Page 234 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

232  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

Food in Croatia is very varied, from the fresh flavoured, goulash-style dishes predominate.
fish and seafood found along the coast to the Pasta dishes and pizza (with a thin base, in
Central European staples such as veal, pork the Italian style) feature virtually everywhere.
and poultry offered in inland Croatia. Proximity Wherever you eat, fresh produce and locally
to the Balkans ensures that grilled meats and sourced ingredients are the rule. Croatian
savoury pastries are always to be found too. specialities include sheep’s milk cheese (paški
Croatia’s coastal areas offer an extraordinarily sir) from Pag, home-cured ham (pršut), and
rich and healthy Mediterranean cuisine, with truffles from Istria. Prices are generally lower
fish, octopus and squid joining lamb, fresh than elsewhere in western Europe, making
vegetables and olive oil. In the east, paprika- eating out in Croatia even more appealing.

and so you should be able to
predict roughly how much you
will be spending. The choice of
fish and seafood on offer will vary
daily depending on the catch.
Wine is often drunk with
restaurant meals in Croatia
(for an overview of Croatia’s
wines, see pp236–7), but it is
very common for restaurants
to serve a drink called bevanda,
a mixture of wine and water,
or gemišt, a mix of sparkling
mineral water and wine. The
Modern dining in a glass pavilion at Bevanda, Opatija local wine and water will be
brought to the table separately
Taverns and Restaurants Asian restaurants (especially for you to mix.
The Croatian word restoran is sushi outlets), and the number Many Croatian cafés (kafić or
used almost in exactly the same, of stylish contemporary bistros kavana) don’t serve food at all,
broad way as we use restaurant. offering international food is although an increasing number
It is used to refer to any place also on the rise. are beginning to offer quality
where you can eat that offers Most of the gostionica and cakes and sandwiches. Ice-
a perhaps more up market, konoba fall within the mid-price cream and pastry shops, called
more formal dining experience range and some offer very good slastičarnica, are great places to
compared to a straightforward value for money. The average enjoy something sweet.
bar or café. This can range cost of a meal is from around 150
from expensive fine dining at to 220 kuna (between about £16
a hotel restoran to low-key, and £24). This sum would include Pizzerias
family-run establishments a starter, a main course (always Pizzas are always a good choice
offering traditional menus. served with a vegetable) and a for the visitor travelling on a
Equally, prices may range from dessert. Prices vary according to budget. Croatian pizzas are very
the very expensive to more the standard of the place and its good and can compete with
budget-friendly options. location. A gostionica or konoba the best Italian tradition.
Less formal places to try out along the coast will almost
are the numerous gostionica or certainly be more expensive
konoba (both are similar to a than those inland. Sometimes
trattoria or taverna). These are there is an extra charge for
often family-run businesses bread, but the service charge
and they are good places to try is usually included in the price
good, traditional, local food. The of each individual dish.
usual dishes found in a konoba Along the coast, fresh fish is
include risotto (rižoto or rižot, plentiful though not inexpensive.
depending on the region), lignje On menus, the prices of fish and
(squid rings), grah or fažol (bean seafood are generally given by
soup) and basic grills such as the kilo. A useful rule of thumb is
ražnjići (pork kebabs) and čevapi that a good-sized portion of fish
(minced meat rissoles in a bun). or seafood will usually weigh Giaxa, set in a superb Renaissance mansion
There are a growing number of about 300 grams (10 ounces) in Hvar town, Hvar island (see p242)

232-233_EW_Croatia.indd 232 20/10/16 12:33 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.8)
Date 15th May 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm