Dining in Croatia

On a trip to Croatia in June ’04, we found three restaurants which were excellent.

In Krk Town on the island of Krk, we recommend Konoba NONO (Krckih iseljenika 8, Krk, Croatia; phone +3 85 [0] 5 1222 221). It’s just outside the Old City and across a small inlet.

The great-grandson of the founder was spinning noodles on a thin stick for their fabulous goulash in front of a wood-fired, open oven. The very filling goulash with beer cost a bit under $17 for the two of us. When we didn’t have quite enough kuna to pay for the meal, they suggested we walk back to the Old Town, find an ATM and come back with the money. Such trust! Instead, having had a great conversation with the waiter and the couple at the next table, I was pleased to offer the waiter a U.S. 20-dollar bill, which he gladly accepted.

In Old Dubrovnik, Andrej and Antonela di Leo recently opened the Drubrovacki Kantun on Boskoviceva just below Prijeko ulica, offering traditional foods and drinks of Croatia. Wonderful pasta, boiled lentils, “dirty” macaroni and many other Croatian favorites are offered along with great Peljesac wine.

Inexpensive, well-prepared food and wonderful conversation with the owners made for memorable meals, two different evenings, in this nicely decorated, intimate restaurant. We paid about $12 for two, including glasses of wine. They also offer traditional sandwiches for lunch.

In Vodice, at the Adria Restaurant on the waterfront, we loved the fish platter for two, an incredible selection of several kinds of clams, calamari, tiny octopus, mussels, scampi and two kinds of fish, served with salty potatoes and spinach. Surprisingly, seafood along the Adriatic was fairly expensive; however, the price of $41 (including wine) was reasonable for the excellent presentation and the quality of seafood served here.

ANN & MARK VARNAU
Indianapolis, IN