So damn good. You have to try the rakja and the gulos and the sponge cake dessert. We ordered too much food but it was si good, we didn't mind the leftovers. read more

Balkan Cafe & Grill - Mixed plate and gulos. So good - Modern European Near Me - Austin, Texas

In this quaint little plaza on North Lamar stands a collection of eateries and while they are all good, Balkan Cafe is a gem. Entering the small wooden building you are greeted with a cozy communal lounging area and bar (try the rakuta!) And several distinct seating areas. This place feels homey, comfortable, a little quirky and,having visited the area, dare I say Balkan? Service is always prompt and though their menu is compact, everything I've had is delicious. Watch for daily specials and the weekend lamb roast is an experience. Standout item would have to be the gulasz/goulash. Savory and hearty, served with their lepjna bread which tastes like eating a warm, toasted, buttery cloud. Seriously some of the best bread I've ever eaten. read more

Balkan Cafe & Grill - Palacinke, jam filled crepes. Utterly delightful. - Modern European Near Me - Austin, Texas

We went here for lunch on a friday especially for the rotisserie Lamb, but as you can see from my pictures it wasn't ready. The owner says that that the lamb is usually done by 1:30pm. So target that if you want to eat fresh lamb. We sat facing the rotisserie during our lunch. The owner could sense our yearning for the lamb and cut off the burn bits for us to sample. It was juicy and savory and crispy all at the same time. So happy that he felt sorry for us. For lunch, we ordered cevapi, the Balkan veggies burger, gulas, and pecene paprike. Then closed the meal out with the Balkan/Turkish coffee and both their desserts (hurmasica & palacinke crepes). All was wonderfully tasty and filling. It was a hearty meal that really sticks to your stomach. Coming back soon and will bring friends to take down the lamb. read more

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Went on a weekend evening and was surprised it wasn't busy. We ordered the grilled beef sausages, grilled chicken pocket, and beef veggie stew. All were so delicious and freshly made. The employee recommended the bread Lepinja and it was so soft like a cloud, and larger than expected. It was delicious with the stew. Speaking of the employee, I'm not sure if he's the owner but he is incredibly friendly and attentive. We've been in Austin for many years but just now heard of this shop. Definitely a hidden gem and we'll be going often! read more

INCREDIBLE! Perhaps the only Serbian restaurant in Texas, so if you live (or are visiting) Austin, you're in luck. A hidden gem tucked away far north on Lamar but well worth the trek. The menu is small but authentic, and reasonably priced when you factor in the generous, filling portions. I highly recommend the veggie burger which comes on traditional bread, with a salad + side of ajvar sauce. The tomato soup + side of rice is good too, and a meal in and of itself. The staff are some of the most genuinely warm, friendly people, very attentive, and always greet guests with a smile. There's indoor + covered outdoor seating alike, the latter of which is smoker friendly. They also have a small but well curated bar, and have live traditional music some nights. Balkan Cafe is in cluster of a few other businesses (including a Greek restaurant), but I've never had an issue with parking. Look no further for a perfect dining experience. read more

New restaurant alert! and this place is everything! The food is amazing and so is the owner! We tried about half of the menu for our first time and everything was good! Crepes and a round of beers on the house! The chicken was perfectly seasoned, sauces amazingly crafted and bread out of this world! Lovely decor as well. I'm sure you can tell how excited I am by all of the exclamation points. Go here. read more

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Went there to celebrate Christian Orthodox Christmas with my Belarusian friend and had a great dinner that brought us back home. We became so nostalgic. Bottle of wine from Montenegro was a surprise, since we never had wine from that region. It turned out to be great! We look forward to coming back for more, no holiday needed! read more

Balkan Cafe & Grill - Nice Cab from Montenegro. - Modern European Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Personally, I wasn't the biggest fan of the food, but I'd pretty confident that it is personal preference and that the food is actually good all around. We went late at night while ago, and I felt welcome and helped by the staff. I probably wouldn't return or invite my friends out here, but I will say it is definitely different than anywhere else I have been! read more

I had a very great experience! The food was delicious , the waiter was very kind and it was overall a great experience , I will definitely be coming back! Additionally it was very clean and had a great atmosphere ! Glad I got to get a taste of the Balkans because I'm Albanian myself! Can't wait to be back ! read more

Being from Croatia, I was exited to see there are Cevapi in Austin. I came here with my family, and ordered 2 portions of Cevapi , fries with feta, burger and a chicken pita dish. Soooo excited to get the food, only to be met with a huge disappointment. The Cevapi meat was terrible. It was defiantly cooked 1-2 days ago, and reheated. To pay so much for a dish, for reheated Cevapi was a massive disappointment. The same goes for the burger as well. It was very dense, meat did not get taste fresh and was clearly cooked 1-2 days ago. Fries with feta were also disappointing. The fries had a weird taste to it as if the oil was old, or the fries were just frozen way too long before cooking. I will never come back, spent $80.00 to try different things, nothing was good. Food is not fresh and not cooked to order. That's disappointing considering the price. read more

Delicious food and great customer service . Family owed restaurant that makes you feel like you are a part of the family .

I like this place. It's a good comfort food staple. Huge portions for a good price. The Turkish coffee is yummy and comes with Turkish delight and the stews are great. If you are looking for somewhere new to try I recommend checking this place out! read more

Holy shit this place is good! Food is always fresh and fantastic. The gulas is my absolute favorite that I've ever had. These guys are authentic as hell and it's hard to go wrong with just about anything on the menu. This would be incomplete without mentioning the service. The employees may be the friendliest and most accommodating I've ever dealt with at a restaurant. They really elevate the experience. read more

Food was delicious, service was amazing. Greek Coffee was strong but good and the deserts were made fresh to order. Family run business is always top on my list! read more

I absolutely loved this place the hospitality and food were on point after my trips to Bosnia and Serbia I have craved this type of food so glad I found it . Z is a phenomenal host and his team are just as friendly look forward to coming back bringing family and friends ! read more

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Went back to Balkan for the first time in over a year, and had such a good time, we had to follow up and let everyone know that Balkan is still open and the food is as good as ever. This time we split the Sirnicia (cheese-filled pastry - yes, it's even better than it sounds) then each had a bowl of the beef and veg stew. Delicious! And as always, the staff were a delight! - Emily is the bee's knees, and Jelena is as sweet as pie. So next time you're in N Austin, be sure to stop by and get some authentic Serbian food - and real Serbian booze! Please help to keep this place open, as they (like all restaurants these days) are struggling and need your help. read more

I haven't had food this good for a while! ZZ is awesome. Nice restaurant and the food is super good! coming back for sure. The Cuban read more

I had the combo beef and veggie stew and it's delicious. It's filling and perfect for cold weather. I'm only sad that I didn't order more of it. I also got a salad which was fresh and a great portion. They were out of the drink that I wanted but made sure to replace it so that I didn't have to go without. read more

Five stars for the environment inside and outside. Very comfortable sitting area inside with jazzy music playing. Ideal space to come and order a coffee and get some work done. Outdoor has lots of shaded seats with a volleyball court and children's play area as well. They did a great job. Also, the twin girls not sure what their names are, are very friendly & care about their jobs you can tell! As for the 4 stars, I ordered the veggie burger and I was very bummed to find out after I had taken a bite of it that it had egg in it!! Use something else to make it more vegan friendly and market it as vegan and I guarantee you will get more business that way. The salad was good though! All in all, a quiet, comfortable working space. Very family owned and cozy. Everyone friendly and minds their own, not checking on you every 5 seconds. Highly recommend for the service, comfortability & location since there isn't much in this area for outdoor working space & dog friendly. read more

Mmmmmm Balkan Grill and Cafe. Right when you walk in you feel like you walked into someone's home. It's a quaint little place where you can tell the owner just loves music and old pop culture. There even a cut out that tricked our eyes and left us wondering why there was a guy standing up the whole time giving us a weird look haha. Well played owner. Well played. We got the sampler plate between the two of us and it is just enough food for two we feel. But hey we eat a lot so take that into account too haha. There are three kinds of meat made of veal and lamb so take that into account if you are avoiding certain meats. The dish is also around $22.99 (that is off the top of our heads so check the menu pics out to confirm!). We would definitely recommend trying this if this is your first time with Balkan fare and want to explore what the menu has to offer. To be honest though the meats taste similar after a while, with one of them being a little spicier but the main difference is the shape. We will not butcher the names here but just cause they taste similar does not mean it's wasn't tasty, they were extremely tasty!! But to our palates it felt like more of the same after a bit. All in all 4.5/5 cause their service was amazing too, decor is cozy, and food is tasty! So stop reading and go !! Thanks for reading even though we know you are hungryyyyy read more

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Had a great conversation with the other patrons ( regulars) and the waitress . COVID friendly . Get the house baked bread and the garlic dip. Legit. So is the beef and veggie stew . Yum! read more

One of the most relaxing places I've dined lately but it was a quiet Monday night. Good Eastern European food reasonably priced with generous portions. Service very friendly and food was prepared to order. Limited selections that are filling. I had a salad and appetizer which left room for a Palacinke (crepe) dessert. I would return when I'm in North Austin. You can imagine you're there with some of the music on the sound system. read more

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My wife is Serbian and we visited Belgrade a few years ago. This is the best Serbian food I have had outside of Serbia. I travel extensively and always look for Serbian food, this is the best. We had the mixed platter and everything was fantastic. The Lepena is amazing. read more

The atmosphere is very relaxing and comfortable. The staff was so friendly, making sure the experience was beyond enjoyable. We stayed there so long the bartender came and bought us a round of shots. I recommend the Balkan Turkish Coffee. It was the best coffee I've ever had. read more

Balkan Cafe & Grill - Modern European Near Me - Austin, Texas

I ate here a few weeks ago after my boyfriend and I got into an argument over what constituted the Balkan region. Since it was relevant, we got hungry and ate here. Given that I don't really eat pork or beef, I got the djuvec and it was awesome! Good flavor and as I later found out, tons of fiber. The place has a really laid back atmosphere, and decor that doesn't scream "I'm trying too hard." I like how you can have your dinner or wine on the couch with the coffee table and just chat up a storm. Among other interesting things, there's a 6 chair conference table in the back. You can literally have a lunch meeting here. I don't know if that's the intention, but I'd do it. Atmosphere is awesome. I would definitely bring my friends here. Since someone mentioned Turkish coffee, I'm soooo coming back. read more

The food was ok, I expected more choice on the European food menu but in any case ok choice. the interior of the restaurant did not delight me read more

I have come here a couple times for take out and am never disappointed with their authentic and delicious food! Great local business to support during the pandemic. read more

Tried the sampler and it reminded me of the place in Houston. Tasty stuff. Lamb was different. Probably a bit drier than I expected. Lot of space for the bar area in relation to the place. Nice feel of the place. Relaxed. Friendly service as well. Seemed authentic vs a knock off. Always a plus. Could use some Austin beer though. read more

Happy times at Balkan Grill tonight. This North Austin restaurant has a wonderful shrine to great Serbians, including Nicola Tesla and Tito, and a tennis player (not a tennis fan, don't remember his name, *blushes*) We loved the burek: delicious, fluffy, meat-filled pastry which we shared as an appetizer. We ordered the lamb special and mixed grill for our entrees, and shared this family-style. The meat was amazing. I'm a huge lamb fan and this was my favorite dish, full of flavor and cooked (roasted) to tender perfection. The grilled kabobs were also a highlight. This is a very meaty and carby meal, not a good choice of you're vegetarian or on a diet. I didn't try the stews but they looked great. There was also a vegan stew in the menu. If you're thirsty, a good range of bottled beers are available and a nice cocktail list. And strong Turkish coffee to finish off your meal. My hubby tried one of the desserts: a syrup-soaked cake that was as sweet and rich as expected. And our lovely server did a great job. We'll come back! read more

Nice service, Small bar. Russian food that I've never tried. Sand volleyball in the back. Located in a plaza next to a hooka bar, a Greek Cafe, a Mexican Restaurant with occasional live music, and a sketchy card house with weirdo drug dealers but it still feels like safe area. Makes for an interesting place to explore. read more

This place is well deserving of 5 stars. The food was really great - cevapi, sopska salata, and fries w/feta. Oh and for all you wine lovers, you should definately try the imported wine - it is very unique and you won't find it elsewhere (delicious). On top of all that... the service was great and you definately get a good amount of food. read more

Balkan Cafe & Grill - Modern European Near Me - Austin, Texas

Authentic Turkish coffee y'all! Also, the food is hearty and delicious as Balkan cuisine should be. Going inside makes me feel like I'm back in Europe and the staff are always super friendly. read more

One of the best ethnic food places in Austin. Serbian food is similar to Turkish / Greek / Mediterranean. Their kebabs and breads are amazing. So is their beef stew. read more

Good food, excellent staff. I have to admit after reading reviews I was underwhelmed. The beef stew was one of the best I've ever had, get it if nothing else. The rest was a meat mix of duplicitous tastes that although good were, in my opinion, overrated. Perhaps my expectations were too high. The waitress was extremely helpful and wanted us to experience the food and atmosphere. She was great and I would hire her in a minute. The food was good, but not great. We tried the "sampler", the lamb and the "beef stew". The beef stew was 100% something I could eat almost everyday. It was flavorful and brothy and aromatic in all the best ways. If you come here, do order it. Oh, BTW, the bread is terribly good. Sop up the stew with it and enjoy a drink and hope you get home before you fall asleep. read more

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They used to serve the best gulas that I've ever eaten. But they removed it from the menu. Very disappointed!

Can't beat a hot bowl of Balkan Cafe's gulas beef stew on one of the first cool, rainy Fall nights in Austin. Seasoned with a skilled and steady hand in a traditional style. A whole lot like a much less spicy bowl of Texas Red no beans chili. Texans who appreciate the soul warming feel good you get from a big hot bowl of red chili on a cold damp night will immediately psychically connect with this gulas. No ground chili meat in it though. Instead you get a gracious plenty of plenty of tender well seasoned 1/2 cubes of well cooked stew beef. It's really the thick rich brown broth that makes this gulas totally exceptional. Comes with a big round of white bread on the side that's just seen just enough of a lightly oiled hot grill. A soft but toothsome chewy bread with a texture in the sweet spot right between a fresh pita and a good hot dog bun. I.E. perfect for sopping up that broth. The other mains stuff on the menu is a pun intended full on Sausage fest. I mean that as a compliment. Two different styles of delicious, casingless sausage. I'm partial to the cavapi as it reminds me of the tastiest breakfast link ever. Toss in a hot cuppa that atomic strong, fog liftin' Turkish coffee you know you're caffiending for right now you shaky, pineyed brown dragon ridin' joe jonesing mile a minute random philosophizing freak you know you are and well...that's a fo sho nuff bumpin' rrrrrecipe for the rest of the night bein' a deep thoughts, free exchange of ideas and quite likely later on body fluids too havin' fun fest. Just don't be a greedy dummy and eat too much meat and pass out in a meat coma. You'll miss out on watching the sunrise sharing a post coital little smoky link in the arms of ya bae. Great atmosphere, intimate space, and killer service. It ain't cheap but honestly we all know paradise don't come cheap and Balkan Cafe is all that and more. Did I mention full bar? read more

Fantastic service, fantastic food! Wish I could say more but this really covers it. I have never been disappointed at Balkan. My boyfriend and I started with the cheese pita based off of our server's recommendation. Delicious! Then we split the Balkan Mixed Plate, which is an excellent choice if you are unsure of which meats to try. I had a Balkan wine; can't remember the name but it went well with our meal. For dessert, we finished with Hurmisica and a coffee. read more

Came for lunch and there was a quite small menu with very few Balkan selections. The food was very basic. We were the only ones there and I could see why. Rein in your expectations. read more

After a day out venturing, I happened upon this place entirely on accident. I went down the wrong road and was intrigued by the location. Tucked along N Lamar in between a greek restaurant and a hookah bar and just down the street from Walnut Creek park, this hidden gem is well worth the visit. The service is unmatched - The owner is almost always in the restaurant and often serving tables, answering any questions and helping with pronunciation. He helped make the experience a great one! Now that I've been here several times I've noticed that the entire waitstaff is just the same - very helpful, kind and attentive. I've tried 90% of the menu and everything I've had is terrific, full of flavor, and cooked to perfection. My favorite is definitely the Pljeskavica and next would be Sudzukice. The Djuvec(veggie stew) is scrumptious as well and you can add beef if you feel so inclined. The lepinja bread is absolutely delightful and pairs well with just about all the dishes. If you are unsure of what to get, go for the mixed plate! One thing I've yet to try is the rotisserie lamb but I can't wait until I can - I'm sure it'll be nothing short of amazing. To top it all off, the turkish coffee is great and they also have an espresso machine. Dessert options are available as well. The restaurant itself is very quaint and well-kept and they even have a play area for kiddos and a sand volleyball court out back. This place quickly became one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Give it a try! read more

This was my first time trying Serbian fare, and let me tell you, it was delicious. It's like a clash between Italian snd Serbian. I recommend the Bread And Spread with Lepinja bread and their Balkan sauce, and their Sopska Salata. The Feta Cheese is so good. Also, their Mexican Coke and Cockta is amazing. Definitely recommend trying this culture of food. The waitress was beyond pleasant, and the atmosphere was inviting and relaxing. They deserved 5 stars! read more