Cafe Katja Reviews

This is my moms account. She took me here when I was starving half to death. I cannot live on art alone in spite of what she might think. It was all worth it when I had these deeeelectible mini brats and spaetzel. My mom had a schnitzel the size and appearance of an elephant ear. She ate the whole thing so I guess it was good. I would have taken a picture but I'm not allowed to use electronics at the table. Uh oh. Here she comes! Bye. Eat here. Its good. Bye.

An evening of a birthday celebration at Cafe Katja. Ten guests were all seated in a cosy area of this restaurant and were soon attended to by the Manager & Waitress Naomi with our drinks order for all of us. Next to arrive was an assortment of appetizers ( White Asparagus Vinaigrette / Kale Salad / Croutons Jagerschnitzel. White Asparagus / Drawn Butter / New Potatoes. Baigels / Butter. Assorted Sausage and enough for all to have a good taste of each. Once we had managed to get through the appetizers we were then given some time to chat and enjoy more drinks. Time for main meal. Having had a good taste of appetizers there was not much room left for main meals, however our order was for the Meatballs / Mash & Gravy. Schnitzel Vienna. Schnitzel Jega. Chic Pea Stew. Katja Ruben all were generous portions. Overall a most enjoyable evening and the Owner / Restauranteur / Chef Erwin Schrottner visited our table on more than one occaision to ensure that al was well. Thank you Cafe Katja for a great evening in pleasant surroundings and ambience. For more information and insight google Cafe Katja Austrian Restaurant 79 Orchard Street New York. Gary Irlam. PS COVID restrictions are currently not applicable.

We came here for lunch before going to the tenement museum and had delicious food. I had Wiener schnitzel with cucumber potato salad and it was wonderful! The schnitzel practically took up the whole plate! I love the lower east side and having this restaurant part of it makes it that much more enjoyable.

Always a fave when heading to the lower east side - a gem on Orchard Street. Delicious, market driven food with an Austrian twist made to order. Something for everyone and including vegetarians. Totally downtown chill vibe with locals and tourists. Great food and amazing service. The owners are so nice and make sure everyone is happy.

Living so close and working in NYC, we go out to eat quite often. We like to go to different restaurants since there is never lack of new and different here, yet we find ourselves deciding to go back to Cafe Katja over and over. My review might be a little biased... growing up in a German household I do favor these foods from my childhood. That said though, the fact that I did grow up eating these foods and find Cafe Katja to be the best I've had in these parts does count for something. I think they are an Austrian restaurant, but I see it as German all the way, and unless you know some very specific differences of German vs. Austrian you'll probably call it German too. It's cozy and can get crowded, but the crowd is eclectic and had good energy. Go early if you want a table for dinner-We enjoy sitting at the bar and talking to the bartender. The waitstaff and bartender each time we've been there is friendly and we've hear them speaking German... even better! And yes we do eavesdrop and they haven't said anything bad about patrons! LOL German Beer and wine selection is very good. Check out their on-tap beers. They do have the basics like pretzels, but real specialties like their homemade liverwurst, wursts,and goulash are not to be missed. The spaetzle is authentic and tastes just like Meine Oma's! Bottom line- Friendly, nice atmosphere, great authentic food that won't drain your wallet. Not to be missed.

We ate here several years ago and were very impressed with the food and the quaint Austrian motif of the restaurant. We ate here again today and the food was outstanding. Every item we ordered was delicious. We highly recommend Cafe Katja!

I was looking quite a while to find this restaurant here on tripadvisor, because it is called "Cafe Katja" not only Katja. Anyway: As an Austrian who wanted to introduce a friend to our food this was a very good choice. The Wiener Schnitzel was very good, so was the Gulasch and the apple strudel. I personally missed at least one or two soups on the menu, since this is very typical Austrian - also in summer. Nice location in interesting neighbourhood Lower East Side. They also have a nice choice of Austrian wines. Prices are okay. room for improvement: the Austrian coffee called "Melange"... very nice staff... we will be back :-))

German food of the Austrian variety. Beer selection is good but not great for a good German restaurant. Wursts/Sausage plate was good quality and is recommended. German deserts were so so.

Had several traditional Austrian meals in this restaurant that's just a few doors from the Tenement Museum. There was a good selection of Austrian & German beers (of course), then we order some traditional means of goulash (excellent with the spatazle) and wiener schnitzel. The apple strudel we ordered for dessert was also very good. Despite being a very cramped floor space in one of the old buildings on Orchard Street, the service was also good.

We had a lovely meal, variety to suit us all. Service was great, staff very friendly & informative. Beer choices/glass sizes varied, wine list was excellent also.

I needed a place to have dinner for a party of 17 on a Saturday night in downtown Manhattan. A friend recommended Cafe Katia so I went there and met with Erwin, one of the owners. Loveliest person you met. Everything was NO PROBLEM, vegetarian options, no problem. Nothing was a problem! We decided on family style meal and we seriously got a family meal for clan... Appetizers alone took over all space on table. Great cabbage salad, delicious home make liver paté, home made warm pretzels and a huge plate of cold cuts. We also had the beet salad with goat cheese. Most people thought this was the main course! Then came the trout with greens, theSchnitzel, the sauerkraut with sausage and everyone's favorite, the Spätzle. It's austrian version of mac and cheese and onions . Desert was equally satisfying, you must order the Topfentorte. It's a bit like a cheese cake but better. Naomi the manager did not miss a beat and we felt super pampered and taken care off. Best service we had in Manhattan. Erwins partner Andrew introduced himself at the end, he actually helped serving the food and thanked us for coming. The place is not huge, and if you are a beer drinker, they have a big selection of outstanding brews.

We stopped in for lunch before our visit to the Tenement Museum. The food was tasty and the staff very friendly and accommodating. We became interested in the soccer game that was playing and lingered for quite some time after we finished lunch, but were never made to feel rushed, or as if we were in the way. We all enjoyed our experience here, and would gladly come back at any time!

Wish we had been hungrier! When we planned our itinerary to visit our NYC daughter, I chose Cafe Katja to visit after touring the Tenement Museum as it is nearby. We were not, however, as hungry as we thought we'd be by that point in the day. We rallied, however, to order some food anyway! Daughter had a cocktail that involved grapefruit juice and liquor and something pink or red - it was refreshing. Husband had a beer. He also had the liverwurst appetizer which was not like any liverwurst we've ever tried. It was more like a whipped pate and served with pickled veggies and toast points. Our daughter and I ordered a plate of the Austrian version of mac'n'cheese - the spaetzle w/ gruyere and butter - such a large plate that we each ate some and boxed the rest to go. We also shared an apple strudel which was perfect, just perfect with a generous amount of thick whipped cream - which looked at first like ice cream on the side of the strudel. Even being not so hungry, I could have eaten the strudel just myself. We looked longingly at the large plates of sausages, red cabbage, schnitzel, and more that we had thought we'd be trying that evening but alas, our lunch had been too large and too late. Would definitely return if we had the opportunity. Our daughter says she will now that she knows about it.

Restaurant was closed with no one in sight, at 1:30 pm on Thursday 2/17/22. Too bad your website and Trip Advisor said you were supposed to be open!!!! So frustrating

The waitress who serve me could’ve been more welcoming Even a bit of a smile would’ve been nice for being greeted by somewhat surly waitress did not help my mood. The major appointment would come with the food. I was really looking forward to having some schnitzel since my mother was from Slovakia and my father from Austria and I’ve had great schnitzel both in my native Australia, as well as Austria and Slovakia and it’s very hard if not impossible to find a restaurant that serves this in Los Angeles. Suffice to say I was incredibly disappointed. The veal assuming it was veal was very tough and overly thick schnitzel is supposed to be thinly pounded. It was also very, very salty. The best part of it was the potatoes and the lingonberries.

Since my German mother died, I have been longing for spaetzle, red cabbage, and sauerbraten. I wanted to head up to the upper east side but a friend suggested Katja. I am so pleased to have found this neighborhood gem. The food was authentic, tasty, and generous in portions. The wine was wonderful. The adorable servers indulged my attempts at childhood German and were as efficient and warm as could be. The sauerbraten was as good as I remembered, and the goulash was tasty with just the right touch of paprika. The spaetzle was just as it should be. A lovely touch of my Hungarian Oma's recipe. Thank you taking me back to my childhood!

My companion and I arrived at this restaurant with moderate hangovers. We were greeted by an extremely nice member of staff, who provided relaxed, friendly (but very efficient) service. The food was delicious, particularly the spätzle: the best you'll find this side of Salzburg. We passed on dessert as we were so full from the main courses, but were then treated to a complimentary shot of cinnamon schnapps, which rounded off our enjoyable experience. Many thanks to our server; unfortunately we didn't get her name. And well done to the chef: the food really was delicious, and beautifully presented.

Found this place when wandering around looking for a lunch spot. This place has tons of window seating with comfortable two and four person tables which get a decent amount of light. We had the burger with a really unique caramelized onion relish of sorts which was excellent and the brat which was also excellent.

We wandered in around lunch on a Sunday as we waited for a tour at the Tenement Museum. The server was nice and the food came out quickly. We recommend the homemade pretzel, the bacon and brunch dishes!

This is a late review (went to cafe Catja a few months back), however, my friends have visited the cafe since then and I believe my review to be true. This tiny Austrian place, which does not take reservations. The food is fantastic, the portions are definitely sharable. Fresh beer and inventive drinks. We have celebrated a birthday there and all of us left satisfied with service, food, and drinks! Definitely a cool place to hang out and enjoy some good food and liquor.

I've been to Cafe Katja numerous times inst the last several years and can say that absolutely nothing has not been rather great. Austrian meatballs are brilliant. The schnitzel is crisp and juicy. The seasonal specials are always special. The housemade sausages are always a great option. The only "negative" I can say is that there are not too many lighter options, but then again that's not why you should be eating there. Just try it - you won't be disappointed.

If you want a more authentic, less touristy place to get some German food in New York City, this is your place. Appetizer: Pretzel with butter and spicy mustard. The mustard will clear your nostrils, so don't eat too much. Drink: Hofbraeu. A darker kind of beer served in the traditional, Munich Hofbraeuhaus glass. Meal: Austrian meatballs with potatoes and carrots. The sauce was absolutely to die for, I was not expecting it to be this good. The vegetables were delicately cooked, some of the best I've had in a long time. Dessert: We didn't plan on dessert, but the waitress gave us some complimentary chocolate cake with whipped cream. We also had a Viennese Melange, because why not do it European? For two, we split an Austrian meatball and a Bratwurst platter and it was more than enough food. Overall, excellent experience and atmosphere. I will most certainly be coming back.

There are Austrian specialities, dishes between 15 and 35 euros. We had very delicious Spätzle for 25 euros and the burger for 23 euros. With delicious freshly tapped Austrian beer. If you have a longing for Austria in NYC, this is the place for you.

I can't say enough good things about Cafe Katja. The food is traditional enough so that its not off-putting, but there's nothing stale or boring in the presentation and atmosphere. Because they don't take reservations, there can be a wait to be seated, but the staff try very hard to set expectations and accommodate when able. The spaetzle is amazing as are the entrees and deserts. My favorite is the red cabbage salad, the meatballs and the cream cheese crepes with stewed cherries. Sounds kind of odd, but is delicious! I would characterize the crowd as relatively intelligent and slightly more successful hipsters.

Wonderfully authentic Austrian food, served with lots of (Mexican 😉) charm and enriched by the chef Erwin himself with exciting stories about life in the Lower East Side! Be sure to have Liptauer to start and apple strudel to finish!

Good drinks, menu is buildable on different sides without objection. I got a table right away. Great desert.

Nice asparagus menu,the best thing about spring time. A party of four had all different dishes and we're all happy! Nice German beer or wine to go with it.

Didn't have a reservation for a Saturday evening but got nice seats on the bar which were very comfortable for dining. Nice, setting authentic and tasty cuisine and very friendly staff.

This used to be a very cozy and reliable place. But since Cafe Katja expanded the quality control went to hell. The cheese platter, for example, used to be a very handsome array served on a wooden board. Now you get a few dollops of cheese on a standard white plate. There are a lot of good places in this neighborhood--I suggest going to a newer place that has something to prove rather than this place which is obviously resting on its laurels.

We had a group of 10 here and almost ordered everything on the menu to share. Most of the meals are eastern European cuisine, which means a lot of meats. I particularly loved the trout with spinach and grilled squash (instead of mashed potatoes). All the side dishes are delicious. The last but not least the service is impeccable. We will go back.

We toured the nearby Tenement Museum and were looking for ethnic food. This German restaurant had a nice variety. We shared the schnitzel, beef bulasch, bratwurst, and Bernero wurstel...along with some German beer. Very good food in relaxed setting. Pleasant service.

Sometimes, I do not like to review a restaurant that is my go-to or a great secret. After going around to galleries and the New Museum on a Sunday, I always end my day at Cafe Katja. In fact, it keeps me going! It is a neighborhood gem, and I am never disappointed. Besides excellent food for a great price, the service, atmosphere, decor and mixed crowd--i.e., students, families and couples--could not be better. Even when packed, you don't have to scream at each other to talk. Authentic, the real deal. Excellent wine and beer selection. I especially like the roasted beets salad or red cabbage, followed by wiener schnitzel.

Cafe Katja is small Austrian/German restaurant in the Lower East Side with a lot of gemuetlichkeit. I lived in Germany for several years and also visited Austria on multiple occasions and I must admit the food is very authentic and high quality. There are good German and Austrian beers on tap and there is a very extensive Schnapps menu if you want a post-meal digestif. Unfortunately, while I would give this place 5 stars based on food and atmosphere alone, the service and seating system really drags the place down. There is a decent sized bar where you can also eat food, but only a few tables available for walk-ins. You can only make a reservation for a party of 6 or more. I arrived earlier than the rest of my party, who were stuck in traffic. The host refused to let me hold a table for them and then gave a recently free table to someone who arrived more than 20 minutes after me (my party arrived less than 5 minutes after that). They did not have a real waiting list and they don't give priority to anyone based on the time of arrival, just on the size of party when you show up at the door - be warned. We were seated at the bar, which was uncomfortable for a full dinner with several people. The waiter/bartender was very slow to attend to us and we would have to get his attention repeatedly. It seemed like he forgot about us. This place is maybe too popular for its own good and should expand a bit, or at least get a better reservation/hosting system and more capable waitstaff.

Great service, very friendly staff ! Excellent food with quite an authentic selection of Bavarian dishes. Andrew is super nice and we really enjoyed the entire meal !

Near the Tenement Museum Noisy & popular at night. Tasty wintry salads and heavy main courses. Attractive brick walls. Enormous beers appeared to be at every table.

Recommended by a staff member from the Tennament Museum a few doors down. The Beer was good, but the food, well a little bland. I have had the pleasure for visiting Austria and this was not Austrian food at it's best. Nice place and good service & not expensive for NY.

We searched out this restaurant on a recent visit to New York with our grand daughters because one was named Katja. It turned out to be so much more than a photo op of her by a sign. Andrew the co-owner happened to be our first contact and he mesmerized us with his kindness and genuine approach to being the perfect host. He talked with us about the name and helped the girls decide between to Austrian drinks. He then found us a table by the front window where we could watch everyday life pass by in front of us on this narrow city street. Andrew then took time to not only describe the menu but help guide us to what we might prefer to try. He hit each order dead on to each one in our party's taste. This made the tasting experience a huge success. Afterwards he came back and told us to write and he would get Katja a t-shirt when a new shipment arrived. One last courtesy before we left he came out onto the street and posed with us in front of the sign for a picture. Andrew you made a lasting impression on all of us and we will return when we visit NYC again.

Recommended by the Tenement Museum staff and thank you to them! The food was really good, the wait staff was warm and friendly, the restaurant just the right level of noise and light. Friend had the duck and she raved about it for the next three days. I had bratwurst and sauerkraut with a side of spaetzle. OK - the spaetzle was just ok but that's because it was spaetzle. My husband really likes it and makes it occasionally, I wanted to try it somewhere else to see if it was him or the dish - it's the spaetzle!

We found Cafe Katja by accident. We were only going to get a cup of coffee but ended up get a great meal! The whole menu looked awesome. We had the brat and sauerkraut and some dessert. We also had the cured meat appetizer. The server was so pleasant! Loved the atmosphere! Great find!!

I am generally not a big fan of Austrian food in Austria; it is too heavy. At Katje's they have found the right balance - authentic dishes and a lighter touch including fabulous salads. IN the late spring and summer they have white asparagus easily rivaling those in Germany and Austria. It is a small menu and it's all one needs. Great but small beer selection. Very reasonable prices

Nice stop on a long hot day. The food is nothing out of this world but it hits the spot quite nice! What I can say is that the service staff is friendly and quick to respond. Perfect for a lunch break.

I have eaten in this restaurant 4 previous times and it was good. Tonight however it was very bad. We came to the restaurant at 10:30 pm and it was almost empty, 90% of the tables were available. They would not permit my wife and I to sit at a small table for four, instead we sat a very small table for two. That's when I should have left ! I had my appetite set on the sausage appetizer, it's been replaced with a appetizer for two for $40.00. They would not be flexible at all, I asked several times if they would make a smaller plate for me, the answer was NO! I then had to settle for the weiner schnitzel . It came out in just minutes, which meant it was already prepared and heated up. Very dry and un-flavorful and expensive . The white wine selection was so small and the glass of wine was very expensive and not very good. We have been in NYC for five nights and this was the worst meal we have had to deal with and it cost a lot of money for poor quality. I will not dine here again nor recommend it to anyone! Don't waste a meal in a city filled with great restaurants!

While looking for a place to enjoy some nice weather out door dining on a Saturday night, stumbled on Cafe Katja. The staff was extremely accommodating and very friendly. The menu has a lot to offer and the food was very good. Enjoyed our dinner and stayed for drinks. Highly recommend.

We dinned here before the theater with our daughter and had a wonderful meal. Our server was very warm and attentive. The pretzel appetizer was the best pretzel we've ever eaten. My husband and daughter ordered the weiner schnitzel and they order it at most any restaurant that serves it and it was the best they have had. They have high standards for it having traveled in Germany and Austria. The ambience of the restaurant was very nice and cozy. We will definitely be back anytime we are in NYC!

We had a late dinner here, it was just ok, the staff were very friendly, we had meatballs, red cabbage and some beers, just ok.

We love coming here for food and ambience. It’s been one of our favorite places for over a decade. The Austrian meatballs are light and flavorful along with creamy mashed potatoes and root vegetables. The other dish was bratwurst and sauerkraut. We also ordered a salad of cabbage, apples, and lingonberries. Delicious. Many beers to choose from. My only complaint is that a once reasonably priced bistro has now become much more expensive. It’s still wonderful and I continue to recommend it to friends!

Totally authentic as my Austrian girl would tell you. Amazing food. Everything we had was great. Goulash, Schnitzel, Spaetzle, root vegetables dessert, w8ne!!! Make is a point to get there!

A quaint Austrian Restaurant owned by Erwin Schrottner as Chef and with a business partner. The locality is in downtown Manhatten and in a relatively quite street with other business' and residentia above The many Austrian Meals on offer were very tasteful in that we got a portion of some of the finest Starter meals and also able to taste a variety of the Main meals on offer. There is a vast selection of beer on offer and on tap The Restaurant Manager Naiomi was most and very pleasant and always polite and respectful and concerned about each meal served We had some of the recommended dishes and were more than surprised by the tastes of each meal The owner himself took the time to come to the table and enquire as to our comfort and liking of the meals. The seating area is divided into sections and also had opening onto the street as well as seating on the kerbside area. Has a nice sized Bar Area and the lighting is low and very pleasant with a very nice atmosphere and ambience. Thanks for a great evening with a very good meal.

Popped in after arriving into New York. It was a short walk from the apartment and recommended by our host. Its a casual bar and restaurant with outdoor seating which serves a range of Austrian food. We just had drinks here as Austrian food isn’t our thing but its a relaxing place to chill out and people watch down Orchard Street. The restaurant was clearly popular and by the time we left at 7pm it was nearly full. We’d certainly go back for drinks again.

Followed Trip advisor reviews and four of us went for lunch. Austrian food when we asked. We shared the cabbage salad appetizer-dressing was fantastic, server said loganberry was the secret ingredient. Three of us had the beef goulash with spatzel, one had the burger with cheese melted over the caramelized onions. We all thought excellent.

When the weather gets cold this is where we always head for warm, comforting, and delicious food. The Austrian meatballs are a favorite -light and delicately flavored, surrounded by creamy mashed potatoes and baked root vegetables. My husband likes Knockwurst with sauerkraut and a tall mug of porter. The atmosphere is woodsy and intimate with low lighting and understated elegance. The waitstaff is very friendly and helpful. The only downside is that what once was an inexpensive restaurant now costs quite a bit more, to be expected these days, but still…..

Heard nothing but great things about Cafe Katja and the information was all true. Great pretzel, great cheese blintzes, great goulash and great strudel. Not sure what else I could have ask for. Excellent service as well!

I was solo in NYC and staying around the corner from all the restaurants and bars on Orchard Street on the Lower East Side. I checked out ratings and reviews of the restaurants and stopped my search when I read about Cafe Katja. I love Austria and authentic Austrian food and wine, so I wandered over to see if I could get a table for one. They were moderately busy because it was a Sunday night, so I was seated quickly. The hostess was very nice and sounded amazed when I said I have travelled to Austria 6 times and loved the country, the food, and the people. The staff were attentive and friendly, and the Gruner Veltliner wine choices were reasonably priced, if not very broad. However, the star of the show was the food. The pretzel appetizer with seasoned butter and soft cheese melted in my mouth and transported me back to a lunch I had in a mountain hut after a hike in Alpine meadows outside Salzburg, and the Weiner Schnitzel with lingonberry sauce was as good as any I had in Vienna.

One of the best goulash an Wiener schnitzel I’ve ever eat! Really nice place and people are very kind with ours sons

A great place to hang out. Loved their salad and pork belly sandwich! Service was a little slow, but they made up for it with good service. Would go back again to try other things in their menu!

The most beautiful, quaint Austrian restaurant I've been to this side....food is unbelievable. Service is perfect. I come here again and again. Great Stiegl on tap for those of us who have lived in Salzburg....This place cannot be beat. Come early for a good table or you'll wait. We've learned! A wonderful night out!

After a nearby event, we stopped by for an early dinner at Cafe Katja. I have been looking for the best German restaurants during Oktoberfest period this year. After some serious research, the best of the best German places in NYC, Cafe Katja kept on coming up as a great stellar and high-rated spot. When I think of great German food and beer, I do not think of the Lower East Side. The LES has an amazing breadth of restaurants with a more relaxed vibe compared to other Manhattan neighborhoods. For reference after eating at Cafe Katja, I would rank Cafe Katja in my top three for German food in NYC with Bier International in Harlem and Radegast in Williamsburg, Brooklyn all for me in the top three. With Oktoberfest from last week until early October, there are plenty of beer festival type of events but it is good to have great food and great drinks. Any excuse to have some to have some large beer and weiner shnitzel is worth it. To start, we had to enjoy a half liter hefe-weiss from Paulander ($8). It has a classic wheat, round body, crisp and refreshing. It was silky smooth, light but flavorful. We paired the beer with a pretzel with spread ($4.50). The spread was with real butter. The butter was so rich. For our meal, we went with the assorted sausages for two. This is $20 each so it is a little pricey but it is plenty filling. We ended up taking some home. For service and overall experience, our waitress, Kailee (not sure of the spelling of her name), was very helpful, knowledgeable and cheerful. The tables are very close but it's a restaurant in lower Manhattan. Every place in this area is tight. Finally, next year Cafe Katja will be around for ten years and I look forward to coming back for brunch. Thank you making great real deal German food in NYC.

Table of 15, including 2 grandparents and 4 kids. Food, service, location couldn’t have been better. We ate and drank and laughed. Great times!

What a great little gem of a restaurant! Stopped in here for lunch after touring the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, which is just a few doors down the street. I ordered beef goulash with spaetzle, my friend had bratwurst with sauerkraut. We both had a side of cucumber potato salad. Yum to everything! The server was friendly and service was swift. The wines are all from Austria, which is not familiar territory, so we asked for a recommendation for a white for a couple of Californian Chardonnay snobs. The selection was perfect and went well with our food. We definitely will go back for more next time we are in NYC.

LOVED this place! everyone here was super friendly. great laid back environment. excellent selection of beers and yummy looking cocktails although i didn't get to try them. the beers also come in a variety of sizes so if you're a whimpy girl like me you don't have order the huge stein. we had some sort of house special which is a wheat beer mixed with lemon, it was so yummy kind of tasted like candy! food was sooo delicious. the pretzels with mustard were piping hot out of the oven and soft. we had the sausage sampler for 2 which was really yummy, came with dumplings and heaping plate of sauercraut which was all very tasty. the winner of the night though was the salmon which had a smoky taste and was paired perfectly with creamy mashed potatoes and delicious sauted kale. will definitely be going back!

We went to Cafe Katja for some good German / Austrian / Hungarian food. When we arrived we were promptly greeted and seated. We ordered some of their Pilsner beer which can come in a huge stein. The beer was nice and light. For appetizer we shared the cold cuts plate which came with also some excellent paprika cheese and toast. It was really large and delicious. We then ordered the Goulash and Spatzle. The goulash was fork tender and was in very thick paprika sauce. The spatzle were the boiled kind (not the fried) which we prefer and was able to soak up the sauce. The portion was good but not huge. Service was not only attentive but was super friendly and the entire staff was very concerned in providing excellent service. 5* well deserved.

Recommended by an employee at the tenement museum for lunch. Very bland food. $50 for a lunch for two, walked away feeling slighted. Will not return and do not recommend.

My partner and I had been checking this place out for a few days, it was always busy and we were just staying across the road from the restaurant on holiday. We were walk in's at about 10:30pm. The lovely waitress greeted us found us a table with no dramas. The food was just amazon, to die for!! Cocktails were yummy and i was completely satisfied!

Who wants to taste traditional austrian food is at the right place, from schnitzel to gulasch and topfenpalatschinken.

Great place, great food. Our large group tried several different items on the menu and all were really good. Must give an A++ rating on the Goulash. Best gravy and spatezle ever. Desserts were also amazing. Especially loved the chocolate cake. Staff was very attentive. Can't say enough good about Katja. Will definitely be back.

Stumbled upon this great little place whilst searching for food on the way to watching the Brooklyn Bridge fireworks for the 4th July. Turned out to be a real highlight. Great food, great beer, great staff, great music great atmosphere.

We enjoyed a delicious meal (the cucumber potato salad!!) and a lovely atmosphere! Wonderful experience!

Wow, this is a small little place but the food and service was impeccable!! Everything was fresh, presentation was superb!! Will definitely go back. This was a great little gem nestled in all the Italian and Chinese restaurants on the lower east side! Meat dishes were tender and cooked to perfection. Spaetzle was delicious, liverwerst was homemade. Goulash was excellent. Go early though if you want a table!

A fairly limited menu but what there is is Choice. Service was attentive, the atmosphere casual and the food delicious. Austrian/German Comfort food that will please everyone

We were welcomed in as if we were arriving home from a long journey. The owner and his great staff gave incredible service. The food was amazing and the ambiance relaxing but energetic! We will definitely be going back. Thank you for the great time.

This is a great neighborhood gem with a great selection of beers and Austrian fare. I would highly recommend their sampler with pork belly, different types of sausages and dumplings on a bed of sauerkraut. This is the best dish to share with 3 to 4 people. The schnitzel is also a solid selection. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone in the area!

The food, the service, the people, you feel like in Europe. Simply the best! You must come and try this place.

We had a great night at Katja. It was great to read an interesting menu. The food was generous and delicious, and the service was warm and attentive. We'd really recommend this place.

This is a great little cafe with tasty food and friendly staff. We had the spargle ( seasonal speciality) and the schnitzel. Buzzy atmosphere and very nice riesling available by the glass. A very enjoyable meal.

Small restaurant on Orchard Street in the now very hip Lower East Side of New York.There is a very active bar scene in the middle of the restaurant and tables, well spaced, all around. Our wait person was most pleasant and efficient, providing wonderful service. We split 2 appetizers among the three of us. One was a delicious beet salad with goat cheese. The other was an excellent marinated herring with cucumber-potato salad in a mustard sour cream. For entrees we ordered the Austrian meat balls with roasted vegetables, wiener schnitzel and the buckwheat spaetzel special. Everything was delicious and the portions very generous. We finished off with a delectable chocolate cake that the three of us split since we were so full but had to sample something sweet to end the meal. This was a real find and we all agreed we will put this on our list of places to return.

Warm, cozy, Austrian restaurant with a neat bar. If you are a meat eater who likes different kinds of sausage? You will love this place. The service is good, the food is delicious, and the wine/beer is reasonable. Open kitchen which is nice so you can see your food being prepared. Not pricey by NYC standards and a true “different experience”. Well worth going.

Slow service ,menu outdated due to items no longer served. Leak in the ceiling is not cute,and dripping on the table is not cute.

We went to this Cafe after touring at the Tenement Museum down the block. We had just done the German tour at the museum, and were excited to have German / Bavarian food! The waiter was wonderful and lots of fun. He gave us good advice about the beers to try and the food options. Our pretzels were great and the heirloom tomatoes with mozarella were wonderful! When it came to the main courses though, things fell through the floor, unfortunately. Two of us had the veal schnitzel... which was so badly overcooked it could have been a frisbee... not good! They even served it with a giant steak knife, so I guess this is the way they normally serve it. What a shame to ruin such a wonderful dish. One of us had the potatoes and the other the spatzel, both of which were good. The bratwurst was also very badly overcooked. It was dry and almost mealy because it had been overdone. The sauerkraut was wonderful, though! The best dish was the fried chicken thighs, which were at least juicy and didn't require a steak knife to cut them!! We shared an apple strudel for dessert, and it was lovely. Overall though, with a bill of over $200 for four, with three of the meals being almost inedible, we were disappointed.

On a rainy Sat. noon time we stopped in for lunch. Even though they were full we decided to stay instead of moving on in the pouring rain. This was a very good decision. Eventually we decided to eat at the bar, which was cozy and relatively comfortable. The service here is very friendly and efficient. The food is delicious. Bavarian style food and beers are the highlight. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and location (NYC). I imagine that their dinners are equally wonderful. I would eat here again anytime.

Great wood clad cafe right down the block from the Tenement Museum perfect for a late lunch waiting for a tour to begin. Kind and patient waitress helped us make selections of beet salad, warm white asparagus salad (special of the day) and schnitzel sandwich for late lunch accompanied with appropriate Maibock. The special was generously served and so tender for Asp spears half the thickness of a broomstick! Perfectly balanced with lemon dressing. Our dessert was a perfect liquid end to our meal. The walnut schnapps recommendation made our afternoon. Just sweet and potent enough to cap our lunch make us smile out the door. Will return for another meal if given the chance.

I came to Cafe Katja for brunch. They serve authentic Austrian food, which is close enough to my German home cuisine, so I thought I'd give it a try. Their food is truly amazing, very fresh and tasty. I cannot recommend Cafe Katja enough.

looking for that different experience,Cafe Katja will delight,small,intimate setting serving Austrian food, great bar with a good Beer selection,friendly staff that can make youe evening

I've spent a fair amount of time in Germany and have a fondness for this kind of food. Despite the wealth of authentic Chinese food around, I decided I was in the mood for this. I had a Grüner Veltliner (an Austrian wine), and I ordered some meatballs (served in a cream sauce w/ a potato puree) with sides of spaetzle (I gotta have my meatballs w/ spaetzle) and creamed spinach. Everything was delicious. This is stick-to-your-ribs kind of food, so you have to be in the mood for that, but it defiantly hit the spot.

Gotta tip from a young woman on the street. Said it was her fave in the area. Austrian. So we checked it out. Hmm..Menu seemed reasonable, nice clean decor. We had a Veal Schnitzle platter, [salad and potatoes] and a bratwurst with spaetzele [sp], adding a side order of roasted root veg, I had a glass of wine. Varied age group. Generous servings. Lavs downstairs, very steep.. Quite crowded, and became too noisy for us.... But I think its a great place. Varied age group.

This restaurant is LOUD! And cheezy music comes from the speakers which doesn't help the level of noise. We were all very happy with our food and the white wine recommended by our lovely waitress but I wouldn't go back unless they change the music which woud also help towards a nicer ambience.

Nice place located in downtown with good food and very good service. Also very convenient bar with a lot of beer and wine. I think this is one of few places where you can have white asparagus while it's season is here. And Asparagus and wiener schnitzel makes a perfect pair. Wine and beer lis is good. Staff is very friendle and helpful. Nice to come here again.

We wanted to sit and have a snack and some drinks, so we popped into this restaurant on a Saturday afternoon while walking around the neighborhood. We had a platter of cured meats and a pretzel. The pretzel was good but nothing unique. The cured meats were very good and flavorful. Again, nothing too amazing, but solid and tasty. It came with a generous amount of toast, which the server also offered to refill, though we had plenty. I enjoyed a cocktail and my husband had two glasses of wine, both lovely rieslings. The service was not overly friendly, but we felt welcome and attended to. The main dishes we saw going to other tables looked tasty and I was wishing we would have time to return on our trip, but we did enjoy what we saw of Katja.

Very friendly and warm environment, especially on a bitterly cold NY day...interesting menu selection, and convenient to LES places to visit and shop.

I love visiting to Austria - and it was such a pleasant surprise to find this restaurant (a friend suggested we go there). Food, service, Austrian wines and beer - like another visit to that country, without going to the airport.

Close to the Tenement museum so we went for lunch. Loved the setting in an old building. Food was very good--lots of old country sausage and potato salad

Dinner on a Friday night; bar seats, great fun and great food! Three of us walked in to "wait at the bar" and never left (well, we went home after a super meal). Service is helpful, thorough and attentive even though Katja was packed. Great appetizers; homemade liverwurst and brown bread and berry jam was amazing. Entrees were big, the Wiener Schnitzel was crisp and spaetzle yummy. Nice small salads with good house dressing. Extensive beer and wine lists with emphasis on Austrian brews, wines. Check their website for prices, we thought very reasonable. Definitely a return-to place.

Our dining experience was a little different as we were celebrating 2 birthdays and had a large group. Our point person worked with the restaurant to do a family style feast and it did not disappoint. One item was better than the next. The only regret is that everyone wanted to keep eating more but couldn’t because they just kept bringing food!! I realize that a regular dining experience there isn’t as opulent, but I’d go back simply because the food was so good.

We were touring the city with some international visitors and decided to stop for a break. We had beer and wine and ordered several appetizers including the pretzels. Everything was very good and our visitors (from Germany) were very pleased with the German style food.

Amazing German food! Enjoyable service and pleasant atmosphere (candles on the tables... I really love them at night). I ordered Emmentaler sausage with savoy cabbage and quark dumplings. Truly delicious! I actually loved this place and I'll come back when I'm in NYC.

We had a very enjoyable late light lunch at Katja on the Sunday of the Memorial Weekend. On the plus side, the menu is not large, but everything on it is well prepared and seriously appetising: my daughter described the French Toast as "to die for". The surroundings are interesting and the service helpful and prompt. On the downside, watch the stairs going down to the Restrooms - they are steep! But, all in all, a very different experience - recommended

We stopped here after the Tenement Museum for a light lunch - what a great find! Service and the food were outstanding. I had the Aufschnitt (a charcuterie board that featured amazing liver pate and Liptauer cheese). My husband had a duck leg confit served on a crispy potato pancake with egg and hollandaise sauce that was also excellent. They have a nice selection of traditional and craft cocktails, as well as European beers on tap. Warm ambience completes the experience. Highly recommend!

Needed a quick lunch on a Sunday afternoon before visiting the Tenement Museum. Service ok, could of been faster. One us had blintzes. They were light and airy. Not like Mom’s but still good. The other had a burger. It was thick and juicy. The roll was too thick and dry. Price was right. Staff was friendly.

This Austrian/German eclectic cuisine is great for a night when you are famished. Absolutely loved the meatballs! The dish itself is a standout. The schnitzel was also very tasty. The sausage assortment was a wonderful group plate. The beer and wine selection is good. Loved the cozy atmosphere and our waiter was fantastic. A great place for a quiet night with friends or family. + make a reservation if possible, they were quite busy.

We decided to give Cafe Katja a try for lunch, even though it was empty, and are we glad we did! Delicious red cabbage salad, herring salad, goulash, bratwurst and spaetzle. Lovely selection of German wines and beers by the bottle and the glass. We will be back!

Dropped in with friends for brunch, and lovely service, superb food, massive portions, really flavourful and sauerkraut as good as my Mother's.

The food was fresh and unique and the restaurant has a nice cozy atmosphere. Both my husband and I enjoyed our meals, although we could barely finish them, and every plate we saw go by to other tables looked absolutely delicious as well. There are so many places to try on the Lower East Side, but this one was definitely worth a trip. We also happened to be sitting next to a German couple and they seemed delighted with their meal as well. If you like German food, it's definitely worth visiting this place!

I went to Cafe Katja because a friend had recommended their food. When we got their, it was a very small and cozy place, but the cafe was full and we had to wait for approximately 45 minutes. That is when I knew that this place must be pretty good. The food was excellent and the staff was extremely friendly. Its an Austrian place with great food, beer, and wine. I highly recommend the liverwurst, and the pretzel with butter and cheese. This place was great and I will definitely be back on my next visit to NYC.

Being a group of 7, we had a harder time finding a place that could sit us all, with no reservations and a Friday night in NY, almost mission impossible, not if you're into Katja. They have gigantic beers for the men who want to take on a challenge, they have delicious and carefully prepped bar bites and more elaborate dinner choices. I personally loved the wine, my friends went for some subtle cocktails and no it's not the cheapest place, but it's honest servers, you don't have to scream to hear each other talking, the music is perfect for the setting and on a hot (August) and humid night, their windows are open and you're just people watching. Also, I'm a smoker and they had a nice little bench outside where we could just hang and not being chased away.

I have been to Cafe Katja on numerous occasions and each time I have found the food and wine to be quite good and accompanied by great service. Over the summer of 2013, they remodeled and expanded their space by taking over the location next door. This nearly doubled their space and they put in a large bar with additional seating. If you like Austrian food and wine, this is the place for you. The selection of wine is great and each dish I have had was very good. On a recent trip, the wait time for a table was exceptionally longer than expected, but they were very attentive and gave us a complimentary large plate of cheese and sausage to nosh on at the bar. I would highly recommend this restaurant, as I know I will be going back again!

Had a great romantic dinner in Cafe Katja- great service - amazing red cabbage, apple walnut salad for starters - great bratwurst for main course - very reasonable prices.Knowledgeable and engaging waitstaff. Great beers - would have loved to try desert but was just too full - will definitely be back

Café Katja is real Austrian treat. I had the wiener schnitzel with parsley potatoes/green salad / preiselbeeren and spätzle which were all outstanding. The schnitzel was super tender and tasty. A nice pilsner went well with the wonderful lunch. If you like this type of food, it doesn't get much better than this. Highly recommended.

This is a wonderful German/Austrian pub. Menu is filled with 'old world' delights and everything we ordered was terrific. A fine selection of bier and liquor is also available. Pub interior is beautiful. Staff is friendly and prompt. Highly recommended.

We've been here for dinner 3-4 times over the years after seeing shows at Abrons Art Center, right down the street. Even if you're not in the area for a show, it's pretty easy to get to: either subway or right across Williamsburg or Manhattan Bridges. Onto the food and drink: We usually start off with the pretzel app and wine or cocktails. These are not NYC street pretzels sold on corners by vendors - they are made on premises, served with dipping sauce, and should come with a label saying they can be habit forming. They are THAT good. Just don't get carried away and order seconds or even thirds - it will fill you up and you won't be able to enjoy the main courses. Mains are Austrian, more or less, and tend to be meat-centered. A heaven for hard core carnivores, but if you're vegetarian, there's menu items to keep you happy, too. Homemade liverwurst that's on the app can be doubled into a main. The bratwurst, wiener schnitzel, and beef goulash are all terrific. Even if you're not vegetarian, give the spaetzle a try - amazingly good and amazingly filling. Waitstaff is friendly and helpful in explaining menu items in detail. We've chatted with the affable owner when he's onsite. Space is warm and cozy despite the predominant wood and brick. Table placement good - not the pack-em-in-like-sardines common in many NYC eateries these days. Great place - planning our next visit right now!