Rapsodia Restaurant — Restaurant in Lezhë Municipality

A Special Dinner at Rapsodia, with a Powerful Story and Great Food (plus free parking!)

This was one of the moments I was most excited about during my trip: dinner at Rapsodia, the restaurant of chef Alfred Marku, a place I had marked on my list for months. It’s located in the Shëngjin area and is known for its creative cuisine made with local ingredients.

The chef’s personal story is truly inspiring: he crossed the Greek border on foot at just 14, fleeing war, ended up imprisoned, lived in abandoned houses in Italy, and after many hardships, became a renowned chef. That mix of life’s toughness and culinary sensitivity had me intrigued.

The restaurant itself is beautiful, with various spaces: a stylish indoor dining room and a cozy garden where you can also dine (though it was drizzling that evening, so we couldn’t enjoy the outdoor setting). It has free parking, which is a real bonus if you’re traveling by car.

They offer tasting menus at very reasonable prices, as well as à la carte options. I went for the five-course tasting menu for €45—an affordable luxury considering the quality. My partner, not a fan of tasting menus or Michelin-style places (his face when I said we were going to an “Albanian Michelin-type” restaurant was priceless), chose a risotto from the menu, which he loved and found budget-friendly.

My menu was a full-on experience: • Raw sea bass cured in pickled brine • Halibut stuffed with shrimp and wine cream • Risotto with bean cream and veal in vinegar • Quail with trajama and popcorn (very original!) • Lamb with rice cream (delicious, though I was too full by then and missed having a dessert to finish)

We paired it with a lovely bottle of Albanian white wine: Arberi 2023, made from Shesh i Bardhë grapes in the Mirditë region—light and flavorful.

Service was excellent—friendly and professional. I felt genuinely welcomed. Also, bonus point: in Spain, they wouldn’t have let me order a tasting menu unless the whole table did, so extra credit to Albania for their flexibility.

In short: an interesting culinary proposal, well executed, with a powerful story behind it. I wouldn’t say it was one of the most unforgettable meals of my life, but it’s definitely a place I’d recommend for its value for money, creativity in flavor combinations, and...

I live in the UK, and I was on vacation with my family in Albania. And we decided to go to this restaurant for lunch. We were a little enthusiastic because we were recommended to this restaurant, and I saw that people had written well on TripAdvisor and Google.||||||When we entered the restaurant, it was almost empty; only two people were having lunch. OK, we made the order, some fish, some meat and some starters, since it was empty I thought that they would serve us quickly, the opposite happened, they forgot us at the table, completely disappointed. Finally, they continued to bring out the food, and to see it was a complete disaster: the fish was alive, completely not cooked, the warm food came out cold completely, and the bread was not fresh. I believe everything was frozen there, without any taste. We returned the fish to cook it twice. They left us at the table for 2 hours, and still, not all the food was on the table. They kept bringing it one by one. They told us at the beginning that the main chef was not in the restaurant because he was on vacation, and we never thought that it would be so bad; otherwise, we would leave in seconds. I believe the waiter who took our order went into the kitchen to cook himself. I don't understand why they keep the restaurant open when they don't know who is cooking or the servers are cooking themselves. I was very disappointed and had a bad experience with this place. It was the first and last time I would go there. I hope we were not poisoned by uncooked food because the wife started vomiting after 3 hours of leaving this restaurant. I do not recommend this place to anyone. It's better to eat kebab than to pay 250 thousand lek for...

🍽️ A Culinary Journey I had the pleasure of enjoying a long lunch at Rapsodia last Saturday as part of a group gathering, and it was easily one of the most memorable meals I’ve had in a while. We were treated to a 12-course degustation menu (plus desserts and cake!) that showcased incredible variety and flavor. The chef surprised us with different kinds of meat: beef, rabbit, pork, chicken, and lamb, each prepared in a unique and creative way. Every dish brought something different to the table, both in taste and presentation. From tender bites to rich sauces and fresh ingredients, everything was done with care and artistry. We sat in the garden since the weather was sunny and warm, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. The staff were kind, attentive, and took the time to explain each course as it was served, which added a special touch to the meal. We spent about three hours at the table, and honestly, the time flew by, that's how good the food and company were. Highly recommend Rapsodia and don't miss the chance to treat yourself to...