Located near Lake Jarun, nestled on Ulica Rudeška, a little hidden gem called Alegria can be found. This little bistro serves, what can only be described as, domaće with a french twist – it’s local homemade flavours created using french techniques. The atmosphere is laid back and casual. The interior walls are an assemblage of fresco wall coverings, murals and bare-bricks. The bar is eclectic and colourful, decorated with a kitsch mosaic (and you can also spot an old school coca cola refrigerator in the corner) and softening wood shelves and panels. Everything about this restaurant screams homey and delightful, and the food is no different.
Whether you’re here for breakfast, lunch or dinner, you are unlikely to be disappointed. The menu features about a dozen dishes, some sweet treats, and “small snacks” such as spreads, cheeses, and bruschetta, preferably served with wine. Although the menu is limited, each dish is different from the next. Whether delicious salmon to juicy burgers and rib-eye steaks, to a little Asian fusion and Italian pasta, to the homemade classics, there is something for everyone – including the little ones.
After spending most of the morning with our little ones at Lake Jarun, working up an appetite, we started our lunch with a seasonal leek soup topped with croutons and pumpkin oil. The main dishes to follow were nothing short of divine. The Rib-eye steak was juicy and flavourful, and served with traditional baked potatoes and Arugola. The grilled salmon was moist and tasty with crispy skin, and served with wholesome sauteed spinach and lentils, and a divine dill sauce. The little ones tucked into grilled chicken thighs with potato wedges; even my pickiest eater was happily munching away.
Most importantly, leave space for dessert.
After a delicious and filling meal, I would highly suggest to leave room for dessert. The tiramisu should not be missed, as well as the gluten-free torta ferrero. Both were creamy and sweet. All together it was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal, and the cherry on the top was the service. Though there were some bumps (only what can be expected when you show up for Saturday lunch without a reservation, oops), overall the service was good. The owner of the restaurant, Nadege Tihava, was very hands on and helpful. For a family of four, you can expect to spend between 400 and 500 Kunas for three courses, or around 300 Kunas for two people. Considering the quality and quantity of the foods served, this is reasonably fair. Are we coming back any time soon? Definitely.
