Ron W.
Yelp
Shhh...this place is almost a secret. Okay, AAA Magazine gave it top billing in it's latest Westways Magazine issue, but still it's hidden in a set back strip Mall with a small sign that says Pizza Grill and a microscopic sign announcing you've arrived at Sofra Urbana. Locating Sofra Urbana will require at least 4 drive bys, which looks like your'e casing the joint, but be patient because you will find it. Follow your nose.
Inside it's a spotless little jewel box, with an Order Counter, a QR Cube menu, and an over head light board menu that is only visible through the Hubble Telescope.
There are 5 small tables and a few more tables set up outside close to the exhaust fumes of cars cruising by trying to find what you found. A loop plays Bosnia's top 4 hits. Maybe it reminds the ex-pats of home.
Bosnia. Who knows anything about Bosnia other than it was mixed up in the aftermath of Yugoslavia and Tito shuttering leaving the Balkins to go Batshit.
Never mind, what was left after the smoke cleared, were a proud, if battered people, unexploded land mines, a lovely rich traditional culture and great food which you will find here.
I thought Bosnian food consisted of MRE's and WW2 surplus K-Rations. Nope, all Halah meats, Halalujah! The cuisine as presented at Sofra Urbana is authentic, satisfying, and not just hot soup for a cold snap.
Here, there is a variety of house made Bosnian dishes all made to order.
Who's here? Ex-pats, both of them, a gaggle of feral children bouncing around the room as their Momma texts and a friendly gang of Kitchen pepper preppers, and cooks in nooks, turning out great food that is not just a novelty night out. Br, Ne.
The Food: The Shopska (Greek) Salad was just picked fresh and certainly no cooler clean out. The Salad was crisp, balanced and as well dressed as a Shipping Magnate. Cucs, Tomatoes, Red Onions Slivers, Roasted Red Peppers Slices, Feta Cheese and one tiny little Green Olive. It was healthy and tasty.
On the other end of the spectrum I couldn't say no to some Chevapi. (10 little Balkin Beef Sausages which were delicious). Not to spicy yet not timid either, they were packed into a Somun/Lepinje which sounds like something you get from wearing wet shoes for weeks. It is actually a pillowy Pita with an airy crumb that comes with a cup of soft Feta and one of Ajvar (Pepper Spread) which will all make you one very happy Cevapi Chappy.
Next, I tried the Zeljanica (Spinach and Mozzarella Cheese) coiled like a Bosun Mate's rope on deck. Uncoiled it will reach from the table to my car. This is a tube of flaky baked pastry stuffed with Spinach and Cheese that is crunchy and creamy in the same bite. The Zeljanica arrived shell casing hot oozing lumps of gooey cheese all tangled up with the Spinach. I just needed a Tuzlanski Pilsner or three.
Full as a tick I wanted to tap out but everything looked so good I had to keep going. So, it was a Sofra Urbana Pizza up next. Mozzarella, Mushrooms, fresh Baby Arugula, Bresaola (Basturma, smoked air dried beef), some Truffle Oil, that was lost in the shuffle, and Shaved Parmesan. This Pizza was nicely done. The sturdy crust glistening with good quality Olive Oil supported the generous toppings, the best of which was the Bresaola. (Think Jugo Jerky). Wrap the Bresaola around gauze and it would still taste great. The best Pizza ev-er? Nope. The best Bosnian Pizza this side of Sarejevo? Easily in the running for that accolade.
Would you wear your Nicholas Ghesquiere ensemble here? I advise you not to. Bosnian food is not neat. It's messy and all for the best. Using your hands adds to the intimacy of eating. So, dining here is like making love. If you haven't got it all over you, you're doing it wrong.
Sofra...so good.