Old Europe opened its doors in the nation’s capitol in 1948. Certainly the place hasn't changed much in appearance nor in menu since at least the early 1970s, when former employee Karl Herold bought the place from the Lichtenstein family. This is a dark, homey, Bavarian sort of a place with hearty, rib-sticking fare, a brisk beer and bar business, and no one complaining about elbows on the table. Start with a German sausage salad, potato pancakes, herring filets and goulash soup. Sandwiches include an excellent grilled Reuben or German Westphalian ham. Traditional sausages include bratwurst, bauernwurst (smoked pork and beef sausage) and Münchner weisswurst (veal sausage). Other entrée choices include smoked pork loin with sauerkraut and potato dumplings, or poached trout in a dill cream sauce. For dessert, try the Black Forest chocolate cake sprinkled with kirschwasser and layered with whipped cream, cherries and shaved chocolate.
Full bar. Serving lunch and dinner Tue–Sun. Closed Mon and between meals.
"More than 50 years old, Old Europe is one of the few German restaurants in the Washington area. You can always find large portions of satisfying würsts and schnitzels, but the real draw at Old Europe is its succession of festivals throughout the year. ..."
— Gayot
Old Europe opened its doors in the nation’s capitol in 1948. Certainly the place hasn't changed much in appearance nor in menu since at least the early 1970s, when former employee Karl Herold bought the place from the Lichtenstein family. This is a dark, homey, Bavarian sort of a place with hearty, rib-sticking fare, a brisk beer and bar business, and no one complaining about elbows on the table. Start with a German sausage salad, potato pancakes, herring filets and goulash soup. Sandwiches include an excellent grilled Reuben or German Westphalian ham. Traditional sausages include bratwurst, bauernwurst (smoked pork and beef sausage) and Münchner weisswurst (veal sausage). Other entrée choices include smoked pork loin with sauerkraut and potato dumplings, or poached trout in a dill cream sauce. For dessert, try the Black Forest chocolate cake sprinkled with kirschwasser and layered with whipped cream, cherries and shaved chocolate.
Full bar. Serving lunch and dinner Tue–Sun. Closed Mon and between meals.
"More than 50 years old, Old Europe is one of the few German restaurants in the Washington area. You can always find large portions of satisfying würsts and schnitzels, but the real draw at Old Europe is its succession of festivals throughout the year. ..."
— Gayot