Cremesh European Restaurant opened back in 2018, and today it has found new owners. Maria and Daniel, a mother and son team from Romania, recently purchased the restaurant from Chef Pavel. Cremesh has a rich history of serving authentic dishes from several European countries. This includes a selection of specialties like veal, pork, or chicken Schnitzel from Germany and Austria; Chicken Florentine from France; Beef Stroganoff from Russia; Potato Pancakes from Poland; and a number of other options.
The restaurant offers a menu that allows for enough variety without sacrificing the quality of ingredients and preparation that the owners offer to every diner. A made-from-scratch kitchen is at the core of this authentic eatery.
Cremesh European Restaurant is located at 7232 Manatee Ave West next to the Publix Supermarket and Danny’s Pizzeria at Beachway Plaza. The dining room has a very warm feel with darker wood tables and chairs highlighted by a small bar area and bright chestnut color table settings. Maria runs the kitchen while her son Daniel, a young man with ambition and the brightest smile, manages the front of the house, kitchen provisions, and social media. We’ve been visiting the restaurant since we first moved to the area over a year ago and can attest to the quality of the food before and after the change of ownership.
Their menu is presented in a traditional format with appetizers, soups & salads, meat and fish entrées, pasta dishes, and desserts. Appetizers include the Grilled Smoked Sausage which is served with two bratwursts and sides of mustard, horseradish sauce, and rye bread; the Bohemian Potato Pancakes include three handmade potato pancakes served with applesauce and sour cream; and Burrata Mozzarella which is served with a roasted tomato coulis, fresh basil, and rye bread.
They also offer a selection of cheeses, meats, fruits, and nuts in a Charcuterie Board. I’ve tasted them all and they’re all equally delightful. It all probably comes down to deciding what best compliments the rest of your meal. Appetizers range between $10.50 for 2 people to $24.00 for 4 people.
Their salads are served as a second course or you can add a protein and have them as your entrée. You definitely don’t want to miss out on their French Onion Soup, which is made with a slight hint of sherry. Entrées are as diverse as the countries they represent. If you want a show stopper, you must order the Braised Pork Shank. It’s roasted for 6 hours and served with German mustard and horseradish sauce. The crispy skin and the moist meat will take you to another dimension. They ask that you allow for at least a 30-minute preparation at the time of order because, as I said before, everything is made from scratch and to order.
One of my favorites is also the Schnitzel, veal, pork, or chicken. The Schnitzel is served with a choice of two sides: mashed potatoes, spätzle, potato salad (with bacon), rice, pasta, fresh seasonal vegetable medley, sauerkraut, or red cabbage). I recommend spätzle and red cabbage, plus add the Jager mushroom sauce, it makes for a great meal.
Other popular dishes include the Curried Pork Tenderloin Medallions, served with a lightly curried apple cream sauce, or the Roasted Half-Duck which is slow-roasted for 6 hours and served with a rich dark gravy. Additionally, the Beef Stroganoff is prepared with filet mignon strips, mushrooms, and onions and cooked in a cream sauce. The Chicken, Veal, or Salmon Piccata is sautéed and topped with a lemon, caper, and white wine sauce. In all the times I’ve visited Cremesh European Restaurant, I truly haven’t tasted anything that I didn’t enjoy, and have heard the same from the many friends who have come along for dinner on many occasions. Entrées range between $18.50 to $32.00.
I can’t leave without mentioning dessert. Cremesh offers a patisserie selection from the bakery of the same name, which is still owned by Chef Pavel. These include the signature Cremesh which consists of vanilla cream pudding and fresh seasonal fruit sandwiched between layers of puff pastry; or an Apple Strudel with sliced apples and raisins wrapped in pastry, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with caramel sauce.
If you really want something decadent, try a slice of Chocolate Raspberry Roulade. What exactly is it? A rolled sponge cake filled with a chocolate creamy filling. Order as many as you can and share them with your table. They also have an occasional special dessert like the Baileys’ Créme Brulée we had last time. It was absolutely out of this world.
Cremesh European Restaurant also offers monthly Wine Dinners which consist of a four-course feast with wine pairings (included). They’re scheduled around the third Wednesday of the month. This is a great way to get a taste of their dishes or a “themed” menu. Whether it is a particular country that is featured or a season, it’s a great experience and you always meet new friends. It’s a very casual affair. Monthly dinners run about $70.00 per person with food and wine pairings included. Visit their website, CremeshRestaurant.com for details.
I’m not sure if I’ve covered all the bases here but I hope I’ve expressed how much I enjoy the food at Cremesh. It’s a small operation, but they have a lot of talent and their dedication to their clientele is remarkable.
I’m also happy to have met the new owners and confirm that food quality and service continue to be a top priority. The traditional favorites will remain as good as always, and they will also be adding some new Romanian dishes.
Cremesh is open Tuesday-Sunday from 5:00 and 9:00 pm. When you visit, be sure to let them know you heard about it on Discover Bradenton.
