The Mozart House competes head to head with the more famous Chef Barnard's two doors down as the best German restaurant in Kimberley. Most folks say Mozart House has better schnitzel. Having not dined on schnitzel at Chef Barnard's, I can't say for sure, but I certainly HOPE this isn't the best schnitzel in Kimberley.
Before I continue with this insult, I should say that I absolutely ADORED this restaurant. It sits right on Kimberley's Plazl, and you can dine out on the pedestrian-only street, on the deck overlooking the street, or indoors (away from mosquitoes in summer and chilly wind and snow in winter.) The decor inside is dark and warm, with paintings of the namesake composer on the wall, and classical music drifting on the schniztel-scented air.
Mozart House has a clever menu, with most items carrying a three-course complimentary companion... The House Appetizer, which on my visit was an exquisitely decorative plate of canapes which where as divine on the palate as they were to the eye. Choice of soup or salad...my companions had the house salad (you can get Caesar, too!) with a Thai vinaigrette which was too spicy for them but FANTASTIC for my taste buds. I am a soup fan, and the awkward stumbling teenager who served as our waitress informed me that an old Hungarian lady makes their soups every day, so I chose soup. It was an astounding white bean soup that sent me through the roof. And dessert was promised to follow our choice of main course. All of this at no extra charge beyond menu prices.
Wow, huh? I was sipping a dark German draft and eagerly awaiting what I anticipated would be the best schnitzel of my life...Alpine Schnitzel with artichoke hearts and goat cheese ($19.99CAD). But it turned out to be disappointingly tough.
No big deal, the apple strudel served for dessert with ice cream made up for it.
Companions had BC Salmon en croute (yummy, at $19.99CAD), and Seafood Pasta (which was supposed to be salmon fillet, but the chef forgot his glasses and read the order wrong, so my friend got this house specialty at $24.99 for a lower price, and it was stellar!).
The chefs are a very old Bavarian couple. The place is authentic. The food is, overall, very impressive. The service from the young locals is sketchy at best, and the chef apparently forgets his glasses every night and messes up at least a few orders. But with the combination of the included extra courses, you end up getting a full gourmet meal for about $15US. Very impressive.
They have a nightly special for $9.99CAD which is usually sausage based. So you can eat for almost fast-food prices here, and the extra courses are usually included.
Three thumbs up!