Ordering food in a foreign country can be tricky when you don’t know the language.

Learning a few basic Serbian restaurant phrases changes the entire dining experience.

Waiters in Serbia deeply appreciate it when you try to speak their language.

You’ll also get much better service and perhaps even a free shot of rakija.

This guide covers exactly what to say from the moment you sit down to when you pay the bill.

Arriving at the restaurant

When you walk into a traditional Serbian tavern or a modern restaurant, you need to ask for a table.

Serbian hospitality is very welcoming, so a simple greeting goes a long way.

You can change the number depending on your group size.

The waiter will then guide you to your seats and hand you the menu.

Ordering drinks and food

Waiters in Serbia will usually ask for your drink order before you even look at the food menu.

You can place your order using the verb for “to want” or by simply stating what you need with the word for “please”.

Women speaking Serbian need to change the verb ending slightly.

If the waiter doesn’t bring a menu right away, you can request one.

When you’re ready to order the main course, keep it simple by saying “I’ll have”.

If you’re unsure what to eat, asking for a recommendation is a great way to discover local favorites.

Essential food vocabulary

Menus in Serbia are usually divided into logical sections.

I’ve organized this table to help you recognize the most common categories found on a Serbian menu.

It’s also important to know basic ingredients and food types.

Here are the most common food words you’ll encounter.

You should also be aware of a few regional variations depending on where you travel.

In Belgrade and central Serbia, you’ll ask for hleb (bread) and kafa (coffee).

If you travel to western Serbia, Montenegro, or Bosnia, you’ll hear the Ijekavian variations hljeb and kava.

Another crucial distinction in Serbian cuisine is the difference between types of soup.

A supa is a clear, thin broth usually made with noodles.

A čorba is a thick, hearty, stew-like soup that’s often eaten as a starter.

Dealing with the bill

In Serbia, the waiter won’t bring the bill to your table until you specifically ask for it.

You can catch the waiter’s eye and use this simple phrase.

If you don’t have cash, you must ask if they accept credit cards before they print the receipt.

It’s customary to leave a tip of around 10 percent if you’re happy with the service.

The Serbian word for tip is bakšiš.

Most restaurants in Serbia don’t let you add a tip to a credit card payment.

You should always leave your tip in cash directly on the table.