Great news for all Balkan people in Chicago and the surrounding area! Restaurant Skadarliya is reopening, once again offering a gathering place for everyone who loves good entertainment, delicious food and, of course, a drink or two!
The grand reopening is scheduled for Friday, November 20, with live music and plenty of culinary delights. We took the opportunity to sit down for a chat with the new owner, Nebojša “Neb” Branković.
Nebojša has spent 36 years in the hospitality industry. He began his career at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Belgrade before moving to America, where he continued building his experience at various establishments, from luxury cruise ships to prestigious restaurant chains such as Morton’s Steakhouse.
NOTHING WITHOUT GOOD WINE! And the new owner promises that Skadarliya will serve some of the finest wines.
“I will do my best to apply all the extensive experience I have gained around the world to Skadarliya’s new concept. We will preserve everything that made this place special while refreshing this beautiful venue with new ideas, dishes, wines and an entertainment concept that will have something for people with different interests and tastes.
There will be folk music, both contemporary and traditional old-town songs, so that we can live up to the name ‘Skadarlija’. We will also organize jazz evenings and poetry nights, and we have already arranged performances by one of Chicago’s best-known DJs for those who enjoy that kind of music.”
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE GUARANTEES TOP-QUALITY SERVICE: Nebojša Branković
However, food is always the top priority at any restaurant, so we asked Mr. Branković whether he had any surprises in store in that department.
“Absolutely. The new menu, which we are currently putting together, is one of our top priorities. We are working on it together with our new head chef, one of the best Serbian chefs in the world, whom we will introduce to the public soon.
The focus will remain on traditional Serbian cuisine, but the dishes will be somewhat different from what our people are used to, and their presentation will also be refreshed.
Of course, no great restaurant can exist without great wine. As someone who is passionate about this nectar of the gods, I will make sure Skadarliya offers an exciting selection of outstanding new wines, including French and Californian labels, as well as first-class wines from our homeland.”
“SKADARLIYA IS SYNONYMOUS WITH A GREAT NIGHT OUT”: A somewhat different approach from now on
Skadarliya is one of the few restaurants equipped with an original Italian pizza oven.
“The oven is perfect, but it means very little without an outstanding pizza chef, so we decided to bring in the best! A man who was once a world pizza-making champion is coming to us from Pennsylvania, so lovers of this Italian specialty are in for a real treat.
We will also have happy hour in the afternoon, when guests and passersby will be able to enjoy pizza and drinks at exceptionally affordable prices!”
N THE COMPANY OF GREAT NAMES: The new owner promises exciting changes to food, service and entertainment
Finally, we asked Nebojša, as a veteran of the hospitality industry, why Serbian and Balkan cuisine, despite being richer and better than many others, has failed to establish itself as a recognizable global brand in America and around the world.
“Lack of marketing is our biggest problem. We need a world-class, internationally renowned Michelin-starred chef, someone like Gordon Ramsay, who could present our cuisine in the best possible way.
Another issue is that our dishes tend to be heavy and fatty, so perhaps they should be served in smaller portions and presented with a different visual approach.”
Watch the video interview and hear Nebojša Branković’s fascinating life story…
And that is precisely what Nebojša “Neb” Branković intends to achieve at the new Skadarliya. At the end of our conversation, he invited everyone to join him as his guests (reservations are required) at the grand opening on Friday, November 20, starting at 7 PM.
Source/Photo/Video: Antonije Kovačević Edit; Ivana Talijan
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