Taste Balkan delights at new Brisbane eatery Kasina

A Brisbane hospitality family are bringing the flavours of Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia to the River City with their fun new eatery.

Balkan food is coming to Brisbane with the launch of Kasina in Morningside.

Showcasing cuisine from across Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia in eastern Europe, the eatery will introduce the uninitiated to delights such as cevapi – flavoured mince formed into sausage shapes and grilled, meat-stuffed cabbage rolls known as sarma, the bean stew pasulj, and more.

The cafe and restaurant is the work of Bosnian born Dragan Sestic, and his Serbian wife Marija, who are local hospitality veterans as owners of Brisbane’s popular artisan coffee roastery Dramanti.

Artist's impressions of the new Kasina in Morningside.

“We love our food and culture but have never had a chance to share it with a wide audience until now,” Mr Sestic said, who will also be running the business with his daughter Tamara.

Kasina will be open for breakfast and lunch daily serving popular on-trend dishes including avo on toast, alongside classic Serbian and Bosnian fare using recipes from Mr Sestic’s mother. Expect the likes of peksimeti – fried bread rolls – loaded with heavy, mature cheeses and Balkan smoked meats and the maize-like porridge kachamak blended with goat’s cheese and topped with a paprika sauce and bacon. Caffeine fiends can also expect Turkish coffee to be on pour, with a special version roasted at Dramanti, alongside their signature blend.

The 3D floor plan of Balkan eatery Kasina.

Dinner will be available Thursday through to Saturday, with Balkan acoustic music on Saturday nights to create a fun and lively atmosphere while guests feast on a menu that moves from six modern Australian dinner classics to Balkan share-style dishes.

“It’ll be really good, hearty, homemade, peasant-style food,” Mr Sestic said.

And as a highlight for adventurous drinkers, the restaurant will offer a wide range of wines and beers from Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia, plus the popular Balkan brandy rakija.

Slotting into the former site of Nobunaga Japanese restaurant along Wynnum Rd, the 65-seat Kasina will feature a contemporary fit-out in shades of green and white with hand-built furniture including hard wood tables.

The family hopes to open the eatery by the end of June.