This just about one of the best meals that you can get in New York City.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mixed Grill
Doron Magen
I never had Serbian food but basing on my experience with Balkan food the food at Kafana felt traditional and authentic. The feta spinach pie was extremely good, and we also enjoyed the kebabs and wrapped schnitzel. The Greek style salad was a bit too cold and small considering its price. We also had some wine from the Balkan, the restaurant holds an impressive wine list.
All in all it was an enjoyable dinner and I would recommend giving it a try. We managed to get in on a Friday night with no reservations but the restaurant was definitely busy, so I guess we got lucky. *This is a cash only restaurant*
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Spinach Pie
Cody Hess
Not sure why this guy’s giving me a hard time about not having a reservation in an empty restaurant on a week night.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Lorène Guerre
The food was excellent.
Food: 5
Alexis Xanders
Cash ONLY! But very good food and great atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Waleed Khalid
Fluffy, round loaves of lepinja are crisped on the grill before they are sliced open and filled with creamy kajmak cheese and, if you like, a few thick, purplish slices of dry-aged pork loin. A plate of roasted red peppers topped with pickled feferons, the half-spicy, Chartreuse-colored Serbian chiles. And of course there is a great version of the Serbian burger, pljeskavica, pressed until it reaches the edges of the loaf of lepinja that serves as a bun. The patty can be left alone or stuffed with ham and kajmak; in either case, a bracing schmear of ajvar, the heat-packing relish made from red peppers, is almost mandatory. This may also be the time to mention that Kafana makes excellent French fries, or “pomfrit,” as the menu has it.
Zorica T
CASH ONLY - make sure you have a debit card to withdraw the money from a nearby ATM. My family loves to try authentic Serbian food in the USA as there are not any places with traditional food where we live. We were disappointed with Kafana. When we arrived, the place was empty. The waiter asked as for a reservation and when we told him we didn’t make it, he crammed us at the table next to the bathroom. Surprisingly, the place filled up and there was a large group across the table from us. It appeared they were acquaintances of a waiter who talked to them the whole time about his life plans while he was serving others. That was totally buzzare. The food was overly salty and the meat was dry. The portions are small compared to other Balkan restaurants in the US and Canada we visited. The vegetables in salad were not fresh. Their traditional Reform Cake looks and tastes as brownie rather than layered Serbian cake with filling. The only reason I gave them two stars is because their Palacinke were great! I would not recommend this place for any nostalgic people who hope they will enjoy food from back home.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Palacinke
Joanne Chiu
✨Zeljanica - this spinach and feta phyllo pastry is nothing like the Greek version, thick thick layers of phyllo dough stacked up to a pillowy pie, very comforting
✨Girice sa urnebes sosom - tiny fried fish that you can eat from head to tail was very crunchy and well seasoned
✨Karadjordjeva - pork schnitzel rolled with ham and kajmak, a dairy similar to whipped cottage cheese, the pork was a little too tough to eat
✨Cevapi - very meaty grilled sausage but not too salty
I have to mention the complementary bread comes with pepper jam was good too
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Svetlana Grujic
Great food, plentiful meals, affordable prices. Any recommendation.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anne Loise Destinoble
I only give three stars because of my last interaction. Every year, it's a weird tradition I have. On the eve of my birthday, I'll eat their succulents fall off the bone lamb shank, paired with their zesty romaine salad (the best in NYC.) Then, this year, this tradition was ruined. I went there, and the food was super salty. The lamb was dry and tough chewing. The only decent thing is the salad. We spoke with our waiter (it's the first time I've seen him there). He seemed annoyed and perplexed that we didn’t eat it. I explained the food was salty and asked if we could exchange our mashed potato. He said let me check, then bring back another bowl of the same salty mashed potato. He proceeds to avoid us for the rest of the night. I was so pissed I was under the impression he thinks we are lying to have more food. Anyway, I paid for my food, took my leftovers home, and left the extra bowl of mashed potatoes on the table because I didn’t need it. I gave the food away to a homeless guy but seriously this is the weirdest interaction ive at this establishment since coming here in 2017.
If I could give it zero starts, I would. The staff is unpleasant and the female waitress is incredibly obnoxious. As a Serb, I felt embarrassed for being Serbian in front of my non-Serbian friend. As other reviewers pointed out, she included a tip for herself to our bill, understanding she would not be receiving any otherwise, I assume. You will receive a handwritten check and you will be asked to pay in cash only! The food is mediocre and nothing about this place is reflective of warm Serbian culture. Do yourself a favor and visit family restaurants in Astoria for authentic Balkan food and pleasant people.
Anastasia Chen
This place is great for comfort Balkan food and good wine. The service was great and the atmosphere is cozy and lively. Great for hangouts with friends and after work drinks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cevapi, Sopska Salad
giulia tintorri
Best restaurant ever! Excellent food and service! Very recommended
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dragana Caric
Nothing special without traditional Serbian music and the servers tired and not friendly at all Average place
This just about one of the best meals that you can get in New York City.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mixed Grill
I never had Serbian food but basing on my experience with Balkan food the food at Kafana felt traditional and authentic. The feta spinach pie was extremely good, and we also enjoyed the kebabs and wrapped schnitzel. The Greek style salad was a bit too cold and small considering its price.
We also had some wine from the Balkan, the restaurant holds an impressive wine list.
All in all it was an enjoyable dinner and I would recommend giving it a try. We managed to get in on a Friday night with no reservations but the restaurant was definitely busy, so I guess we got lucky.
*This is a cash only restaurant*
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Spinach Pie
Not sure why this guy’s giving me a hard time about not having a reservation in an empty restaurant on a week night.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
The food was excellent.
Food: 5
Cash ONLY! But very good food and great atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Fluffy, round loaves of lepinja are crisped on the grill before they are sliced open and filled with creamy kajmak cheese and, if you like, a few thick, purplish slices of dry-aged pork loin. A plate of roasted red peppers topped with pickled feferons, the half-spicy, Chartreuse-colored Serbian chiles. And of course there is a great version of the Serbian burger, pljeskavica, pressed until it reaches the edges of the loaf of lepinja that serves as a bun. The patty can be left alone or stuffed with ham and kajmak; in either case, a bracing schmear of ajvar, the heat-packing relish made from red peppers, is almost mandatory. This may also be the time to mention that Kafana makes excellent French fries, or “pomfrit,” as the menu has it.
CASH ONLY - make sure you have a debit card to withdraw the money from a nearby ATM.
My family loves to try authentic Serbian food in the USA as there are not any places with traditional food where we live. We were disappointed with Kafana. When we arrived, the place was empty. The waiter asked as for a reservation and when we told him we didn’t make it, he crammed us at the table next to the bathroom. Surprisingly, the place filled up and there was a large group across the table from us. It appeared they were acquaintances of a waiter who talked to them the whole time about his life plans while he was serving others. That was totally buzzare. The food was overly salty and the meat was dry. The portions are small compared to other Balkan restaurants in the US and Canada we visited. The vegetables in salad were not fresh. Their traditional Reform Cake looks and tastes as brownie rather than layered Serbian cake with filling. The only reason I gave them two stars is because their Palacinke were great! I would not recommend this place for any nostalgic people who hope they will enjoy food from back home.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Palacinke
✨Zeljanica - this spinach and feta phyllo pastry is nothing like the Greek version, thick thick layers of phyllo dough stacked up to a pillowy pie, very comforting
✨Girice sa urnebes sosom - tiny fried fish that you can eat from head to tail was very crunchy and well seasoned
✨Karadjordjeva - pork schnitzel rolled with ham and kajmak, a dairy similar to whipped cottage cheese, the pork was a little too tough to eat
✨Cevapi - very meaty grilled sausage but not too salty
I have to mention the complementary bread comes with pepper jam was good too
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Great food, plentiful meals, affordable prices. Any recommendation.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I only give three stars because of my last interaction. Every year, it's a weird tradition I have. On the eve of my birthday, I'll eat their succulents fall off the bone lamb shank, paired with their zesty romaine salad (the best in NYC.) Then, this year, this tradition was ruined. I went there, and the food was super salty. The lamb was dry and tough chewing. The only decent thing is the salad. We spoke with our waiter (it's the first time I've seen him there). He seemed annoyed and perplexed that we didn’t eat it. I explained the food was salty and asked if we could exchange our mashed potato. He said let me check, then bring back another bowl of the same salty mashed potato. He proceeds to avoid us for the rest of the night. I was so pissed I was under the impression he thinks we are lying to have more food. Anyway, I paid for my food, took my leftovers home, and left the extra bowl of mashed potatoes on the table because I didn’t need it. I gave the food away to a homeless guy but seriously this is the weirdest interaction ive at this establishment since coming here in 2017.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Salad, Lamb Shank
Restaurantji Recommends
If I could give it zero starts, I would. The staff is unpleasant and the female waitress is incredibly obnoxious. As a Serb, I felt embarrassed for being Serbian in front of my non-Serbian friend. As other reviewers pointed out, she included a tip for herself to our bill, understanding she would not be receiving any otherwise, I assume. You will receive a handwritten check and you will be asked to pay in cash only! The food is mediocre and nothing about this place is reflective of warm Serbian culture. Do yourself a favor and visit family restaurants in Astoria for authentic Balkan food and pleasant people.
This place is great for comfort Balkan food and good wine. The service was great and the atmosphere is cozy and lively. Great for hangouts with friends and after work drinks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cevapi, Sopska Salad
Best restaurant ever! Excellent food and service! Very recommended
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nothing special without traditional Serbian music and the servers tired and not friendly at all
Average place
Amazing food quality! Cool staff! Highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loading...