Formerly a one-room bakeshop, the family-owned Continental Cafe is now a neighborhood staple, where Friday and Saturday night discos (featuring live Romanian talent) are as common as beef goulash and veal paprikash.

Judging from the six-foot tall stained glass window featuring Vlad the Impaler, it's clear that this restaurant is serious about its heritage. While a Romanian version of COPS flickers on the TVs in the front room, the back room offers a more serene dining area where you can luxuriate in a long meal over Romanian wine. The space is clean, mostly devoid of decoration, but still manages to feel warm and inviting.

A friendly waitstaff and well-organized menu—written in English and Romanian—should quell any fears about the authentic dining experience. Italian favorites such as bruschetta and calamari accompany the long list of Eastern European eats like traditional soup ciorba de vacuta, mamaliga (polenta covered with cornmeal, feta and sour cream) and schnitzel of varies kinds. Dessert crepes are divine, stuffed with a rich chocolate-hazelnut sauce. Appetizers cost around $8, and entrees average $15. Saturdays and Sundays host an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Beth Dugan