European Deli & Bakery: Authentic European Comfort Food

By the side of the road on Grand Avenue, a little German statuette stands guard, beckoning passersby to pull over and stop in for European food.  I had never heeded the call of the quaint figurine, with its blonde braids and charming dirndl—until last week. 

The deli, much like the , doubles as an ethnic grocery store—this time stocking European dry goods from edibles to herbal remedies. The lady at the counter with a thick Polish accent was affable and courteous. When I asked what kind of food they served, another woman replied, “Polish, German, Hungarian, pretty much anything we can get from Europe.” 

My companion ordered two golabek ($4.59 each), stuffed cabbage rolls with tomato sauce. Deceptively plain in appearance, they were the epitome of comfort food: translucent, tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a ground meat and rice stuffing, bathed in a tangy tomato sauce. Although nothing fancy, they were like a babushka’s hearty hug on a plate.

I ordered the bratwurst sandwich ($6.59), since I had only had bratwurst on a roll. The flavorful lean sausage was butterflied and layered with provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles and mustard (I opted out of mayo) on a French roll, grilled panini-style.  I quickly polished it off and moved on to dessert.

For dessert, I had to try a hulking pastry the size of a dinner plate, which turned out to be a cheese strudel. The filling was not as sweet as I prefer, and the dough on the dry side, so it was a bit plain overall.  I was hoping for an apple strudel, but alas I was out of luck.

The menu features a wide selection of authentic European dishes from bigos (hunter’s stew) and rouladen to tripe soup and goulash.  They also carry several imported deli meats such as Krakow sausage and biershinken, a large pork sausage studded with pistachio nuts.  However, when I asked the counterperson what her favorite item was, her eyes lit up and she replied, “Pierogi!”  The deli not only serves them but also carries various brands in their freezer that you can take home and cook yourself.

Seeing as how Oktoberfest starts next month (I always thought it ridiculous that it started in September), consider this the place to find everything you need to throw your standard Oktoberfest party.  Or if you are feeling more adventurous, try out unpronounceable items such as polędwica surowa or intriguing ones, such as blood tongue.  Either way, this unassuming little deli is worth discovering.

European Deli & Bakery

Address: 722 S. Grand Ave., Glendora, CA  91740
Business Hours: Tuesday – Wednesday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Thursday – Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sunday – Monday CLOSED

Phone Number: (626) 914-3959

Website: www.european-deli.com
Price Range: $3.99 - $9.49
Type of Cuisine:  European
Standout Dish:  Stuffed Cabbage and Pierogi