Café Mozart

Very nice restaurant at the back of a German-Austrian grocery store. It’s expensive for lunch but this is DC. Everything seemed fresh but the fry on the Schnitzel and potato pancakes was not the right temperature. The pancakes were slightly undercooked, the Schnitzel absorbed too much oil so the chicken was rubbery. Perhaps I’ll be back to try other dishes but more likely I’ll come for dessert. Sadly they were out of Black Forest cake! I do appreciate the small market at the front of the store!

Loved the location. It's in the back of a bakery. It seems very few people know about it, so it's very quiet. The food was just so so. They got our order wrong to begin with. They did however correct it by comping our check; however, they didn't bring us the correct dish. My hubby wasn't too pleased about that. We definitely have better German food in Texas. The wiener schnitzel crust was great but the meat itself was not pounded thin enough like a true schnitzel. The red cabbage was good but I've definitely had much better. The German potatoes were tasty and the spaetzle was good. The service was decent.

Visiting DC my first time, and I felt very displaced. Psychologically I wasn't making the transition and I found myself anxious and uncomfortable. Once I went into this restaurant (passing the entrance which is the cafe)....I felt like myself again. I was comfortable and happy. The food was also reasonably priced and stellar quality. All this food, around $50! My "cultured" (lol) friend says the mustard was the best he's ever tasted. I enjoyed the pumpernickel and seeded rye bread as well. If this place was around my home town, it would be our new date night place.

Great German quality food! The brat was tender and had delicious flavor. Sauerkraut was spot on! The potato salad was not too onion-y. The only thing I didn’t care for were the beers on tap they had. But I don’t like IPAs so I know many of the beer aficionados... so take that with a grain of salt :) it is a very small place for eating (it’s all the way in the back) so MAKE A RESERVATION! Photos as of April 2019

Wonderful restaurant for lovers of traditional German food. Walk through a German deli and you'll find a full restaurant tucked into the back with wonderful, rich authentic German cuisine. The food is the star of the show here - the menu has everything you would expect, a big selection of German and Eastern European sausages, schnitzel, goulash, dumplings, potato pancakes, etc. etc. And all of it is good! We shared the family style dinner for two, which lets you split three entrees and three sides from a list. We had the chicken schnitzel, the beef goulash, and two sausages for our entrees, plus red cabbage, spaetzle, and the German potato salad with bacon as our sides. Everything was terrific! The goulash was rich and hearty, with tender chunks of beef, perfect for eating alongside the spaetzle; the potato salad was fantastic, incredibly well-balanced sweetness and acidity complemented perfectly by bits of bacon. The only things we weren't enamored of were the two desserts we got - hazelnut cake and apple strudel - both of which were fine but didn't blow us away. Between the two, pick the strudel (or try one of the many other desserts on offer, maybe you will find a gem that we haven't yet!) Service was extraordinarily friendly, helpful, and quick. We had a lovely experience with our server. The vibe of this place is old school - fairly brightly lit, white tablecloths, traditional decor. This is the opposite of a trendy establishment, it feels like a throwback from 20 or 30 years ago. But none of that is to say it was a negative vibe at all - honestly some might even see it as a nice change of pace from the dozens of loud, tightly-packed industrial barns lit by Edison bulbs that you're sure to come across as you explore DC's contemporary dining scene. When we were there, there was a live accordion player during dinner, adding to the traditional feel of the place - she was great, and to add to the authentic feel, I even overheard her chatting in German with another table between songs. Pricing is moderate, but not inexpensive. Entrees are mostly in the $16-22 range. The family style shared meal was $35/person, for which you really get an enormous amount of food. As nondescript and non-hip as this place is, in the Metro Center area behind a deli, I was worried it would be dead. Happily, there were a number of other tables there enjoying what Cafe Mozart has to offer. We will be back to join them, hopefully we'll see you there!

Very nice place with great ambiance and great food. Prices are fair, portions are huge, and quality is top. We went on a Wednesday, there was a very sweet old lady playing the accordion and singing German folk songs. Highly recommended.

Cafe Mozart is the oldest woman-owned restaurant in Washington, D.C. Since 1964, they have been serving the community German and Austrian food. Today, it's expanded into many things. When you walk into the space it's obvious it's a no-frills space. To your right is a coffee area and ice cream stand with a few tables to enjoy our snacks/food at. To your left and in front of you is a German store with all the Milka chocolate bars you can imagine and a bakery selling cakes, pastries, etc. There's also a deli that makes the best-fried chicken schnitzel sandwich for $8. In the way back is the bar and the actual restaurant.

I just really like the vibe this place has. In a way it feels a little out of place for the area - blocks from the White House and around some high-profile restaurants, but very much the feel of a suburban neighborhood go-to tavern. With an hour or so to kill before heading to the airport to fly home I wanted something good but easy and not too fancy - and this was perfect. On the food alone I'd probably say 4/5 - good, with a little room for improvement. But the atmosphere with the deli in front and a "mom & pop" feel hearing someone pounding schnitzel in the kitchen in the back - it's just a good time. If this was a place in my neighborhood at home, I'd be here often.