Nestled amongst fine eateries and local providores at the leafy and laid back Griffith shops, at first glance the EU Café seems like a small room, quiet and empty. It is only when you venture inside that you realise that the cafe extends far beyond the initial room. I was immediately struck by the delightful smell emanating from the busy coffee machine, the vibrant decor featuring brocade black and white wallpaper and seat cushions, the range of daily newspapers hanging for a diner’s perusal and the sounds of the bustling kitchen behind the counter. The outdoor room, glistening with natural light on a spring day, is playing host to a few work lunches, as I’m seated on a corner table.
The EU Cafe menu, currently for all day breakfast and lunch, is a European inspired menu which evolves seasonally. With the variety of European cuisine the menu draws from, there is something to suit every taste. From light and fresh Mediterranean dishes to hearty Scandinavian fare, the menu is inspired by European diversity in a tasteful and purposeful manner.
The breakfast menu, a particular passion of the Head Chef, encompasses French and Italian omelettes, a hearty German farmer’s breakfast, good old eggs with a number of sides on Brasserie sourdough, as well as a bowl of coffee available with decadent pastry. The lunch menu is supplemented by a daily specials board showing the most seasonally relevant dishes, and a wine list with an even mix of imported and local wines.
Each dish seems well thought-out, incorporating elements of traditional European fare with what’s become a signature flair. My dining partner and I start with the fried quail with a fennel, apple and walnut salad finished with a raspberry vinaigrette ($18). The fried quail is full of intense spicy flavour from its seasoning, which is offset by the soothing clean flavours of the fennel and apple in the salad, and nicely finished off by the sweetness of the raspberry vinaigrette. Truly a delightful spring dish.
The calamari salad with smoked paprika dust, chorizo, roquette, manchego chesse and picada aioli is seafood at its best. The zing of the creamy picada aioli and smoked paprika takes you to the coast of Spain, where boring calamari and chips will not suffice. This dish has chutzpah.
Next we are treated to the barramundi fillets pan seared over a lemon, tomato, thyme, fennel and champagne risotto ($24) and the twice cooked chicken breast, Lyonnais potatoes, slow roasted tomato & thyme jus ($24) for our main course. The barramundi is crispy, cooked perfectly and the risotto is fluffy and subtly flavoured to match the fish exquisitely. The twice cooked chicken breast is succulent and beautifully infused with flavours from the jus, a hearty dish which transports me to a cooler European climate.
For dessert, we sample the sticky fig pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ($12) and the French lemon tart with cointreau ice cream ($13). The pudding is rich, gooey and sweet, and the lightness of the fig makes a nice change to the usual sticky date pudding. The French lemon tart is soft and tangy, and the cointreau ice-cream reinforced the citrus nature of the dish. As with every dish we sampled, the desserts illustrated the level of consideration regarding the fusion of flavours across the menu.
The dishes represent exceptional value and quality, and took me on an incredibly satisfying journey through Europe.
With its versatile space, impressive fare and charming location, I couldn’t recommend E.U Café more to those in search of indulgent, sunny brunches and lazy lunches in Canberra.
