DRAGOLJUB – THE NEW FACE OF “KAFANA” FOOD IN BELGRADE
In the place where the first disco in Belgrade used to work, right next to theater “Atelje 212” and cultural centre “Dom Jevrem Grujić”, Dragoljub has moved in – a restaurant that celebrates the tavern (kafana in Serbian) as an institution.
The creator Vanja Puškar, chef and owner is the author of the gastronomic trend New Balkan Cuisine, known for translating the classic motifs of Balkan cuisine into a new language of taste and form.
“The idea of a tavern has been around for a long time, and now it has its own home. We wanted it to be tied to a location that has cultural and hospitality weight, and this space carries exactly that,” says Puskar.
Dragoljub is a place where the tradition of the kafana meets a modern approach to food and ambience. Guests have at their disposal a quiet garden, an intimate floor for smaller gatherings and the lower level, where the cocktail & snack concept created together with Vladimir Simić, founder of the Bartenders710 School, starts at 5 p.m. That’s when the restaurant enters its evening transformation – gastronomy becomes a ritual.
The menu includes dishes that are reminiscent of well-known kafana classics, but created through a contemporary prism:
For starters examples:
- baked cheese from “Ranilović“ farm, Belgrade honey, caramelized walnut, dried strawberries, lemon balm
- Buckwheat rolls, MadMed honey, caramelized walnut, lemon balm
- Prunes with goat’s cheese, mangalica lard, shredded cracklings,
- bacon powder, lemon balm gel
Main dishes are homage to the tavern – examples:
- Meat patty with djubek cheese
- Beef loin wrapped in lamb suet, mashed potatoes with mustard seed, reduced bone broth, kaymak
- Sweetbreads on butter, barley cream with leeks, meat glaze, toasted hazelnuts
In the non-meat section, there are:
- Lion’s mane, parsnip cream, parsnip chips, umami glaze
- Kale, pumpkin seeds, miso, dumpling
Desserts:
- Crêpes in wine sabayon (for 2 people)
- Cake with prunes, salted caramel, kaymak, pear compote
- Lemon cream, pomegranate, lemon balm, crispy crumbs
The bar menu offers snacks that follow the rhythm of the evening: mangalica lardo, toasted bread with bone marrow butter, Penis chips with lemon & lemon balm aioli, Waffle & sweetbreads
All this is accompanied by a carefully selected list of wines, brandies and cocktails that celebrate local producers and local ingredients.
In the heart of Belgrade, between the theater and the museum, Dragoljub is a place where food, drink and conversation merge into a common experience and become part of the city’s story.
