Savoring Bosnian Fare at Berix

Bosnian cuisine is the  specialty. And while Bosnian food may be unfamiliar, Berix’s menu offers a mix that can satisfy the most discriminating palate.

Service begins at 9 a.m. Monday  through Saturday with a limited breakfast. Just two choices, Bosnian-style sausage and egg platter and Pura, a dish similar to polenta that’s topped with cheese and sour cream.  The morning cup of choice, Berix’ own custom roasted Turkish coffee that's served throughout the day. Other coffees brewed are espresso, cappuccino and "American coffee."

Behind the front counter a backlit menu provides some photography to illustrate the Bosian dishes, which are listed with English subtitles. Servers with excellent English are eager to explain the different dishes and guide you to such house specialties as the Cevapi (Bosnian flat bread stuffed with ground beef sausages), Sarma (stuffed cabbage rolls) and Doner Kabob. Doner is a Bosnian-style version of gyro meat and is served as either a sandwich made on flat bread or a sliced over mixed greens to create the Doner salad. Chicken Alfredo and pasta with meat sauce are alternatives for the culinarily less adventurous.  

Check out the display case filled with fresh baked savory pies made with phyllo and filled with various stuffings as ground beef, cheese, potato or spinach and cheese. All pies are priced at $4.35 each. The adjoining case is filled with homemade cakes and pastries ($1.40 -$1.85). Among the sweet baked goods are baklava and such delicate filled cakes and pasties as Cupavci and Sampita. 

Berix is reasonably priced - starting at $5 for an American burger and fries to $11.50 for the Mjesano Meso (the Bosian sampler platter). Orders are taken at the walk-up counter for carry-out or dining in. Opt to dine in. The dining room is inviting and features table and booth seating,  a fireplace (in season) and flat screen TVs, often tuned to international channels.

Berix Restaurant is located at 2201 Lemay Ferry Road. Call 314-845-3711 or click berixcoffee.com.