Center City's Restaurant Aleksandar serves up Serbian fare with American flair

ByWendy Daughenbaugh WPVI logo

Friday, August 26, 2022

Restaurant Aleksandar serves up Serbian fare with American flair

Restaurant Aleksandar in Center City serves up traditional Serbian-inspired foods and drinks.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- At Restaurant Aleksandar, you'll find dishes like short rib pasta described as an elevated Hamburger Helper, scallops with couscous and a vegetable medley, a torched peach and tomato salad and peaches and cream.

Owner, Alkesandar Stojnic says peaches are a common ingredient in Serbian food and drinks so you'll see a lot of the fruit here.

The space used to house the vegan V Street and Wiz Kid restaurants

But when Aleksandar's father-in-law bought the property, he approached him about becoming his own boss.

Aleksandar grew up in Germany, the child of Serbian parents, and his wife has a Polish background.

So when it came to picking s head chef, they needed someone who could pass the pierogi test.

Executive Chef Montana Houston had never actually made pierogis but the family gave his dumplings a 10 out of 10.

And when Montana needed to hire a sous chef, he turned to Ja'mir Wimberly-Cole.

The two have been working together in the kitchen for several years and Montana says they have a similar approach to cooking.

Turns out, it's in their DNA. The two discovered, after starting at Restaurant Aleksander, that they are actually first cousins.

The opening is part of a restaurant renaissance that suggests a COVID comeback in Center City

Michelle Shannon, Center City District's Vice President of Marketing & Communications, says there are 54 restaurants that have opened recently or are coming soon to Center City.