I O Cafe — Restaurant in New York

SERBIA 🇷🇸 Eat the World NYC review: As Ridgewood continues to change and newcomers with earbuds shuffle down the subway stairs at Forest Avenue to quickly walk home, I O Caffe continues to be the place it has always been for the last 25 years or so. With its dark, barred windows and solid door that offer no glimpses inside even at night, it takes somewhat of a leap of faith to swing open the heavy portal and step inside. The right folks might bring the jukebox screeching to a halt just like in the movies, but since I am Serbian-passing the intensity level of stares were simply at harmless intruder level.

But all that evaporates away pretty quickly just like it does in most longtime corner bars that only get a few outsiders. After all, the door is always open, I O Caffe just keeps to itself. And if this leap had not been made, a really nice plate of ćevapi and the friendly welcome would never have been found. As a group of men smokes and plays dominos in the back, grab one of the ten or so seats at the bar and settle in.

There is no menu, but plates of ćevapi are the main food offering. When salad and fries were mentioned they were not turned down, as it was the goal of the meal to try as much as they were cooking. $25 ended up being the total for 10 perfectly grilled pieces of meat over crisp fries, some bread, and an excellent and large šopska, a salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, red peppers, and a healthy sprinkling of Bulgarian goat cheese. More than enough for two, had I...

(UPDATE: Come for the great European music that your Soundhound won't find.) Yes this place is not for a normie, go to Rolo's, this is a rare Eastern European cafe, bar from Ridgewood neighborhood type of joint. The kitchen is out of this world, too meaty, too carby, and the freshest Middle Eastern type salad. Pull the correct metal door to...

Very nice place, delicious food, polish bartenders, homely atmosphere, you can order your favorite song... What more could you want??? I recommend visiting...