BioMania

The new 'green' heart of Tkalča

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In the old city centre, at the end of the iconic Tkalčićeva Street – a vibrant area known for its dynamic hospitality – a new vegan restaurant has recently opened, with a promise of being “not just another vegan restaurant”! The restaurant is perfectly synchronized with the pulse of Tkalča and its tourist flair; with friendly and fast service, simple chair layout, and organic vegan food, which health- and environmentally conscious young wanderlusts visiting Zagreb are more and more looking for, BioMania truly seems like it wants to show more. So far, enthusiastic Zagreb guests who are not easy to impress, but also the Gault Millau or Trip Advisor awards, confirm that everything is the 'real deal'!

Their friendly and fast service really has something more - the staff welcoming us at the door and offering to take our coats, explaining the restaurant philosophy and the menu, and showing sincere interest in our impressions; the simple table setting in an impeccably clean room with pleasant earthy shades, filled with beautiful plants, and the main factor - the food – have made it crystal clear why they are gaining popularity even among non-vegans!

Uncompromising sustainability as a guiding principle, organic and seasonal ingredients, a farm-to-table approach and close cooperation with local family farms, as well as zero-waste efforts outline BioMania as true responsible enthusiastic leaders, and not just riders of the trendy wave of organic food.

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What is served

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The first thing that caught our eye were crowd-pleasers like hummus and tapenade, burgers in several versions, and falafel salad, with beetroot, pomegranate, quinoa, and walnuts. Then the Caesar salad with tofu, a vegan cheese platter, and a red curry bowl with tomato, coconut milk, and a feast of sautéed vegetables on basmati rice. The menu also includes local curiosities, so in addition to seasonal soups, it offers vegan versions of Balkan favourites – burek and sarma. There are also pastas: Spaghetti Bolognese or Penne alla Carbonara, as well as gnocchi with truffles. The sweet part of the menu did not disappoint either – everyone can find something for themselves among eight different desserts... is it even possible to choose?! Chocolate brownie, avocado cake, lemon and blueberry cake, jaffa cake or apple crumble, double choco cake, or homemade ice cream? Everything, please!

The drink menu includes a nice selection of freshly pressed juices, including coconut water, kombucha and smoothies. There are also several types of lattes in various combinations of ingredients such as matcha, spirulina and turmeric, and excellent teas that are given well-deserved attention.

Then there are a few cocktails and mocktails, a small selection of quality Croatian spirits and, for now, a narrow wine list, completely focused on wines from organic and biodynamic winemakers.

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What our chefs had

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Seasonality (which we deeply appreciate!) did deprive us of their sarma, which, unfortunately, has been removed from the menu until the cold days return – but, oh well... We quickly found a decent replacement.

We started with a nice, thick celery soup, with a wonderful texture and rich celery flavour, sprinkled with chickpea powder and micro greens. This was followed by a hot, crispy burek, filled with sweet potato and chard, with pieces of spring onion and a cashew nut sauce. It had a wonderful smoky aroma as if it had been baked on an open fire, and the sauce had that wonderful 'homemade' funk of the local fresh cheese from the Dolac market. It was practically impossible to tell it was vegan!

We couldn't resist the burger either, with an excellent bean fritter, with beetroot and chickpeas, accompanied by a mild coleslaw salad.

We finished with plum dumplings, because what is a meal without a sweet treat? Soft and rich, dusted with fragrant cinnamon, they rounded off the experience perfectly.

Since we still had a few working hours ahead of us, we skipped the red wine, but instead we discovered a wonderful mocktail with matcha, ginger, and dates, which we will definitely be back for!

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