Buffalo Rising Online

Feb 16th 2007, 10:52am By Christa Glennie Seychew

Yesterday, my dear friend Tamar and I decided to treat ourselves to lunch at a restaurant we’ve been dying to go to. As we walked from our parking spaces to our destination, the heavenly scent of Bistro Europa drifted toward us.

Inside the cozy and colorful restaurant, we decided to splurge and try a number of things. Owner Mike Pijanowski once described the menu to me as European peasant food. Oh, if only the peasants had it this good. We began with the fondue, a remarkable portion for only $9. The warmed Gruyere was served with pieces of fresh red pepper, grapes, blanched asparagus, crusty bread and pencil-thin grissini. Paired with a good glass of wine, this shared dish would be an excellent choice for a couple out for a romantic evening- or two good friends looking for a yummy lunch!

Next we enjoyed potato pancakes ($6), they are served two to an order with sides of sour cream and caramelized onion, or a lovely combination of cinnamon and cooked apple slices (I loved all three). The pancakes were notably un-greasy, a challenge for many cooks. Full of flavor and well-prepared, an order of these would make a satisfactory lunch on a frigid winter day.

Finally, though we were rather full at this point, we decided that this rare opportunity (being moms and all) required that we not yet leave, making sure we sampled as much of the menu as we could manage. What a sacrifice! Tamar ordered a spicy, brothy soup loaded with chick-peas. I opted for the decadent risotto, made with small, very thin slices of prosciutto and crispy asparagus.

Besides the great food and warm atmosphere, the thing I like best about Europa is the flexibility of their menu. Daily specials are served and the items on the menu are the same for lunch or dinner. Divided in two, one side of the menu shows “small plates”, the other offers ‘large”. Because all of the dishes are made to order with the freshest of ingredients, guests may request that their meal be sized up or down. Feel free to order a larger portion of an appetizer or a small version of an entrée.

Serving fabulous food for lunch and dinner (and into the wee hours of the night on weekends) with take out just a phone call away, Europa Bistro is a lovely and much appreciated addition to the Elmwood Village.

Bistro Europa 464 Elmwood 884.1100