A new restaurant is gearing up to bring you fresh cuisine right from the shores of the Danube.
Balkan Streat is a new fast-casual concept from owners William Djuric and Jason Correa. The New York born son of Serbian immigrants, Djuric served for years as a line cook at Momofuku Ssam Bar, carefully cultivating a mastery of technique and a love for Balkan cuisine before endeavoring to start a restaurant of his own. Jason Correa, meanwhile currently serves as the Director of Operations at the prestigious TAO Group, where he oversees the day-to-day operations of their many New York nightclubs.
What Now NY previously covered the launch of their first-ever space at 353 Sixth Avenue last October, and now it appears that the team is already getting ready to debut a second location. According to a recent liquor license application submitted to the neighborhood’s community board, Balkan Streat will be opening up a brand new space at 145 Second Avenue, on the corner of East Ninth Street. The space was formerly home to a Starbucks, and is expected to be able to seat about 38 guests at one time, including a four-seat customer bar in the back of the dining room.
If you’re wondering what you might expect from “New York’s first Balkan fine casual restaurant,” we’ve got you covered. Samples listed in the menu include Balkan kebabs called cevap, made with beef, lamb, or chicken, as well as Balkan-inspired burgers served on house-made flatbread. The star of the show will be Balkan Streat’s signature dish, the burek. The burek is essentially a house-made filo pie that can be stuffed with an assortment of different ingredients like cheese, spinach and veggies, and steak. Additionally, Balkan Streat will serve seasonal specials like beef goulash and sarma, depending on the time of year, as well as salads and desserts.
At the moment, William and Jason are currently getting ready to meet with the board to apply for a full liquor license for the space. They are proposing operating hours of 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM from Sunday through Thursday, and 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM on Friday and Saturday. While you wait, you can visit their original location on Sixth Avenue to check them out, or visit their website for future updates.
