Croatia Food Guide: Hits & Misses from Zagreb to Dubrovnik

During our 7-day Croatia trip (Zagreb → Zadar → Split → Dubrovnik), we tried almost all the "must-eat" spots—most were walk-in friendly! Here’s the real tea: Zagreb 🍳 Otto & Frank 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Famous for brunch: Fried soft-boiled egg (perfectly runny yolk but hard base) Banana-chocolate toast (decadent but slightly cloying) 🚫 Stari Fijaker 🌟 (Overhyped!) The "must-try" traditional spot? Skip. Fried squid = rubbery Lamb soup = bland, no aroma Beef stew with gnocchi = dry meat Zadar 🦑 Konoba Troha 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Fried seafood heaven! Their calamari is crispy perfection. Bonus: Unexpectedly great pesto pasta. 🚫 Restoran 4 Kantuna 🌟 (Tourist trap!) Booked a day ahead... for forgettable seafood platter (shrimp so stale it crumbled) and bland pizza. Split 🥢 Biser Orijenta (Oriental Pearl) 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Our Sichuanese salvation! Humble exterior but flavor bombs: Sizzling beef/lamb Spicy potato shreds Eggplant claypot ⚠️ Avoid the fish (local seafood can’t handle Sichuan spices). 🦪 Bota Šare (Mali Ston) 🌟🌟🌟🌟 "Oyster Capital" stopover. Fresh but salty—go for the premium ingredients, not subtlety (€35/person). Dubrovnik Area 🌊 Panorama (Cavtat) 🌟🌟🌟🌟 **Views > <｜place▁holder▁no▁56｜> Mediocre beef burger Eye-wateringly sour lemonade But the cliffside panorama at sunrise? Worth it. (No resy? Arrive by 9:30am for prime seats.) 🍦 Peppino’s Gelato Overrated. Only standout: yogurt-pomegranate (refreshing!). Final Verdict: Best Meal: Biser Orijenta (Split) Biggest Letdown: Stari Fijaker (Zagreb) Pro Tip: In Croatia, fried seafood > grilled for guaranteed yum. #CroatiaFoodGuide #EatLikeALocal #TravelTruths