Dubrovnik Restaurant Guide - Part 1

There are so many restaurants in Dubrovnik that choosing one can be a risky undertaking. Living in Dubrovnik, we have had the opportunity to try just about every one and to come up with a list of our favorites. I plan to share this list here over the next several entries and to give some helpful advice on dining out. Dobar Tek!

First, a few rules: The overall quality of food in Dubrovnik is good and you may even have some great dining experiences, but there are also some pitfalls to avoid. In order to choose good restaurants and to avoid being overcharged, follow these simple guidelines:

1. At the risk of stating the obvious, avoid the restaurant hawkers that stand on the Stradun accosting tourists all day. Not only are they annoying, but they will also lead you to overpriced tourist-trap restaurants serving poor quality food.

2. Tap water is safe to drink, and is even quite good. But if you prefer to order bottled water, make sure you know what the price is in advance. Bottled water is one of those hidden costs that can easily run up the bill in Dubrovnik.

3. Always check the bill at the end of the meal. Make sure that the prices of the items you ordered match what is written on the menu, especially if you have ordered a bottle of wine (make sure you received the correct vintage).

4. Take care when ordering fresh fish that is priced by the kilo. This menu item is one of the best things to enjoy in Dubrovnik, but also one that is prone to abuse by opportunistic restaurateurs. When you select your fish, ask the waiter/kitchen to weigh it and tell you the approximate weight. You will then have an idea of what it will cost. Likewise, if the special seafood dish recited by the waiter sounds too good to pass up, make sure you ask the price.

Up next: Where to dine in the Old Town without paying tourist prices for poor quality food!