Serbian Food at Aroma Cafe: Introducing Savory Pastry Burek and Better than Cream Cheese Kajmak

I ventured into Aroma Cafe mostly out of curiosity as to what Serbian food would be like and the fact that they had a version of the burger (ie., meat patty-filled bread sandwich). The beef patty was highly disappointing. There were some gems, however. The potatoes were nicely grilled if not a tad bland. They came with shredded cheese that I didn't think added a whole lot to the flavor or texture.

A savory pastry called burek was flaky and delicious like puff pastry filled with a cream cheese-like cheese called kajmak and/or spinach. I had tried the cheese-only filled burek courtesy of a Slovenian friend VT that I really liked, so I tried the spinach one that was served warm and crispy, just the way I like it. Thumbs up.

Now for the pljeskavica, the meat patty. The sandwich came with a side of roasted pepper spread (ajvar sauce) and kajmak to be spread on the bread. The patty was topped with diced raw onions. I learned the patty could also be served solo with a side of beans or fries. I thought the patty was far too dry and without much flavor. As much as I like ajvar and kajmak, they couldn't salvage the dryness or lack of flavor of the patty.

In fact, I liked the kajmak so much I bought a small container and am still enjoying it. As for ajvar, I always have a jar of it in my fridge. It makes the best spread for sandwiches or I add a dollop of it in omelettes.

The aroma chicken, which was grilled chicken breast with grilled vegetables was a pleasant surprise. More than anything, the zucchini, bell peppers, red onions and broccoli were beautifully grilled to perfection seasoned with a squirt of lemon, garlic and parsley. The chicken was moist and tender.

I'm not a big fan of baklava because it's too sweet so I only had a bite or two. If you have a sweet tooth and love baklava, it wasn't a bad one.

The vibe of this joint is cute. It also doubles as a mini market where one could buy a tub of kajmak, some prosciutto or whatever your soul craves for from home. There are old timers who hang out there for hours in this virtual community center.

I may return to try the kebabs or order a giant cheese burek like my friend did for a potluck.