Europa Bar & Cafe

Located at 200 N. Davie St. in Downtown Greensboro, Europa Bar and Café offers a full-service bar and a European-influenced lunch and dinner menu. There is a patio with outdoor seating, a mussels special on Tuesdays, and half-priced wine on Wednesdays. A brunch menu is offered on Sundays.

As locations go, Europa’s is tough to beat. The downtown setting is right across from Center City Park and there is plenty of parking nearby. This proximity to the heart of the city goes a long way toward explaining why Europa draws the crowds that it does. Were it located elsewhere, it would probably be struggling to stay afloat.

To its credit, Europa is a good-looking space. The tile-and-wood interior is classy and evokes Old Europe quite nicely. It is not particularly roomy though, and when the restaurant fills up, the acoustics are horrible. The patio is similarly deceptive. You get a great view of the city from outside, but be prepared to pay for it by enduring head-splitting boisterousness.

Europa’s European-influenced menu offers both classics and a few intriguing sounding dishes, but the execution is uneven. A steak au poivre was tasty if a bit understated, but my companion reported her steak (with a flavorful red wine sauce) was undercooked. Both came with frites that were indistinguishable from fast food fries. Fortunately, an appetizer order of grilled chorizo fared better: the bread was fresh and hot, and the dipping sauces (one a pesto, the other a roasted red pepper) were fantastic.

Neither Europa’s service nor pricing were exceptional, nor were they exceptionally lacking. The sub-$15 steak dishes seem like a good deal until the disappointment of the fries sinks in; sandwich and salad pricing (in the $6 to $10 range) was fair. Our server was courteous enough and relatively fast, but he started to appear slightly harried as Europa filled up.

If you keep your expectations in check and arrive early enough, Europa has enough charm and enough options to make for an enjoyable meal. However, the same can be found elsewhere without risking a headache.

6.75/10