Editor Pick
Vienna Bistro
- January 23, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Wasatch from heber ctity, Utah
A second visit was as rewarding as our first. Service was prompt and efficient
Veal strips in cream sauce was terrific, except the veal was a bit tough, a common occurrence in
American restaurants. The cream sauce with mushrooms was a supurb accompaniment for the
veal and the side of Spaetzle. An excellent sweet and sour red cabbage also came with the meal.
($19.50).
Stewed ham hock with Spaetzel, one of the night’s specials was also impressive. A roast ham
hock was stewed in tomato, garlic and sage long enough for the meat to be almost falling off the
bone. This was one of those Austrian dishes that was unlike anything we had ever eaten before,
but so good you can only wonder why it is not on every menu. The sauce combined with the ham
to elevate both to a higher level of flavor. ($25).
The only culinary disappointment was that servings were so large that we had no room for
dessert. Since our first visit to the Vienna Bistro, we took a trip to Hungary and Austria, and
Chef Frody’s torte stands up to the best of the native creations. We decided that on our next
visit, we will order an appentizer or split one entree to have room for dessert. Two, if we’re
lucky.
I asked the waiter if they had Austrian dark beer. He assured us they did, so we ordered one. It
was German, and German and Austrian dark beers are not the same. The restaurant does have
Stiegle, a true Austrian light(regular) beer.
While the food is spot on Austrian, the same cannot be said for the ambiance, which is marred by
overly loud, bad pop music. Only the chairs convey any Austrian flare, so the music should be
zithers, accordions, and Schrammel violins, and at a reasonable volume.
Bottom line: other restaurant in Salt Lake City that are the quality peers of the Vienna Bistro
serve New American California Yuppie cuisine. You can get that anywhere, but a top notch
Austrian eatery is hard to find on this side of the Atlantic, so if you find yourself in need of food in
Salt Lake City and don’t mind bad music, head straight to 132 S Main St. The light rail goes right
by the front door and stops about a block away.
From journal Ski Salt Lake City