Schnitzel, Spaetzli, and Steins: The FDPs take a break from reality courtesy of Cafe Mozart.

Without getting into details, let’s just say February was a stressful month for the FDPs. Craving an escape that our busy lives won’t currently allow, we turned our focus instead to an evening meal that would take us to a far-away spot, at least in our minds. This need was met by Café Mozart, a cheery German restaurant tucked away on an otherwise nondescript downtown DC street. Located amidst tall office buildings on H Street, from the outside, Café Mozart appears to be a delicatessen and German foodstuffs shop. The front of the restaurant is indeed a store where you can purchase all sorts of imported goods and some freshly-baked delights as well. But, push through the doors in the back of the store (trust us—do it!), and you are suddenly transported into another world.
Café Mozart exudes a cheerful, relaxed intimacy. It is the kind of place where you look around the room and somehow get a sense that everyone there considers themselves a regular. There is a comfortable, congenial air about the place, with patrons speaking in hushed but happy tones, which are buffered by the soft piano tunes gently filling the space, courtesy of the cheerful older gentleman tickling the keys. At the front of the room, a few men sat hunched at the dark wooden bar drinking tall steins of beer and conversing with the bartender. The rest of the restaurant is filled with tables of various shapes and sizes, all covered in crisp white linens. The walls are decorated with scenic posters depicting German castles, mountains, and picturesque towns. We gratefully gathered at a large corner table in the back, where we had privacy and yet were still enveloped in the cozy feel of the room.
Instantly the ambiance relaxed us, and we eagerly turned to the menu, which is quite extensive. We decided to start with the potato pancakes (served with sour cream and applesauce), breaded mushrooms, and the choice of two sausages—we picked Weisswurst and smoked Bratwurst. And of course, we ordered ourselves delicious German beers and wines. The appetizers were all scrumptious, but the potato pancakes and Bratwurst won the highest raves (you need to ask for mustard to accompany the sausages). For our main course, we picked the special of the night--venison goulash served with spaetzli, and the breaded veal schnitzel. Obviously we also needed a hearty side of sauerkraut and red cabbage! The food came relatively swiftly, and we dug in with gusto. The rich venison alongside the soft, melt-in-your-mouth spaetzli, and the crispy and flavorful schnitzel were both excellent choices, and the sauerkraut was the perfect accompaniment for both meat dishes. Amazingly, after we finished inhaling the main courses, we still had room for dessert. It was a tough choice, but we went with two sweet delights: linzer torte and apple strudel. Both were delicious and more than enough for four somewhat-overly-stuffed ladies to share. By the time the check came, we were fully satiated and significantly more relaxed than when we dragged our stressed-out selves through the front door.
Café Mozart is a small gem that is definitely worth discovering. For a night when you want to say auf Wiedersehen to reality and enjoy some delicious German cuisine, we give it 3 oinks!