WELCOME

The Edelweiss Flower growing in the higher elevations in the Alpine regions of Europe, stretching from France in the west to Austria in the east. The Edelweiss is presently under government control as an endangered species, being threatened with extinction.

Just as the European flower by the name lives within its prescribed    region, the continental portion of the  menu at the Edelweiss Restaurant follows those same geographic boundaries.  The dishes are from the  same area, with emphasis on the Black Forest.

For their friends and patrons who prefer cuisine other than continental, the hosts at this excellent Pocono restaurant also serve American favorites that will please their tastes.

Since October 5, 1987, the Augenstein family has been developing the Edelweiss into a very special dining establishment. The Augensteins first made their mark in the culinary arts when they purchased the little known Cafe Mozart in Union, N). In 20 years of operation, they developed Cafe Mozart into a highly prestigious restaurant and what they strongly feel was the finest pastry shop on the East Coast.

While there, the Augenstein family made cakes for former governor Brendon Byrne, the Ringling Brothers Circus, former President Ronald Reagan and the, VIP grand opening of Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA.

As the prestige of Cafe Mozart grew, many offers were received to open branches of the restaurant including the Watergate complex in Washington, DC, and the World Trade Center in New York City. However, their love of nature and the mountains led the Augensteins to move their business instead to the Poconos.

Soon after the Augensteins opened The Edelweiss, they began renovating the dining rooms_ Interior decorator and manufacturer Carl Rieger was brought to the Poconos from Germany to design the renovations and supervise the work.

The main dining room reflects an authentic Black Forest theme. The Edelweiss Room is an airy, non-smoking dining area in a country motif. The Augensteins' pride and joy is their Mozart Room. Located above the main dining area, this very special suite is appointed in the red, white, and gold that represent die classic Viennese tradition. The exquisite wallpaper was imported from Germany.

The 12 woodcarvings, done in the Black Forest room by Albert Thaler, reflect scenes of the Black Forest heritage as well as the Pocono Mountains. While many of the materials used in remodeling the Edelweiss are American products, the European influence is everywhere. The ash pine in the Black Forest Room was grown in the Midwest but was treated and manufactured in Germany, as was the solid oak entranceway. All the wood was shipped to the Edelweiss for assembly by Carl Rieger and the eight skilled tradesmen he brought with him from Germany. Once the materials reached the Poconos, they completed the job in only five weeks.

In 2006, ownership of the Edelweiss was taken over by Ben Salerno. Ben is also of european descent, and brings a strong knowledge of local business and restaurant management.

It is our commitment to be the finest dining establishment in the Poconos.