Bonimi – 3319 Bloor St W, Etobicoke, ON M8X 1E7
Country: Serbia
Must-try dish: Mesano Meso – for 2
Dinner guests: Young Matt
The high: The generous portion of cheese on the salad. 
The low: Eastern European food is heavy on a warm summer day. 

Bonimi is a hotspot in the Toronto area for Serbian cuisine, and therefore, Mandrea Bike had to get a taste of it! There were some initial technical difficulties since the restaurant closes at 7 PM on weekdays, and the patio remained closed, but a Serbian meal was finally enjoyed. The closing time and in-restaurant eating could have changed since Mandrea Bike’s dinner in July. 

The food recommendations came from a family friend who was born there and gave us a pretty good idea of what someone would eat on a jaunt through the former Yugoslavian nation. It goes without saying that like many Eastern European cuisines, Serbia’s food is also on the heavier side and is a carnivore’s dream. 

The night’s order consisted of: 

• Mesano Meso – for 2
• Salad Serbian – Shopska (with Cheese)
• Rolovani Cevapi
• Becka Snicla Pileca
• Karadjordjeva Snicla Teleca

The evident favourite was the Mesano Meso – for 2, which is a platter of several types of grilled meats: lamb, veal, pork, beef, you name it! Rolovani Cevapi is a dish that consists of beef, veal and lamb that go even further as to wrap the meat in bacon, so you know Serbians aren’t kidding around when it comes to eating animals. They all have a barbecued flavour, making it easy to eat. 

The Salad Serbian acts as the perfect palate cleanser, and if you are a cheese lover like Andrea there’s an option called Shopska which has cheese on top and the people at Bonimi are beyond generous. The cheese wasn’t overpowering as the base is all juicy vegetables that compliment each other. 

The Becka Snicla Pileca is better known as Chicken Snitzel or Chicken Vienna, but how ever you slice it, it’s a hit all around. As for Karadjordjeva Snicla Teleca, this dish was another that was a serious crowd pleaser. A veal (or pork) cutlet, rolled in cream cheese, breaded then deep-fried, how could you go wrong with this dish.

On a hot summer day, Bonimi isn’t the most refreshing option but on a cool, cozy day in the winter, it would keep you feeling warm and fuzzy. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)