Nova Europa Restaurant

I just came back from Portugal, so I have decided to try this Portuguese restaurant. It's an old fashioned restaurant, with white tablecloths. Each entrée comes with fresh salad. The food is good, very friendly staff.

We ate at Nova Europa for a pre-Christmas family dinner. The restaurant is nicely decorated and dimly lit, and the ambiance was perfect for the occasion. The complimentary bread was also a highlight - warm baskets of baguettes served with butter - some of the best bread I've had at a restaurant. I would recommend the 3-course dinner special if you want an appetizer, dessert, or wine with your meal. It was very reasonably priced at ~$32 for 3 of these 4: appetizer, entree, dessert, and wine. I'd recommend the Cacerola Nova Europa (clams and mussels in marinara) for appetizers. For entrees, we tried the Frutos Do Mar (mixed seafood with fish over linguine) and Veal Nova Europa. The Frutos Do Mar was basically a platter full of seafood with very little linguine - this was good value for the money and it was yummy, but not something I'd recommend if you're looking for a pasta dish. The veal plate seemed to be a lot smaller. We tried the chocolate cake and creme caramel (flan) for dessert. The cake was a bit too sweet and we couldn't finish the whole thing. The flan seemed to be the better option here. Service was just ok - not terrible, but not spectacular. I would come back to try more on the menu if I'm in the area!

This is a fantastic neighborhood secret. We came on a Friday evening as a party of three and all of us loved our food. Entrees come with a house salad and there's an after dinner aperitif that made the experience just seem so special.Four stars because of a few things: the tables feel too short for the chairs. My plate felt miles away. It was also pretty tight quarters where we were sitting on the upper level and the aisle between our table and those across from us was frequently backed up with servers and diners trying to get back and forth.We'll definitely be back on a weeknight when it is (hopefully) a little quieter.

Nova Europa has been one of my favorite local eateries for decades. It always feels like a special occasion when I dine there. White tablecloths and servers turned out in in formal attire. The service is exceptional.The food is consistently on point. I don't know why I don't visit more often!

Another infuriating example of a restaurant that I knew was there but hadn't tried...for all 22 years I've lived in Montgomery County. Now I'm kicking myself for not having gone earlier.We went for Mothers' Day 2022 where they had a special menu but I think that the things we ordered are on the regular menu (at least the main courses).I had the Steak a Portugesa which was cooked perfectly. Medium rare, tender, and the flavor of the meats, egg, and gravy together was amazing.Mom had the lamb chops which were also flawlessly cooked and tender.Our appetizers were portabella mushrooms which were very very good (I hate mushrooms and actually kinda liked them) and the shrimp cocktail (which was fine but not earth shattering).We also made the mistake (not a mistake) of getting dessert. Mom & son had chocolate mousse which was light and airy and quite chocolatey (is that a word?). I was in the "when in Rome" mode and stuck with the Portuguese dessert, Pasteis De Nata (as seen on "Somebody Feed Phil"). Both desserts were excellent and worth saving room.There is a 100% chance that I'm going back to this place...many many times in an effort to make up for 22 lost years.

I do not get the high ratings. We ordered take out.- filet mignon and lobster, good- manicotti, thick shell, flavorless, very little flavorless filling, bitter, odd tomato sauce- totally average fried calamari with bitter, odd tomato sauce- completely plain bread, broccoli, noodles, carrots - literally no seasoning of any kindIf this is portugues food I am way out. For sure never coming back here.

Went to this restaurant again last nite and as usual everything was scrumptious. Everything is prepared with skill and who knew that a neighborhood restaurant would have linen tablecloths and napkins. You really feel as though you're in Lisbon. My sincere compliments to the chef and the staff...everything was so beautifully presented. The Early Bird dinner is $23.99 and includes your choice of an appetizer, entree and dessert. No need to get dressed up or would be a great place to go before another event. Enjoy!

The food at Nova Europa happens to be some of the best Italian cuisine i've tried along side some decent appetizers and desserts. My only issues happen to be with trying to return to the restaurant. On their outside of their door it says they close at 10 pm every night but then online it says they close at 9 pm. Even then I've shown up at 8 pm to try and dine and both times, this has happened twice. They have turned me away and told me they were closing. This is bad service and just confusing times? If you close at 8 update your restaurant hours.

Ordered a seafood dish. Specified 'no calamari' in writing on the order. Meal arrived full of....calamari. Yes, I could pick it out, but when I called to complain, was just told, "Sorry". While this was a taste preference, what if it had been an allergen?

I went to this restaurant yesterday and I loved it!For 1 the food was phenomenal ( do not pass out the Pastéis de Nata cause they are absolutely delicious) and Manuel, our server, was so knowledgeable and gave us amazing recommendations.For appetizers We had the basket of bread, which was so warm, the caldo verde with their authentic chouriço (would highly recommend trying if you like soup) and the shrimp in a lemon and garlic sauce which was divine.For entrees we had the octopus, YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS DISH and the Bacalhau and it was absolutely amazing, it felt like I was back in Europe. The food was so so so good that we just dug into it and forgot to take pictures! But we have one of the Pastéis de Nata, which is the original recipe from Lisbon.