We are taking a tour in Croatia which includes some but not all meals. Can anyone recommend restaurants in Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb or Opatija? We are omnivorous, and like local food, when possible. I have seen some comments on the board which indicates food will not be one of the highlights of our trip, but hope all of you have a suggestion or two. When we drove around the Czech republic several years ago, we found the food very heavy and not great, but have very fond memories of the people who helped us figure our way through menus with no English. We'd like to garner memories like that from Croatia.
I assume we will be surrounded by cigarette smoke. Is that a correct assumption?

Returned a month ago from a Croatian/Slovenian tour and some of our meals were on our own. Smoke filled restaurants--no, don't seem to remember that as a problem at all. We ate outside everywhere, lots of Italian style pizza, lots of interesting seafood. Most meals were very good. It's a beautiful part of the world, sure you'll have a great time. You didn't state what time of the year you're going, so don't know what the weather will be. Have a great time!

Footprint's Guide to Croatia has good restaurant recs. I've only been briefly in Split - just enough time for a 1/2 litre of wine along the harbor before hopping a ferry or bus. In Dubrovnik - I enjoyed the Rustica Taverna at the Hotel Excelsior, Proto in the Old Town is pleasent. Be sure to go to Buffet Skola, Antuninska 1, just off Stradun - a simple sandwhich of prust, fresh bread and cheese - perfect and inexpensive, 19 kn.

As for smoking - smoking is allowed in restaurants but I don't remember being overwhelmed or bothered for that matter - and I can't stand the filthy habit. There's lots of outdoor seating.

Thank you both. We are going in September so we should be able to eat outside. Geribrum, what group were you with? We are going with Odusseys Unlimited and have never traveled with them before. Carta pisana, I will bring those names with me.

epi: We traveled with Grand Circle Travel. Any other questions feel free to email me at: [email protected]

Hello Epi,
I hope you will enjoy your holiday in Croatia. You did not state what kind of budget you had in mind, so I will take a liberty in suggesting a few restaurants which I've tried out myself:

ZAGREB
1. PAVILJON RESTAURANT ZAGREB
Traditional Croatian cuisine with a modern twist
http://www.restaurant-paviljon.com

2. RESTAURANT GALLO
An excellent seafood restaurant with nice
courtyard seating
http:// www.gallo.hr

3. PANINO RESTAURANT
Situated in Kaptol Centre
http://www.panino.hr

4. SLASTICARNA VINCEK
No visit to Zagreb would be complete without a
visit to this ice cream parlour/cake shop;
situated in Ilica, the main shopping street
http://www.vincek.com.hr

There are many more restaurants to chose from and the one I suggested are situated in the centre or near the town centre.
Apart from the restaurants, make sure you check out some of the many caffes, for Zagreb is a caffe culture capital of the world. Coffee with wipped cream is a local favourite, although espresso features strongly as well. The philosophy is to grab a seat outside, relax and people-watch.
Have fun!

I will give more suggestions for restaurants in Opatija and Dubrovnik later.

We enjoyed dinner at Balthazar in Zagreb -- good lamb and great service. In Dubrovnik I heartily recommend Orhan for dinner -- it's in a cove at the base of the old city walls past Club Nautica and an Australian bar- great location and good fresh fish. For lunch try Locanda Peskarija, in the old port, for grilled calamari and the small fried fish called ribice or girice - divine! Kaminice, on the market place, has good mussels and fried calamari and the small fried fish. Proto was good but probably not worth the price -- do NOT go to Club Nautica. The oysters everywhere in Dubrovnik were superb.

alohatoall,
Why do you say not to go to Club Nautica? thanks

You will love this country! I was there in May and was in the same cities you will visit. I had heard that the food wasn't that good but I didn't have that experience.

The biggest problem I found was there are so many coffee bars and they did not serve food. I didn't think restaurants were that easy to find in some places. Split for instance, but I didn't spend too much time there.

Anyway, I do have a card from one restaurant I really enjoyed in Opatija. It's Restaurant Zelengai at 95 Marshall Tito. It's right on the main drag and the steps go down to the restaurant. They have inside and outside dining. I ate there twice and both times sat outside.

It was a very nice restaurant with good food and reasonable prices.

Another restaurant in Opatija that I enjoyed was Kamelia (sp?). On the same street but the opposite side. Delicious sea food and a piano player inside. I sat outside here too.

Eating outside, I didn't notice the cigarette smoke.

All of the people I encountered in Croatia spoke English.

Dubrovnik is wonderful.... be sure to walk the walls and go early in the morning before it gets too hot! It's incredible!

I'll write them all down in my book. I got home late yesterday. Colin, Siena and Matt arrived an hour later. We're going rafting in a little bit. I had a great time in Monterey, tell you all about it when we talk.

Hi epi-- We were in Zagreb last Sept. and stayed at the Regent Esplanade, which I believe Oddysey Unltd uses. We had excellent meals at two restaurants recommended by the concierge at the hotel:
Konoba Chio, a seafood restaurant within easy walking distance from the hotel.
Kod Zaca, north of the Cathedral of the Annunciation, beyond the Dolac market area-- walkable but we took a cab after having walked all day.

Both were reasonably priced but no outside dining.

We also had a good dinner at the hotel restaurant, Zinfandel's, one night. It was considerably more expensive and, of course, the ambiance, while nice, was that of a hotel restaurant that could have been anywhere.

In Dubrovnik, we had good dinners at the Rustica Tavern at the Excelsior Hotel with a pretty view to the Old Town harbor; on the 2nd floor terrace at Proto inside the Old Town; and at Restaurant Maestoso, just outside the Old Town directly across the street from the East Gate.

If you want inexpensive, be sure to eat at Lokanda on the harbor in the Old City. Everything there is good and inexpensive, but get there early, before 7 or you will wait in line forever.

The best muscles are at Kamenica on Gundulic square. The seafood risoto is wonderful, but stay away from the calamari. It's too big and not always the freshest, also you must get there before 7 or it's he who get's to the table first gets it, and believe me, the people hover like vultures for a table. This restaurant is also very affordable.

Great sandwiches and Pizza, very inexpensive, at Mrvica.

The best atmosphere is Orhan, not far outside the gates of the Old City's "Pile" entrance (pronounced Pee lay), on the water. Make a reservation. Good food and beautiful. Anyone working anywhere in Dubrovnik can guide you to any of these places, all within a couple minutes of each other.

Nautica is much too expensive. The food is good, but the atmosphere at Orhan is better (more intimate) and, I think better situated.

Outside the Old City, in the Gruz harbor is Restaurant Orson. Wonderful food, tables on the old harbor with lots of little boats and plenty of trees with romantic lighting. Some of the locals hang out here.

If you're looking for meat, the least expensive and most wonderful atmosphere is at Konovski Komen (it's also known as Veli Do) situated on the top of a mountain near the airport, but you need a cab. (098 919 7529) Ivica, The most reliable cabbie in Dubrovnik, speaks English, eager to help and honest.

The restuaurant is a village home all alone on top of the mountain. The meat and potatoes are cooked under a sac (iron bell) together and the end result is to die for. If you decide to go to the mountian, you must order food in advance as they must start it before hand The cabbie will do it for you if you call him a few hours in advance, and he will wait for you at the restaurant, as well. Have him order the veal and goat. It's worth every succulant bite, believe me, and see if there are any tamburica groups or maestral groups playing while you are there.

If you get a chance and can find it, go to Buza (make sure it's Velika Buza and not Mali Buza. Big Buza as opposed to small Buza)outside the walls for a late night drink. The most enchanting, romantic spot on the planet, and well worth the walk. That's my suggestion.

Oh, I forgot to mention, but you probably have already sumized. This is all in Dubrovnik. Sorry.

Thank you everyone for such wonderful information. We don't go until September, so if anyone has more recommends, please post it/them. You have all completely changed my opinion about what food to expect. This is just another example of why I tell everyone I know to post travel questions here. The answers are always useful and I have yet to be led astray when i make use of the ideas. I will make a short report at the end of the trip and will include restaurants (I hope).