LOOKING FOR A GREAT (VEGETARIAN) RESTAURANT IN BELGRADE? LOOK NO FURTHER
The Cost - $21
The Atmosphere – It’s not easy to spot Radost Fina Kuhinjica but you’ll find it in an old two story building that looks like it has already lived its best days. However, once you step inside, you will find a small, nicely decorated modern space. There’s even a secluded outdoor patio in the back that you can dine in but know that you have to walk down a flight of very old stairs in order to get there.
After previously spending 19 years as a pescatarian, I do enjoy the occasional vegetarian meal. The perfect opportunity for one came to be after I read about Radost Fina Kuhinjica in a Culture Trip article about the best restaurants in Belgrade. Set in a nondescript building just a few minute walk from the river, I sat down and dined in the restaurant’s adorable outdoor space.
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The Order - Orange Juice with Ginger, Mezzo for One, Beetroot & Kidney Bean Veggie Burger (half order) and Tortilla Mexicana (half order).
The Good - The veggie burger was made from beetroot and red kidney beans and had a very nice flavor to it. I was a little nervous about the buckwheat pancake bun that it is served on but it was actually quite good. I really enjoyed the dish and the wonderful side salad with sesame seeds that it came with. The Tortilla Mexicana was also good. Inside the perfectly cooked, crispy flour tortilla was a mixture of beans and cheese while the outside had powdered cheese sprinkled on top. The Mezzo plate, containing servings of beetroot hummus dip, hummus with paprika dip, tofu cheese with paprika dip, muhammara, olives and pita bread with sesame and poopy seeds, was good as well. The muhammara, a traditional middle eastern spicy dip made of Aleppo peppers and ground walnuts, was fantastic and was my favorite part of the meal.
The Okay - The orange juice with ginger was fresh squeezed and was topped with cinnamon. It was good but nothing to get excited about.
The Verdict - Radost Fina is a very nice place to have a healthy, vegetarian or vegan lunch. With a menu of well thought through dishes featuring lots of seeds, spices and fresh vegetables, I definitely appreciated the brief escape from Serbia’s often heavy, meat and potato centric menus. Worth the trip.