated. Write something more civilized and up it goes. For the record, I’m as far from promoting hate and homophobia as you can get. End of discussion.
7 apple // Jan 29, 2009 at 9:23 am
and yet someguyinbrooklyn can make judgment calls and bash transfolk with no repercussion. i see how it is.