7 Ways To Take An Eastern European Escape Without Leaving The City

Kafana

In Serbian, the name of this quaint restaurant in alphabet city derives from a term referring to a bistro that serves alcohol, coffee, and snacks. But it's much more. Located in Alphabet City, walking into Kafana is like finding a bistro in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It's candle-lit atmosphere and seating for a couple dozen people is a great way to introduce yourself to Cevapi, a traditional Serbian dish hovering somewhere between a plate of grilled minced meat and an overstuffed kebab.  The menu offers everything from Spinach pies to Serbian-style baked beans to prunes stuffed with walnuts and cheese rolled in bacon with chicken liver, which is also rolled in bacon. If you wash that down with a red wine from Montenegro or a white wine from Slovenia, it feels like you have been transplanted to another continent. Kafana- 116 Ave C, New York, NY  10009 [Photo via]