Beach Blog Restaurant Spotlight: Old Vienna Café
By Christina Lee Knauss
http://www.mbsun.com/assets_c/2009/07/DSC_5380-thumb-325x485.jpgFind a slice of old Europe on the Grand Strand with a visit to the Old Vienna Café in the Village Square Shopping Center in Myrtle Beach.
The café, which opened in 1997, has become a favorite with locals and tourists alike who are searching for classic continental cuisine in an atmosphere that recalls the elegance and style of Vienna itself.
Austrian native Werner Horvath serves as both chef and manager of the restaurant, and strives to offer customers authentic European and German-style cuisine combined with his own specialties, including sauces and soups made completely from scratch.
Horvath grew up around cooks and learned many of his skills from his grandmother.
The café's location - tucked away toward the back of a strip mall off 38th Avenue North - belies its quiet elegance. The interior is paneled in light wood, seating around small tables is well-spaced and comfortable, and the walls are decorated with a mix of European artwork and vintage photographs of scenes from Austria and similar countries, including turn-of-the-century era photographs of the owners' family members. Classical music playing in the background adds to the atmosphere of quiet elegance.
"People who come to eat here know our food is not like fast food," said Martina Horvath, who helps manage the restaurant alongside Werner. "If you want to rush, this isn't the place. We have a big return customer base of both locals and visitors who consider this a place to get true European cuisine."
http://www.mbsun.com/assets_c/2009/07/DSC_5375-thumb-300x200.jpgOld Vienna's lunch and dinner menus each include many traditional Austrian and European favorites, including bratwurst, knackwurst, and Hungarian gulasch made with a traditional paprika sauce ($11.90).
The wide selection of schnitzel specialties has made the café a favorite for those who love this Austrian-German staple. The lunch menu includes both original veal weiner schnitzel and chicken schnitzel. For dinner, eight different schnitzel entrees are available, served with a green salad, fresh vegetables, cranberry sauce and a choice of potato salad, home fries or spatzle and gravy. The veal schnitzel ($17.90) is one of the café's most popular dishes, and it's easy to see why - the tender meat is covered in a delicate, flavorful breading and offers a combination of intriguing flavors. Other schnitzel specialties include parmesan schnitzel (lightly parmesan breaded pork loin, $16.90) and almond breaded pork schnitzel ($15.90).
http://www.mbsun.com/assets_c/2009/07/DSC_5389-thumb-300x200.jpgOther popular dinner menu items include pork or chicken Cordon-bleu ($17.90), and the sausage plate, featuring knackwurst and bratwurst served with sauerkraut and spatzle with homemade gravy ($14.90).
Old Vienna's seafood items are also extremely popular with customers. They include grilled grouper and a grilled grouper-shrimp platter. Workers say by far the most popular fish dish is the grilled rainbow trout topped with herb butter ($17.90).
The menu also includes a full assortment of sandwiches and salads. Sandwich selections include a Vienna reuben, a popular grouper sandwich ($9.90), and a selection of paninis, among many others.
The café's house salad is excellent, featuring lightly marinated tomato-cucumber and potato salads, romaine hearts, Swiss cheese and roasted almonds ($9.90). The marinated tomatoes and cucumbers especially are a European tradition, and combined with the cheese and almonds make a memorable salad that stands out above many other more traditional house salads.
http://www.mbsun.com/assets_c/2009/07/Old Vienna box-thumb-300x193.jpgA children's menu is available, and includes the "kinder weiner," lightly breaded pork loin ($6.50), kids' knackwurst ($5.50) and chicken fingers. All kids' dishes come with potato wedges.
The dessert menu features items made especially for the Café, and includes delicious traditional apple strudel and chocolate truffles as well as many other items.
Old Vienna Café also features a good assortment of beer and wine, including plenty of selections from Austria and Germany.
To learn more, visit www.cafeoldvienna.com.
Cafe Old Vienna is the best Austrian food I have ever tasted in the US and rivals many restaurants in Austria. I have tried various items on the menu and they are all exceptional. The chicken almond schnitzel is my personal favourite.
Although the article mentions the outstanding salads, it neglects the soups! There are quite a few vegetables that I’m not particularly fond of but will try Werner’s soups no matter what type of vegetable he is featuring. He magically makes any vegetable delicious!
And, please don’t forget the desserts! The tiramisu is worth every single calorie. I don’t advise trying to split a dessert because you’ll end up fending off your fellow diners.
Sounds an amazing restaurant. I wish i lived in the US… Theres so many more, better restaurants… Maybe i could tour the whole place and visit as many restaurants as i could… More of a dream in this financial crisis! Great blog by the way.