Shija e Detit — Restaurant in Bashkia Durrës

Tucked away off the beaten path in Albania, I stumbled upon a hidden gem of a seafood restaurant that truly captures the essence of local dining. The moment I walked in, it felt like stepping onto an old, charming ship — the decor is vintage and authentic, filled with maritime touches that set the tone for a unique experience.

What stood out the most, though, wasn’t just the cozy ambiance but the warmth of the staff. Instead of sticking to my usual order of grilled fish and veggies, the server suggested they bring me a selection of their local specialties, promising it would be no more than €20. I hesitated at first since I’m often cautious with food due to past stomach issues. But I’m so glad I trusted them. What arrived was a feast of flavors — fresh, beautifully prepared, and more than enough to satisfy. Every bite was a pleasant surprise, packed with quality and authenticity.

To top it all off, the chef came out to check in, and the entire team made me feel like I was dining in the home of old friends. I didn’t even have to touch a menu; they took care of everything. This place is not just a restaurant; it’s an experience. For sure, it’s going to become a regular stop for me whenever I’m in the area. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore the true...

They are great. I had octopus salad - very nice and soft. Green salad with excellent local black olives and some lemon and onions, they dry the lettuce, it's rare in Albania, and they also speak French 😉. I also had levrek crudo despite the chef recommending shrimps. It was perfect served with red pepper and strawberries. It was excellent, but I guess he wanted to serve it rather in the evening to keep it longer in the sauce, my fault, but it was anyway delicious. They served real Italian bruschetta as a starter and fruits at the end (free). The only thing I can think about improving is maybe table wine I had, but actually for this price, it was ok. If you are more than one order bottled wine :). I...

We visited on Saturday at 6 pm and there were no other clients, only the staff. When we tried to order an octopus carpaccio, we were told there's no carpaccio, but we can have a salad. When we asked for shrimp tagliatelle and shrimp risotto, the two waiters first said they don't have it, but then decided that we can have one of those if we order two portions. We also tried to order draft beer, and they said they don't have it, so instead we got Peroni. All of these items were in the menu.

Everything ended up being really tasty, big portions, lots of sea food in the dishes, and the prices were fair if not low, as we also got a plate of bruschetta. Altogether a satisfying, yet...