Having not been to this Adelaide Icon in a few months. We dined here on a busy Friday night and we must say we were very impressed!! The polenta chips were the best we have had!! And for those with gluten intolerance they are GF!! We had pasta, pizza which were also amazing!! Perfect end to the night with panna cotta and bombe Alaska !! All we can say is that you NEED to save room for dessert!!
The pasta here is the best pasta I've gotten in Adelaide. Fresh, hot and didn't get increasingly sickening as I ate it. The drinks are overpriced though (not unsurprising as most restaurants have those ginger beer bottles 250mL for $5 or so).
We’ve loved European every time we’ve been in the past, the flavours are very traditional and home made and the service is friendly. I can't ever go past their gnocchi, they are super light and super plump and are my favourite item on the menu. We went recently and I didn’t feel like pasta, and I think I was a little disappointed. Yes, the food was still ok but not as good as it once was. I feel they’ve compromised on quality for cost savings. I think it’s more a casual dining experience than previously but the friendliness of the staff remains. Good for a quick meal rather than a special night out.
Some eateries have that magic formula, and it’s obvious that European Café on the Parade, Norwood has it. 36 years in business is evidence enough! This casual, busy café has maintained its popularity by continuing to serve delicious, hearty home-style Italian food with lashings of old fashioned Italian hospitality. I’ve been there a number of times over the years and I keep returning, as do many others.
I went to The European for a big work function and they catered to us really well with a big range of antipasto-style entrees to share and individual pastas. The pastas were all cooked really well and the staff made us feel like we were at a big family gathering.
Delicious. Went here for valentines day and they had a great special menu. Fig salad was awesome I wish it was on the regular menu! Quick service too. Been here a few other times once the waitress was a bit pushy and we were kind of rushed out. Not good when you are trying to catch up with old friends. Other than that I can't say anything bad!
Daisy Yum (daisyumblog)
+4.5
The European Cafe is located on The Parade Norwood. It is a family business and has been around for a long long time. It is a great establishment with casual atmosphere, a lovely place to be catching up for a meal with a few friends.
Fantastic service tonight despite it being busy and great food as always.
This place is amazing. The service is impeccable, each staff member is incredibly helpful and attentive as well as friendly. I felt welcomed from the moment I walked in the door, something I am not used to as many restaurants look down on me due to my age (19), most places believe I can't afford it or don't know the difference between good and bad service and food. The ambience is superb. As for the food, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I had the gnocchi ragu which was absolutely delicious, and may have even topped my nonno's! I am accustomed to authentic Italian food and this place is the best I've visited in Adelaide (trust me, I've tried a few too!) by far, combine this with great service and we have a winner. Will definitely be returning in the near future!
Fantastic Family Friendly Italian. This place hasn't changed in years - quality Italian food, friendly and efficient service. Whether we are dining with the kids and need a quick meal, or spending the evening there with lots of food and drinks til late with mates European caters perfectly for all. Can't recommend highly enough. Best gnocchi ragu in Adelaide.
YUM. Delicious ragu gnocchi!!
As good as ever. I hadn't been to the European for several years and when a friend suggested we have dinner there last Thursday I jumped at the opportunity. There are not many places where you can walk in and be so warmly greeted by such friendly and professional staff as if you were there only yesterday, not 3 or 4 years ago. We were made to feel so special but that is what they do here. I chose the Osso Bucco from the specials list and folks let me tell you it was the BEST I have ever eaten, the lamb was so succulent it just melted in my mouth.. My friend chose the Barrumundi which she enjoyed equally as much. The wines suggested by the waiters were perfect for us and did not break the budget. The European appears to be as popular es ever and deservedly so. I promise I won't wait 3 years for my next visit! Thanks to all the staff.
Very tasty fresh gnocchi and pasta dishes with a good price tag
I felt the need to write this as I had an awesome virgin popping experience this evening! The food was great! I dined solo and ate the spaghetti marinara and was provided with extra chilli in my meal with an additional saucer filled to the brim of chilli goodness! The service was flawless and I haven't been able to say that often enough. It's important and the staff had the perfect balance of friendly, timely, charismatic and helpful. The restaurant even threw in free garlic pizza (of which I can't spell correctly so won't try). I can't believe it has taken me so long to eat here but I will be back with my family to try the pizzas and tiramisu! Love your work guys! Do yourselves a favour and eat here!!!
Australian Food Writer
+4.5
Home Tastes With Home Feel. All I can say is go and try it out it’s an amazing family friendly restaurant. The food is full of love and quality. A lot of effort has been placed into the menu and the staff are amazing.
When I walked in I was greeted by a gentle man and he made me feel important by his attitude towards me. I feel that a lot of restaurants could learn a lot from this style of service.
Also the food is mind blowing full of flavour and taste. Not to rich or over compensated with flavour. The food dose not taste like its full of salt or MSG,s like a lot of restaurants think the only way to flavour there food is add MSG or salt but if you cook it correctly you will find the natural flavours. So well done to the European Café, for really finding the natural flavours of the dish.
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The Name IS E... "CAFE". PEOPLE, be fair.when you leave a negative feedbacks / unlike. please be fair to this hard working people. how hard and how good can you be in your own work? you asked for Pay increase from Employer, can a business owner look for cost reductions to survive in the business, yet delivery serivce to customers?
UNLIKE because: noisy, TAP WATER is NOT COLD, Table is SMALL, unattended SERVICE, portions small etc etc etc...
the place is a CAFE, not a FINE dinning!!! pick your place right and bring your ego to the right place. OR go out more often. your $1 is not the same $1 comparing to 50 years ago.
the flavour is great, ingridients used good. not many other Europen style of place has got it right in Adelaide. portions and pricing is balance.
But dessert, i think the ktichen crew need to put a bit more 'HEART' in it. Dessert is not a last boost for the final bill.
with the small menu and numbers of covers they are pumping thru a week, you know what you get is always good. WHY no one see this?? FOOD LOVERS?? or EGO LOVERS??
Love it!. I've eaten there heaps of times and the food and service have always been fantastic! It's always busy, has a great atmosphere, and the staff are always really friendly.
I'm not a huge fan of The Norwood Parade. It can be bland, safe and unexciting, so it was a pleasant surprise to visit the European. This character filled family bistro serves up honest, homely Italian food in a bustling atmosphere. We had a beautiful thin crust pizza and a melt in your mouth gnocchi in veal ragu finished with a zesty blood orange pudding. Decent grub.
Noisy but always great food. Not the place to go if you have a headache! Very very noisy inside, almost impossible to have a conversation with your fellow diners. However, the ragu is superb, the handmade gnocci divine, and the saltimbocco is always great. Delicious, authentic and consistent Italian food, just bring your earplugs!
The gnocci is always as light as a feather I reccomend asking for the chocolate brownie with belgian chocolate sauce around the side
Good food, good service, no fuss good Italian dishes served with no pretense. Good choice of dishes and reasonable prices. Enjoyable relaxed time.
Good Food Good People. Good little eat out top of norwood parade fast and fresh fair price, always busy and the owners are lovely people
Great food, awesome atmosphere and friendly service! In and out as quick as you want or stay for the whole night to enjoy the atmosphere!
Excellent service and delicious meals. My girlfriend is a gourmet chef and even she was extremely impressed. Beautiful atmosphere and the owner had great intuition and ensured we had a great experience.
Dropped past the other night on the way home from work and grabbed some takeaway. Since moving further away, it has been too long between meals. So glad we did! Food was spot on. Simple Margharita pizza with fresh tomato has the perfect amount of garlicky goodness. We also had the penne ragu with the soft chunks of beef and the penne pollo - this was the dish we remembered so well. Delicious. Plus, Gianni was as always, very welcoming and gifted us a surprise Chocolate dessert in our takeaway box. Still, our favorite Italian food in all of Adelaide.
Most Authentic Italian food in Adelaide... must try their Traditional Tiramisu and their Traditional Carbonara cooked without using cream... it smelled so good that I forgot to even took a pic of it...
First time here. I was sold after the first bite. Such delicious food. Well presented. The place was packed, not surprised, yet we were served on time and friendly. Highly recommend a visit to this family run business. #spiritofexcellence
Delicious food and amazing service. We will be back. 😋
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