Eloy Y.
Yelp
Located at 263 Parker Ave in Clifton's Botany Village, this establishment is set up well to take solo diners or large groups and transports one to Southeast Europe through both the food and the atmosphere since 2014. Café Bubamara translates from Serbian for ladybug where some of us haven't returned to dine after 4 years. This is first come, first served, where reservations are not taken.
Upon arrival tonight for dinner, the vibe was warm, relaxed, and cozy, as if you've entered into a family member's dining room with photos of notables from the former Yugoslavia era. The open-air patio area was like being in someone's backyard, with plants, comfortable seating areas, and the music everywhere as my partner, our friends and I got a table right away. Space heaters were available for those cool evenings.
Their large picture menu offered traditional Balkan dishes such as common street foods such as burek (pie or pastry made of phyllo dough with a variety of fillings), cevapi (grilled Serbian sausages), and pljeskavice (grilled meat patty), as well as homestyle dishes such as popara (bread porridge), kacamak (maize porridge), and homemade strudel.
As an appetizer, we went for the Uštipci served with honey and feta cheese. For the main meal, we decided on the Skirt Steak Carne Asada Sandwich, Devrek (beef), Mediterranean Chicken, Balkan Burger, and Chicken in Mushroom Sauce.
The presentation alone was worthy of an order. The food was beyond amazingly tasty and well seasoned with fresh ingredients. The staff were friendly, attentive, and clearly passionate about their cuisine, especially our server, Bernard. One doesn't feel rushed to get out like other eateries. The portions were generous, and the prices were more than reasonable considering the authenticity and quality of the food.
This is obviously the type of place that patrons living within five or ten miles will make their regular local hangout. It's also worth coming from farther distance for the unique items coming out of the kitchen, which we continue to recommend.