Djerdan
Djerdan isn't much to look at, with its crocheted wall hangings, fake wood paneling, and lacy curtains. But the basement-at-grandmother's-house theme certainly fits the food.
This smallish restaurant on an ugly stretch of 38th specializes in the humble burek, a pie popular in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, made with meat or cheese and layered with phyllo. Djerdan's website has a video. Seriously.
The cheapness of the burek (around $4) led us to believe the portions would be small, so we ordered a veggie pita to go along with our wedges of lamb and spinach-and-cheese. The pita took up the entire plate, and the bureks were extremely dense, filling, and clearly fresh made (we were told when we sat down that there'd be a wait for the food).
And, just like dinner at grandma's, we were expected to squeeze in dessert, in this case a slice of pistachio baklava.
We were the only native English speakers. Everyone else --- from the cook to the waitstaff to the other patrons --- spoke what we think was Croatian, but was definitely Slavic. And Djerdan has three other locations! That's four locations total in New York City and New Jersey!
This smallish restaurant on an ugly stretch of 38th specializes in the humble burek, a pie popular in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, made with meat or cheese and layered with phyllo. Djerdan's website has a video. Seriously.
The cheapness of the burek (around $4) led us to believe the portions would be small, so we ordered a veggie pita to go along with our wedges of lamb and spinach-and-cheese. The pita took up the entire plate, and the bureks were extremely dense, filling, and clearly fresh made (we were told when we sat down that there'd be a wait for the food).
And, just like dinner at grandma's, we were expected to squeeze in dessert, in this case a slice of pistachio baklava.
We were the only native English speakers. Everyone else --- from the cook to the waitstaff to the other patrons --- spoke what we think was Croatian, but was definitely Slavic. And Djerdan has three other locations! That's four locations total in New York City and New Jersey!
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