The food here is seriously next-level delicious. The visual environment complements the food perfectly. My choices had impressive flavor profiles. Their team provided top-notch assistance. All aspects of my visit were enjoyable. read more

Modern-looking Austrian cafe with a mix of classic cuisine and US influences. The interior is relatively spacious and there is outdoor seating too. I got the schnitzel which was a huge portion, but fairly expensive (around $30). Food was overall pretty decent, but nothing that really stood out. Unfortunately they also mixed up some of our orders, forgot to put in one of the dishes, and then there were errors on our bill which took a while to get fixed. read more

Cafe Katja - Wiener Schnitzel - German Near Me - New York, New York

A gem! I always see a ton of people sitting there during summer so thought I should give it a chance. They have terrific coffee (one of the best I've had), very friendly staff and lovely atmosphere. Would love to see more vegan items on the menu, especially desserts to go along with their excellent coffee. read more

Cafe Katja - Coffee and menu - German Near Me - New York, New York

Cafe Katja is an Austrian restaurant and bar that opened in Manhattan, New York in 2007. It was founded by business partners Erwin Schröttner and Andrew Chase. The two met when they both worked in the kitchen at Monkey Bar. Schröttner was raised in Austria and always complained that no one knew the correct technique for pouring the perfect draft beer. Eventually the duo decided to open their own Austrian restaurant. Schröttner named it Katja after one of his daughters. The menu features several staples that are often found in Austrian and German cuisine, such as Bavarian-style pretzels, liverwurst, beef gulasch, wiener schnitzel, bratwurst, and "Katja's Ruben" (made with pork belly, gruyere cheese, kraut and pickles). The restaurant, located in Manhattan's Lower East Side, has been voted one of the best in the area. I visited Cafe Katja for the first time recently. My wife and I had dinner plans at another restaurant with her parents. We arrived about an hour early, so we decided to walk around the area to see if we could get a pre-dinner cocktail at a wine bar or someplace similar. There are several restaurants and bars near the intersection of Broome and Orchard Streets. We saw Cafe Katja and decided to grab a table. Since this was the first official weekend of Oktoberfest, I decided to order a full stein of Hofbräu Dunkel and my father-in-law ordered a half liter of Radeberger Pilsner. My wife and mother-in-law both ordered Frozen Watermelon Margaritas. Everyone was really happy with their drink choices; they really hit the spot. Cafe Katja was a really nice space and I'd love to go back in the future to try out their food. read more

See all

We sat right away since we got there in the afternoon just to have some beverage. The servers were accommodating and it looked like there were three of them asking us what we needed. Now let's talk food. The charcuterie board were all meat based. My family enjoyed all of it .I had my share of toast and the cheese mousse and the pickled onions. The sampler platter was really good for four people if you just want to munch as opposed to the suggested two people. We had the espresso martini which was very light. Be ready to pay $$. It's a good place to come back to and relax. read more

See all

Cozy spot in LES! Between two people we shared the little gem salad and Emmentaler sausage, which came with cabbage and quark dumplings. The food was great, and I also really enjoyed the elderflower lemonade. Will definitely stop by to try their other dishes! read more

Cafe Katja - Little Gem Salad Dinner - German Near Me - New York, New York

See all

We attempted a meal of schnitzel at this restaurant due to above average reviews and reputation. Using the steep narrow stairs near the kitchen at the back of the inner building after we ordered was challenging, and I don't have any mobility issues or high heels. I could hear the cook pounding away preparing food, and yes, lower quality cuts do need tenderization on one way or another. I don't know if the owners/managers are the only Central Europeans who were involved in its actual product, but the schnitzel was as tough as shoe leather, impossible to cut, and inedible. My guest and I tried to fill up on the small boiled potatoes and tiny green salad alongside it, but the experience was so low level that we declined the waiters offer to take any of the food to go. He seemed nice enough and shared a joke about the whiskey bar across the street that we may want to fill in with. We visited early evening on a a weeknight, sat at an outside table, as the only other guests were a large group finishing up inside. I've eaten different types of schnitzels all over the US and Europe, and never had to give up on any until now. The Wren Pub was easily far superior. read more

I just recently traveled to Austria and once I realized there was an Austrian restaurant in my neighborhood that I've walked by thousands of times, I had to try it out! The schnitzel was definitely the best I've had in the US. It was perfectly coated and cooked and the well dressed salad on the side hit the spot. I sat at the bar alone and service was standard. I did opt to get a hot spiked cider which wasn't my favorite, so next time I'll stick to the beer. The lights were also fairly bright at 6:30/7pm on a Friday which definitely made the place feel more like a family affair type of spot. I might also be saying that as there were definitely a few families dining in that night. I'll definitely be back, great food! 4.4/5 read more

Cafe Katja - German Near Me - New York, New York

Best thing was the red cabbage salad! Spätzle was perfect. See pix of beautiful and perfectly cooked white asparagus. Good beer selection. Service was not bad - would like to do 4.5 if I could. read more

See all

Solid place for a delicious bite or just apple strudels and coffee/tea. They also have a really nice/sturdy outdoor setup with heaters and nice lighting. The music sets the mood as it is German or Austrian music from the 90s, according to my friend, and is different from most places. I've come here for dinner and for a quick afternoon snack. The meatball dish was tasty and portions big so I had lunch the next day. Apple strudel was also scrumptious and interesting with their grape ingredient! Served fresh, the pastry so crunchy and satisfying. Would definitely come back to try more dishes if I were in the area. read more

Cafe Katja - Austrian Meatballs - German Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Love it here. It's our go to local joint where you have great food, run into neighbors, make new friends at the bar... it's that kind of place. We usually start with a kale salad and ‍! This time we got the Rueben dinner, it's a huge portion but sooo very good! Definitely worth the fill. read more

See all

I can't believe I've never reviewed the delicacy's of this joint. I have been dining at Katja since 2014 whenever I'm in these neck of the woods and it has yet to disappoint. From their salty fish to spicy mustard you'll want it all in you mouth, trust. Overall no matter how far you are Katja is a must in you pit stop. read more

Cafe Katja - Blueberry pancakes, a tad too dry bacon (but it's bacon so yum:) and perfectly cooked salmon (medium) with deliciously crips potato's. - German Near Me - New York, New York

Lovely outdoor seating. Very friendly and helpful staff. The kale salad is really good and a large portion size. The homemade pate is really good, too. Definitely recommend. read more

Big portions, great wine, great service, and an amazing atmosphere (especially around Christmas). Some highlights for me are their burger, the red cabbage salad, the Austrian meatballs, the liverwurst and the sausage sampler, but honestly everything on the menu is good. Make sure to try some schnapps from their extensive collection after your meal. read more

Just got a few appetizers and drinks with a friend. I wish the pretzel came with cheese sauce. I think I'd like to come back to try an entree even though I wasn't a huge fan of the appetizers. read more

Cafe Katja - Potatoes and Buttered Spaetzle - German Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Just came for drinks before dinner somewhere else. It was a Thursday night and it wasn't too busy. It was so a nice night so we sat outside. We ordered the cucumber gimlet which was really tall refreshing and strong. We ordered 2 rounds. The staff was so nice and professional. I'd liked to go back for brunch or dinner. read more

Cafe Katja - Cucumber Gimlet - German Near Me - New York, New York

First time having German/Austrian food and I thought it was great! My friend and I shared a bunch of things just to try as much as we could. We started off with the Aufschnitt Teller, which is big plate of charcuterie. The meats along with the spreads and pickled veggies, was a great way to start the meal. Next we dug into the Fried Chicken Thighs, which came with mashed potatoes and a cabbage slaw. Overall, I thought everything on this plate was delicious. Finally, the Jagerschnitzle smothered in a wild mushroom sauce with spatzle and a small salad. I thought the schnitzle were kinda small but the mushroom sauce was so good and was so good with the spatzle. Overall, the meal was a bit heavy considering it was a lot of meat and fried stuff. Everything was delicious though and I'm really glad I got to try this place out! read more

See all

The food is amazing, great service and cold beer. Of you ever come here on spring/ summer order the white asparagus, they are to die for! read more

Cafe Katja - Love this place, a most every time we come to NyC! - German Near Me - New York, New York

See all

How I haven't written this yet I don't know. Cafe Katja is, hands-down, my favorite German restaurant this side of the Atlantic. And I make it a point to stop here at least once every trip to NYC. Highlights: authentic German cooking, good alcohol selection, relaxed atmoaphere even when booked, and if something goes wrong the great staff make it right! Cannot emphasize enough: order some sausage at least once! Bratwurst is over the moon, and the emmentaler suasage is excellent! Regular menu is complimented by seasonal special and dessert menus. read more

Cafe Katja - Apple - German Near Me - New York, New York

Saturday night is a noisy crowded place, shoulder to shoulder with other diners. While you can't dine off their dishes, you can eat from their conversations. And the food is filling. There's no delicate foamy faerie castles of food here. Bratwurst and sauerkraut- check Sauerbraten - check Mustardy bits and Liptauer (some sort of slim jim, yes good) - check Goulash - and dark tender version mit spaetzle - check Beers in all sizes , wee, mama and papa bear-- check It's all really good. Vienna in Soho, like one's grandmother will make, or a proper Wien chef. If you're angling for the desserts, plan up front as the 'full set' may make it hard to navigate the narrow tables and roll out the door. read more

See all

This is my favorite restaurant in the whole entire world. Felipe, Angel, Ming, Veronica, Santi, and Edwin are God sends. They make me feel welcome and the food is . Had my birthday here. Great vibe. Impeccable. read more

Cafe Katja - Bar - German Near Me - New York, New York

Really really happy to have found this spot tucked away on a quiet street block in LES. Loved the festive decor in the restaurant during the holiday season. Really solid European beer selection. All the classic German / Austrian dishes you would look for (schnitzel, stroganoff, pretzel, etc). The Spaetzl was amazing. A bit pricey , but in my opinion very much worth it. read more

Cafe Katja - German Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Nice Austrian place in Manhattan. Nice food, and great service. Would like to stress on the great service because the manager went on a limb to make sure someone in my group was accommodated for by going to another store to get ingredients owing to a friend's dietary restrictions. Tried the austrian meatballs, it was great and the roasted vegetables were perfection. Would definitely come again. read more

Cafe Katja - Austrian Meatball - German Near Me - New York, New York

A friend and I headed to Cafe Katja last night for our monthly ethnic dinner outing. I had been there twice already and knew that it was going to be an excellent dinner but I had the added pressure of hoping that my friend enjoyed it. The restaurant is cozy with pleasant lighting and decorations. The waitress got us seated right away (around 7pm on a Thursday) but the restaurant started to fill in soon thereafter. We selected the pretzel and charcuterie appetizers and asked the waitress for advice on one more choice. She suggested their red cabbage salad and it was a perfect accompaniment to the other appetizers, crisp and bright and perfect for cutting through the unctuous goodness on the table. My friend indicated that he usually didn't like liverwurst before asking to finish it off. I kept prattling on about the amazing texture they get in their liptauer cheese. (I've made it for years from the recipe I found on the internet and haven't approached the velvety smoothness) The blood and tongue sausage is 25% better than any I've had before and the other meats are show stoppers in their own right. The pretzel and bread are delicious vessels to transport the dips and meats into your gaping maw. We paired the appetizers with the small size Riegele beer and enjoyed it. We moved on to the main course and selected the Austrian Meatballs and Emmentaler sausage to share. The meatballs and sausage were perfectly tender and seasoned wonderfully. The quark dumplings are pillowy and take on a briny freshness from the quark. Each plate featured a creamy sauce that was decadent. Resist the temptation to discard the garnish, it's a reminder that great chefs make everything on the plate taste wonderful. Cabbage and parsnips don't usually taste this good. We paired dinner with the Spaten Optimator and enjoyed that as well. Quality atmosphere, excellent food, and an appropriately attentive and knowledgeable staff. Certainly a great place worth returning to. read more

See all

Very tasty. A bit on the expensive side (e.g. $4.50 for coffee) so best to go during brunch. The food is unique and presented beautifully. There is also outdoor seating on the sidewalk area with flowers. The waitor was very nice. I would come again! read more

Cafe Katja - Wiener schnitzel (veal) and behind is bernerwurst. - German Near Me - New York, New York

See all

My favorite restaurant in New York, still out of the way for me and I still make sure I go whenever I can. Great food and service!

The drinks here are great. Nice hangout place. So decided to come back to try their food. Got the big sandwich and the fried chicken. But was disappointed. The food is not as good as their drinks. Their pickled vegetable platter is good. read more

Cafe Katja - German Near Me - New York, New York

After living in New York for 11 years I finally visited Cafe Katja... Sat outside on a Sunday evening, the street was quiet and chill. Our waiter was cute and friendly. tried the Bratwurst - I'm just not a sausage person I guess, but I love the sauerkraut that came with it. Weiner Schnitzel - I'm a big schnizel fan, the buttered sauce came with it was so fatty but yummy with the schnitzel. (However for the crispiness I still love Shoo Shoo's Schnitzel more...oops) read more

See all

I was really expecting something special with four and a half stars but it was just ok. My friend had a burger with fries and I had the pretzel with spreads and Bremer Wurst with potato cucumber salad. For dessert we had apple strudel with whipped cream, coffee and tea. The burger looked really good, but you can get a burger anywhere, the pretzel was small and the wurst tasted like a regular hot dog, didn't taste the bacon or cheese sauce, the potato salad was good but not impressive. The strudel was also unimpressive and the whipped cream tasted like butter and had been whipped too much. There were no more than four distinctly German foods on the lunch menu, there are many more choices at dinner but unfortunately I could not go at dinner time. Don't know if it would make any difference. The service was pretty good except the waitress got us the wrong dessert, but we ate it anyway. The restaurant Is not accessible, the bathrooms are down a long flight of stairs, but they have an agreement with a restaurant down the block for patrons who can't walk on stairs to use their bathroom which is on the first floor. Cudos to them for that. read more

Five stars for friendly service and delicious pretzels. Came for dinner around 8:30pm on a weekend and there was plenty of seating, especially inside. The staff was very friendly and the ambiance was nice. Outdoor seating had cute string lights as decor. Food: - Pretzel, 5/5: Came piping hot and delicious! They give you horseradish mustard dip and some creamed butters in a dish, but honestly the pretzel alone was so good that I didn't need any of that. - Hickory Smoked Salmon, 4/5: I was pretty impressed with the salmon. I don't eat pork and I felt like sausages are the stars of Austrian cuisine so I didn't hold high hopes for salmon from an Austrian restaurant, but I was proven wrong! It was served on top of a bed of delicious greens, with a side of fried potatoes. read more

Cafe Katja - Hickory smoked salmon - German Near Me - New York, New York

Food is legit and yummmmm any meal, any dish. The space is open and warm. Service is friendly always. One of our favorites in the neighborhood. read more

Cafe Katja - German Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I've been to Austria. The food is better here at this restaurant. Best schnitzel I've ever had. Savored every last bite. Can't wait to come back. read more

What a hidden gem for lunch! Cozy little spot with huge meals - schnitzel and fried chicken sandwich were something else! Run don't walk - also, their pretzel condiments are simply delicious! Happy hour starts early - don't miss out on this spot! read more

I LOVE Cafe Katja and you will too. We came here on a Friday at 7:30pm. I arrived before my friend and was asked to wait at the bar, where I had the chance to meet the owner, Erwin Schröttner, who is so warm, funny, and engaging. Actually, most of the staff were amazing, which was really made the entire experience for us here (shout out to Naomi!) When my friend arrived, Erwin quickly suggested that we snag the best table in the house (a small booth-like high-top next to the bar/open kitchen). The table was a bit separated from the rest of the diners and gave us the sense we were having a private dining experience. We tried several of their Austrian wines and the Alter Zwetschke schnapps ($12). All of the wines are delicious (my favorite was the deep and fruity St Laurent, $52/bottle). The schnapps were very, very strong and take some getting used to. For food, I had the beef gulasch with a side of spätzle (beef stew with egg noodles, $24), which was sooo hearty and delicious. As for dessert, we ordered the elderflower yogurt ($9), which was sort of like a deconstructed parfait. I'm not used to having yogurt as a dessert, but it was actually very light and delicious. We enjoyed our experience here so much that we somehow spent 5 hours eating, drinking, and chatting up the wonderful owner and staff. During this time, we were also given a dessert and 2 additional glasses of red on the house. What a kind and thoughtful gesture! I seriously can't recommend this place highly enough. Go check it out. You can thank me later. read more

looking for a pretzel from Germany? I mean who isn't, but here's the thing. The pretzels here are literally flown in from Germany and heated to perfection on site. To use a technical term, Amazeballs For a place that packs a ton of seats into a small-ish space, Katja definitely has an intimate vibe going that I really appreciated. We found a few seats in our natural habitat (read: the bar) and settled in for a relaxing evening after a long day of brunching*. This was the perfect respite after such a day; chill bartenders and snacks to soak up a few of the countless mimosas we had had earlier...you know, while slowly sipping on a liter of German weissbier. To be fair, beer isn't really an alcoholic beverage in Germany, it's more of a staple food. I am, if nothing else, a fan of being culturally sensitive**. We grazed on a couple of pretzels (they are small, order one per person), and a plate of pickles that included some other pickled veggies like carrots - I would absolutely get this again and recommend you try it. Honestly, everything looked good, my only regret that day was coming here kinda full, I won't make that mistake again, promise. to recap; this place is pretty amazing, come for the pretzel, stay for the beer and other delicious foods - I will absolutely be back to try the bratwurst soon. _________ *It's a hard life, but someone has to do it. **...and I really really love German beer. read more

Cafe Katja - German Near Me - New York, New York

See all

We came to Cafe Katja for a late night bite. Fortunately, kitchen was able to take our order just before it closed. I had the jagerschnitzel. It was a thin grilled chicken smothered in gravy with pasta and salad. Super filling and a great compliment to the beverages I had been consuming throughout the evening. They had a nice selection of beers and Eastern European wines. read more

This is German food at its best. My friends and I did my favorite number: ordered a bunch of small and plates to share and have our fill of a variety of delicacies. The cheese plate was delicious, each item beautifully paired with the bread and jelly. Roasted veggies were fresh, cooked and seasoned perfectly. Crispy Swiss chard was also a good dish. The potato salad and spietzl were yummy, I've had better but can't complain too much. I of course had to order some bratwurst, because you can't go to a German place and not try their sausages. It was tasty and the mustard sauce complimented it well, though it lacked some umph... as in it doesn't stand out from those I've had elsewhere, but I still left no vestige of pork on my plate. The beer is most certainly approved, and I'm not generally a fan, so that's saying something! All in all, good times and full bellies. A nice spot to hang out and chat with friends downtown on a Friday night. read more

See all

Went here for a late night dinner with a friend and it didn't disappoint overall. We ordered the meat platter for two because, well, pork belly sausage and dumplings sounds like a very ideal dinner to me. Or any meal at that! The portions are more than enough for two as well and they come with this wooden jar of mustard. I found it odd they minded when my friend dipped his fork in this jar directly (do they reuse it)? Lol. I doubt this but either way, nothing to dwell on and they were very hospitable. 1. Dumplings- they were good. I'm going to be honest I'm not sure what was in them but I'm going to assume potatoes and possibly cheese haha. 2. Sausage- really good. Super juicy (okay, maybe not the right lingo for sausage) and filling as well. 3. Pork Belly- this is where the meal fell flat. Typically pork belly done right is melt in your mouth buttery goodness but this pork belly was really tough meat and had way too much fat on it (I get that it's pork belly, but there's a limit)! read more

Cafe Katja - Meat platter! Totally only for one person. - German Near Me - New York, New York

Loved the good food, awesome service, and warm atmosphere here! Had a reservation for weekend dinner and were seated immediately; the space is bigger than it looks from the outside. Rundown: - Cheese board: I think only one of the cheeses turned out to be actually Austrian/German, which is a shame, but they were all extremely good. The one Eastern European cheese was liptauer, made of sheep's milk and flavoured with plenty of paprika. It was my first time trying it (it's actually a cheese spread and goes extremely well with the bread provided) and it was delicious. Other cheeses were Purple Haze, which was a goat cheese, and manchego. Again, all very good, but it would've been even more memorable had they used the opportunity to showcase cheeses from the region. - Austrian meatballs: so tender you almost think you're eating a terrine. Really enjoyed these with the very light cream sauce they come sitting in. The potatoes on the side didn't impress though - tasted more like boxed than anything (they weren't actually, just tasted bland enough to be) - Wiener schnitzel: not tough or overly greasy/heavy like poorly done schnitzels are. Won't make you feel terrible afterwards, plus the potato wedges it comes with are also great. The cocktails weren't particularly notable, but still fine. Service was really lovely though, everyone was incredibly warm and helpful without being sycophantic. read more

See all

Ming, Edwin, and Angel made a birthday celebration at Cafe Katja feel like you were being taken care of by your own family. During an incredibly busy service, they greeted us, and right away, made us feel welcome. The ambience is one I can only describe as immaculate. Like you're in a small mountain village pub with only the locals. The food was generous in portion, timely, and delicious. I would recommend Cafe Katja to only my closest friends as it is one of NYCs best kept gems. read more

Cafe Katja - German Near Me - New York, New York