Marko's Kitchen — Restaurant in Calgary

I was on the business trip to Calgary a month ago and decided to visit the restaurant based on the reviews and rating on Trip Advisor. However it wasn’t the best experience. The restaurant is hard to find, located in the Calgary south industrial area. The customer service is terrible. At the entry nobody greets you or ask for anything. The young lady, appears to be working there was busy with her phone. I have asked if they serve lunch and she said yes. I found table by myself and was sitting for a while when she brought a glass of water and said nothing. No menu or drink offered. Later she just brought goulash but I ordered nothing. She argued that I said at the entry that I asked for it but that wasn’t true. She also asked what she is supposed to do with already prepared food. Actually, the goulash is the last thing that I would ordered based on the menu that I was able to see online. Later a chef, probably the owner, came and asked how I like goulash, I said it is fine but it is not my favourite food and I haven’t ordered it. He asked me what he can prepare for me and I said that I would like to try chevaps. Still, nobody offered any drink or anything else, I was thirsty and later had a water in my car. I went to see young lady at the counter and tried to start conversation about the deserts and what she can recommend but she answered everything they have is in the fridge. I got some kind of pudding in the plastic container. It wasn’t bad but nothing to be excited for. I hoped to try their turkish coffee but nobody still came to my table. I packed, took my chevaps, went to the see the young lady at the counter while she still was busy with her phone. I asked for the bill and actually have been charged for two main courses including one that I haven’t ordered. The bill was $40+. The food is not bad but the customer service is almost nonexistent. I got Sturbacks on my way back to the hotel and ate chevaps in my hotel room. I regret that I have visited this place and had to drive 30-45min. to get there. There are so many great restaurants in downtown Calgary around 8th Street where I stayed in the hotel in a walking distance. I don’t understand all the hype...

Hearty Balkan fare modernised with reduced carbs and attention to the gluten-sensitive. Marko's is an intimate place whose menu is bursting with richness and served with great hospitality. Zika brings the flavours AND the sensations of his homeland by hosting with love and serving foods from home with fabulous carb-reduced ideas like mung bean noodles, spaghetti squash and zucchini vermicelli. His ingredients are locally sourced from a farm nearby and he does his own curing and smoking! We sampled a wide variety of his offerings at "lunch" with so much left over we took it home to serve as lunch for another day! Value is excellent, with prices moderate and portions substantive. His specials run a beautiful range of things like roast suckling pig and young lamb. Oh, my, do the Serbs, Bosnians and Croats know how to prepare meats! Zika adds to this by avoiding the otherwise ubiquitous carbs and delivering wonderful traditional cabbage salad, cauliflower floret crush that felt like quinoa and what I thought was the particular triumph, zoodles (zucchini vermicelli) that left me wondering why I ever liked pasta! His collection of Balkan brandys (I think the walnut is the best), low carb desserts and coffees (Turkish and Italian alike!) complete the package. All this delivered with decor to remind us all of his Grandmother's back yard. Come and eat together! Turn off your phones and engage spirited conversation with WONDERFUL food. You will not regret any...

We recently had the pleasure of dining at Marko's Kitchen and were thoroughly impressed by their selection of traditional Serbian desserts. From the mouthwatering 'Dobos torta' to the irresistible 'krofne' (donuts), each sweet treat was a delightful explosion of flavors that transported us to the heart of Serbia. The dedication to authenticity in their desserts truly stood out.

Moving on to the savory dishes, the chicken soup and 'cevapi' (grilled sausages) were satisfying and delivered the familiar tastes we were hoping for. The soup was rich and comforting, perfect for warming up on a chilly day. The 'cevapi' were well-seasoned and grilled to perfection, offering a glimpse into the traditional Serbian culinary experience.

However, I grew up in one of two most famous barbecue towns in Serbia, and I couldn't help but have high expectations for the 'pljeskavica' (Serbian-style burger). While it didn't quite capture the exact flavors and texture I'm accustomed to, I believe with a few adjustments, it has the potential to be on par with the real deal.

Despite the minor shortcoming, we highly recommend Marko's Kitchen as a must-visit restaurant for anyone seeking an authentic taste of Serbian cuisine in Calgary. The relaxing atmosphere, friendly service, and the standout selection of traditional desserts make it an enjoyable...