Bosnia is one of the countries considered the crossroads of the East and West. It is in the Balkan area of Europe and yet has heavy Middle Eastern influences. Bosnian food is different yet strangely familiar. It has culinary influences from Turkey and Greece but also from Central Europe. Nowhere is this as apparent as at Sofra Bosnian Grill in Meridian, where cuisines collide to create a delicious combination of edible delights. Owner Edina Delic has brought the foods of her homeland here to the Boise area so we can delight in what Bosnia has to offer.
Appetizers at Sofra include fresh, baked-in house bread served with either a tzatziki sauce or hummus. The bread is delicious, slightly tangy and baked to perfection. Another option for an appetizer are the pies. These are Bosnian pies, either meat, spinach or cheese and are perfect for sharing. The thin, flaky crust on these rolled pies is just astounding. It is well worth trying each of the pies to see what they are all about. The spices are delicate in the filling, more herbaceous and just spicy enough to put a zing in your mouth.
Meat is what’s for dinner in Bosnia and Sofra Bosnian Grill showcases this quite well. Choices include Cevapi, a beef sausage sandwich; Pljeskavica, a serious version of a hamburger; the old standby Gyro and Raznijici, grilled skewers of beef or chicken. For someone who wants to try it all, there is a Bosnian Mix Plate with some of everything to try.
The Cevapi consists of house-made skinless sausages grilled to perfection. They are served on pita bread, the bread similar but thicker than from other countries so it holds up better as a sandwich. Ajvar, a mixture of roasted red peppers, garlic, eggplant and a touch of chili peppers. It is great for dipping the sausages into, along with the supplied sour cream.
Plejeskavica is one of those slightly familiar dishes from Bosnia. At Sofra Bosnian Grill, it looks like a huge hamburger, topped with melted Swiss Cheese, tomato, onion and lettuce. The pita bread serves as the bun and it is even served with fries. Besides the size difference, though, the flavor tells you this is no ordinary cheeseburger. The large beef patty is grilled until the outside caramelizes and has wonderful flavors from the spices used in the meat. The sandwich is nicely balanced without the bun overpowering the meat.
Some other slightly familiar dishes include a Gyro, nicely done, topped with feta cheese, served with hummus and French Fries; and the Grilled Chicken and Beef Skewers, skewered with onion and bell peppers and served either a with a house salad or a side of tasty rice. Salads also make appearances as main courses, either as a Grilled Chicken Salad or a Gyro Salad.
Two standout items on the menu are the Gulash, a traditional vegetable and meat stew; and the Sarma, or Cabbage Rolls. Cabbage Rolls are pretty common in many cuisines in Europe and America and Sofra’s Bosnian version shows why it is so popular. The cabbage leaves are cooked until tender, but still strong enough to hold the filling without breaking up. The ground beef and rice filling is seasoned nicely and the rolls are baked nicely. Finally, the sauce is excellent, not the overly sweet and sour sauce common in many cuisines but a more piquant style sauce, excellent for mopping up with the house-baked bread. Sofra Bosnian Grill’s dish is one of the best versions of stuffed cabbage around.
No matter what you have, make sure to save room for dessert. Sofra makes a special Sofra Cake and a sweet bread to enjoy. The best dessert to try though is the Baklava, the syrup drenched, paper-thin phyllo pastry chock full of walnuts. At Sofra Bosnian Grill, they serve it with a slice of lemon. The lemon, lightly squeezed over the baklava, cut the intense richness and lets the flavors shine through. This is a must-get dish.
There is a kid’s menu at Sofra Bosnian Grill also that includes the beef sausage and burger sandwich as well as an unusual Nutella Sandwich. Overall, there is plenty of room inside, with plenty of booths and several tables that can be moved together for larger parties. Indeed, coming with a group is a nice way to try several different dishes at Sofra’s. Pricing at Sofra is extremely reasonable, especially for a restaurant where the emphasis is in scratch-made, cooked to order items. Service is great, with Edina happy to explain dishes that new guests may be unfamiliar with. If you are yearing to try something new and unique, different yet familiar, Sofra Bosnian Grill is a great choice for a meal.
Sofra Bosnian Grill
3665 E Overland Rd
Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: (208) 389-8690
Website: www.sofrabosniangrill.com
All photos by Ed Simon for The Boise Beat
