Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking, Now At The Fort

Ever since I tried Marko Batricevic's Balkan Express in San Juan (see my previous post here at  http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2012/04/ever-tried-balkan-burger.html),  I've been back quite a number of times for the Pljeskavica and the Cevapcici, both personal favorites. Since then, Marko's  Balkan restaurant has expanded with two more locations, one in Makati and now, his newest branch at The Fort serves your favorite Serbian dishes.  

Meat and potatoes, just can't get more comforting than that. Add some bacon, cheese and chicken, and you know why I love this place. The new branch is spacious with bright interiors, with a cool modern and contemporary vibe, just check out the cool lamps.

Start your meal at Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking's signature Goulash (P 280), loaded with tender chunks of beef and noodles. Hearty and comforting, paired with homemade bread. Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking bakes their own bread in-house, adding a nice homey touch. And the bread goes well with Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking's very own burgers too.

Then, go for Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking's Arugula Salad with Feta (P 270), a refreshing starter with a light honey and olive oil dressing on fresh greens with cherry tomatoes,apples and cucumber and crisp, deep-fried feta cheese. Light and flavorful, another great starter.

Then, go for one of Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking's signature mains, like the Karadjordjeva (P 380), a Serbian breaded rolled chicken breast stuffed with creamy feta and drizzled with mayo, served with fries, mashed potatoes or rice. The stuffed, breaded and rolled chicken breast combines the subtle flavors of chicken with the creaminess of cheese with a nice crisp texture from the breading. A meal in itself, great with a beer.

And if you suddenly feel the need for some bacon, go for Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking's Stuffed Pork Loin Wrapped in Bacon (P 380), paired with rice and a side of mayo. Anything with bacon...and this dish proves it once again. The distinct smoky notes of the bacon enhance the subtle flavors of the tender and juicy pork loin for another winning combo. 

Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking also makes their own Serbian sausages, like Kobasica (P 320), homemade pork sausages with a smoky flavor, spiced with paprika and black pepper, paired with mashed potatoes.  

In between, go for some quick bites of Chicken Liver (P 290), glazed with a rich sauce and wrapped in bacon.  This pairs well with a few beers, so go have another beer. The flavorful sauce and bacon makes this dish unique and different.

Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking's bestseller, the Stuffed Pljeskavica (P 330), a thick and juicy beef patty stuffed with mozzarella, paired with fries, a personal favorite. Slice it up and see the melted mozzarella ooze out, great with fries. Just one more reason why I keep going back to Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking.

For something different, try the Gourmet Platter (P 330), ground beef patty topped with spiced feta cheese. The richly spiced feta cheese adds a whole new layer of flavor to the juicy beef patty, one with a sharp and noticeable kick that blends well with the beef. This one's a new personal favorite.

Chicken Batak (P 310), grilled boneless chicken thigh covered in mozzarella, another bestseller from Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking. Tender and juicy grilled chicken covered in mozzarella, paired with rice, just can't get any better than that.  Flavorful and filling, this one's another complete meal. And another winner.

Dzigerica (P 260), grilled pork liver steak topped with garlic, paired with fries. Another cool match with a cold beer. The garlic really blends well with the pork liver, rounding out the flavors.

Cevapcici Burger (P 230), Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking's take on the burger, and another bestseller  with its signature homemade bread, and yet another reason why I keep coming back.

Great Serbian food, and great value too. And in case you want to stick around after dinner, Balkan Yugoslavian Home Cooking offers its Happy Hour, extended up to November 15, 2013, offering Rum Coke, Jack Coke, Vodka Sprite, Screwdriver, Tequila Sunrise and Frozen Margarita for only P 80. Very cool. Special thanks to Marko Batricevic for an awesome dinner.