400 Gradi Kranj, Pizzeria Napoletana — Restaurant in Kranj

Nearly perfect. First, food. At last SOMEBODY in this country that knows what a Margherita is! In Slovenian PIzzerias a Margherita is the most basic plate of dough, tomato sauce, covered with grated cheese and oil. No trace of basil. It's an insult to the Italian Queen. In REAL world, Margherita is a delicate fresh light pizza with only the best pomodorini, mozarella and fresh basil. We ordered one "plain" and one "buffala" and even the plain one was excellent, but the Buffala was really on another level - you could taste the buttery buffalo cheese and feel its texture. I also liked that our food was not the size of a small Pacific island; it could be a bit bigger, but for that price it was only fair. The dough was as it should be: crispy on the outside but delicately soft and springy on the inside. Basil, of course, was present and fresh. Wine was pricey, but worth it (Rebula/Ribolla from private owned renown winery). Interestingly, the menu wasn't a whole novel containing 55 sorts of pizza (as it is typical in Slovenia), but just a few typical ones. Pricing was slightly cheaper than on promenade in Naples, which is a nice difference. It is about 1€ more expensive than other pizzerias in Kranj, but considering the quality of food - 13 euros for a Margherita with buffala, on THAT level of quality, is dirt cheap. Service - the Italian way, by 3 persons: one that greets you and takes you to your table (previous reservation absolutely necessary - the place was packed), another takes the order and the third one brings you food. The place itself is going for artistic, but minimalism, only one kitschy Vespa scooter displayed. The only minus point was that one would like to sit upstairs, enjoy the view of the street, but the top floor was closed despite fact that there were no available seats, some unrelated guests even sitting at the same table (we noticed that because a pair has joined a table that was already taken and served - that's also quite typical Italian way - nice touch). I don't recommend Slovenian inns very often, but this one is an exception. If you want a true experience of true Italian pizza, without going to Italy, this is the best pizzeria in a 30 km radius. 30 euros for two exceptional pizzas and wine - that's actually quite allright. I waited till the next day before writing my review to see if any food poisoning might happen, but the only thing that lingers from yesterday is the memory of...

Review: 400 Gradi (Kranj)

Yesterday afternoon, I happened to be passing by and visited the restaurant 400 Gradi in Kranj, Slovenia. A 4.6-star rating, highly debatable. Food & Menu (7/10): Let's start with the food. On a scale of 1 to 10, the food is a solid 7. The menu lacks any visual representation of the dishes. And for an Italian restaurant, not having an original Pizza Capricciosa (the artichoke edition) is a major drawback for those who are fans of the authentic Campania region. Prices & Value: The biggest flaw is the prices, which do not match the quality. A classic pizza, the "Siamo Cotti," costs €13.50, whereas a realistic price for such a pizza would be around €10.50—especially considering that prices aren't this high even in renowned original Italian pizzerias like L'Antica, Pepe in Grani, or Pizzeria Sorbillo. A classic pizza should be accessible to everyone, as a glass of wine (0.1L) brings the meal price to approximately €20 per person. This clearly indicates that profit is prioritized over culinary culture. The desserts were satisfactory, and their prices were reciprocal to their quality. Service (10/10): What saves this restaurant is the service. As I was sitting on the terrace, the bright spot was the smiling and very pleasant waiter, who I believe had an English-Russian accent. He helped me choose my food and wine and pointed me to some details I could visit in Kranj and Slovenia. This is deserving of consistent praise. Atmosphere & Potential: The atmosphere was at an acceptable level; however, there is room for improvement by introducing authentic Italian music (e.g., Andrea Bocelli, Jack Jezzro) on both the terrace and inside the restaurant to elevate the entire experience to the higher level required by the Michelin Guide. The restaurant has potential which, with good management and by placing culinary culture above profit, could be worthy of inclusion in the Michelin Guide for Slovenia or perhaps evolve into a new, fresh concept.

Until next time,...

This is simply horrible… Let me start by saying that we came to this restaurant after our visit to Lake Bled. Slovenia is a beautiful country with wonderful nature and people, but the visit to this place completely changed my impression of Slovenia. So, upon arriving at the restaurant everything was perfect: friendly staff, nice music, an atmosphere as if you were in a provincial town in Italy — just wonderful. We received our food, which my husband, my two children, and I enjoyed. We ordered two pizzas and gnocchi with ragù for the kids. And then, while we were eating, this… person arrived. Someone who doesn’t seem to recognize the boundary between their own home, where they can do whatever they want, and the most basic ethical values. He came, sat down in such a way that half of his large, hairy crotch was visible. This immediately caused disgust in me and my family. This is unacceptable! Later I heard from my acquaintances that they had also encountered the same problem. We couldn’t even finish our meal — we just paid, left the food unfinished, and walked out. I kindly ask the owners to pay attention to this issue and request that this person behave more appropriately in public places, ESPECIALLY WHEN CHILDREN ARE AROUND, (Another table sitting next to us, who turned out to be a locals, said that this guy there everyday).

I understand that these are difficult times for everyone and maybe this person simply doesn’t have proper clothes to wear, but I believe this restaurant is not a place for the homeless.

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