Muza is a European dining restaurant located on 15th Street only a five-minute walk from campus. It offers good food and a relaxing atmosphere.
The first impression of the restaurant was one of comfort. It was very applicable to the European food that was being served. The only hindrance was a flickering light during the meal.
The service was interesting. At times, it felt like we were being rushed out, especially when we received the check before ordering dessert. Overall, the restaurant servers took care of the needs of the customer, though occasionally seemed confused as to if they had attended to our needs.
The meal started off with the Polish vegetable salad, a combination of garden vegetables and potatoes with a creamy sauce. This dish was very tasty and served as a great opening into food to come throughout the meal.
The beef stroganoff consisted of steak in a tangy sauce prepared with mushrooms, onions, pickles, and mustard, served on a perfectly-made bed of pasta. Overall, the dish was good, but some of the flavors were too overpowering and prevented others from being enjoyed.
The Vienna schnitzel—a breaded and fried pork chop topped with a fried egg—turned out to be a very tasty dish, although just a bit dry. This was served with mashed potatoes that could have been creamier. Both the Vienna schnitzel and the beef stroganoff were served with coleslaw that was light, refreshing, and enjoyable.
The Polish sampler was a dish composed of introductions to some great foods. It included potato pancakes, pierogies, and stuffed cabbage. Each selection was able to hold its own. The potato pancakes were crispy and golden and the pierogies were perfectly made with a warm, slightly buttery flavor and smooth texture. The stuffed cabbage was a leaf stuffed with a hash-like filling that, in combination, certainly entertained my taste buds.
Dessert was composed of chocolate-hazelnut banana crêpes and banana crunch. The crêpes were a light yet filling dessert that was absolutely outstanding. The banana crunch is a dessert made with two fried bananas covered with peanut butter, vanilla ice cream, and a brandy sauce. This dish offered a lot of different textures and flavors that together balanced out very nicely.
The overall cost at the restaurant was fairly reasonable. Most entrées ranged from $7–$12 including the beef stroganoff ($11.50), Vienna schnitzel ($11), and the Polish sampler ($10.50). The desserts were definitely in a good range with most priced at $6, including the chocolate-hazelnut banana crêpes and the banana crunch.
Muza offers great food in a relaxing atmosphere and is definitely worth the trip to get away from normal campus food for a more home-style meal.
