Bruno bistro and wine bar

This charming wine bar is in the proximity of Museum Square, on Daicoviciu Street.

Bruno is a place that is open for everyone. To people who like wine, who love it, who are intrigued by it, who have no clue about it...Open to all those who feel some sort of an attraction to wine.

It is a casual and relaxed atmosphere, with oldies but goldies music, that invites you to enter into the magical world of wine in a pleasant way. They have a large selection of wine, most commonly served by the glass at the counter. Each wine you taste takes you somewhere, to South Africa, Australia, Chile, Italy, France, Portugal, Argentina, Spain, United States of America, Uruguay and Romania.
If you are not sure which kind of wine you want to drink, ask, and let them advise you.

If you want something to eat with your wine they offer platters with charcuteries and cheese.

The atmosphere is warm, the chats go often between tables and by the end of the evening, you will not be surprized to know all the people sitting next to you and to share a bottle of wine with them!

We wish you a good wine tasting experience in Bruno! Glug, glug, glug...

Photos courtesy of Sanziana Craciun.

Amadeus Mozart Cafe

If you think, "How good a cake can be?", think again and go to Amadeus Mozart Cafe on Cardinal Iuliu Hossu Street (former Pavlov) at number 7.

Once you step in you'll think you're lost in time in a cafe from Mozart's Wien. The warm welcome of the classically-attired waitress will made you realize you're in the right place.

The charming atmosphere with classical music and sometimes piano concerts would alone merit a visit, but there's much more to the place besides the decor. The first-rate cakes with nuts, chocolate, mascarpone, orange, pineapple, poppy-seed and apple, peach, the gofre, the somloi goluska will always be winners here.

You can pick the cake from the fridge (ask for help, the staff will guide you if necessary) and be aware that you'll need to devote longer than you plan if you visit the place as the slices are huge.

Along with the cakes you can enjoy the various types of coffee which can be served also in decaf version or drink a delicious tea.

Also, you can find here high quality sweet treats, most of all the "Genuine Reber Mozart Kugeln" exquisitely filled with pistachio marzipan, almonds and hazelnut covered with milk chocolate and bitter sweet chocolate.

At Mozart Cafe I never know what I want when I walk in the door. Hm, that's a lie: I know that I do want at least one bite of Schwarzwalder Kirsch Torte and a cup of tea but there are so many other things to try, I know I should branch out a bit more.

Note: Amadeus Mozart Cafe is a no smoking cafe.

Tiramisu and Cremeschnitte in Cluj

If you want to enjoy a creamy Tiramisu and/or a vanilla Cremeschnitte in Cluj, you should go to Euphoria, in Museum Square. Ask a friend to join you, the "dose" is huge!

I have no idea what the Italian motto is, I think they are a bit less restrained when it comes to Tiramisu, which they invented. Since they invented it, I'm in no position to tell the Italians what to do. BUT...if they are looking for a motto, as far as I'm concerned, they might want to consider: Mascarpone, Espresso and Chocolate.

I have no idea, about the history of Cremeschnitte but it's a tasty crispy cake with vanilla cream. If there is somebody who knows anything about the history of it, please share it with us.

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite is the motto for today, July 14. At the dessert's table should be no exception!

Quo Vadis Cafe

On a cold cloudy day there's nothing better than some good and sweet stuff to cheer you up. So we've decided to go to Quo Vadis Cafe on 13 Mihai Eminescu street (near Central Park) for a chat and some cake.

This is a no smoking cafe. Smokers should take a place outside.

The interior is interesting, the decorations are nice and the music is good. This is a place where you can relax and have a chat with an old friend (from Tuesday to Sunday - Monday is closed).

We chose to stay near the big mysterious door. I wonder what's behind it...

Finally we ate some deserts. From left to right: Death by chocolate (the name is misleading, no deaths were recorded after eating that cake), Brownie (warm and sweet), Poppy seed cake, Banana milkshake. Delicious...

We stopped here... But the menu is quite generous: coffee (from 3.5 RON), milkshakes (7.5 RON), desserts (6.5 RON), brownie (5 RON), tea (4.9 RON), fresh fruit juice (8.5 RON), cocktails named after the characters in the "Quo Vadis" novel (8 RON).

Where are you going?

Cabbage and Pod House in Cluj

Today, we had our lunch at "Cabbage and Pod House" on 37 Eroilor Street. They have only 7 tables inside but there is extra space outside, on the terrace.

When we stepped in I had the feeling of going back in time. The place looks like during my childhood and this was a good sign! They still have the "banner" on the mirror but the rabbit is not there anymore (les connaiseurs know what rabbit I'm talking about).

 

Of course we ordered the specialty of the house. No, no, it has nothing in common with Alfred Hichcock, it was just a very tasty portion of  "Cabbage a la Cluj" (Cabbage from Cluj).

As for dessert we had an enormous Vargabeles, a Hungarian "noodle pie" with sour cream, eggs, raisins and sugar.

So...today we run with the hare and hunt with the hounds!

Price list:
Cabbage a la Cluj (300 g) = 7.5 RON
Vargabeles (200 g) = 4 RON

Insanely delicious things you shouldn't miss in Cluj-Napoca

I like to stop in late afternoon for a dessert accompanied with a most generous tea. If I could tell travellers to Cluj-Napoca one thing that will improve their culinary experience, it's to chill out and try some desserts.

If  you are coming to town, here are some of my favorite places to get something really good to eat as a dessert. 

• Amadeus Mozart Cafe: my favorite Schwarzwalder KirschTorte;
• Bistro Viena:  Sacher Torte - chocolate cake, Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce;
• Club Italia: Panna Cotta;
• Corso Cafe and Bistro: Floating Islands, Somloi;
• Euphoria: Tiramisu; 
• Quo Vadis - Poppy Seed Cake; Brownie;
• Viena Restaurant: famous imperialist dessert - Kaiserschmarrn - teared pancake with stewed plums.

Gosh, I could keep going and going and going.
If there's anything I left out, if you have anything to add, let me know in the comments. What are some of your favorite desserts to eat in Cluj-Napoca?

I'm ready, for dessert!

P.S.: In all these places, expect the classics done right.

A place you shouldn't miss in Cluj if you are hungry

What does rocketry and space flight has in common with shawarma? As far as I know nothing...but in Cluj you can eat one of the best shawarmas on Hermnan Oberth street:-)

If you want to see Clujeni eating something messy on the street, with far more flair that I can muster, head over to Hermann Oberth Street, in the city centre. Order at the window, and be sure to ask for extra sauce piquant if you know what's good for you. Then retreat with your sandwich to some doorway to chow down. If you want to sit down, you can go on Eroilor Street and sit on the bench but I recommend you to go a little bit far and sit on Kogalniceanu Street in  front of the Reformed Church.

Cost: small (read big) shawarma = 7 RON, big (read huge) shawarma = 9 RON

Still, you cannot come to Cluj and not eat a shawarma at Istanbul. It just isn't done!

Best ice cream in Cluj

I'm not mad about ice cream and I don't like the usual flavors (vanilla or fruity), in fact I hate artificial flavors. I usually eat chocolate ice cream because it tastes less artificial then others. 

My relationship with ice cream changed when, a year ago, I discovered Bistro Viena near Casa Matei. 

Because they didn't always had chocolate, I dared to try other flavors and I was amazed. Now, my favorites are pistachio and coconut. I also like chocolate and limoncello and I'm sure that the other flavors are just as good.  
 

Bistro Viena is the place where I've tasted the best ice cream in Cluj-Napoca.

Prices: 1 scoop = 2.5 RON, 2 scoops = 4.5 RON, and so on...

Do you have a different opinion? Where did you taste the best ice cream in Cluj Napoca?

Floating islands in Cluj-Napoca

Something in Cluj-Napoca has turned horribly wrong. It's called "the weather", or to be more specific...it rained a lot these days. Which means it's gotten gray and wet. In fact, it was so gray that I refused to go outside till...I heard that there are some floating islands in the city centre.

I first saw them on Saturday afternoon. A refreshing breath and not because of the sensible air! Really, who could resist the image of the floating islands in a lake of vanilla milk and freshly scraped lemon peel? If you've never try, these one are really good and incredibly delicious so there's no reason not to try them.

I couldn't resist the chance of another floating island, so I went again, on Tuesday, in the city centre, for them. This time, I screwed up because it was after a very sweet chocolate cake. I think my brain was fried trying to plan something so the extra ice cooled me off!

In case you're wondering...no, I'm not nuts. You have to try the Floating Islands from Bistro Corso, 15 Unirii Square.