Goulash, burek, veal soup; it's rare to come across food like this, and even rarer to come across food this good. Heavy red curtains, dark, rich colors, house plants and a bar in the back create a classic but casual elegance with an Eastern European twist at Kiko's—complete with a recent selection of Euro music.
The real flavor is in the food, of course. The kitchen's specialty, goulash, is a beef stew in a light sauce with red peppers and spices. It comes with a basket of freshly baked lepinje (pita-like bread) and mashed potatoes with parsley. The whole thing is only six dollars. If this doesn't fill you up, you'll find a treasure-chest of dishes prepared with beef, veal and poultry ($7-$11). So leave your vegeterian friends at home and fill up on some of the best dishes from the Balkans. If you want anything beyond soda with your meal, however, you're pretty much out of luck.
Want to bring some of your experience home? The owner of the restaurant runs a small market next door that carries imported dried beef, sausage, Kajmak cheese, Eurocream spread and burek (filled savory pastries). The market also carries the ingredients of some of the restaurant's most popular dishes; they'll even provide you with the recipes so you can make everything at home. Unless you're a Food Network star, you'll probably be back for a taste of the real thing.
Average cost: <$10
Centerstage Reviewer: Beatrice Smigasiewicz
