Old World Pastries
New Flavors
We're passionate about artisanal, organic pastries that are made using traditional methods. We love the process of baking; but our greatest pleasure is seeing you enjoy our creations.
We Are The Balkan Grind
Born in Montenengro, siblings Valentino & Mirijana Ujkic came a long way from a small village in Tuzi to being private chefs in Ny and now also the owners and operators of The Balkan Grind. In our tribes, Gruda and Trieshe, there is a code of honor called Besa which translates to “keep the promise”. It emphasizes hospitality, faithfulness and protection. We built The Balkan Grind to not only showcase the culinary talents and creativity of our team and serve what we are sure you will find to be amongst the finest coffee and pastry in Brooklyn but to most importantly, share with all of you the pride we have in our culture. Our Café is a place where our guests always come first, and it is our honor to welcome all.
OUR KAFANA
Historically, the culture of drinking coffee was brought in the region by the Ottomans. Kafanas started to appear from the 16th century. “Kafa” means coffee in Montenegrin, so a “kafana” is simply a place to drink coffee and enjoy Balkan foods. People in the Western Balkans drink all sorts of coffee all day long, at work, outside, at home, alone or with a company. They became popular public places where people would meet with friends, family, discuss, argue and make deals. Coffee culture is a strong element of the social fabric of every Balkan country. It is never just about the coffee.
OUR COFFEE
Along with the Classic Espresso Drinks, We make Traditional Balkan Style Turkish coffee that is specially roasted and super fine ground for us. We make our coffees individually with a dzezve. Our coffee preparation is an art form involving specific brewing techniques that create a unique taste experience.
OUR BUREK
Ubiquitous in homes, bakeries, and restaurants across the Balkans, burek has a rich history. Originating in Turkey, the burek was brought into the Balkans by the Ottomans and it is still one of the most popular meals in all former Yugoslavia countries, where it can be eaten at any time of the day, from breakfast to late night. The Balkan variation is a spiral shape or a round pie most versions are constructed of phyllo dough folded or twisted over many times to achieve a layered texture of deliciousness.