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Cafe Mozart
Category: Restaurants German German [Edit]
31952 Camino CapistranoSan Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 496-0212
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
29 reviews for Cafe Mozart
Review Highlights
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"...Dumplings, Truffled Duck Liver Pâté, and Alligator Tail." In 3 reviews -
"Carla created an incredible wedding cake for us, in two..." In 3 reviews -
"This time I had the Schnitzel and of course the pate." In 8 reviews
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29 reviews in English
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Review from Sara H.
Corona, CA
We come here every year for the Swallows Day Parade! They service is always great! The servers are always the same people which shows they like working with the owner Hans.
This year ordered the raised Norwegian salmon poached salmon filet served with, potatoes and steamed vegetables. Amazing as always. Desert bread pudding with vanilla ice cream and the flour free chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Awesome!!!
+ Awesome area
+ Great prices
+ Quality food
+ Quality service! -
Review from David V.
Aliso Viejo, CA
4/14/2012
First of all, this is not a German restaurant. Most definitely not a German restaurant. It is an American restaurant with a couple of German dishes. So, if you have spent time in Germany, don't go in with high expectations.
I had the sauerbraten, which was just average, at best. Really, it was rather thick slices of marinated beef in a brown gravy. My wife had the Wienershnitzel, which was fine. But the red cabbage came out of a can, and the spaetzle was only okay.
There is a very limited selection of German beers, with none of the really good German brands, and the restaurant was out of the Hefeweizen that I ordered.
Prices were reasonable, but the ambience is a bit pretentious. I've always felt that if a restaurant was going to put on airs, it had better have the food to match the attitude. The biggest surprise was that the restaurant does not have bathrooms--one has to go outside to public bathrooms that are apparently ashared by all the stores in the center where the restaurant was located.
In short, I really can't recommend this place. There is another German restaurant in SJC that has better food and a homier atmosphere. I'd suggest giving it a try. -
Review from Stevenenen N.
Orange County, CA
I'm beginning to believe the German lady at my work when she said there are no really good German restaurants around. Every restaurant I've asked her about, she has told me it sucks. For awhile now, I just thought she is too picky. I'm beginning to change my tune. Each German\Austrian place I've eaten at has been at best just pretty decent. My quest for really good German cuisine led me here and found it to be just decent. Nothing I would tell people to go out of their ways for. If you are nearby visiting Historical San Juan, then it is a decent spot for a meal.
I came here for lunch on a Friday and it was pretty dead. Nothing but old grandparent types were dining here. From the parking lot, you can see the restaurant. The entrance is through the back outside patio though. http://www.yelp.com/bi... The inside of the restaurant is quite interesting. Green carpet, yellow walls and with table cloths. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I looked over the menu pretty quickly since I already seen the online menu. I couldn't decide between the Pork Schnitzel or the Bratwurst though. My friendly waiter told me I could get a Brat with the Pork Schnitzel if I wanted. I was immediately sold on this for $13.95. http://www.yelp.com/bi... This came with scalloped potatoes and red cabbage. A toasted roll was also brought out with a jar of mustard. http://www.yelp.com/bi... I also ordered an ice tea for $3.00. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The ice tea here is pretty tasty. I would hope so at $3.00. The bread roll could have been fresher. It was decent but you could tell it wasn't fresh when you bit into it. The inside wasn't that soft and the outside just fell apart into lots of pieces. The mustard was light and smooth. Not too bold tasting. I spread some over my brat and cut off a piece and ate it with the roll. The brat was decent. A clean tasting brat. Not too fatty and greasy. The pork schnitzel was on the bland side. The inside was moist and the batter was kind of boring. It reminded me of the batter The Old Ship uses to batter their fish. It needed more seasoning or a different seasoning. The scalloped potatoes were good. I love potatoes and they were cooked perfectly. I'm not a big fan of red cabbage, so I only had a few bites.
If you like German beers, they have 6 to choose from. A pricey $7.50 for 1/2 liter http://www.yelp.com/bi... If you are more of a girly man, they also have some decent wines by the glass http://www.yelp.com/bi...
So a decent experience but nothing to brag about. The German lady at work of course was not impressed with the pictures I took of this place. She said, "I apologize for my people serving you this Americanized crap." She told me that the scalloped potatoes should have been German potato salad and the mustard should have been on the plate instead of in a jar. She also went into why they can't call the pork schnitzel a Wiener Schnitzel because it has to be made of veal. She also let out a big laugh when I told her they also had a chicken schnitzel. She said, "Only in America."Listed in: Outside Patios, More than a city with a…
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Review from Claudia Z.
Orange, CA
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very nice ambiance in the courtyard seating with the water fountain, on a sunny day it feels like the perfect setting for a nice lunch.
Service was not bad, a bit slow considering there were only one other table of diners. The other table appears to be regulars, the waiter knew them by name, their food seem to arrive a lot faster than mine.
Ordered the Black Forest Platter, a selection of black forest ham, brie, salami, duck liver pate, cornichons, and olives, and the veggie quiche. I'm not a huge fan of the food, this is the only German food I've had so I can't say whether it's this restaurant or German food in general that I don't really enjoy. Everything on the platter was too salty, I ended up drinking 5 glasses of iced tea. The quiche was good, very heavy though, I only ate 1/3 of it. -
Review from Mary H.
Dana Point, CA
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
You definitely have to try the bread dumplings, truffle duck liver pate and escargot. The sauce for dumpling is finger licking good but instead I scraped my bread to get the last bit of sauce. The duck pate is a luxury that I'll gladly have again... and again. So delicious and the buttery garlic toast is a perfect compliment. I've had escargot before but the ones served here was plump and juicy. On top of that we had the beef stroganoff and schnitzel. Portions are huge! Not the ideal spot if you're on a diet but if you want to splurge then definitely have a few beers and loosen your pant belts. I'll be coming here again for Octoberfest.
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Review from Gene W.
San Juan Capistrano, CA
My wife and I found Cafe Mozart when we were looking for a place to hold our wedding reception. We found the food absolutely amazing and reminded us of some great meals from abroad (we've both been to Austria and Germany, performing in various music festivals)...in fact, we liked it so much we ended up holding the entire ceremony there! Carla created an incredible wedding cake for us, in two different flavors...we are saving the top layer in our freezer to enjoy on our anniversary.
We've also been to the restaurant at least ten times in past couple months to have lunch. I haven't found a single thing on the menu I haven't enjoyed, and I particularly like the lemonade, steak sandwich, and schnitzel. The sides are very tasty as well, and the appetizers won me over the very first day. The atmosphere of the dining room is very charming, very calm, and the wait staff is personable and engaging.
Hans and Carla are absolutely exceptional in their work, and we will be coming back to their restaurant for many years to come! -
Review from ray and k. w.
Dana Point, CA
1/17/2011
My husband planned our first date after having our 3rd baby for this location. Based on the reviews we were very excited! However when we walked in at our reservation time on a Saturday night the place looked deserted. Also a quick glimpse of the kitchen was concerning. It just didn't appear clean or well-stocked. Hmmmmmm...
Now there were 4 other tables with guests and the guests were all seniors. I have no problem with the older crowd but this was strange. The place looked nice and modern yet... something was off. Our waiter was pretty bad. He was in an awful mood and did not hesitate to share it! He even had a table walk out on him and threw a fit while taking our order. We were very uncomfortable.
The food was expensive and very, very heavy. The bread was crusty, cold and awful. The soup and salad were good although the dressing was from a bottle. Our appetizer was so small and nothing impressive. 15.00 for two crab cakes is insane! Our meals were very off. My steak was very full of lard and completely untrimmed. The veggies were not cooked and things were either way too seasoned or without flavor. The presentation was good but much was lacking.
Soon we were the ONLY ones in the entire place. On a Saturday night! Even so, the waiter was not attentive and gave us a pitcher of water so he wouldn't have to refill. Lazy.
We left without finishing our meals. In fact we hardly touched them. And we LOVE to eat. As we walked out my husband pointed out something on the wall. They failed their health inspection! EWWWWW! We would have never stepped foot in that place if we saw that first. Bad deal all around. We went to Golden Spoon for dessert and that was the highlight of our date. Enough said:)
PS: Just so you don't shake this review off, my husband has traveled Europe extensively. The food was not authentic. -
Review from Isabella O.
Costa Mesa, CA
12/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
Oh yes.. I haven't had a sausage this good since Europe. That's the truth!
I went for the BF's Company Christmas Lunch. The place is apparently the boss' favorite restaurant in the area, the office is also around 5 minutes away.
The place was cute, all decorated in the Christmas style. The tree next to the fire was picturesque and I enjoyed our long table, so jolly, so Christmasy.
The food:
Bavarian Bratwurst: We both got this one and it was the bomb!! The bratwurst itself was amazing, reminded me of a Christmas market in Berlin, aka the happiest place on Earth. The potatoes were delicious as well, they were rich and creamy - yum. The red cabbage was hella good too. Not as sour or sweet as I thought it would be. All in all, the meal went together perfectly.
Rhubarb Tart: At least that's what I think it was called... All you need to know is that it was amazing. The vanilla ice cream on top was quality. The rhubarb filling was a little sour, so of course I loved it. Really nice dessert
Lemonade: It has unlimited refills and tastes oh so fresh. It's a nice drink to have when you're eating all that meat and potatoes.
Overall: Great food, well decorated place, and a nice restaurant to see during the holidays. -
Review from mark e.
Aliso Viejo, CA
Updated - 8/11/2010
We have been back many times since my last review, but longed to after our trip to Italy. Not that the food in Italy isn't great, because it was. My wife ordered Rack of Lamb while we were in Rome, and she said. I want to go to Cafe Mozart when we get home... "this is good" but its not Hans'.
This time I had the Schnitzel and of course the pate'. Got an extra order to go... Used the left overs for a fantastic omelet the next morning. If you are on the fence on this place... GO ALREADY!!!!!!!! Really well worth the money, and experience.
We will be back, so if you see me there, come and say hello, and bring another bottle of Kenneth Volk. It goes well with almost anything served. Including the Beef Wellington.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/16/2010
First I must admit that I am a huge Yelper, and yet this is my first written review. I feel… Read more »
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Review from R D.
Fullerton, CA
2/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
The service here is a little slow but that is because they are so crowded! Live piano music to help the ambience but so many people in such a small place ya can't even hear it.
The prices are a little uppity but the food is very good. Fresh baked rolls with dinner and sparkling water that actually tastes good. Maybe the sparkling water was complimentary for our table. I came with a revered guest.
I had a good time and there was good food. Dunno if I would ever have my wedding here or even my reception but a romantic date with the boif for good food?
Most definitely. -
Review from W L.
Los Angeles, CA
9/13/2009 20 photos
There's a pianist playing jazzy tunes on a mahogany baby grand in the middle of a restaurant. She wasn't playing any Mozart or any classical music but her delightful tunes definitely added an extra pleasantness to the meal.
2 out of the 3 reviews on yelp were about people getting married here so the celebrating the anniversary of J's parents here seemed appropriate.
There were only two waiters and they both took turns taking care of the table. The bald one was friendly and bubbly. Service was slow with the shortage of staff, but for a relaxing dinner, we didn't mind.
We shared a bottle of Opus One and another bottle of red that we brought. Corkage is $15 each.
This restaurant served a variety of European fare, from French to Italian to Russian even some dishes from Austria (psst, that's where Mozart was born) such as the Wiener Schnitzel. Our appetizer for the table was cajun-spiced alligator tail with lemon. Save it for a trip to New Orleans.
Most of the entrees came with soup of the day or garden salad. 1) The cheese ravioli was pretty good, quite filling with just one. Must be the cheese. 2) The Filet and Crab Cake was also a good choice. The filet turned out a little more done than medium as ordered, but crab cake had a good amount of crab in it. 3) The beef stroganoff was true to its Russian roots with the sour cream but it looked better than what I would imagine you'd get in Russia. 4) The sea bass special, like the other entrees, came in a strip form and accompanied with scalloped potatoes and steamed veggies. It was Mexican sea bass, not Chilean though.
The dessert tray was shown off and the flourless chocolate cake, ala mode, appeared on the table. Each bite requires no chewing. You basically taste the melty chocolate and swallow. This went well with our red wine.
We enjoyed dinner very much. The setting was nice and the food was pretty good. Overall 4 stars, plus an extra one for the pianist! -
Review from Emmett B.
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Updated - 6/26/2011
OKay, I found out they screwed my friend over with the alcohol at her wedding. She paid over $1500 to have an open bar but the bartenders got greedy and decided to charge a cash bar for the guests without the knowledge of the bride and groom. And to think I thought the bartender was "hooking us up" with a good deal on shots. +1 star for the owner for the owning up to their mistakes.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/22/2011
This review us based upon a wedding reception held at the courtyard. I lived in San Juan Capistrano… Read more »
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Review from Susi O.
Fountain Valley, CA
1/1/2012
This is a delightful place hidden in Mercado Village in SJC. We go there for lunch whenever we're in the area and often share the Blackforest platter, which is plenty for two, especially if you have a cup of their delicious soup beforehand. Their desserts, too, are scrumptious. The service is efficient, but be prepared to have a leisurely lunch. The outside seating by the fountain is lovely and on this occasion, we could watch hummingbirds play in the water. Great experience.
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Review from Evelyn K.
3/3/2008
This is a lovely restaurant run by lovely people. The food, wine and desserts here are very tasty. The restaurant has a nice setting, the waiters are knowledgeable and helpful. The night I had dinner there was live music.
The spinach salad is a specialty salad with strawberries in it. It's very prettily arranged and tasty. I tried some of the Grand Marnier chicken, that was very good. I would recommend that over what I had, which was still good.
The Chapel in the Sky is in the same plaza at Cafe Mozart, people get married there and have wedding receptions in the restaurant. -
Review from Mike R.
San Juan Capistrano, CA
8/26/2010
This is my favorite nice restaurant for dining in downtown San Juan Capistrano.
My favorite menu items are classic German/Austrian fare: The Beef or Chicken Wellington, their Schnitzen and their Saurbrauten. All 3 are so good, I wish I could order all three every time I visit (and frequently work deals with the others I dine with to make this happen). Make sure to try their special mustard, too.
Their service is also tremendous, they make every effort to make their customers happy, going off menu, checking often - I can't say enough about their service - it's always been prompt and unbelievably polite. Believe it or not, they also can do take out! -
Review from Dan and Tif S.
San Marcos, CA
11/2/2008
Cafe Mozart is one of the most amazing restaurants in Orange County. Family owned and operated, they offer a great selection of masterfully prepared European cuisine. Chef Hans will prepare your entree single-handed, while his wife Carla specializes in desserts.
Set back from the road in the busy mission district of San Juan Capistrano, the restaurant offers a quiet, elegant setting perfect for a romantic evening. They have live piano music on the weekends, and the staff is extremely attentive and friendly. On a warm evening I like to dine outside on the patio while enjoying the music.
One of my favorite things about Cafe Mozart is the diversity of the menu. If you're in the mood for authentic German food, you can get a traditional meal like Jaeger Schnitzel or Saurbraten, and wash it down with an imported German beer. Or you can order up a steak on par with any high-end steakhouse and pair it with a great bottle of wine. For those interested in lighter fare, they also have a selection of fish, and I must mention that the rack of lamb is excellent.
Cafe Mozart also has some more unusual items -- alligator tail anyone? Try it and broaden your horizons, it's incredible. Come hungry and don't forget to save room for dessert!
Cafe Mozart hosts weddings and is sometimes closed to the public during these events. Call ahead to find out. -
Review from Jeff K.
more like a 2.5/5 stars.
i was expecting awesome service, sanitary utensils and delicious food after looking at the 3 $'s signs on yelp, however i was poorly mislead.
My gf and i came here during restaurant week on 5/21/2011 for lunch and was promptly seated because it was empty. it felt weird, but we got a whole room to ourselves. we felt like vips. :D however with most vips, they usually dine at clean restaurants, and it was not the case here. my gf's fork and spoon had left over food crud on it and our water glasses were dirty. not cool at all.
our male waiter was rude in the sense that he was very rushed and didn't take his time with us. however to his defense, they were getting ready for a wedding later that day, but still... i expect to be treated nicely if i'm going to be eating at your restaurant. we felt like he was trying to kick us out asap.
they also informed us that Sauerbraten was not included in the restaurant week menu (that was the main reason as to why we went in the first place). so we settled for the Schnitzel. their schnitzel looked like and tasted like country fried chicken you get from those tv dinners... i got the 1/2 ham sandwich and soup. their puree vegetable soup was actually pretty good. i was dipping the baked rolls into it.
after we were done with our food, my gf also got a chocolate cake to go with her schnitzel and salad. the chocolate cake was really good. flourless cake with a scoop of ice cream. check out my pictures to take a look at the beauty.
the decor on the inside is nothing to be proud of, however the outside water fountain does look nice. i don't see why this place is so popular for weddings... =/
to sum it up...
cons: bad service, mediocre entrees, dirty utensils and cups
pros: chocolate cake and soup. -
Review from Mucio V.
Laguna Beach, CA
3/14/2011
I loe the outdoor seating, the lunch menu with the sandwich and soup, it changes week to week. The service is good and this place just takes you to a different time with the plaza and fountain outside, its very spanish style then inside with the piano its got a stuffy, hotel ballroom vibe but in a good way. Beef Wellington is one to get here if youre going for dinner. Definitely worth a try but go with an open mind.
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Review from Aleli C.
Glendale, CA
8/24/2009
I got married here and not only was my wedding absolutely pleasant, the people who work here are even more kind and helpful than words can say.
Carla, Hans, and their wonderful staff made my wedding preparation an extremely smooth process right from the very beginning up until the very end of my reception. Hans cooked the most decadent food and Carla made for me the most beautiful and decadent wedding cake.
As for regular dining, this place never fails to impress me. The filet mignon is always magnificent as are the Chicken Grand Marnier and Australian lamb rack.
The atmosphere is extremely quaint. One can dine inside and listen to the astounding piano stylings of Arlene German, or sit outside in the brick patio to listen to the old tree leaves rustle and the water flow from the stone fountain.
I live in La Verne and would drive to this place as often as I can, despite the traffic I regularly encounter on the 5. I absolutely adore the place, the people, and the food, and I am sure you would do once you try Cafe Mozart. -
Review from Elle P.
Orange County, CA
12/12/2009
We had our Christmas party here!
For a little hole-in-the-wall, this place is beautiful! There was a Christmas tree and all these lovely decorations. AND THERE WAS A PIANO PLAYER! I felt like I was a part of a movie!
The owners opened it up on Sunday night for us, eventhough that night they were supposed to be closed. Very sweet of them.
The servers were all pleasant. They presented us with delicious 'hors d'oeuvre's! (Is it sad that I google'd that word??)
Anyways, for the main dish they gave us a chioce of Steak, Salmon, Chicken, and Vegetarian. They were all great! The potatoes on the side were to-die-for! Everyone was so impressed! And for dessert, I ordered this chocolate cake covered in ice cream! DELICIOUS!
Such a great experience altogether! If I could afford it, I would go more often! -
Review from Don B.
Tustin, CA
8/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
Definitely one of the hidden gems of Southern Orange County. I actually had my wedding reception here, so my review will be based on our reception, but I'll try to keep the focus on the food.
But I should mention that what initially drew us to Cafe Mozart was, in fact, the food -- but don't get me wrong, the venue was gorgeous. It was one of the last stops of a weekend where we visited several potential reception locations. We were tired and just wanted to get it over with. But as soon as we entered the courtyard, the smell of the food instantly woke us up. In less than a minute, it became one of our top choices. Without getting into the details, after our meeting with Carla and Hans, we put down our deposit later that night.
So on to the food. The appetizers were just amazing, especially the crab cakes. The appetizers at Cafe Mozart were better than the entrees at 90% of the weddings I've been to. As far as our entrees, the veal was perhaps one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. And I'm comparing this to the signature dishes at Ruth's Chris, Mastro's, Morton's, BOA, etc... It was cooked to absolute perfection. It just melted in your mouth. Several times, we had guests comment on how good the veal was. And several times, we caught people nibbling at every last bit of meat from the bones. Haha. And the potatoes au gratin were unlike any I've had before. Potatoes au gratin is a very common side at fine dining restaurants, and it's pretty much always good. But Hans brought it to another level. Although the down side is that no other restaurants ever compare, and we always end up being disappointed.
Now for the dessert. I'll have to apologize cuz the dessert isn't something that's on their regular menu. But Carla baked our wedding cake, and it was so good that people were stealing slices from unattended seats. She gave us a list of flavors to choose from, but we special requested a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. Once again, the bar has been raised. No other bakery has been able to match Carla's cake, whether in cake or cupcake form. That includes Sprinkles -- which is where we first tasted Red Velvet. Hans and Carla just somehow manage to make everything taste better.
My wife and I haven't been back to Cafe Mozart since our wedding. But that's because we decided to save Cafe Mozart for our Anniversaries. We've made it an annual tradition to have dinner at Cafe Mozart on our anniversary. Our 1-year anniversary is coming up in a few weeks. I can't wait! -
Review from Veronica A.
Laguna Niguel, CA
11/24/2009
went here not too long ago and thought at was just fine.
I went in with my mom and while the food was delicious, the service was very sub par. They were setting up for a wedding reception or something and there was only one guy there, i assume the owner, and while service wasn't horrible, it was lacking.
Pros
Grilled chicken sammy= yum
Butternut squash soup= a little sweet but yummy
salad= nice, fresh and the dressing is delicious
fruit= fresh and crisp, old and mushy
Cons
Service- like I said, not horrible but definitely lacking. -
Review from David A.
San Clemente, CA
1/21/2010
Went for lunch on one of our recent windy and wet days. The server was very friendly and attentive. The food was also really quite good. I had SAUERBRATEN that was very tasty. The only complain was that the spatzel was slightly under seasoned. Otherwise it was all very nice. Will definitely be back.
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Review from Amy B.
Los Angeles, CA
6/21/2010
Come Easter or Mother's Day, you will find my family at Cafe Mozart for brunch. I've always been limited to their holiday special menus, so I can't comment on their regular menu. I can always count on a great lamb or prime rib dish. The past time, I was adventurous and had a very good pork schnitzel. There are not a lot of places where you can find Austrian/German fare and their location is peaceful.
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Review from tina c.
Dana Point, CA
4/2/2010
Awesome place! It's been a long time since I had beef wellington. I was pleasantly surprise to see it on the menu and it was deeeeelish! Hubby had venison served with spaetzle and braised cabbage. That was totally yummo. The venison was perfectly cooked, tender, and had lots of flavors. For appetizers, we bread dumpling and escargot, both terrific. We also had this German white wine, surprisingly good. All their desserts are made fresh. We shared an apricot tart, so flakey and flavorful. It was served with creme anglais. One of the best dinners I've had in awhile. I can't wait to go back again.
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Review from Carl M.
Carson, CA
7/25/2010
As a disclaimer, they are a client of mine. That said, the cusine at Cafe Mozart is an absolute delight. I eat there roughly every two weeks. Never have been diappointed. Their fruit is always sweet and delicioius, the secret dressing that Chef Hans makes for the salad is divine, and the kitchen is about as clean as they come. If you want to try something different, affordable and delicious, visit them.
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Review from Michael M.
Los Angeles, CA
10/31/2009
The Mozart Cafe strikes that unique balance that a really good restaurant hits, upscale and yet comfortable.
The Chef/Owner, Hans, comes out and chats you up (maybe this is because the girl's parents are there at least twice a week). Hans makes traditional Swiss/German fair with a fancy flair and does continental cuisine like nobody's business.
A vast wine selection, full bar and a range of bad ass desserts make this a must visit.
I recommend the weinerschnitzel...gotta love the German version of chicken fried steak! -
Review from Ronaldo C.
Newport Beach, CA
3/1/2009
This restaurant is truly a gem hidden in our midst. You will be blown away by the food, atmosphere and service of this small but mighty restaurant. Austrian Chef Hans and his staff will treat you to what we think (and we dine out in the top Southern California restaurants three nights per week) is the BEST restaurant we have every had the pleasure to dine in.
Every time we talk to friends, family and even acquaintances we mention this restaurant. Fish, steak, unique dishes and an outstanding wine list with a full bar are some of the highlights. Give this place a try and you will know exactly what I mean. The choices below ask if this restaurant is casual, dress or formal...it is very elegant but we have gone there in jeans several times and felt very comfortable. -
Review from Brandon S.
Newport Beach, CA
1/12/2010
Lets face it here are not many places in the OC to dine on traditional European cuisine. Cafe Mozart serves a wonderful blend of some fine European style fare. The food tastes like it was created from grandmas old school recipes handed down through the generations. The atmosphere feels like a blend of European formal dining and grandmas house. It's not cheap but you'll be completely satisfied once you taste the food. The location is buried in downtown San Juan Cap; if it were located in a higher end area I am sure they would be more well known and certainly more popular. The chef has a great history of working at other fine establishments. Every time I dine at Cafe Mozart I feel like I've gone on a little European culinary vacation. Yes they also serve American staples like steak and crab cakes but if you're dining at a restaurant like this, shame on you for ordering anything but the unique items.....you can get steak anywhere. Where else are you going to find Sauerbraten, Jaeger Schnitzel, Beef Wellington with duck liver pate, Bavarian Bread Dumplings, Truffled Duck Liver Pâté, and Alligator Tail. Try it at least once so you can say you had something different. This is not a fast paced dining experience; be prepared to take your time and enjoy. Thanks for being there, Cafe Mozart.
