Good but not great Central European Fare
The Blue Danube is an outgrowth of the traditionally central European South Trenton neighborhood. The Italian neighborhood, Chambersburg,is north of S. Broad St. while Hungarians and Poles settled south of Broad.

Blue Danube is a quaint little restaurant that has hung on to serve an aging ethnic clientele. As a result it has some of the only authentic fare in the area. The restaurant is neat and decorated with attractive touches. The wait staff was a bit casual though considering the
relatively upscale surroundings. The bar is very small but comfortably holds 8 or so for after dinner drinks.

Two things stood out from our dinner. 1) Everybody had to get a left-over tray. This is great marketing as it makes sure you remember the restaurant on the day after. The overfeeding technique seems to be a Trenton tradition as most of the old line restaurants provide healthy portions.

2) The food wasn't especially spicey. I chalk this up to the older customer base Blue Danube serves.

Michelle and I ate at Blue Danube on our first night in Trenton over 1 1/2 years ago. Though it's only one block away, we've not been back. It's not so much that Blue Danube drove us away but that other places have drawn us. It doesn't have the menu and service of Utopia, the coolness or Urban Word or the casual feel of Centre House Pub.

Blue Danube shares a feeling of being stuck in the '70s with most of the Chambersburg eateries. Some updated decor, a snappier menu and top service would help draw the younger crowd the restaurant needs to keep going.

That said, if you've got a hankering for goulash or schnitzel I can't think or a better spot in Central NJ    [16 Aug 2002 13:09:50]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Schnitzel, Goulash

     ­Dan Dodson   dan at livingonthenet dot com

Great Central European Dishes In Cozy Surroundings
Well prepared ethnic and American food in huge servings. All in a house converted to restaurant decorated with european nic-nacs. You feel like you are dining at your grandmother's house. Service can sometimes be slow, but I think that is due to each dish being made from scratch. The wait is well worth it.

All traditional dishes are homey in presentation. My only quibble with the Polish platter is that the kielbasa is obviously Hillshire Farms instead of an authentic restaurant made one. I wish they had sauerkraut pierogies, but the potato ones are fine. The goulash and sauerbraten are fall apart tender. Although the goulash could use some vegetables. The potato dill soup is comfort food at it's best.

My favorite dish is the best version of Veal Oscar I have ever eaten. Served as a casserole with sliced veal. The side dishes aren't an afterthought here. Among the best are spatzle with bacon & onions & roasted potatos. Apple strudel is a huge fresh serving. The jam filled crepes are a light ending to a feast.

For satisfying food in welcoming atmosphere this is the plac    [19 Oct 2002 15:26:47]

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Recommended Dishes: Veal Oscar, Sauerbraten, Potato Dill Soup, Polish Plater

     ­Greg Szalony, Hamilton, NJ   

Ethnic Comfort Food at Bargain Prices
We have been to the Blue Danube on a number of occasions--the specials nights are true bargains. Stuffed cabbage is among the best we've had--having been brought up with the dish, we know what it should be like. Goulash also top-drawer, as is the spaetzle and the vegetables--and the potato-tomato soup is to die for. Very quaint place with good service. I don't know if the two reviewers above hit it on off nights, or they're just hard to please.
You will be satisfied and will return.    [28 Nov 2002 21:41:01]

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     ­Lee Bartol   

Blue Danube does get a younger crowd
Among the few true ethnic spots left in Trenton, young people longing for their great grandmothers cooking will find it. Fresh chicken paprikas, pierogies and potato pancakes are truly wonderful and feel like the old world. My friends are 20 somethings and as we dine, we see others our age!    [07 Jan 2003 13:16:31]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Chicken Mehenditi, potato pancakes, salad with dill dressing

     ­Anonymous   

Favorite place to dine!
The Blue Danube is Trenton's best kept secret. The restaurant is small in a cozy way, so reservations are suggested. The menu is extensive in itself, but then add on the specials, the choices of side dishes, soups and desserts and no one can leave unsatisfied! The portions are huge and the prices are low! The service is awesome. The girls that work there know their menu and their customers. I noticed that a lot of the guests are greeted like old friends. Can't wait to go back for some jaegershnitzel!    [05 Mar 2003 11:51:20]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Jaegerschnitzel , Taste of Europe

     ­Anonymous   

Number 1 place to dine in my book
I have been going to the Blue Danube for over 7 years, and have had everything on the menu, and all I can say is WUNDBAR!

Food like my grandmother made.    [13 Feb 2004 22:15:23]

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Recommended Dishes: everything

     ­Anonymous   

Diner Beware
This is the case of food that is excellent, but the service way below par. During a recent visit, it took 45 minutes to get an appetizer and nearly 95 to receive a main course. That evening, a party of five made a 6 p.m. reservation with tickets to an 8 p.m. show a mile away. That should have been plenty of time for dinner, but the slow service made it not.
Our waitress, also way below par, told one member of our party that we should "have come at 5:30 p.m.'' This was after she brought one wrong salad and two wrong sides. Overall, way below usual Trenton restaurant efficiency.    [29 Dec 2006 17:38:53]

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Recommended Dishes: Porato Pancackes

     ­Q   

THE BEST EASTERN EUROPEAN FOOD THIS SIDE OF EUROPE
I eat at the Blue Danube at least 3 to 4 times a week, sometimes more. There are lunch and dinners special daily. Tuesday is Hungarian and Romanian specials, Wednesady is seafood night specials and Thursday is German and Polish night specials. I especially like these nights because I get to try authentic ethnic dishes at a special reduced price. Not only do they serve Eastern European food but they offer steaks, pork chops and veal chops as well.
As you can tell I know the menu very well. While you are there try the clams casino appetizer a favorite of mine. Surprisingly, their pasta with homemade marinara sauce is incredibly delicious.
Reservations are suggested as this seats
14 tables as this is a family owned and operated restaurant.
   [02 May 2007 12:07:39]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Petes choice, Stuffed cabbages, Crabmeat pirogies

     ­Denny O   

Just like grandma's house
This place brought me back to my childhood 30 years ago. I did not feel like I was at a restaurant, I felt like I was over someone's house. The food was outstanding. The paprikas was as good as my mom's, and I have a pretty high standard for that. I normally don't care for stuffed cabbage, but Blue Danube's stuffed cabbage made me a believer. My wife and I had a chat with a really nice "regular". This is definitely a throwback establishment, a welcome change to the chain restaurants we are surrounded by. I highly recommend, and I will see you there. :)    [15 Sep 2007 13:39:22]

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Recommended Dishes: Paprikas, stuffed cabbage, potato/tomato soup

     ­WWMagyar   

Love It!
Blue Danube is a popular lunch spot for NJ state employees. The salads can't be beaten, and the ambiance is uncontested anywhere else in the city. The waitstaff has always been friendly and accommodating. We will continue to patronize BD faithfully.    [08 Feb 2008 09:43:51]

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Recommended Dishes: Hunedora Salad

     ­JDK