Karma Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Grad Zadar

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Karma Restaurant in Zadar and wanted to share my experience. Overall, I found the restaurant to have fantastic food and good service. However, there were some concerns regarding their knowledge about allergies, particularly gluten-related issues.

The restaurant staff initially assured me that they had gluten-free pasta and that I could enjoy any of the pasta dishes. Excited about the options, I ordered the squid ink tagliatelle, emphasizing my need for it to be gluten-free. The dish looked visually appealing, and I even confirmed with the staff for a second time that it was indeed gluten-free. Unfortunately, just moments before I was about to take a bite, the waitress hurriedly intervened and informed me that it was not gluten-free. She promptly took the dish away. It was disappointing to discover that they didn't actually have gluten-free pasta available, despite their initial claims.

Another incident occurred when I inquired about the gluten content in a particular dish. The response I received was that it only had a "little bit" of gluten. As someone with coeliac disease, this kind of ambiguity is quite concerning. For individuals with strict dietary restrictions, such as those with allergies or intolerances, precise information is crucial to ensure their safety and well-being.

It's worth noting that we visited Karma Restaurant multiple times during our stay in the suites above, which indicates that we did enjoy many aspects of the restaurant. The food was undoubtedly delicious, and the service, apart from the allergy-related issues, was satisfactory. Additionally, it was encouraging to see that the restaurant seemed to attract a fair number of local customers. The presence of locals can often be seen as a positive sign, suggesting that the establishment offers cuisine that resonates with the local palate and provides a welcoming atmosphere.

In summary, Karma Restaurant in Zadar offers fantastic food and generally good service. The dishes we tried were visually appealing and delicious. The fact that it appeared to attract a fair number of local customers adds to its appeal and indicates its popularity within the community. However, the restaurant's knowledge and awareness of gluten allergies fell short. Their initial claim of offering gluten-free pasta was misleading, and the ambiguity surrounding gluten content in some dishes was concerning for someone with coeliac disease. While the overall experience was positive, it is important for the restaurant to improve their gluten awareness to ensure the safety and satisfaction of all...

We decided to visit this place after reading good reviews and being tired of mediocre type of food around the city of Zadar. We visited this place twice. The first time was exceptional. I'd like to start with the service. The waiter was amazing and very helpful. I asked for vegetarian option of pasta and actually the dish was made specially for me for which I am grateful to the chef. It was very fresh and perfect. Moreover, my friends ordered gnocchi with beef (beef was perfectly prepared), salad and lamb chop. The lamb chop was something my friend called "the one perfect meat dish she dreamed of being in Croatia". I strongly recommend season salad and bread, which was fresh, tasty and delicious. The dessert was something that actually blew us away - brownie and apple strudel was not only a desert but an experience with the explosion of taste.

Which brings me to the one thing I actually didn't like... Being so well treated the first day we decided to go for the coffee and dessert the next evening. Before any order, although the place wasn't really crowded, we asked another waiter if it's okay to only order some desserts (as we craved for more after last night) and he said we can, but we could feel that we were not really welcomed this time as we didn't want to order main dish...

Therefore, my feelings are mixed. After the first visit we were so satisfied and happy, we fully agreed that it was worth spending a bit more for such a dinner and we appreciated every dish and every minute of that night. But the next day made us feel not wanted and left with a bit of disappointment and bitterness.

Overall, I recommend this place if you want to eat some authentic, fresh and delicious food.

Congrats to the chef, to the waiter, and especially to the person who makes these...

Maria took wonderful care of us.

The Veralda Blanc de Noir was an absolute treat. Dangerous by the glass. We ordered one each, and by the end should have just had a bottle.

Food is exactly what you'd expect. It's elevated to a level that each dish is a very pleasant option to be savoured as an example of itself.

Immaculate inside, the steps down to the restaurant itself might be an issue, but ground level outdoor seating exists, though it fills up fast.

Slightly more "flashy" food in some cases, we're not talking wannabe Michelin here, but the place itself is very good for the youngsters that want to Instagram things I feel, but it doesn't sacrifice the food quality to do so. Tradional staples like black risotto are produced with care and high quality without having a sparkler dumped in them to appeal to the "phone eats first" crowd, but it did still feel slightly forced in terms of atmosphere, though the professional but sweet staff did help make it feel like a nicer place, a lot of the guests seemed to be quietly taking pictures, eating and leaving without the sort of delightful happy buzz you'd hope to get. Maybe that was simply the night we chose.

One of the best for good quality food in a Instagramable spot, but maybe a little less "warm"...