БИСТРО КЕЈ — Restaurant in Municipality of Centar

I had a simple but delicious chicken "stek" (fillet) with fries and a refreshing, bottled Bavaria beer for lunch on a hot and sunny Saturday in August during a long-distance bus layover. Some items on the menu were not available, such as the small beer (I had the medium) and desserts (e.g., baklava).

I wanted to sit inside because usually that is the way to avoid secondhand smoke in the Balkans, but the server told me that smoking is permitted both inside and outside, and she encouraged me to sit outside -- where the other customers were sitting -- because it was cooler out there on the patio by the river. (The view would be better, too.) I then chose a table in a corner outside and ordered from the menu while sitting there, but shortly thereafter I started smelling cigarette smoke from nearby customers, and I decided to move inside, where (rightfully) no one else was likely to be sitting for lunch. However, all of the tables inside were dirty; there were crumbs on the tablecloths from the meals of previous customers.

The man who took my payment after the meal was friendly. Both he and the server spoke English to me, even after I initially had spoken Macedonian (not my first language) when I arrived.

The food and location were good, but it would be risky to bring your first date here, hehe! I don't know; perhaps it's more romantic for dinner. I appreciated the ability to distance myself from other customers (who smoked), but when it's busier I might not be...

Ahh what a lovely place on the riverside!! Everything was good, the food was so delicous, especially the homemade slowly cooked pork in onion ( the waiter explained the macedonian name but its too difficult for us Dutch people :). The service was excellent , the waiters seemed like they really enjoyed themselves. We even got a personal translator who was so kind to explane the dishes. The atmosphere was so lovely and the life music was so good, people dancing, everybody seemed to have a good time! Good fibe!!! Our first night in Skopje...

Facility and equipment: Probably the only restaurant in Skopje that gives tribute to the river Vardar. Customers service: Friendly staff but slow. Food and prices: Traditional food. affordable prices, although some of the meals are expensive in terms "quantity for money". Don't order zucchini and pindzur (please see the photos). General conclusion: basically not bad. In hot hot summer afternoons it's a location to...