Dante Tapas & More
A charming tapas bar in Trešnjevka
Slowly but surely, Trešnjevka is becoming Zagreb's foodie mecca; one of the proofs of this trend is the newly-opened tapas bar on Nova cesta. Dante Tapas & More is a local version of popular Spanish tapas bars. Located on a bustling Trešnjevka street, this rather small restaurant can accommodate up to twenty guests inside and fifteen on its narrow terrace.
A modern bistro with high and low seating, Dante Tapas & More has very quickly become a popular place in Zagreb where you can have coffee, but also hang out with friends over a glass of wine, beer or cocktail and interesting snacks (tapas) meant to be shared.
What is served?
The menu includes 15 versions of tapas that are a combination of Croatian traditional recipes in an eclectic interpretation with various international dishes and interesting side dishes — such as pašticada served in steamed bao buns with pickled carrots and toasted almonds, pork loin bruschetta with chimichurri sauce, flatbread sandwiches with sea bass, sea bass tartare and carpaccio, octopus ajillo prawns with chilli, croquettes with prosciutto, chicken thighs in panko crumbs with chilli butter...
There are also side dishes: focaccia, flatbread, Spanish potatoes – patatas bravas, and salads, as well as two desserts — tiramisu and the house dessert.
The wine list is currently not available, but the waiter is there to tell you about the current offer of wines poured open. On the other hand, the list of fine liquors is very specific and it includes various types of vodkas, gins, whiskeys and indispensable brandies and liqueurs.
What our chefs had?
The Delicious Zagreb team visited Dante Tapas & More on a Friday evening, hoping to experience the atmosphere of a real tapas bar. It was a good decision – Dante was full of guests, both foreigners and locals who decided to spend the summer evening in this bistro in Trešnjevka.
As soon as we took a glance at the menu, eggplant and cauliflower grabbed our attention, and deservedly so. The eggplant was breaded and served on a homemade tomato salsa with a refreshing chimichurri sauce, accompanied with a marinated roasted cauliflower steak served on hummus. To help us eat all the salsa and hummus, we decided on a flatbread that arrives hot on the table. A seemingly unusual veggie choice was a great start, and we paired it with the aromatic Bačić Grk wine. This was followed by mushrooms stuffed with spinach, teriyaki sauce and parmesan with prawns and pork neck confit served as a flatbread sandwich with pickled carrots, aioli sauce and caramelised onions. The selection of wines that day was not large, therefore, in addition to Coletti's Pinot Grigio, we also gave a chance to Spanish red wine.
All the dishes we tasted are creative, fun and light, so Dante's concept of sharing a plate is ideal for hanging out with friends over a glass of cold drink. Just as befits a tapas bar.
