Detailed review by simeone
"Kafana" is an old word for restaurant; and "znak pitanja" means "question mark". In this region kafanas have always played very important role in socio-political and cultural life.
They were (and still are) places for making business deals, plans for solving wide range of problems, from those of personal nature to the most important issues from social and political field. That is also characteristic of kafana Znak pitanja.
The oldest Belgrade kafana was founded in 1823, during the reign of prince Milan Obrenović. It was one of his houses, which he gave to Naum Ičko, Serbian Trade Consule, but it began to work as a kafana in 1826, on insisting of his son-in-law, Toma Kostić. At that time it was named "Ećim Toma's kafana" and the name remained until 1892, when it was changed into "Kafana at Saborna Church", but the name was dropped, because it did not fit in current laws about kafanas and it made church authorities unpleased. That is why the owner placed the question mark sign, as a temporary solution, until new name is decided, but it remained until today.
Kafana is located in the old part of Belgrade, surrounded with several other buildings from the same period. It is near Kalemegdan and next to Saborna Crkva (Saborna Church). se nalazi u starom delu Beograda sa jos nekim objektima iz tog vremena.
Today kafana Znak pitanja is famous restaurant with distinctive charm. Besides the fact that it offers real homemade traditional meals, it is worth mentioning that prices are reasonable and service is very good. Although Serbian traditional meals are meat-based I have to emphasize that vegetarians also can also enjoy different kinds of salads, sour cabbage, proja (proya) and lepinja ("lepinya" - sort of bread) , which are also part of traditional Serbian cuisine.
Probably the most characteristic thing about this kafana is that it remained the same for almost two centuries. It represents truly authentic image of old Belgrade that older citizens cherish in their harts with nostalgia. Kafanas like this are almost extinct now days. There were only two other kafanas that could be compared to the popular "Question Mark", Palilulska Kasina and Vidin Kapija, but they are gone.
By all means "Znak pitanja" is the real place for relaxing with good old national cuisine and place that I would recommend to all, especially ones who are visiting Belgrade for the first time.
Znak Pitanja9
Ratings
