A Touch of European Café

Me and my wife come here for the great food! We also come here to relax while we eat, which anymore, can be difficult to do these days. No blaring music, just peaceful, a cozy place. The couple who own and do all the cooking and serving are amazing! So very nice and personable. Back to the food. The soups here are the best soups I have ever had, and I’m 61! The sweet basil tomato with rice, just amazing! The dill sour pickle soup……you must get a sample taste to believe a soup with this funny name, could be so D.. good! I had a bowl, a big bowl at that, my last visit, of the Tomato, my favorite, and pared it with my favorite Chicken Salad sandwich on walnut, apricot bread, this too is my favorite ever, so, good, I have now had it at least 6 times in a row over the last two years. My wife this last time had the stuffed peppers, which she loved, with a cup of Borscht soup, she loved, and so did I. We will be back soon!

This restaurant is such a special experience. I did not feel like we were in Arizona at all while dining here. The food and service was excellent and they had dog friendly seating outside, which I very much appreciated. 10/10 would recommend.

I have been wanting to try A Touch of European Café for years and I finally had the opportunity recently – though not soon enough. I now wish I had! On a recent outing, a day trek to visit the historic downtown Glendale I got my wish, so there we went. Not at all unhappy, the complete opposite! As a Foodie and connoisseur of world foods as a whole, especially wholesome, down-to-earth, Eastern European and family traditional, A Touch of European Café filled the bill. We went all out to try as much of their offerings with our first visit as possible – or that our bellies could tolerate. Meeting the lively Malgorzata and good-natured Waldemar Okula (Chef) the owners was a thrill – a pair of the most down to earth and friendly folks I’ve met in restaurant eating in a long, long time, as well as he the uttermost fantastic cook. We definitely splurged on old world cuisine there. These folks bring to the Valley of the Sun the magnificence of Eastern European, more specifically Polish, Czech and some Russian homey, familial and delicious old country comfort foods. My heritage of Euro decent has long given me an affinity and love for all these foods and the Okula’s have made it possible to have the real thing. I started with my all-time fave Borscht. A tradition beet soup with exquisite chicken broth with plenty carrot, celery and potato, in with hearty tomato with an apropos offering of just the right herbs and spices – fantastic! My Wife went for the overall eats which was equally magnificent. For the unfamiliar, or to anyone who desires tasting more than one particular dish, I highly recommend they’re sample platter which gives you great tastes to be had including Pierogis, zelná rolka (cabbage roll), a wonderfully hearty and delectable lovecký guláš (Hunter’s Stew), and a whole-heartedly hefty Polská klobása (Polish Sausage). All of which I must emphasize were magnificently prepared, homey aromatic and luxuriously flavored. Not to mention filling. While we were at it, we also enjoyed the best Pork Schnitzel we both ever had the pleasure of tasting… anywhere! Tender and juicy meat, while coated with a perfectly tasty and delicate breading. We also enjoyed their incredible cabbage rolls stuffed with finely ground and perfectly seasoned pork and white rice – Wow! I might also mention, every year each summer, they offer Foodie and Cultural tours to their homeland of the Czech Repulic and Poland, sometimes the surrounds. Hotel, food and tours included – we put it on our bucket list! This is a restaurant which has wall-to-wall history, vibe and heritage, owned and operated by a loving and vibrant couple from the old country who not only cook and serve the real thing, but they and their food open the door to another world. Needless to say on our return we’re heading for the Guláš (Czech Goulash), more Borscht and their Pierogies. Meanwhile, we’ll enjoy both the leftovers and extra meals we took home with us! As you may have noticed, for me this was an exciting review to put together because Mr. and Mrs. Okula gave us a piece of their heritage, a taste of their magnificent food, their love, and A Touch of European!

This is a very quaint restaurant. A little cold for January even in Phoenix. Good thing I wore pants. The owners are very nice, in assuming the people working are the owners. Omg, the shredded pickled beets were yummy. I had the stuffed cabbage, mom had the goulash. My son stayed safe with a chicken sandwich, which was huge. I now want to go back and try the pickle soup, but it's not available every day.

My partner surprised me with a cooking class for Mother’s Day, and it was absolutely unforgettable! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting — cozy, charming. The food was beyond delicious, authentic, and clearly made with love. What really stood out was the owner’s kindness and passion — they made everyone feel welcome and at home. This experience was the perfect blend of fun, flavor, and heart. Can’t wait to come back and try more!

We shared the Polish sampler (3 potato cheese pierogi, smoked kielbasa, a cabbage roll, and a large scoop of hunter stew), limoncello cake and Makowiec (Poppy Seed Roll Cake) to go. Delicious. Came back later in the week and got sandwiches to go. They were big. We had them for two meals.

Great food, all of it is obviously house made. You won't find any overly briney sauerkraut from a jar here. Ordered some peroegi and kielbasa with a side of sauerkraut slaw and all of it was delicious. Would absolutely come back.

We went with the whole family yesterday and it was amazing. Staff was warm and welcoming, atmosphere was excellent. They had pasterys, chocolates and fresh bread for sale. Absolutely delicious food. The cakes were to die for! We will be regulars here for sure!

This is a petite cafe with a voluminous menu of polish and American cuisine- great service and atmosphere. Reasonably priced.

If I could give this quaint yet extraordinary restaurant 10 stars I would. The owners/operators are fantastic people- kind, knowledgeable, very welcoming (even when we were over an hour late for our reservations -this Pollack (me) drove and got us lost twice) Food was out of this world good, their pierogi and cabbage rolls are even better than my grandmother's (sorry GMA) Our friend had the pork schnitzel and said it was tender as melted butter. My husband had a dish that was chicken with sauce over noodles he barely let me have a taste & said it was so delicious he could eat it every day! We also shared a Capri salad.so fresh and a balsamic sauce like nothing I've had before not your typical balsamic dressing by any means. Their sauerkraut salad is heavenly too. Service was phenomenal - we couldn't have planned a more fabulous evening out. We will return (taking the correct route) Recommend making reservations as owners also host food tours to Europe and restaurant is temporarily closed from time to time while they travel.

Incredible food, just as I remember my grandma making! The couple who owns the place is who you'll see serving you and making your food. They're some of the nicest people and seem to really remember and care for their clientele. The shop is small but they can still seat a decent number of groups inside, or if you prefer Al fresco, that have a really inviting porch and patio area. I had to get the polish platter and every piece of it was amazing. The pierogis were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I'm not a huge stew person but that polish stew was sooo flavorful, it made it hard to resist. And the traditional cabbage roll/golumpki had the tastiest minced meat on the inside. I cannot wait to return when we go back to the Phoenix area!

This is authentic Polish food, prepared and cooked to perfection. As a family run business you can expect a meal you will want more of. There is inside and outside seating at this restaurant located in Glendale AZ. The perogies are great. The smoked kielbasa is the best I've ever had, and I was raised in a Polish household. Their baked goods are a great way to end the meal if you have room A must go !

What hasn't been praised of all the dishes here? Every dish we have tried has been excellent! The food will speak for itself. The service is always great even when it is so busy that it takes a little longer. Believe me the food is worth waiting for. The ambience is also great whether you get lucky on a nice day and get a table out in the patio or you are seated inside. Margaret the owner has a great memory and greets regular customers better than family. Lol, don't we all?. Do yourself a favor and go there when you have plenty of time to browse the great menu. Better yet take a party and each should order a different dish to share. You will be glad you did!

Friendly staff with wonderfully tasty food. The perogi are pan fried and has a nice texture on the outside Kilbasa is excellent, not too salty, perfectly sausagy, nice snappy outer casing. FYI, their credit card system is not working, some issues going on, so they might be cash only, call ahead to check.

A friend of mine had a craving for some Schnitzel . I looked up on Yelp for Schnitzel and A Touch of European Cafe had a good rating . Unfortunately , my friend had Covid and couldn't join the rest of my group for lunch. Four of us went for lunch on a rainy Thursday. The restaurant has about 8 tables (3 tables with 4 seats, 5 tables with 2 seats). Not big enough for large parties. We tried a 1/2 order of Pierogi . 3 with potato and cheese and 3 with mushroom and sauerkraut. They were very good. I was the only one to try the Schnitzel. I tried the Chicken variety. Comes with 2 sides. Mash potatoes and I had the green beans. Nice size cultlet . Could have use some sort of gravy to liven it up. Potatoes were good. I haven't had canned green beans since my mother made them over 50 years ago. Not my favorite way to eat a vegetable. Should be fresh, not cooked in water. One friend had Kielbasa Platter with Mash potatoes and the sauerkraut slaw. He really liked it. Another friend had the melted cheese and bacon sandwich on white bread. My brother had the house sandwhich (turkey , ham , bacon and swiss cheese) on a sub roll. Both sandwiches were good. For desert we tried the Kolaczki . They had apricot and rasberry. All of the deserts were packaged from a bakery . The owners were very friendly and served us well. Cash is king for this restaurant. The is a 3 % surcharge if you use a credit card. Nice place but for me I will try other places for this type of food.

The food is delicious and the atmosphere is quaint & cozy. We would recommend A Touch of European Cafe to everyone who loves home cooking at its best.

We frequent here to enjoy great food & a little ancestry !! I enjoy every bite of our taste testing

Delicious homemade desserts great atmosphere. Nice patio, I can't wait to try other items.

The food is outstanding... the first time I went I forgot to take a picture of the dish and all I got was an empty plate!! Next time I go I'll make sure I take a photo.. The food is filling and I was not disappointed.

This is an absolute wonder. A touch of various European delicacies. General focus is Eastern Europe. Chef always has specials, wonderful soups and entrees. We were a party of four. We got the last seat inside as all others were reserved. We ordered chicken schnitzel (mashed potatoes and green beans); beef meatballs with meat gravy over noodles (green beans); and a sample platter (Peirogi, cabbage roll, hunter stew, and kielbasa) everything was spectacular. We saved room for desert and indulged in poppy seed roll- with raisins, lemon cello cake, and carrot cake. Excellent service, excellent food. Thank you so much for bringing great home cooked meals to the Valley!!

First time there Friendly environment friendly people Food was very delicious Will be back Yes I will recommend to others Wish I would have tried them sooner

This place is a total hidden gem that must make your list of places to try. My partner and I shared the Polish Sampler and a cup of soup. There were about 6 rotating soups available that evening, and with those two items, we had ample food. Please note: it's Byo beer and wine which we didn't realize before arriving. (I don't know how we missed this information. It's all over the internet. ) No biggie- We ran down to the Simple Machine a couple of blocks south (1/4 mile?), grabbed some cans, and brought them back to enjoy with our meal. Our waiter was friendly and helpful, the small "house" atmosphere was charming, and we will absolutely be back. Enjoy!

The food here was SO GOOD!!!! I tried pickled herring and the sample platter. For dessert, we tried the lemon cake. There wasn't a part I didn't like. The waitress looked a little skeptical when we ordered the herring, but she was really helpful when we asked about the menu. The vibes in this place were welcoming and cozy. Felt really authentic polish too! Prices were high, but it was definitely worth it. Seriously the best food I've had in a while.

Came here with a friend one night. We never notice this place before and decided to give them a try. The location was clean, well kept and small. The staff was friendly and very helpful since it was our first time at this place. We ordered the Kielbasa Sandwich and a Melty Cheese and Bacon Sandwich. The food was great, good quality and came out flavourful and hot. At the time of visit, the loo was clean and well kept, the throne was similar to that of a common house toilet. Good soap and water pressure. Don't have to hesitate using their loo. Overall excellent experience, don't see why we would come again. Oh they have a big sign that says cash only. But they do take credit cards so no worries!

Absolutely wonderful restaurant owned by an amazing husband and wife team! Their pierogi are to die for! If you want to support local and eat amazing food, this is the place to go to!

Love this place so much and always come back to it especially around the holidays. It brings back home to me with their cooking. They also have many items for sale that reminds me of my childhood. Very small with the option of eating family style inside or on a larger outdoor patio. It's one of our favorite places!

Amazing food, and even nicer staff! My food was delicious, and the ambience was so nice. Definitely check this place out!

Foubd the food to very good. Service nice. Lady who runs it is genuine. Easy parking. Good options. Seating area outside pleasant. Will return.

Service and food is always exceptional. Dill pickle soup is a must have. Don't let the name fool you or deter you from trying it, it will be your go to and you'll fall in love with the flavor once you try it! The ambiance is fun and welcoming in this quaint space.

A very kind young man named Adrian sat us down. The food was delicious and I was very satisfied.

Authentic food! Made with love and great portions! New soups everyday at lunch, family place

Pretty decent food overall but the cabbage rolls weren't much different than what you get behind the counter at the grocery store.

What a great while in the wall find! My husband and I were invited to eat here for lunch. We got the sample platter and a pork chop special with mushroom sauce. Both were great and flavorful. If you do decide to eat here during the lunch rush, then I suggest to come early! Luckily my group and I got sat and ate before they got super busy for lunch.

Absolutely in love with this place. I'm obsess with Polish food and I'm so glad I found this spot!

I've been coming here for years and absolutely love their food! Margaret and her husband are so nice. He does the cooking and everything he makes is spot on delicious. I'm sitting outside as I write this waiting for them to open. I'm getting the Mozzarella, basil and tomato sandwich on Ciabatta bread. Out of this world good! Thank you!

I am SO glad I found this absolute GEM in downtown Glendale. My sister and I wanted to take our dad to lunch (we're Czechoslovakian) There's not many places for Slavic food in AZ! But after looking through Yelp for European restaurants I decided to check out A Touch of European Cafe. Our experience exceeded our expectations. We met the owners Margaret & Waldemar who are the sweetest most hospitable people you could meet. It felt like we were guests in their home and they served up the most delicious polish food ever. The food was absolutely incredible. It definitely hit the spot for exactly what we were hoping for, and then some! We left with boxes to go and some delicious polish desserts. Can't wait to come here again.

very friendly, staff is nice and welcoming. the food is the star of show here. the ambience is very cute and interesting. but once you taste that food, you feel overwhelmed by flavor and texture is on point. I don't wanna go full on "Food Wars", but you'll lose yourself in bliss.

So happy to return to this great spot in Glendale. Margaret is always so nice to everyone. So besides great food you get superior customer service. We had the combo plate and the mozzarella sandwich. Both dishes were so tasty. If you get a chance stop by this polish restaurant and try A Taste of European. You will be glad you did.

Mom and Pop shop. Always friendly. We have had most of the entrees, all have been tasty and excellent quality. Lots of different homemade soups. All great.

Amazing food and service. Traveled 45 min to come here and it was WORTH IT! It was a BYOB also which is great!!

Soup is still the best in town. And be adventurous, order whatever special is going that day and you will NOT be disappointed. Great food and run by sone of the best people you will ever meet. Eat in or get it to go, you will be happy either way.

My guest for lunch was visiting from the Chicago area and is Polish, she has been looking for some good Polish cooking. We didn't find it. My panini was burnt burnt burnt. She wouldn't comment about her stuffed cabbage.

Wow! Just, Wow! My husband and I had dinner here tonight and it was superb. We ate out on the patio, as the weather was perfect for al fresco dining. I had the Polish Sampler Platter with a cup of mushroom soup, and my husband had the Hungarian Pork Goulash with sauerkraut slaw. The food was outstanding and the portions were large. The staff were attentive and charming. We will definitely be back!

You're a restaurant being operated by a couple who are originally from Poland. It is small maybe eight tables and our waitress was one of the owners. Her husband is a chef and the quality of the food left nothing more to be desired. Servings were large and the plating was exceptional. I had the.combination plate, zwhich consisted of perigee kilbassavsausage and hunters stew. I could not finish the food and had to take home a "personal service bag" I had a second meal from my left overs.

Sat outside in the warmth of the Arizona sun and enjoyed a delicious polish lunch. Generous portions were too much for my sister to finish - though I polish-ed (haha) off my Polish sampler platter. My favorites were the pierogi and the kielbasa though the hunter's stew and stuffed cabbage were not a disappointment in any way served with dark bread lightly toasted, it was plenty of food for a hungry human. The borscht was so good - hearty and slightly sweet/sour. The owner also served and warmly welcomed us. All in all I would highly recommend this sweet locally owned restaurant.

I am so glad I found this place. My husband and I just had lunch. It was amazing!!! We did the sampler and each tried a different soup of the day. Plenty for us to share. The service was excellent. The owners were very nice to speak with. Just like grandma used to make. Totally worth trying. You won't be disappointed. I live rather far away but I will make a special trip.

the food at this restaurant will knock your socks off delicious fresh and different. we wanted to take a friend for a birthday lunch and it was wonderful! I 100% recommend this place you won't regret it

Wonderful Lunch on their Patio. We shared the Pierogi & Kielbasa Fried in Butter and Onions Combo and it was authentic and delicious. Finished it off sharing The Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce. Will definitely be back.

Small little polish cafe that has big flavor! The service was incredible, our server was so sweet and hilarious! Kielbasa and pierogis? Yes please! It was brought out within 5 mins of ordering. The pierogis were huge, stuffed with potatoes and cheese, super filling. The sausage was enormous! It was smoked to perfection and it was so juicy. Never been a fan of spicy mustard but when it was presented with the kielbasa, I couldn't turn it down. It was the perfect combo! Prices are fair, atmosphere is great. I will definitely be back.

I absolutely love this little place! Whenever I visit Phoenix, it's a must for at least one meal. Love the pierogi, kielbasa and the lemon cake! Lots of other things to try as well. Lovely outdoor patio too.

I love the food! My favorite is the Caesar and Pickle Soup. My husband had the kielbasa and pierogies. The kielbasa was flavorful and tender. The pierogies were super yummy. The owners are nice and hospitable. Will be going again! Combo PlatePickle SoupPotato Cheese Pierogi

I love pierogis and cabbage rolls, so I was excited to visit. The proprietor is lovely, the service is stellar, and we enjoyed our visit. I think there is a Glendale curve in effect for the Yelp rating, however, so my (admittedly high) expectations did not match the food. Pros: - The food is well executed in technique. The kielbasa is just a little bit crispy on the sides. The pierogis are slightly browned. - The pickled herring was well done - fishy, tangy, a little sweet. - The service is quick, efficient, and friendly. Cons: - The sauerkraut and mushroom pierogis were bland. I expected more flavor and texture, perhaps tanginess or crunch from the sauerkraut. - The flavor profiles of the kielbasa and the cabbage rolls were just...boring.

The food was exceptional. Serving size was generous. Had enough for two meals. Hunters Stew was so good and filling. Also shared mushroom and saukaut Piegari appetizer. Yummy!! Polish sausage sandwich was huge. Tasted cole slaw it was different, but very tasty would get next time.

We decided to go here for our Anniversary lunch...and, we were not disappointed. We shared the pierogi's (OMG! They're so amazing!!). Hubby had the cabbage rolls again, and he loved them as much as he did the first time he had them. I went with the turkey and cranberry sauce sandwich on a croissant. It was very, very good! And, as always, the service was friendly and attentive. This place just makes us smile! :)

A wide selection of dishes with heavy emphasis on meat containing dishes. Very pleasant seating outside in the current great weather. The problem is with an absolute lack of service and/or concern for the customers. I would not like to go there again.

Oh my goodness ! If you miss your grandma or miss homemade ethnic foods from old relatives -Get Here - i love this place !!! New people -try the Polish Sample Platter - others try goulash !!

Really wonderful polish restaurant in a cute bungalow. I was looking forward to the soups and pierogi my fellow Yelpers recommended. I started with a cup of the cold buttermilk and beet soup which was served with a sliced hard boiled egg. It was wonderfully smooth and tart. My part Polish friend had the warm pickle soup which was also delicious and authentic. She also judged the sauerkraut mushroom, and potato cheese pierogi to be just as good as her grandmother's. I got the combo platter which also came with a huge kielbasa, the best I have ever had. We also opted for chocolate mousse cake and poppy seed cake for dessert. The portions were really large and too much after our dinner. But good nonetheless. I am new to Polish foods, but I can't wait to come back. I was really torn on whether to order goulash as I have a relative who makes a mean version at home.

BYOB how can it get any better! Pierogis, kielbasa, this polish boy is living the life. Found this little place took my sweetheart for her first polish meal