Pljeskavica at Kafana

I had supper at Kafana last week before a meeting in the area, and ordered the Pljeskavica - it's a HUGE hamburger served on top of a bed of fries, with a piece of bun on the side. This is apparently the traditional Balkan way to serve a burger, as opposed to the Balkan Burger on the menu, which is also huge but served with garnishes like ketchup and mustard. I love how the flavour of the meat took centre of the dish, while the beefsteak fries were seasoned and a delight.

Balkan Burger at Kafana

Balkan Burger, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Kafana (10803 95 Street), since its transformation to Balkan eatery from dodgy sports bar, still seems to make its living primarily from the bar section in the front - which still attracts an "interesting" clientele.

The dining section in the back has a better vibe, but fewer patrons. Although the menu only has four main items (besides a few appetizers, salads, and soups), what Kafana does, it does very well.

I had the Balkan Burger, which was, as promised HUGE. I could have had it either on a bun with roasted vegetables on top and no side, or as a dinner on top of rice with the veggies to the side. Being a lover of Salisbury steak, I had the knife and fork variety.

I almost could not finish the grilled, seasoned, thick hunk of ground beef. It was delicious, although could have been a bit more well-done in the centre. The rice pilaf is great, as are the vegetables, and I still had some grilled bread on the side (which tasted perfectly charred - like the burger).

Although I wish I did not have to, the meal was worth walking through the alcohol-soaked front area.

Chicken and Beef Kebabs at Kafana

Chicken and Beef Kebabs, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Once upon a time there was a sleazy Italian sports bar on 95 Street that was transformed into a Balkan and Serbian restaurant called Euro Taste. Then, about a year later, two of the waitresses got together and bought the place, changing the name to Kafana. Sounds like the Canadian dream, right?

Kafana is like culinary mullet in reverse - a bar in the front, and a classy dining area in the back. The decor has not changed much - the dining area is very open and spacious. The menu is currently in transition, but is staying Balkan.

I opted for kebabs, or raznici, as they are called. You can mix or match two choices of beef, pork, or chicken, so I had on skewer of beef and one of chicken. The meat was cooked to perfection - marinated, juicy, and bursting with flavour. Plating was attractive, with roasted vegetables and rice pilaf rounding everything out. The two large crusty buns were a nice addition, although impossible to finish.

I also had a cup of cappuccino, which was excellent. It was so quiet in the dining area that I would find it an excellent place to just have a cup of coffee with a book, or a private meeting with a friend.

I am looking forward to seeing the new menu. Kafana is located at 10803 95 Street.