We came to the restaurant before a late show at the Old Town School. I had heard about it on Check Please and my hubby's p's came over from Croatia in the 60's. I've had many a meal at mom-in-law's house. We also went to Dalmatia 2 years ago and actually dined in Bosnia, while passing thru their small stretch of coastline.
I'd have to say that the food is spot-on and authentic as can be. There were 4 of us and we had this enormous platter that our server suggested, since he wanted us to try all the different meats that they had to offer. It had everything from a lamb shank to grilled calamari to 2 types of chicken and 2 more types of beef and some sausage--with all the trimmings: potatoes, breads, veggies.... Wow! We left in a meat coma! The prices were super-reasonable too. I think he charged us for 4 entrees, which came to around 70 bucks for the main dish. Â
I highly recommend that feta salad! We also loved the chef's homemade bread and kajmak. YUM. Chef wouldn't tell me what's in it. (boo hiss!) We had strudel for dessert. It was very different from hubby's mom's, but it was stellar none the less.
All in all, I'd love to go back, but probably not before a late (very laid back) concert, when it's hard enough to stay awake!
I'll be back - said in my most Schwarzenegger/Terminator like voice (which sounds nothing like either). And the only reason I haven't given 5 stars was because we really didn't try much here - if it were solely based upon the service, coffee and dessert - 5 stars all the way!
After dining at the place where we had our first date, I was craving Turkish coffee, so we headed over to another restaurant we liked - where we were told they would not seat us for coffee and dessert. So I Googled, looking for another place that would happily serve us coffee and dessert...I came upon Restaurant Sarajevo, not exactly the same but we figured we'd give it a try.
Though the sign still said open, when we got inside, it was obvious they were close to closing but the charming man who greeted us had no problems letting us sit for about 15 or 20 minutes to have a cup of Bosnian coffee and their "apple pie" - which is far more delicious than most traditional apple pies I've had - filo dough and nuts, like an apple baklava, yum! And that coffee - oh my, the coffee!
He chatted with us for a few minutes, graciously served us our coffee and dessert. He continued closing up the place but not hurrying us. And we didn't linger - though the atmosphere was warm and inviting. He promptly brought us our check when we were obviously finished and pointed out menus we could take with us.
We will most certainly be returning.
** Update **
We decided to stop in here for dinner on a frigid February evening and we couldn't have been more pleased - from the staff to the food to the warmth, everything was perfect. It's got great comfort-type food and service is friendly and funny.
Truly a pleasure to dine here.
It is a very cozy and homey restaurant. We ordered a Bosnian Cheese appetizer and calamari and both were super delicious and fresh. I ordered a veal kabob and it came with rice and an amazing side of potatoes. The only thing that was difficult for me is that they don't serve a sauce with the dishes which is not horrible but I enjoy my meat with a side of sauce to dip in. I would recommend this place if you want a different experience and something very cultural.
Review Source:My buddy and I visited Restaurant Sarajevo with great expectations, as each of us had visited this great Bosnian city in our world travels. The restaurant was pretty full due to a huge dinner party, so we felt good to get our table for two. We each ordered the Bosnian mix plate, with five different meats starring cevapcici, the skinless sausage that I enjoyed in Bosnia. With so much meat the veggie garnish and rice were greatly appreciated. We each ordered the apple roll dessert. It is very good but deserves a more exotic name, as it is sort of like a cousin of apple strudel. The staff was very chatty, so I guess that's a good thing.
Review Source:A truly pleasurable experience I had at Sarejevo. My friend Marta from Croatia organized a group of people she knew (we had like 6-7 nationalities represented at the table.. !!!) and we all sat at a long table which made things feel like this was a family dinner. Indeed it was, as the waiters came out with large plates with 4-5 different assortments of foods for all of us to share. Our waiter (I really wish I could remember his name) was awesome in the sense that he explained with care and humor the individual assortments on the plate that were making our mouths water.
I loved the conversations that were going around the table, but I also really loved the room/interior that we were eating in. The floor was a red patterned carpeting and the walls were Mahogany Wood. I felt warm like I was in a cabin. I'm really thankful for places like Sarejevo because if there weren't places like this, restaurants would always be contemporary but stone cold...you know what I mean.
The food was delicious but oily. There were a delightful 3-4 types of sausages and meats to choose along with what I recall as fried rice and potatoes. Maybe this is because I never got the salad bowl, but I really thought the vegetable portion of the food was lacking. But that is just what Serbian food is, right? You can't blame the restaurant for what things are :) So just note that the food is going to be heavy.
The next time you have a large family dinner or a dinner amongst a large group of friends (8-10), go to Sarejevo.
I'm Bosnian so I know a thing or two about Bosnian food. AVOID this place. Probably one of the worst places to eat. They ONLY have fresh food if it is very busy...on regular days it's not fresh. I've taken friends here because the decor is nicer than most Bosnian restaurants but was embarrassed to have their first experience be such crappy food. I felt the need to explain that we usually make it better and fresher...that my mom does it different, etc. Overall very disappointing.
Want recommendations for REAL Bosnian food?
BEST: Drina in Lincoln Square (it's a hole in the wall bakery but has the best Cevapi in the city)
Second Best: Kikos Meat Market (it's much nicer and larger if you want to go on a lunch date. Crepes are great!)
The first time I came here was as a fallback option because another restaurant nearby had already stopped serving for the evening - but the next time I'm in the neighborhood this will definitely be my first choice.
Two friends and I found this place after a quick yelp search, and seeing the positive reviews.  We were carrying beer for our other BYOB choice, but when we got there we felt a bit underdressed - there are white tablecloths and  a lot of dark wood on the walls and light wood on the ceilings (it reminded me of a ship's stateroom, and I say that as a compliment). But as we walked in without a reservation on a Saturday at 9PM we were immediately welcomed and seated, no problem at all. The host (owner?) reminded me of a jovial slavic Paul McCartney, and he stopped by a couple of times to make sure that we were enjoying our meal.
I had the Cevapcici dinner which was very tasty, but had a white sauce unlike the read sauce you might be more familiar with from the awesome cevapcici food stalls that appear at summer street and music festivals during the summer. During the weekend they also offer a side of oven-baked potatoes that you cannot pass up - this is a dish I'm familiar with from my Greek family and this stuff is right up there with Mom's.
One friend who came along is a vegetarian and I was afraid the offering would be meager, but I shouldn't have worried. She ordered the Bosnian feta cheese salad, and the vegetables were fresh, crisp and flavorful, even in the middle of winter. My other friend got the veal dish, and was equally satisfied. There was a mix-up when he ordered a side of sauteed creamy spinach, and when he pointed out the error they gave him the additional side on the house, no problem. I am usually a creamed-spinach hater, since it can so easily be heavy and after it cools down for about 3 minutes it becomes unpalatable, but this sauteed version was very good - much lighter and spinach-forward than I expected.
Best news of all, for three entrees, the total bill was only $40! I am so used to paying $40 at even "affordable" restaurants that this was a fantastic surprise. I had a great time here and would certainly recommend checking this place out.
Found myself in a "food rut," visiting the same places/types of restaurants, and decided to try something entirely new. Saw this restaurant on Check Please (the guests seemed to like it) and I had never tried Bosnian food, so I gave it a shot and had a very pleasant experience.
The slightly run-down exterior belies the warm, comfortable dining room. Service was very nice and accommodating, we also chatted with the amiable owner for quite a while. The restaurant offers a few dishes besides Bosnian food, but ordering that seems to defeat the point of going to a place like this. The dishes we tried (a warming Skorda soup, a mixed platter of different meats and sausages, and chicken medallions) were simple yet well prepared and delicious. The portion size was fairly generous (we took home a good amount of food) and the fact that the restaurant is BYOB helps with affordability. While I don't know if this would become one of my regular spots, it definitely fills the bill as a change-of-pace dining experience and I'd visit it again.
What a hidden family run gem!!! Â Each course was devine. Â I started with Chorba, Â a hearty beef and vegetable tomato based soup. Â You can tell this is made from scratch with much care. Â This was followed by the meat combination plate. Â I especially like the spicy sausage. Â The meat was well seasoned. Â The grand finale was baklava, and I was worried it would be too heavy. Â What came to the table was closer to apple strudel. Â It was devine! Â Enes, the owner suggested a balanced meal. Â He chose with care to how the whole meal went together. The obviously homemade bread that came with dinner was paired deliciously with a beautifully seasoned olive oil. Â I cant say enough good things about my whole experience. Â I hear weekends are busy. Â Treat yourself to a midweek dinner where Enes can spend time with you, making excellent suggestions. Â Bonus, its BYOB. Thanks Enes for a wonderful experience!!
Review Source:I feel a little silly now that I didn't make Sarajevo my first choice for my birthday dinner. They were actually third on the list and a last resort when Smak-Tak was going to be featured on Check, Please! and didn't want to host us the following day. I then tried Isla Pilipina, but limited seating made the only option available a late lunchtime spot and I didn't want that. That's when I remembered Sarajevo and how they have never had a problem seating larger parties with enough advance warning.
Admittedly, I was a little apprehensive. I've found them to be excellent when you dine with a couple people but I had come back for a larger party about two years ago and came for a wedding last year and didn't feel their food was as fresh or as flavorful when they cooked for giant groups. However, I couldn't shake a stick at $28pp (pre-tip) for a four course meal with a BYOB option.
I called to make reservations about a week ahead and finalized the guest list within a couple days. They had no problem fitting our party of 15 people and tweaking the meals for my friends who didn't eat red meat. They provided extra chicken for one and were able to bring out calamari and fish for another. I know they can also provide a really good meal for strict vegetarians, too. Everyone was happy!
The food was absolutely amazing. I don't know why I doubted them. The schnitzel was the star of the show, but I was also impressed with the sopska salata, the meat and cheese tray with cheese and spinach pita, our mixed meat platter with cevapi, sausages, pljeskavica, rice, potatoes and spinach, and our delicious dessert crepes. We ate our fill and were surprised that there were still some leftovers. It was quite a steal.
I highly recommend Sarajevo for a wonderful birthday dinner. The food is fantastic and they go above and beyond to make sure your occasion will be a memorable one.
Previous reviewers must have been kids or competition. I've been here with groups many times and never had a bad experience. Quite the opposite, Enes, the owner is always nice and has given us great group deals every time we come.
I'd have not taken my mother in law here otherwise :)
This is my favorite Lincoln square restaurant. The food is 5 star at 2 star prices. Great decor, great service and amazing home made selection of meals: seafood, salads, meats, crepes and can't forget about Turkish coffee.
they bake their own, fresh bread daily.
Last time around, I had lamb shank and stuffed paprika when i was there. Delish!
Four of us went last night. Â We were greeted by the owner at the door who treated us like family. Â Turns out his wife cooks and one of his boys is a waiter.
All VERY classy.
First visit so the waiter asked if we wanted to try a family style dinner where they serve a variety. Â Great idea! Â He explained what was on the platter. Â (Not sure about those reviews who said he wouldn't???) Â Anyways, we told him one of our guests didn't eat meat. Â He said "no problem" and offered non-meat substitutes. Â
Also included an appetizer and dessert neither of which was on the menu.
Outstanding night. Â Even though they were busy, we never felt rushed.
A good night. Â We will be back.
We came here Friday night and it was fairly empty. We were seated immediately and given menus to peruse. Having read reviews etc. I decided to go with the cevapcici. We also decided on an appetizer. Mushrooms stuffed with cheese or something. Unfortunately we got stuck with the anti-server, and ordering dinner was more of an uphill battle than I ever imagined. You want to pick an appetizer to start with? NO! The server will FIGHT with you until you order the spinach pie, which is supposedly a rare treat and not on the menu. We wanted the mushrooms so badly, but my bf gave in and said FINE! We'll get the SPINACH PIE. It was a plate piled with soggy spinach pie, as if it had been sitting out all day, and they were really just trying to get rid of it. We were sad. Ordering dinner wasn't too much of a fiasco, although, I ordered the cevapcici plate because it came with a side (because I was furiously hungry). There was a small battle. I wanted rice and veggies with it. The cevapcici looked like it was going to be a large pile of meat, so ordering some sort of non-fried vegetable and rice sounded the best. Once again, the waiter said, "Are you sure? We have cheese fries." I said, "No thank you. I would like rice." And he sort of awkwardly rolled his eyes and said, "Are you sure?? I would highly recommend the cheese fries." WOULD YOU NOW? I said, "No thank you. I would like the rice, please." "I think you should really get the cheese fries," I kindly said FOR THE THIRD TIME, "No thank you, I would like rice, please." He huffed, rolled his eyes and said, "Ok," in a tone of "SUIT YOURSELF, IDIOT!" Overall, I'd say the food was good. The flavor of the cevapcici got to me after a few bites. Too much beef, lamb, veal combo going on. My bf's chicken dish looked and tasted delicious. He cleaned his plate and the server told him he was impressed. I couldn't finish the mound of ground sausage meat on my plate and the server made it a point to scold me. Awesome. Don't ask if I enjoyed it or anything, or ask why I didn't eat too much of it.
A few great things:
1. The owner watched us devour the bread, so he gave us a doggie bag of bread to take home. (He seemed delightful, and I wish he had served us all night).
2. The nutella crepes were delicious for dessert with a cup of espresso.
3. The decor and atmosphere were really nice.
4. The music playing was awkward server's mix of a bunch of different indie favorites that I enjoyed.
A few things that will not bring me back:
1. Awkward server!!
2. Not a fan of the menu/offerings - but I tried it.
3. The owner, manager, and a few servers were sitting next to us eating, in between clearing off plates from other tables. Weird. I don't want to see my server slurping down soup.
4. I heard awkward server giving a couple in front of us a hard time when they asked him to recommend something - funny since he's so eager to push things on you when you do make a decision!
Boyfriend and I came here on a Tuesday and there was nobody else in the dining room. Why? Why?!? I have no idea. The ambiance of this place got me as soon as we walked in. It's dark wood on the walls and nice dark wood furniture. It's super cozy and brought me back to my European childhood.
The owner was the only one around, so he waited on us and gave us the whole story of the menu and how Bosnian food is influenced by the countries around it. It was so cool to get recommendations and background from the man who opened the restaurant in the first place. We took his recommendations and were not disappointed. We got the cold appetizer plate with homemade Bosnian feta cheese and cured meats- and the homemade bread and butter- my god. So delicious!
We got the Bosnian sampler platter so that we could be sure to get a little of everything, and we got the roasted veal to round it all out. Holy crap was it good. And huge! The veal literally melted in our mouths. And all the Bosnian meats and kabobs were really awesome.
If I were to sit here and type out how much I loved this place it would end up being much longer and more flowery than any of you would ever read. We sat and talked to the owner way past closing time while we finished our bottles of wine (BYOB- plus). We'll definitely be back, not only because we live down the street, but because this place is the perfect example of the American Dream done by someone who knows how to do it. I don't care if you've never had or wanted to have Bosnian food, you have to go here. It's comfort on a plate. I lurve it. Kbye.
We joined a couple who had eaten there before and liked the food and cozy atmosphere. The place was full on a Sat. Night with a couple of long tables and only 2 waiters, no busboy.
After delivering the menus, we didn't see the waiter for 10 min. In total silence, he uncorked the wine, ungraciously brought a coke for my wife and, after a couple of requests, a small bucket of ice.
We could have used help with the ethnic menu but none was available. Our waiter with long sideburns finally came to take our orders, with his thumbs in his pockets and totally silent, just nodding.
My friend asked for an egg on top of his WienerSchnitzel and the waiter shook his head with an air of incredulity and disdain.
Too bad that one person spoiled what could have been a nice evening, the food is great and there is variety on the menu and the place has a famili restaurant feel to it.
Maybe you'll get lucky!
I came here twice after my favorite Serbian place was closed. In comparison, the food here was not as tasty and it was more expensive by far. I also don't like the decor, but that's just me...
I guess if you're totally feinding for this cuisine and there are no alternatives at the time, it's ok. But I recommend going to Kiko's Meat Market instead.
I called on Friday to reserve a table for 4 on Saturday night at 7:00. I gave my number and my name.
We came in on time and the owner said he did not have my name down!  I know I called the right place because the accent was like the one on the phone. I pointed an empty table but he said it was reserved for people coming in an hour. I said, great! Give us that table and when they come they will get the table you would have given us in an hour. He declined.  He was rude and very unpleasant. We came there to check it out for an event later on but  that was a huge disappointment!
Well, they lost business. There are plenty of restaurants in the great city of Chicago who will take our reservation and keep it.
Not sure where to start here....my bf saw Sarajevo on Check Please and insisted that we check it out at least once. We had a party to be at later near the same neighborhood, so we figured we'd try it.
So, we walk in and are greeted by the main server coming up to me and asking me "did you call first?" More than 1/2 of the restaurant was empty. I told him that we did not have a reservation. He then said "ok, well  I guess you can sit over there" and pointed over to a table by the window. This kind of set the tone for the night. I don't like being treated rudely when I walk into a restaurant, but I do want to note that in the end the waiter turned out to not be that bad.
I don't know how to describe the menu other than strange. Everything had a picture and there were a few strange things that popped out at me such as cheeseburgers and fetuccini. Also-this restaurant is not vegetarian friendly, which I knew beforehand. Also-as far as the atmosphere, it's pretty old school, carpeted floors, white table cloths, bread and butter on the tables, older customers, etc.
Let me preface my next comments by saying I HATE writing negative reviews for restaurants...I feel bad and I understand that these reviews are taken seriously.
We ordered a 3-cheese salad that was supposed to have hard boiled eggs in it--or at least that was the way the picture displayed it. It did not have eggs in it. It consisted of bagged lettuce (no joke), some tomato wedges and 2 different cheeses (one was feta, no clue what the other one was) with a vinegarette. It was edible yet very bland and boring.
My bf had the cevapcici with fries, and I had the vegetable platter. When he ordered it the waiter asked him if he wanted the fries like the one in the picture. He told him that he could give him feta fries instead...my bf thought this sounded good and was accepting of his recommendation.The waiter then asked if I was a vegetarian, and I said yes. He then proceeded on telling me that he could make me some sort of a great sampler vegetarian plate that would be better than the one I chose off of the menu. He also told me it was difficult to be creative with vegetarian plates because there aren't many options. It was an awkward conversation. I took his recommendation and wished I had stuck with the original plain steamed vegetable dish on the menu. I received 4 small spanakopita-like squares, some sort of mushy stuffed pepper with potatoes, creamed spinach and steamed vegetables that I am 99.9% were frozen from a bag (again no exaggeration). Everything was doused in heavy sauce, the creamed spinach was super heavy and the spanakopita (or whatever it is called in Bosnian) was dry. It was like eating a 2,000 calorie meal from the 1950's or something. My bf liked his cevapcici plate, although I thought the fries were sort of a joke....they were just french fries with a few pieces of melted feta on it.
When we were done, the waiter never asked us if we wanted dessert (not that we wanted any, but it would have been nice if he asked I guess). We paid and left. I won't be going back here anytime soon.
From the outside, this place looks a bit like a front for something sketchy. The exterior is drab in a pre-fall-of-the-Berlin-wall sort of way. In their window, they also have photos of their dishes - something that normally sends me running in terror. But do NOT judge a book by its cover!!!
The inside is beautifully wood paneled and way more upscale than you would expect, though I did not feel underdressed in jeans. We had never had Serbian food before, and I figured it would be sort of like German - it is really more Turkish.
This place is BYOB and the food is reasonably priced. The bread is homemade, as is the sausage...something you don't find all the time. The service is pretty attentive and very friendly - when we both ordered the sampler, the waiter offerred to make us up a special platter to share, and it was excellent. The best potato salad I have ever had, and a range of meaty things, wonderfully seasoned, but not over spiced. We left stuffed and I think the bill was about 44 dollars.
This is a GREAT family place, a great place for a romantic evening out...I don't have a single negative to say about this place....though vegetarians might not find much...there is fettuccinni alfredo (which seemed out of place) so I guess they will eat that...
Very highly recommend!!!
I've never had Bosnian food before, but I loved my meal here. Ambiance is surprisingly when you enter -- tablecloth, quality furniture, etc. The service was great as we were served by the owner himself. I can assume it's authentic as he spoke fluent Bosnian to the other patrons. The wife(?) was the only one cooking in the back and the speed at which the plates came out was remarkable.
I had the Bosnian Mix Plate which came with grilled veal and chicken, beef sausage, cevapcici (skinless sausages), and pljeskavica. All the meats were perfectly cooked and juicy. In my mind, there is no greater sin than overcooked and dry meat. The plate also came with rice and potatoes. The latter was seasoned and cooked wondrously tender.
The cevapcicis seem popular as I saw many other patrons order them stuffed in pita bread served with kaymak (cream cheese). I tried the kaymak and it was so good I could eat it by itself.
For dessert, the chilled apple rolls were simply amazing. A cross between pie and baklava, it was better than both. The apples are shredded and wrapped in filo with walnuts.
Will definitely be back.
I LOVED Sarajevo! A family run restaurant where the staff is as wonderful as the food.
My boyfriend and I went there after seeing it featured on Check Please! The rave reviews on the show did not steer us wrong. The food there was absolutely delicious. Even the four cheese salad (a simple salad) was delicious! I'm personally not a salad person, but even I finished the salad to the last drop.
The food was great. I had the cavapecici which was good, but personally I wasn't a big fan of the texture. It's VERY light and fluffy sausage. The quality of meat was fantastic, but i didn't think it has as much flavor as I would have liked. The Chicken Schnitzel however was DEVINE! I would eat that every day if I could! It was spiced to perfection and every bite was just absolutely delicious.
Even the bread and Bosnian Kaymak they give you at the table is fantastic. The bread is fresh and soft, and the Kaymak (a cheese spread) is delectable. I wish they could package that stuff to take home and keep in the fridge.
I definitely recommend this restaurant!
Very friendly and consciencious service. The mnanager (owner?) made my kids feel right a home with complimentary Capri Sun!
The calamari, white fish, cevap, and fries were very tasty and well excuted. Baked veal was a little dry. Chorma or veg soup was good to try but nothing really special.
The dining room felt upscale with the dark wood panels and I loved the roomy tables and generous spacing from the other tables.
A very nice and first time Bosnian eating experience!
This place was fantastic. The owner and his son personally took great care of us all night, bringing us platter after platter of food! They even sat down with us for a spell and entertained the crap out of us.
BYOB, fantastic food, fabulous service...what more could you ask for?! For the record, the racist idiots who are complaining about the owner's and son's accents? Really? Come on. They were awesome. Don't be jerks.
The food is very good, but what really made my meal here and guarantees I'll be back was the interaction and service. The owner was our waiter, and his pride in the food and in the restaurant was clear. He was engaging, describing dishes and making recommendations.
The food was plentiful, and very tasty. What I had was simple, hearty fare: grilled meats, sausages and such. These are not fancy "foodie" dishes. I was stuffed after dinner, but forced myself to top it off with Bosnian coffee and a housemade pastry. It was delicious.
I will definitely go back and I will take others.
Saturday May 12, 2012 - How about this one . . . we booked a reservation a week in advance. Â One of the people in the party even believed it was the owner they spoke to. They took the resevation and we were all set . . . or so we thought. Â Come the night of our reservation . . . and they claim they don't have it. . . say they never did . . .and what was most un-nerving was the staff was suggesting it was OUR fault (still trying to figure that one out) and there was no apology for the mixup, for their error (we did call . . . I know I was there) . . . and the attitude was very "matter of fact" . . . "what can I tell you we just don't have it" . . . . we thought it very Rude no matter what the "popularity" of the restaurant. . . they even told two of the women in our party to "Move!" when one of the wait staff was coming by with some food for a table.
I liked what I saw on Check Please, was looking forward to some good food . . . .but if that is how they treat customers, how they handle a bad situation (making it worse) and nothing . . . I mean nothing in the way of "sorry it happened" . . . . not a place for me.
Nice Try Sarajevo . . . you had me . . . and you lost me.
If I lived in the neighborhood, I'd probably eat here a couple of times a week, guaranteed. The food and service is impeccable. They've got me addicted to the chicken shnitzel to the point I'm upset at myself for not trying anything else. I did try the three cheese salad as a starter which went well with the tasty ultra soft bread and butter cream cheese they bring you before your meal.
In an era of where big-box stores and chain restaurants are slowly taking over, I'm overjoyed to support this family owned and operated business. The minute you walk in the door, the family pours their heart out to you with their warm and friendly service.
The ambiance seems as though it is too elegant for kids but kids are more than welcome. And if they're lucky, they may catch a magic show.
If you try this place, I guarantee you'll be going back often.
Oh yeah...and did I mention...this place is BYOB with no corkage fee!!!
Interesting story!
My friends came to chicago for the weekend and we've always been known to explore new restaurants, bars and even clubs. So this was no exception. We heard great reviews about this place and all agreed to give it a try. We arrived there at about 1pm on a Saturday and was surprisingly told that the whole place has been reserved for a huge crowd later in the evening. We stood there looking a little disappointed and told the owner that we'd like to go ahead and make a reservation for tomorrow morning since our curiosity got us to wonder how great can this place be;) The owner left to get his business card but came back with a very kind offer. He told us to sit at his "special" table that was meant for him and his family all the way to the back, in front of the kitchen counter. He must've overheard how badly we wanted to try his food. haha!
He and his son were constantly saying something to us with a very strong Bosnian accent and it was hard to make out every word they said. The interesting part about all of this was that apparently his restaurant was featured in one of the food channels the day before and gained huge popularity overnight! So that was why the whole restaurant was completely booked for the day! He proudly turned on the TV and tuned in to the food channel, where we saw him serving a few special guests with cameras rolling. Pretty cool huh;)
This is actually somewhere between a 3 and a 4.
The food? Â 5 stars. Â It was delicious! Â Nicely spiced, flavorful, hearty, filling. Â I had a combination plate, with some sausage, lamb, and chicken. Â The olive oil was yummy, you dip freshly baked brown bread in it, and it comes with a white cheesy-yogurt topping. Â I am a huge fan of herb-infused olive oil. Â Skip dessert, it's just overly-thick crepes.
Now why, with such delicious food, a 4 instead of a 5? Â Our waiter left something to be desired. Â He disappeared for 20 minutes at the end, my dad had to walk the credit card and bill to the kitchen ledge just to pay. Â We asked for extra plates to share our dessert, and he refused. Â "I already separated the dessert into separate plates." Â There were 6 of us, so we had to cut our crepes with forks and pass them around. Â Not a huge deal, but why complain when your guests have a reasonable request? Â Complain behind our backs, like a normal waiter! Â This was not long after "Check, Please," so the place seemed overwhelmed by the new publicity, it's to be expected. Â
The owner and bus boy were very nice. Â This waiter needs some HR/courtesy training, and everything will be perfect.
When I heard Bosnian for Supper Club, I was a little apprehensive but I am nothing if not adventurous when it comes to my dinners. Â So armed with a bottle of red, on we went. Â Free parking down the side street after 6pm, woot.
The rest of the group was already there eating some bread so we jumped right in. Â Only after we sat down did the guy bring over the best flavored oil to dip the bread in. Â Kind of like a Bosnian chimichurri oil, parsley and garlic, I think? Â I dunno it was good. Â
We ordered calamari which was delicious, especially with the housemade tartar sauce. Â Our guy (presumably the owner?) also just threw in the cold cuts on the side because we were so wonderful? Â I don't really know why, maybe he was just feeling generous. Â He was really fun and talkative and totally made that place feel homey.
For dinner I couldn't decide so I got the Bosnian mixed plate. Â Holy plate of meat. Â A couple pieces of sausage, cevapcici, a couple pieces each of chicken and veal, a chunk of Pljeskavica (totally copy/pasted that), beef and lamb with cheese. Â I chose the creamed spinach as my side and even though it could have used a heavier hand with the salt, it was delicious.
About halfway through I was cursing myself for eating so much bread to start. Â I wanted to eat everything but I was starting to get to painfully full territory so I stopped and took there rest home. Â Good thing because we got nutella crepes and some apple rolls to split for dessert and then my stomach officially cut me off.
I would seriously recommend this place for something different, good food, pleasant service, comfortable atmosphere. Â Apologies again for the couple who looked like they were on their first date who had to listen to our inappropriate conversations. Â Again. Â I don't know how we end up on these topics.
The food is good. The service is so bad, that the food could be MUCH better and I still would NOT go back there.
If you feel like witnessing  random outbreaks of the Balkan war 10+ years after the fact, by all means eat at "Sarajevo". Just make sure that they know you are a true American: no ethnicity remotely involved in the Balkan wars running through your veins, and you should be fine after you have passed whatever litmus test the son-of-the-owner-waiter should put in front of you.
Heaven forbid, you are Turkish, Greek, or anything else Balkan other than Bosnian. I am Viennese, familiar with Yugoslavian cuisine and manners, but this restaurant visit was as unpleasant as a restaurant visit can be. And this in spite of the fact that the food was good. Not extra good, but good.
I visited Restaurant Sarajevo with on a double date with my wife and some friends. Â I had read several reviews on Yelp, so I had pretty high expectations for the evening. Â I made a reservation, which is honestly a must on weekend. Â We arrived a bit early (just before 6 PM) on a Saturday, and there was only one other table in the restaurant. Â This quickly changed as we sat and every table ended up filled, with many of them having been reservations. Â
When we were seated, I could not help but laugh. Â From what I understand, the server is the owner's son. Â Having been a server before, I can attest to the fact that he is one of the most awkward servers you will ever have. Â It's not that the service is bad, just don't expect a warm reception. Â With that said, the owner is pretty friendly and makes it a point to visit with every table. Â Just go in prepared for the son, and you will not be disappointed. Â
As for the food, everything was absolutely delicious. Â The complimentary bread and cheese spread is wonderful. Â I really could not get enough of the bread, which is dangerous for me. Â For an appetizer, we ordered the calamari and the cheese pies (not on the menu). Â Both were excellent. For my entree, I went with the Bosnian Mix Plate to get a good overview of the cuisine. Â It was certainly meat heavy, but it was very flavorful. Â I also had to try my wife's dish - The Bosnian Style Oven Roasted Veal. Â Wow! Â That dish was ridiculously good and the meat could not have been more tender.
The atmosphere is comfortable with a slightly upscale look. Â Don't worry, you are good with jeans or business casual. Â Overall, a great experience and I would certainly return.
During a recent visit to Chicago, I had a date with a very attractive woman. Â Not knowing anything local in Chicago, I quickly used my friend Yelp to find a place. Â I saw the reviews and decided to check this place out. Â Well, as you can see I was satisfied!
The waiter was awesome and really added to the experience which I will not be forgetting anytime soon.
When he brought the salad out (which we were sharing), she begin to serve herself. Â The waiter quickly said that's not how it's done back home and that the woman serves the man; he kinda chuckled, smiled and took a few steps back. Â She slowly started to place salad on my place. Â The waiter then laughed and said, that he now has a lifetime customer while looking at me.
The salad was awesome! Â Then the entree came out...again, AWESOME! Â Then dessert...how many times can I saw awesome? Â Then...we ordered some authentic coffee...OH MY! Â I'm a coffee fiend and this was by far some of the best coffee I've ever had. Â
The place was very clean, extremely friendly and the food was awesome. Â I will definitely go back to this place on my next visit to Chicago.
My family and I had a truly unique experience at this gem. Â We went for Sunday lunch/brunch. Â This is not a Sunday brunch place. Â But we were able to order lunch and it was delicious.
Decor . . . meh, nothing wrong with it, 2-3 stars. Â It is clean. Â They should get rid of the carpet when they have a chance. Â Now that I am watching Restaurant Impossible regularly, can't help but notice carpet . . . no good. Â The restaurant is clean but the decor does not scream Sarajevo.
The owners where the only people in the restaurant, husband and wife, not the son.
When we walked in, you felt right away that you were eating in their family's home. Â They put a pillow in the high chair for my daughter. Â Is that not just the nicest thing?
The portions are generous, we could not have possibly have finished. Â The meats were flavorful but the bread is the star of the show. Â They are baking their bread in house! Â And you can taste the difference. Â I still think about that bread. Â All of their food is made from scratch fresh, made with love.
I recommend the coffee as well. It does not stay hot for long. Â But it is authentic and wonderful.
That afternoon the owner was reading his write up in the tribune. Â I felt bad telling him how few people I know actually purchase a newspaper. Â So I showed him Yelp. Â He couldn't believe that was more important to me. Â We had a good laugh. Â By then his wife was playing with my daughter who was playing red light green light. Â And I remembered again, I was clearly just visiting them in their home. Â It was a nice feeling.
You know about "dad jokes"? Those corny one-liners and puns that dads love to tell and you don't really appreciate until you're older? My dad loves them. And so does the owner of Restaurant Sarajevo. If my dad ran his own restaurant, he'd do it the exact same way.
RS's owner is quite the character, but in an overwhelmingly optimistic way. I was here on a GrubWithUs dinner and we were the only ones in the house, so we got  his full attention. He ensured we were all enjoying ourselves, pointed us toward where we could get some wine, and what the various foods were.
Unfortunately, I can't remember most of the names, and even if I did I couldn't pronounce them. But I will say they were all meaty and delicious. I do remember some meat stuffed with cheese, schnitzel, kabobs and they were great. Same goes for the sausages they served up.
After our meal, RS's owner came out and told us tales of how difficult it's been to get people to recognize what Bosnian food even is. Now while I still probably am not versed enough to distinguish it from other European food, I can say that Bosnian food is definitely something to seek out.
I loved this place. But for the circumstance of the evening we never would've lucked into this unassuming corner restaurant. Â We found it using the Yelp app looking for a nearby BYOB after it turned out our intended destination was packed having just been on Check Please. Grrrrr.
I've read a few of the other reviews and I think we had the same young waiter several people have complained about. If I wasn't with such good friends, had been having a bad day or even just had my alpha male dialed up, I might have been irritated by him too. But as it turns out last night I appreciated his confidence in the menu and his wry banter. I thought he was a very good waiter and tipped him as such.
That being said... no corking fee with yelp check in. Not a bad way to start. I was initially concerned we were under dressed as the nice hardwood and cloth napkins cause me to look directly at my shorts and sandals. But there were other folks with jeans and shorts so casual is clearly no problem here. The menu is straight forward and includes photos, which while some might find tacky, I like when I'm not familiar with a cuisine. Â Nothing worse than rolling the dice and ending up with entrails or something with it's face still connected.
When taking our order the much maligned waiter suggested since it was our first visit that they put together a family style dinner for us, allowing us all to taste the meat, vegetable and fish dishes. It was a wonderful suggestion and the food was great.
I often like very strong flavors and spicing that punch me in the face. That doesn't happen here. Â This food gently shook my hand. It was mildly, but well seasoned and perfectly cooked. The white fish was fantastic, the calamari wasn't over done and each of the many sausages were delicious.
With an incredible dessert, described as a cross between apple pie and baklava and some strong Bosnian coffee, the bill for four was $84.00. That goes down as a Captain Coupon best of winner!
All good. We'll be back.
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