21 MNE Urban Bistro — Restaurant in Podgorica

21 MNE Urban Bistro is the perfect spot for either a quick lunch while cavorting around town, or a relaxed dinner with friends. Located in Montenegro’s capital city, Podgorica, this restaurant was impressive in both atmosphere and cuisine. I loved it so much on my first visit – lunch with a close friend – that we opted to go back for dinner. Both courses were delectable, and while different from one another, the experience and service remained stellar and consistent, while the quality of the food was superb.

The restaurant design is suitable for enjoying a casual meal, but also modern and sophisticated enough to feel like fine dining. 21 MNE Urban Bistro combines the best of both worlds with charming décor, including pops of red in the lighting, bursts of bright green, muted greys and copper colored seating, and a brilliant mix of patterns and solids on the floors. Before you even walk in, you already know this place is going to be awesome, because the exterior speaks volumes about what you’ll encounter inside. While the décor is modern and upscale, the culinary presentation remains rustic and simple, with fries served in tin containers, and slate and wood blocks used as trays and plates. Trust me, the food tastes as great as it looks, and presentation is something these chefs do well.

For our lunch, we opted for a selection of bruschetta, served on a wood platter with three different types made with an amazing combination of ingredients. The tuna tartare was served with creamy avocado guacamole and slices of sweet mango. I loved the gouda cheeseburger with crispy bacon, topped with mayo-mustard dressing, lettuce and a slice of tomato. Still raving about it. The T-bone steak my friend ordered was a full kilogram of tender, juicy meat. We each partook in warm crepes straight from the oven, light and buttery.

Our dinner experience was just as wonderful as lunch, as I enjoyed pork ribs so wonderfully tender. The side of beans, salsa, and cooked diced potatoes were wonderful with the texture of the meat, and added complexity to the dish. My friend chose a beefsteak, served with a mixture of grilled vegetables, and continued to be impressed by the chef’s ability to cook a perfect cut of meat. Even dessert was spot-on, as the Belgian chocolate lava cake with orange cream and ice cream was the perfect mix of bitter chocolate and sweet cream, while the New York style cheesecake was dense and creamy. I highly recommend 21 MNE...

Very expensive, even for a restaurant - definitely the "bistro" part of their name is just to fetch an eye. Probably one of the most expensive ones in the city. The portions are very big though - so a European-type eater could order a dishes set for one and share it for two people. Maybe even three (if not very starving) 🙂 10 min to get a menu. 20 min from the ordering until getting the meal. Non-smokers inside, smokers outside (which is good). When I just came, there was playing some unpleasant high-tempo dancing music, but afterwards they've switched it to great Italian music - nice and relaxing, exactly what's needed for a perfect meal. The waiters team is pretty professional. The whole atmosphere is nice and cozy, the interior is very well designed. The food quality is somewhere between ok'ish and good. My main dish was oversalted, but...

I found the food here varied - some of it really good and other dishes were the equivalent of standard bar food. I have eaten here twice and the service was the complete opposite each day. Once was warm and attentive and the second slow and distracted. Both times it was mid-afternoon and the restaurant was NOT busy. The biggest issue/complaint is that smoking is allowed inside and there is nothing to stop the smoke from the smoking area to permeate the non-smoking area and ruin the taste of your meal as they are on opposite sides of the restaurant. I left both times smelling like cigarette smoke...