Eva’s European Sweets
One of my favorite summer pastimes is sitting outside and enjoying a delicious meal with my family as we watch the sun sink down and the day fade into evening. 
If this sounds like your ideal day then you just have to try it at Eva’ s European Sweets, particularly on their patio! In addition to amazing food and drinks, Eva’s creates an atmosphere that is able to cater to all of the guests’ needs including large groups, date night, and families with small children! If you can, absolutely try to sit on the patio – I just love all of the colors and the mural and I especially liked the fire pit that seemed so warm and inviting! There is a reason they are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year! Eva’s is located in Syracuse (just a few buildings from Solvay) at 1305 Milton Avenue. They are open Tuesday through Thursday from 11am to 8pm, Friday from 11am to 9pm and Saturday from noon to 9pm for dining in with both the dining room and the patio available and for take out orders. Give them a call at (315) 487–2722 to make your reservations (for parties of seven or more) or to place a to go order.
After 25 years, Eva’s has changed and evolved in the best possible way. Eva’s European Sweets began as a bakery and pastry shop where Eva baked and sold amazing cakes, pies, pastries and other delights with a European flare. It is from these beginnings that Eva along with her family and amazing staff have grown into a restaurant that can only be described as a hidden gem, a local favorite and has even been featured on national television! Today, loyal customers, new friends, and hungry patrons feast on homemade meals made with only the best and freshest ingredients using family recipes and served in portions that can only be described as more than generous. Eva’s features many Polish and other European dishes that you absolutely can’t find on any other menu in Central New York and frankly even if you did find them elsewhere they wouldn’t hold a candle to the made from scratch delights that you can find at Eva’s. The menu is uniquely interesting and you can taste the love and care that is mixed into every dish that is served at Eva’s European Sweets. When you walk into Eva’s your eyes should
be immediately drawn to Eva’s dessert case that is full of some of the best looking homemade cakes, pies and cheesecakes that you can ever see! Something else you can’t find anywhere in town other than Eva’s is their extensive list of Polish and Eastern European beers and spirits.
These beers and cocktails are sure to quench your thirst and pair perfectly with
any menu item! Whether you are seated inside the cozy restaurant or outside on the beautiful new patio you can’t help but to get the feeling that you belong there – it may sound crazy but Eva’s just sort of feels like home, even on your very first trip. I believe that this atmosphere is curated by the staff of this family owned and operated restaurant. After speaking with David and Karolina, Eva’s children, I was told that the staff is made up of family members and others that have been with Eva’s for so long that they have become family. The warm and inviting atmosphere is unbeatable, unassuming, and absolutely authentic!
Did you know that Eva’s European Sweets is famous? Well, they are! They were featured on an episode of Diners Drive-ins and Dives where they served Guy Fieri the Hungarian Style Placki, a dish with four potato pancakes topped with a lightly spicy ground beef-tomato sauce made with peppers and onions and topped with sour cream! I am also told that the staff and locals also have dishes named, or even nicknamed, after them! At Eva’s everyone is treated like family, and they love their customers, staff, and their community. Eva and her family wanted me to thank you all for your help making Eva’s a success over the last 25 years!
Kyle and I and the kids went to Eva’s on a warm Wednesday evening. Even for a Wednesday Eva’s was pretty busy. One of the nice things I need to point out is that even if they are busy you never feel rushed. To start our meal we decided that we knew that we wanted pierogi (after all, they are homemade and positively scrumptious) but we couldn’t decide so we ordered a variety. From the sweet cheese and blueberry to the classic potato to innovative flavors like potato and mushroom and garlic and cheese they have a little bit of everything! These pierogi are made fresh and are a must have every time you go to Eva’s!Be sure to ask what flavor combinations they offer that day! I literally can’t say enough good things about these flavorful delights! We always have a hard time making a dinner selection because everything is just so good. This evening Kyle decided on the Kiełbasa Dinner with a generous option of fried kiełbasa with onions, seasoned potatoes and your choice of sauerkraut, red cabbage or cabbage with beans and carrots (Kyle went with the sauerkraut). Kyle was stationed in Europe when he was in the service and just raved about how this dish brought him back to those found memories! I couldn’t make a decision so I enlisted the help of our server to choose between two items. Luckily, he advised that I was not the first to have this conundrum so he hooked me up with a combo off the “secret” menu. Now, there is no official secret menu but as I told you above, at Eva’s they really love their customers and sometimes name their favorite meals after them! I ordered the “Paully”- Pork Dinner (two well-seasoned pork cutlets lightly breaded and served with seasoned pan-fried creamer potatoes, apple sauce and a cucumber and tomato salad as well as red cabbage and a half order of the Placki Kapuśniaczki (potato pancakes made with sauerkraut and bacon in the batter and served with sauerkraut and sour cream on the side).
10/10 would recommend this combination! Every single bite of everything we ate was absolutely incredible. I also wanted to try each and every dessert because they all looked mouthwateringly amazing but it was getting late and now I guess I’ll just have to go back!
When you mix together family traditions and fresh ingredients, add a scoop of creativity, a dash of friendliness and a sprinkle of amazing flavor you end up with the magic that is Eva’s European Sweets! Like a fine wine, after 25 years Eva’s has just gotten better with age! Be sure to swing by Eva’s if you are in town for the fair and give yourself a break from food that is fried or served on a stick! For a look at their menu and to see some great pictures check out their website at http://www.evaspolish.com/ and be sure to like them on facebook or follow on instagram where you can see their specials. Do yourself a favor and stop by Eva’s European Sweets today!
Eva’s European Sweets
