It's a bit of cliché for these small, exotic establishes, but walking into Sandy's Bakery and Deli could only be described as walking into another country – in this case, somewhere in the Balkans. The sound of Serbian radio and the sight of some Eastern European language (featuring letters not thought to have existed) welcome the weary traveler who made the long journey to Jefferson Park. A friendly staff, which has a limited but decent familiarity with English, immediately gives off some Balkan charm.

Pastries and crepes twinkle in front of you; to leave here without trying one of their homemade goods at $2.50 would be a travesty. Some sort of custard and cake concoction might be the cream of the crop – it's cold, creamy and delicious, probably the best kept Jeff Park dessert secret. An assortment of meats, mostly sausages, also tempt with modest prices ($3-$5 per pound). For a sit-down meal (and there are a few tables with cups full of toothpicks), Sandy's offers a few European entrees: cevapi, minced meats served in a flatbread and topped with whatever condiments your heart desires; and burek, a pastry fried and filled with meat. Finish with a drink rarely found in America: Royal Crown soda.

While primarily a bakery and deli, Sandy's also doubles as a Balkan convenience store, selling products you thought you'd never see outside of Belgrade. Mustard, coffee beans and soup from Croatia. Pastas, candies, cookies, and beef goulash (which, in case you didn't know you were eating beef, features a friendly cow on its can) from Serbia. There are even magazines, newspapers and DVDs from the region – if you thought the hijinks in the movie "Tesna Koza" were fun, get ready for "Tesna Koza 2"!

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Andy Seifert