Restaurant Gabrek 1929 — Restaurant in Grad Samobor

I came here for lunch with my aunt, who recommended the restaurant after many of her own visits. From the moment we arrived, the service left a positive impression. A gracious waitress seated us with warmth and professionalism, attentive to every detail. The waiter who later took over was more casual in demeanor, but carried himself with the same quiet confidence - striking a nice balance between ease and professionalism.

For lunch, we decided to explore the vegetarian offerings. Due to high demand, a few dishes were unavailable, which I took as a promising sign of their popularity. My aunt insisted we try the mixed mushroom soup, and it was indeed a highlight - deep, earthy, and perfectly seasoned.

Our mains leaned heavily on mushrooms as well: pasta with mushrooms, and gnocchi with mushrooms and asparagus. The flavors were satisfying though not entirely distinct from one another, the gnocchi echoing the pasta in character. While enjoyable, the gnocchi leaned toward the chewy side- suggesting perhaps a heavy hand with the flour, rather than the pillowy softness one hopes for.

Curiosity led us to order the krompir kroketi as well. To my surprise, these resembled Parisian gnocchi, fried to a golden shell. Unfortunately, this dish did not shine. The texture was rubbery and slightly stale, as if it had lingered too long before being served. A fresh batch might have told a different story.

A crisp, refreshing salad helped cut through the richness of the meal, and an authentic local bitter drink (the name escapes me, but surely a familiar favorite among locals) turned out to be a revelation - complex, aromatic, and absolutely divine.

After a stroll in the nearby park, we returned for dessert, which was easily the crown jewel of the experience. Although the crepe selection was tempting, I couldn’t resist the apricot dumpling. Presented in a pool of warm cream and dusted with buttered breadcrumbs and cinnamon, it struck a perfect harmony of sweet, tart, and comforting flavors. A memorable finale.

The restaurant’s atmosphere was warm and inviting, making the entire visit feel unrushed and thoughtful. Despite a few missteps with execution, the overall experience was positive and memorable. I would gladly return, especially to explore more of their dessert offerings and share the experience with friends.

Verdict: A charming spot with character, heart, and flavors worth returning for - particularly if you’re open to a little...

I was very very pleased with the experience! -food was SUPERB! There are many restaurants in Zagreb and near Zagreb with great home made food, but this was something else! -staff was friendy and, what suprised me, FAST! One showed us to our table, the other took our order, third one brought the food, they looked capable and highly coordinated. There was no confusion typical to crowded restaurants. They will gladly answer your questions and recommend the food. -the restaurant IS crowded so make sure to telephone first and reserve your table! -food came quickly and with great spacing, you won't have to, for example, wait long between the soup and main course. -try their mushroom soup and other specialities with mushrooms they were excellent -even the bread which was in a typical basket on the table was home made and very tasty 😁 -portions are large enough, you won't be left hungry (I'm a big man so that is very important to me) -PRICES are a bit steep, but for the portions and quality it is not surprising -unfortunately I couldn't try their famous pancakes in wine or egg chateau sauce because they don't make them when it's crowded during weekend (because of long prepare time) but will come back during week...

The food was really excellent and home made. We had the grilled king oyster mushrooms, the duck, the chicken schnitzel, mushroom soup and the tomato soup. It was all excellent. Probably the best food we had on the trip and we really researched food. The restaurant was heaving with locals celebrating birthdays and special occasions, so book to avoid disappointment. It was £107 for 2 adults and 4 children and we had food left over which would have probably fed the kids again.

Our waiter, Mirko (spelling?), was probably the best waiter we ever had ever in our lives. We have a son with Down syndrome and he treated him with incredible dignity and attention. He took pride in the food and recommended what we should get with excitement. He was friendly and present without being obsequious or hovering.

This would be the equivalent to a British country gastro pub perhaps. Cute surrounding areas adequate for a nice little nature hike.

English menu- heavy on meats and potato, but enough for vegetarians. Home made chips are delicious. The apple streusel had run out, so reserve your...