Pljeskavica, ćevapi, house-baked buns and Serbian small plates. Serbian brand chef, charcoal grill, two locations — on Mayakovskogo and right by the hotel on Shmidta.
Balkan is a Serbian food bar we opened in Yeisk with a brand chef from Serbia. It's not a tourist take on Balkan cooking — the menu, the technique and the plating are the same as in food bars in Belgrade and Novi Sad. Charcoal-fired, no shortcuts, no compromises on sourcing.
What to order
The headliner is pljeskavica — a hand-shaped patty the size of a plate, straight onto the grill. We grind the meat ourselves daily, fresh beef and lamb, no fillers or binders. Served in a lepinja bun baked on site that morning.
Ćevapi — short grilled sausages, the classic Balkan starter. Served with kajmak, raw onion, ajvar. Other small plates: shopska salad, urnebes, prosciutto with house cheese, grilled peppers.
First time? Order a pljeskavica komplet with egg and kajmak, plus a portion of ćevapi to share. That's enough to read the room.
How we cook
Charcoal grill is the only method for mains. No pans, no steam, no "finish in the oven". Smoke, crust, juice — the way they do it in the Balkans, and the way we do it here.
Patties are made in-house, every morning. Buns come out of our own oven; by closing time, they're gone. Sauces and ajvar are made on the Serbian recipes.
Where to find us
Two locations in Yeisk. Balkan — the full-format spot at 55B Mayakovskogo Street: proper hall, mangal, terrace. Balkan Light — the compact version next door to Hotel Assoll at 20 Shmidta Street: same menu, faster pace, ideal after the beach or before a dinner across town.
- ·Balkan: 55B Mayakovskogo Street
- ·Balkan Light: 20 Shmidta Street (next to the hotel)
- ·Open 11am–11pm daily
- ·Average bill: 500–800 roubles per person
- ·Bookings via the front desk or by phone
Booking through the hotel
Balkan Light is usually a walk-in — it's a step-out format. For the Mayakovskogo location on weekends, give us a heads-up: the front desk books an hour ahead; Friday and Saturday, the morning is wiser.