Cafe Mozart
Categories: German, Ethnic Food, Delis [Edit]
1331 H St NW(between N 14th St & N New York Ave)
Washington, DC 20005 (202) 347-5732
- Nearest Transit:
Metro Center (Red, Blue, Orange)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
21 Reviews for Cafe Mozart
This place is hilarious. You walk in and it looks like a run-down deli, featuring bratwurst, blood sausage and debreziner. There are all kinds of crazy-looking meats and dishes behind glass. You walk down a narrow corridor and all of a sudden you are in a quasi-fancy restaurant served by fun waitresses with great German accents. The portions are huge and the food is great. I recommend the carrot salad (basically just carrots), the knackwurst, and the rice pudding....so good!
The only reason I didn't give it 5 starts is because the waitress gave me a dirty look when I started reciting Nena's 99 Luftballoons in German (Auf du etwas zeit furmeich...)
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Located right across the street from historic New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Mozarts was a great DC experience.
This German store/bar/restaurant is pretty cool, the best part of which being that there was also LIVE - yes LIVE - accordion music in the background. Never has the sound of music sounded so good.
Rarely do I go into an eating establishment and have no freaking clue what is on the menu. I settled on the crab cakes and they were yummy. Pretty sure every other dish included sausage in some form and my friends say the beer was good.
If you are in and around the area, it is definitely worth a stop!
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***3.5 Stars***
Cafe Mozart is far from your typical DC cafe. It's a German deli, a German market and a German restaurant all under one roof! I like the concept (where else can you get German food downtown?), and definitely respect any restaurant that has lasted in this city since 1981.
With that said, though, dining in the restaurant never manages to impress me that much. I've come to Cafe Mozart for lunch from time-to-time over the years. I always leave full, but not necessarily happy.
I traditionally order Veal Schnitzel at any German or Austrian restaurant, but the prices at Cafe Mozart gave me cause to pause. $23.95 for Schnitzel on a lunch menu? That's exorbitantly high! I realize that veal is expensive, but I had a tough time justifying the cost, even though I wasn't paying for the meal. I did order the Viennese Schnitzel here once, and after tasting it, I definitely missed my Mom's version of that recipe. The veal at Cafe Mozart wasn't very tender, and I thought that the breading was a bit too heavy.
When my favorite professor from Georgetown invites me here, I usually order the Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich on a white roll with tomato, lettuce and onion for $9.95. It's never spectacular, but it's fine and filling for lunch. I do enjoy the Potato Salad and Cole Slaw that accompany the luncheon entrees, but I wouldn't make a trip to Cafe Mozart just for the sides.
I will bump my rating up a half of a star for the deli and market. For those craving German essentials such as bratwurst, marzipan, Gluehwein (spiced drink), Asbach chocolates, and Gundelsheim sauerkraut and pickles, Cafe Mozart carries all of these items and more! If you are in need of German groceries and can't fly off to Deutschland or DC, Cafe Mozart offers on line shopping and shipping through DHL.
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This place gets 5 stars from me not because its cuisine is cutting-edge (it IS GERMAN afterall), but for the exact opposite reason--it's traditional German fare in the most unassuming place imaginable. It's not hip and it doesn't care! If you saw this restaurant/deli while driving down New York Avenue, you might think it's yet another deli at the bottom of yet another nondescript DC office building. You'd be wrong.
Cafe Mozart is the closest you'll get in DC to walking into a traditional restaurant in Vienna. The place isn't trying to be something it's not. The front has a small pastry display case and a few tables to take a coffee and pastry. There's a deli--I'll get to that later. Keep walking to the back of the store and you'll find a bar and the entrance to the restaurant. You'll forget you're in the bottom of an office building unless you look up and see the dropped acoustic ceiling. However, I'm sure that ceiling helps patrons hear the lovely piano music! As in LIVE piano music. People generally don't applaud--but you'll want to.
The menu is what you'd expect--German potato pancakes (i.e. latke), sausages, sauerbraten, schnitzel, and a selection of beer, coffees, desserts, and liquor. I love the potato pancakes. My beer--a hefeviesen (sp?) was refreshing. I also had the "lighter appetite" selection of goulash (they offer several plates in 2 sizes) with red cabbage and spaetzle. Fantastic! Finished with apple strudel and a coffee.
I haven't gotten anything from their deli case full of sausages, salads, and other stuff like that, but I've been tempted. They have a selection of groceries, including candy...HARIBO (have to say, my friend and I indulged in some of those even after having dessert). I was intrigued by a hearty looking Russian bread on the deli case and the selection of toiletries and various sundries...one stop shopping!
All in all, cheaper than a trip to Europe-- the exchange rate's great!
(By the way, they do deliver--never had them do it, but I just saw that they offer it on their web site...in case you get a hankering for schnitzel and don't want to get out of your PJs).
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I went here last Tuesday on a whim in an attempt to find a new happy hour hangout. What immediately sold me was the Tuesday special for 1 Liter of German beer for $9.95 from 4pm to 9pm (I believe that on other weekdays, the happy hour deal is a dollar for for a liter beer from 4pm to 7pm, and that regular price ranges from $14 to 16). I had the amber and pilsner and both were very flavorful and delicious.
The beer is what brought me here, and will definitely bring me back, but what really made me love this place was the environment. Like other reviews say, it's a lot of fun to have to go through the little german deli before getting to the restaurant and see aisles of strange pickled vegetables, little Austrian chocolates, and other foreign knick knacks. Once you get through and into the bar it stays equally as quirky. We were repeatedly visited at our table by a fantastic German woman named (I believe) Sylvia who played a mean accordian, talked to us about German folk dancing, and led the whole room in old German drinking songs. I believe Sylvia is there Sundays and Tuesdays, so I would say if you go make sure you head there one of those days. She's a riot.
The food unfortunately was not that great, or at least what I had. I ordered a chicken schnitzel sandwich from the bar menu that had too much bread and not much taste. Note that I ordered from the bar menu, and not the restaurant menu, so I cannot attest to the restaurant food. The sandwich cost me about $9, which was toward the bottom range of price on the list.
I'll absolutely be back here for more beer and more Sylvia. The atmosphere is alot of fun and a refreshing break from the other fairly typical bars in the Downtown and Dupont area.
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tasty and different. I eat lunch a lot around here, so it's nice to get a little variety in my schedule. Its priced pretty well I think. I spent about $11 today, butI went a little overboard getting salad and desert with my brat. You can get by on just $5, but hey, it's Mardi Gras today!
I was a little disappointed by the bun to brat ratio. But both bun and brat were tasty. I ended up throwing part of the bun away to enjoy a little more of the taste of my venison bratwurst.
Another disappointing thing was the wait. Maybe it was just today, but the takeout line was short, yet it took forever to get my brat. Whats up with that? Its just a brat, bun, mustard and sour kraut.
the Carrot salad was meh, but the Eclair was awesome.
I'm looking forward to going back for dinner and sitting down to eat.
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Here is a restaurant in the heart of DC which serves both deli-style and sit-down. The dining room (in the back) is quiet and service is efficient and polite, - restaurant also seems neat and clean. The decor is, as another reviewer wrote, "quasi-fancy", probably elegant at one time but now a little out of date.
I went there for lunch with a colleague and we were very pressed for time. The waiter assured us that anything on the menu can be made quickly, and sure enough, it was quick. We had grilled sandwiches, a ham and cheese special and a reuben, each with a tasty side of German potato salad. Sandwiches were delicious but definitely had a fried quality. Perhaps this is why they were so delicious, but they also used good quality meats and cheeses. The lunch dishes ranged from $10- up, it seemed the main entrees were in the $20-25 range which might be good choices for dinner.
The dessert menu looks promising, but we did not have time to try it. This will be for a return trip, along with some of the Austrian wines on the menu. There are also a number of schnitzel variations, potato pancakes, and knishes on the menu....including some vegetarian options (some with eggs) which impressed me.
There is live music several nights a week and on Saturday afternoon, which looks very inviting if you are in the neighborhood.
Love, love, love this place!
I love the German deli in the front (where else can I get Kinder eggs, Milka chocolates, and hot mustard in a cute jar?). I love that it's so unpretentious. I love the restaurant in the back, with its German waiters and tasty beers. I go for the chicken schnitzel and German potato salad, plus potato pancakes on the side. Yum!
This place is a hidden gem. Just go!
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Sausages! Beer! Sauerkraut! And it's non-smoking now! Hurrah!
With the proliferation of so-so lunch spots in DC, Cafe Mozart is a delightful surprise, hidden as it is behind a German deli. I've eaten here several times for lunch and, without fail, it's been packed to the gills with guvvies and slackers alike, all of whom leave extremely satisfied.
Their sausages are superb, including a nice variety to meet your exacting stuffed meat needs. They also have an excellent schnitzel and the side dishes are made with care and attention to detail.
Service is excellent and attentive, with eager suggestions and happy smiles -- just what's needed in the middle of a hectic workday.
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Need some herring filets in canola oil? Apparently this is the only place in DC where you can actually get real full filets. And it's quite cheap, very nice! $5 a pack? Don't mind if I do,
The chocolate selection is outstanding also, Milka and Kinder galore. And of course, my personal favorite, marzipan. Preferrably in dark chocolate of course!
I spoke with I believe one of the owners when I called to ask if they had herring, and he was very nice on the phone and realized it was me as I hoarded up the herring in the front. Thanks, man. Keep up the good work.
Oktoberfest time.
Go here to get some beer and sausages. I ordered the 5 sausage sampler. The sampler comes with 5 different sausages, German potato salad, and of course, kraut. So salty and so good. I must have consumed a gallon of water after the meal to bring my body's water and sodium levels back into balance.
A deli and mini grocery store is located in the front of the store and a full service restaurant is in the back. A weird, yet pleasing arrangement.
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Hiding in the Hofbrau.
Disclaimer: I only give this four stars because I am not really a fan of German food. But for the price, quirkiness and quality, this should be a routine stop.
As you enter, this place looks like a mom & pop. Counters stocked with German delicacies and really no hint of a restaurant. As you sneak into the back, a whole new world opens up. One where you will be presented with steins and some of the most succulent sausage and kraut I've had in DC.
I've only eaten here for lunch so perhaps I felt the tease of knowing that I probably should indulge in the German beers but couldn't and perhaps it colored my review. However, the decor of the room, the ambiance (music, lighting, etc) and the appearance of the servers (downright slothenly) could use improvement and which could be achieved at very little incremental cost. If that happened, this would be one of the best deals in DC.
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I headed to Cafe Mozart on a friends recommendation, yet I wasn't expecting what I found. A small sign out front labels Cafe Mozart, but the restaurant is in the back. To get there you've got to walk through a German deli filled with imported delights. At the back of the deli there's a bar and a few cafe tables. Beyond those, there's more doors. Through those doors rests a little room with modest decor and clean white-tableclothed tables & booths. This room has the quaint appearance of some aunt or uncle's large living room that's been modified into a restaurant. It's quite nice, but decidedly quirky. There's little wooden models of buildings decorating the walls, the kind you buy as a kid when you're at a museum. While I was there an old woman was singing songs in German on an accordion, a bit too loud for the room, but quite the touch, none-the-less.
The menu is a bit pricey with most entrees ranging from $15-25, but from what I saw & what I ate, the food is worth it. I had the 5-sausage platter. Aside from the sausages, it came with 2 kinds of sour kraut and some delicious German potato salad. Not only was it more sausage than I could eat, it was all very good. The sausage selections were all German (or nearby) varieties, but they were still diverse. The sour kraut was crisp and in a larger portion than I could ever imagine consuming. The potato salad was fresh, delicious, and something I wish I had more of right now.
My meal was fantastic and I enjoyed the quaint ambiance of the restaurant. Unfortunately there was only one single server working and she wasn't moving very fast. My check took at least twenty minutes to come out after we finished eating. She was friendly enough and otherwise attentive. I think Cafe Mozart is just the sort of place to come when you've got plenty of time. Overall I had a great time here and will be back again to try one of the many schnitzel. If you're looking for a good German meal, some unusual ambiance, or just a place to hide from the hypertypical feel of DC for a while, Cafe Mozart is a great downtown option.
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I really like this place. The service is great, the beer is even better and the sausages rock. I also like the deli to purchase sweet little somethings. Great food!!
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What a place! Swung in here late one night for just a bottle of green tea to quench my thirst on the walk back to my car. I walked out with some green tea and a brownie, and would've have left with an armful of pastries and foods if I had stayed in here longer.
There's a sweet shop, a sandwich shop, German beer steins and souvenirs and apparently a restaurant that I never even saw. It'll take me a couple more visits to really discover all that this store has to offer, kind of like Vace's.
If the tastiness of the brownie is any indication of the quality of the rest of the food, then I'll definitely have to come back. The cashier and owner(?) was also very friendly.
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Based strictly on food, this is my SECOND favorite German Restaurant in Washington DC and the surrounding states, and I have tried every one I could find. The food is good, so be sure, with a menu that includes all of the German favorites and some interesting vaiations. Everything, start to finish, can be relied upon as tasteful and well-prepared. Among other visits, my office went there for lunch, and everyone was very pleased with their meal - not easy to do with all the variations in preferences among a large group.
But while its only #2 for food (a close second to Old Europe), it's #1 for entertainment. Cafe Mozart not only has quality intrumentalists in the evening, but is renowned for having monthly "opera night" with big-name stars. For THAT, you had better make reservations well in advance.
Add it up, and its a 5-Star place in my book.
The main dining room is comfortable and downright spacious. There is a smaller, more spartan, room for overflow or private parties. This is all hidden from the exterior, where you see only the extensive German delicatessan. You also walk through the Lounge before reaching the dining areas. Don't be fooled. And you may wish to make use of that deli on your way out...
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We got take-out from here last night. I thought it was pretty good. My husband is German, and I asked him if it tasted authentic, He said that he didn't really eat any of the stuff we got for dinner when he was in Germany, so I can't really use him as a judge. :( We got:
- 2 orders of potato pancakes (comes with applesauce and sour cream)
- Portabello Mushroom Schnitzel: breaded and fried mushroom, small salad plate of homemade salads
- Potato Goulash: potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms in paprika sauce
The place is a deli/shop in the front, and a restaurant in the back. I asked the guy at the counter if they had pretzels (wanted to get a couple for breakfast the next morning, to surprise my husband). He picks up a bag of Snyder's pretzels, and says "like these?" I said, NO, the GOOD ones, the German ones! He said he only had them frozen. I said, so I can put these in the oven in the morning and bake them? And he said yes. So I said I would take 2. He goes to get them, then comes back to say he is out. Oh well. They have lots of German sundries. Basically it's like a German CVS, with some food thrown in there. The restaurant is in the back, and it looked like there were quite a few people eating there.
The food was good. I didn't think I would like the mix of salads that I got with my mushroom schnitzel, but most were good. I would go back again.
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Holy German bier, schnapshund! Since visiting Munich in 2006, I've been on a German weiss and lager kick, mainly Paulaner, Weinstephaner, Franziskaner and Schneider-Weisse. I ate here a long time ago and then forgot about it. So I was elated to see that Cafe Mozart has a Tuesday happy hour with 7.99 Liters of German beer on tap! So great.
The location is good, it is on NY Ave. in NW, near the InterAmerican Development Bank. I think NY Ave. and 13 is the nearest cross St. the The dim atmosphere leaves something to be desired, but is similar to some of the kellers (cellar, often a bar) I drank at in Germany. Bartender seems Deutsch, and there is an international crowd here. Definitely not that lively a place, but a good place for those who love their German beer.
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Have you ever had a craving for marzipan kartoffeln? Since I often do, stumbling upon this German grocery/restaurant gave me hope that I might find my favorite candy on its shelves. Sadly, when I asked, I was told what I should have already known, marzipan kartoffeln (small pieces of marzipan rolled into balls and dusted with cocoa to look like little potatoes) is a holiday candy. Meaning that I ought to return in December for it.
Though they didn't have my favorite German sweet they did have many others that I like a lot: Kinder Bueno, Ritter Sport, Leibniz cookies. . . There's also a deli (and a restaurant in back) that I need to return to and investigate further.
One thing I can't recommend - the cake. I tried a slice of the black forest that would make my oma frown. Still, for the sheer number of nostalgic goodies in this place, it's worth a visit.
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My husband and I visited Munich last fall and loved it so much I thought this would be a great place to take him for his birthday dinner while we were visiting DC. I was pretty disappointed. The atmosphere is absolutely horrendous. Bright lighting, a paneled drop-ceiling like in an office, ugly out-dated furniture that had nothing to do with Germany. There was a singer on the night we went and that was kind of cool . . . As for the food? Not worth the prices. We ordered the special for two. We got a choice of two kinds of sausages, two pork loins(?), two kinds of sauerkraut, and potato salad. I was disappointed when the plate came and we really only got 2 sausages. I thought there would be 2 of each kind, since there were two of us. And I guess I was just imagining the heaps of sausages I got at restaurants in Germany. We ordered the bratwurst, which was fine, and the weisswurst, which was fried. In Germany it was always served in a little pot of hot water. It tasted ok, but frying it definitely took away from the experience. The pork was ok, it was like eating a cross between ham and a pork chop. The potato salad was also fine, but I was really disappointed not to have the choice of mashed potatoes or even dumplings, which I didn't see on the menu. They didn't even offer the best version of mac and cheese ever, spaetzle, which I thought was a standard on German menus. As part of the special we got apple strudel for dessert. The pastry was soggy and it just wasn't that good. We paid $44 for the special, which I guess wasn't bad for two people but if you're looking to re-live the kind of meal you may have had in Germany, don't order this special! I was also sad that they didn't seem to offer any beer from the major Munich breweries. I was dying for a glass of Augustiner. I don't even know what they served me. It was just called "Light Munich Weissbier" on the menu. I guess it might be worth trying, just to see what the rest of the menu is like, but I wasn't impressed and wouldn't go there for a special occasion. Oh, and the worst part? No basket of soft pretzels to start the meal. (If you've been to Germany you know how disappointing that is.)
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You might never venture into this tiny little establishment, but if you're looking for authentic german food, this is the place to go.
Located in the downtown business district, Metro Station is the closest spot. From the street, all you can see is the german deli storefront. Filled with all sorts of european goodies, you'll be filled with nostalgia from your first step into Cafe Mozart.
The restaurant is in the back, don't worry - it opens up. Wow, talk about a flashback - it's as authentic as it gets, right down to the cheesy photos on the walls and the old furniture, it's like stepping in a space portal to germany.
I'm not a huge lover of German food, and its a little expensive, but my german friends adore this little spot. Schnitzel, bratwurst, beers, and the deserts... Make sure you save room for desert!
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