Europa Bar & Cafe — Restaurant in Greensboro

I've been going here since I was in college about 10 years ago. I usually go with family, and it's not my first choice.

You're going here for the atmosphere of cigarette smoke and beer (which is kinda ruined due to construction) and not the food (which is mediocre, no relation to the construction).

Drinks: They dropped their best beers (Gaffel Kölsch and Red Oak) and mid-range bourbons (Bulleit and possibly Knob Creek, although I didn't ask for KC once the waitress told me they didn't have a decent bourbon selection) from the menu. If you're here to try a variety of ultra-hoppy or flavorless lagers from central Europe, you've hit the right spot. That's right, hoppy lagers, not ales.

Food: Their food is a "rotating menu", which means you're getting food on which the owners got a deal (not whatever is fresh in NC at the time). This might mean that one week you go in and have amazing veggie lasagna, and the next week it's a pile of mushy glop with cheese on top. Don't complain, though, or you'll be waiting a week for more water.

Some times you go in and ask for bruschetta and get bruschetta. Other times you get some stale bread with hard tomatoes and a "balsamic reduction" dripped on it. Again, don't complain.

You might also go expecting to get a steak cooked exactly the way you like. You will be disappointed, as it is difficult to get a steak cooked any way other than medium-rare. Granted, most people want this. However, those that like a little more firmness to their meat will be disappointed (even if your order steak on a salad). Expect to see some red on a well-done steak (if you're into that sort of thing). Don't say a word, just eat it, especially if you're thirsty.

Don't get me started on their meat blend for burgers. For years now they''ve been unaware that you need a decent fat ratio in ground beef to end up with a juicy, charred burger. Everybody likes a good char on the outside edges...a little crispy burnt piece to set off the flavor. You'll get char with char and you'll like it, here. Otherwise, your drinks won't be refilled.

Finally, Europa Bar's rotating menu means that most of their seafood isn't from the coast (only 4-5 hours away, c'mon) and is overly fishy (the mussels are a good example). People expressly search Google for mussels in GSO and this is the place that pops up. If you know shellfish, you'll immediately know you're in the wrong place upon smelling the dish as it's placed on your table.

If their shellfish IS in fact from the coast, their cooks have no idea how to deal with it. Mussels SHOULD be fishy. They shouldn't overpower the flavor of whatever sauce in which they're baked. If you're a half-decent cook, you know that you soak mussels before cooking them. This cleans them, makes sure they're still alive (so you don't get super sick), and minimizes the permeating fish flavor. This way the mussels stand out in the dish and you can experience a wide range of flavors as you eat.

If you're a great cook, you know to rotate the water in the soaking container before stewing mussels in tomatoes. I'm not sure this has ever been done at Bar Europa.

Basically, it's hit-and-miss here. It's a great spot in the early spring to go on Sunday morning for "hangover brunch". However, as a stable eatery it ranks a solid 2 out of 10.

Honestly, it deserves a 1 based on the last 3-4 years decline.

I gave it a 4/10- (2/5 stars) solely because they're trying so hard, and a lot of people that have never traveled or eaten well seem to really like it.

Personally, I think it's just a place to get drunk on $3-4 beers and eat...

I’ve come back to this place again and again for the patio and cozy atmosphere… but that’s pretty much all they have. The menu is sparse and… they really should just advertise as a mussels place, because that’s basically the only reason to go here besides it’s proximity to the tanger center. It seems as though once the tanger center opened, they began relying on that traffic alone to prop up the business. For instance, their Facebook hasn’t been updated since July 2020 (two years ago!). Because they have virtually disappeared off of the internet, I couldn’t find Europe’s current menu online. This lack of interaction with the local community reinforces my belief that they leach business off of the tanger center at the expense of their own quality and customer service. Back to the mussels… basically the only thing on the menu… if you want GOOD mussels, try Print Works Bistro on Green Valley Rd. It’s a little further from the tanger center, but their patio is far more elegant and their menu is extensive. All this and their mussels are still better than Europa. Europa is lazy with its menu, it’s quality of customer service, and it’s online presence, all because it is able to survive off the business overflowing from tanger. People leave hungry and Europa is right there. I firmly believe they would improve if they didn’t have Tanger propping them up. Examples: post your current menu online. Update your Facebook to reflect specials and menu updates. Expand your menu! If you’re only going to offer mussels and salad, then advertise as such (and make them better quality). Overall, don’t fall for how close it is to your venue. Venture outside of downtown. Avoid downtown’s tourist trap restaurants. The best restaurants in Greensboro are NOT downtown! Just do a quick google search...

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...