Sarajevo Grill

Cevabdzinica Sarajevo Serves Delectable Grilled Meats in Astoria — and Other Cheap Eats | Eater NY

"Near the Kaufman Astoria Studios by the Steinway R stop, the awning proclaims “Since 1976”—a nod to the predecessor in Sarajevo—while the present restaurant was opened in the ’90s after Ifeta and Ismet Huskovic emigrated to Queens. I liked the interior hung with soccer paraphernalia, photos of Sarajevo, and handsome tiles with Islamic motifs, and a menu that reflects the culinary commonplaces of several Balkan countries. Grilled meats such as pljeskavica (shaped like a hamburger) and cevapi (finger-shaped, skinless sausages) are made from an amalgam of beef and lamb and are quite delectable, served with chopped raw onions and ajvar, a red-pepper paste here more sweet than hot. There are bowls of beans and smoked meat, salads snowed with feta, dessert crepes sluiced with chocolate syrup, and particularly good stuffed cabbage leaves served with tiny scoops of mashed potatoes in the lightest of tomato sauces; I washed everything down with the Croatian herbal soda Cockta." - Robert Sietsema