Pristina Restaurants

Metro Cafe, situated immediately across the street from the Grand Hotel in Pristina's downtown area, is a good place for a cheap, high quality bite to eat over lunch. The cafe offers a small, but good, selection of sandwiches and salad.

Perfect for take-away or a quick bite to eat in.

Favorite Dish: I particularly liked the grilled chicken salad.

Gresa is a favorite among locals and internationals. A few years ago, the owners relocated to a much better place and the restaurant continued its success probably bringing in even more people with expanded seating and a small outdoor area.

Gresa serves up a wild array of different tastes such as Indian, Mexican, and Italian. They also offer several different choices of seafood and occassionally specials of duck or wild boar. The prices are rock bottom and the portions will make your eyes boggle out of your head they are so big (we joke that one of the cars outside must be missing a hubcap!)

Gresa is one of those restaurants that if you go, you'll end up smelling like you've been there. I guess the ventilation needs some work as you'll walk out smelling like fried food and cigarette smoke.

Favorite Dish: Recommended Hot Starters:
Mellenzana Parmigana (Eggplant with tomato sauce baked in the oven, covered with cheese)
Fried Cheese

Recommended Salads & Soup:
Tomato, mozzarella, tomato
Grilled salmon salad (not on the menu, special order for those who know!)
Minestrone Soup
Tomato Cream Soup (very thick but delicious)

Recommended Main Course:
Chicken/Beef Enchiladas
Chicken/Beef Fajitas
Pasta Porcini with Olive Oil sauce (can be spicy so if you don't like it hot, ask them to go easy on you!)
Curry Chicken w/ rice
Roast duck (when available as a special, delicious!)

Rron Restaurant is actually just outside the Pristina city limits on the way to Gracanica. Hidden behind an under-construction building for the past couple of years, Rron is a treasure that is popular with local and international politicians as well as the normal guests.

The bar area is quite impressive with vaulted ceilings and shelves lined with all different kinds of alcohol all the way up. There are probably about 15-20 tables 2-4-6 people per table. There is a nice fireplace for the winter near the entrance with a couple tables with bench seating. The far end of the restaurant has a plate-glass wall that looks out into the garden seating area which is lovely during the summer.

There is a small playground for children outside on the far end of the garden which can make summer meals a bit loud at time when there are groups of children running around.

Favorite Dish: Recommended Starters:
Mozzarella Caprese Salad (Mozzarella and Tomatoes in Olive Oil with Basil)
Crepes Ricotta & Spinach (A crepe stuffed with fresh spinach smothered in cheese sauce)
Fungi Chardonnay (Mushrooms sautéed in chardonnay wine)

Recommended Wine - Nice selection. Different variations available by bottle or glass.
Chianti
Kosovo Merlot

Recommended Main Course:
Honolulu Chicken, Pancetta, and Avocado Salad - Comes in a big bowl and is a meal in itself. Not the healthiest salad...but very good!
Cous Cous (traditional cous cous served with tender roast lamb and potatoes)
Medallions Calabreze (Tender medallions of beef with a eggplant/aubergine, tomato and cheese topping with veggies/potatoes on the side)
Pfefer Steak or Filet Mignon - Excellent cuts of steak!

Recommended Dessert:
Chocolate Mousse
Panna Cotte

Et Itetimok reads the sign outside but the name is reversed for some odd reason. The real name is Te Komiteti and they serve up a fantastic selection of sandwiches, soup, pizza, and a few pasta dishes for lunch.

Located across from the Remember Me flower shop, Te Komiteti is popular with both internationals as well as locals. The prices are extremely reasonable and the food is spectacular.

The restaurant has an extensive wine selection as well.

Favorite Dish: Cream of Broccoli soup - Delicious, thick, and in a huge bowl!

Roast beef sandwich - On a big slab of designer bread with slices of roast beef, lettuce, and gorgonzola cheese

Smoked salmon on a bagel with cream cheese - Absolutely brilliant and delicious!

Vegetable Wrap - Can't remember the exact name but it's under sandwiches. An nice assortment of different veggies wrapped up in a tortilla.

Ciao Restaurant is a great restaurant kind of off the beaten path. Located just off Skopje Highway in Caglavica, Ciao serves up traditional Serbian food. You can easily stuff yourself silly at this restaurant for around 10 Euros a person.

During the summer there is a fantastic outside seating area. Inside there are about 7 tables and a separate room for larger parties. We comfortably seated 12-15 people in the separate room for dinner parties. Reservations are recommended for large parties.

The inside of the restaurant is pretty nice. The owners have made an effort to give the place a bit of a swanky atmosphere with the decorations and low lighting.

When power becomes a problem, this restaurant is one of the few that you can guarantee the food will be properly refridgerated. The backup generator is powerful enough to handle the kitchen as well as the lighting.

Favorite Dish: The oriental salad is a nice starter as well as the hunter salad. If you feel adventurous, try the tarator salad when available. It's a nice traditional yogurt salad dish.

During the winter or when you aren't feeling good, try the chicken soup. The broth is a little bit creamy and there are chunks of chicken, carrots, and other veggies. An order for two people will give you almost three bowls each!

I absolutely love the ribs with cream main course. Served off the bone, the meat is tender and topped with chunks of cheesy cream. My friends also recommend the trout. For large parties go for a mixed meat dish for the table.

For a nice wine, try the Pro Corde Vranac (10E/bottle). From Montenegro, it is one of the region's nicest wines.

A&A Restaurant is hidden on one of the small side streets of Sunny Hill. If a friend would not have taken me there for lunch one day, I probably would never have known of its existence!

Once you step inside, you are transported to a fine dining experience with table linens, good service, and excellent meals.

Reservations for larger parties is recommended and on holidays is is highly recommended to make a reservation as the restaurant is popular with locals and internationals.

The restaurant is small with only about six tables squashed in the lower seating area and a couple more in an attached room a couple steps higher. During the winter there is a small fireplace on the lower level that not only warms those chilled parts but also adds a little something special to the dining experience.

The owner is very friendly and makes sure that you enjoy your experience. The wait staff are professional and have good English skills.

Favorite Dish: Recommended Starters:

Tomato, Mozzarella, Avocado Salad - Served with a little bit of creamy mustard-like dressing that is mouth-watering!

Spinach & Goat Cheese Salad

Pine Nut Salad

Recommended Main Dishes:

Salmon with Dill - Cooked to perfection with just the right amount of dill sauce served on top with fresh veggies on the side.

Filet Mignon - Thick and tender steak with fresh veggies

Gnocchi with porcini mushrooms & broccoli - All the pasta is home-made and the gnocchi is wonderful!

Recommended Dessert:

Chocolate Mousse

Crème Brule

Samurai has a kind of traditional Asian atmosphere with wooden tables and benches, Asian art on the walls, and hanging curtains. The outside terrace has a regular seating area as well as a kind of Japanese garden area.

On Friday nights, watch out for rounds of hilarious and fun karaoke. Sometimes there is live music provided by one-man band Nazi (that's Naw-zee, not the other kind) who plays a mix of 80's hits and international music.

Samurai has the most extensive cocktail menu in Pristina. I haven't seen any other bars that offer to mix up a Bloody Mary or Long Island Ice Tea. The drink menu encompasses nearly four double-sided pages in the menu. For a tradtional Japanese drink, try the pear flavored sake.

Favorite Dish: I love eating at Samurai and highly recommend the sushi. My favorites are the California Rolls, Octopus, Ebi(shrimp), and sake (salmon) sushi.

If you don't do raw fish there are plenty of traditional Asian cooked dishes to try such as teriyaki, curry, or sweet & sour.

Recommended Starters:

Gyoza - Vegetable Dumplings served with a spicy/sweet dipping sauce

Yakatori Chicken - Marinated chicken sticks.

Miso soup - Traditional Japanese soup with crab sticks & seaweed

Recommended Main Dishes:

Teriyaki (Chicken, Beef, or Combination!)

Sweet & Sour (Chicken, Beef, or Combo) - Loaded with fresh veggies, comes in a big bowl with a large side order of rice.

Curries (Chicken, Beef) - If you like it spicy, this is the dish for you! You can order it mild or medium as well.

Ebi & Sake Platter - A mixture of shrimp and salmon maki sushi and a set of six California rolls. My personal favorite.

Medium Sushi Platter (you get a mix of all the best sushi! 12 pieces total)

Recommended Drinks:

Pear-flavored Saki (De-li-cious!)

Basically anything from their drink menu (probably the most extensive in all of Pristina...no, take that back, all of Kosovo!)

Pinocchio is one of my favorite restaurants in Pristina not just because it is conveniently located near my house but because the quality is always excellent. I've only received a couple of dishes in six years of eating there that didn't meet my high expectations of the restaurant.

The wait staff are seasoned veterans at giving good service and well-deserving of their tips. Of course, after so many meals they have figured out our preferences, know where we like to sit, and always greet us with a smile.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is relaxing. I'd recommend going upstairs onto the balcony during the summertime and at night. You'll have a great view of nighttime Pristina.

It's rare that you'll ever find the restaurant completely full as they have a separate room for large parties and there are plenty of tables for couples or small groups. I'd say there are probably about 10 tables downstairs in addition to the party room and probably 8 upstairs, with an additional 8 on the balcony. There is one more level that is new and I haven't been on it...it may be reserved for the exclusive clientele like the Prime Minister or UN representative :)

Favorite Dish: Appetizers:
Caprese Salad - A good sized plate of mozzarella and tomatoes. A special touch with a cherry tomato on top. Drizzled with olive oil.

Fresh grilled mushrooms - A special dish that is on the specials board every couple of weeks. Delicious!

Carpachio with Mozzarella - Thin slices of beef with a few slices of mozzarella on the side.

Salmon Afumicato - Thin slices of salmon served carpachio-style

Recommended Wine - Nice selection. Different variations available by bottle or glass. Check the wine list as the prices can vary from 15 Euros on up!
Melini or Ruffino Chianti
Kosovo Merlot

Recommended Main Course:
Salmon al Folio - A generous-sized salmon filet served in a piping hot mushroom sauce. Baked in tin foil with potatoes. Tender and delicious!

Ravioli with salmon or with ricotta & spinach - Both dishes are fantastic with fresh homemade ravioli. Salmon comes with a creamy tomato sauce and the ricotta/spinach comes with a creamy spinach sauce.

Spaghetti Bolognese - A traditional favorite. Comes in a huge bowl

Steaks - An assortment of different sauces accompany the steaks which are good cuts of meat. Sides of mashed or boiled potatoes, rice, or fresh veggies.