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Sarajevo dining find: Dveri Restaurant

The pedestrianized core historic market area of Sarajevo is called Baščaršija. Mixed in among the trinket and carpet shops and pastry shops are diverse places of worship and artisan workshops and both 'Turkish' and 'Austrian' -influenced stalls that still serve local residents with produce, spices, meat & dairy goods, etc.

Also mixed in with the various smashburger and kebab stands are some gem dining opportunities and shisha bars. I had a great meal at Dveri Restaurant, and only realized on my way out when I saw the front door covered in award stickers that it has been on the top of a lot of lists for many years.

https://dveri.co.ba/?lang=bs

Tables and decor are made from bric-a-brac curated with a tongue placed firmly in cheek. Menu is what we here on the best coast call upscale versions of homecooked comfort dishes, just BiH as home instead of California.

My favorite discovery of this trip, kajmak cheese, makes a great appetizer here along with their special bread, a savory take on a pan of 4 cinnamon rolls that pull apart like monkey bread.

I had a main of veal rolled and stuffed with some more melty cheese and prosciutto and then battered and schnitzeled and then topped with another sauce -- like a steak diane with a gilded lily. Roasted peppers and an odd but delicious potato accompaniment.

Dveri is yet another great example of the RS dictum that you can find special spots in the midst of tourist traps if you put in a little effort.

The waiter I chatted with had excellent English, which he picked up from living for a couple of years in Malaysia.

Reserve ahead, Cash only (BAM preferred but Euros ok) English menu available.

Posted by
6247 posts

Great recommendation! I love Dveri - have eaten there twice! And that bread? Oh my!

But kajmak - I am pretty sure it put me out of commission for a day. But I ate it elsewhere- not Dveri.

Posted by
3432 posts

Both Rick and Cameron have mentioned kajmak in their blog posts here on the RSE web yet it doesn't seem to make it into many visitors' awareness.

For context, when I find a place here in CA that makes their whipped cream in a way I really like, I will get a side of whipped cream to go when I leave and use it at home the next two days. Finding kajmak in the Adriatic was a treasure for me.

Posted by
6247 posts

I had kajmak in a very similar dish up in the mountains of Montenegro. And one more place I can’t recall right now. It was delicious! But I had to stay near the bathroom the following day. I gave it a second try because it was good - but after a couple of bites, I had to stop. I guess it’s just not my friend…..

Posted by
1557 posts

We had a wonderful lunch there last May! And kajmak was a great discovery for us as well. Similar to when we found ajvar in Macedonia.

Posted by
85 posts

Another vote for Dveri! Our friends from Bosnia recommended it, and we ate there twice. Creative and delicious. It's tiny, so reservations are a must.

Posted by
21 posts

The astounding thing about kajmak is how swiftly it goes off in your fridge. It's a very ephemeral food. Fat and fermentation combine in a way where it often won't taste the same two days in a row.