Gostionica Restoran Purger
If you had to sum up Zagreb's gastronomic heritage in one lunch, this lunch would, with no doubt, be served at Gostionica-Restoran Purger. Located on Petrinjska Street in the centre of Zagreb, this inn is a real time machine to a time when white tablecloths, homemade stew and friendly waiters were not only the norm, but also a symbol of respect for the guest.
Opened back in 1932, Purger is an institution of Zagreb tradition that resists trends, all the while maintaining its sincere, authentic Zagreb flair.
The interior is simple — the interconnected restaurant halls and the terraces in the courtyard and on Petrinjska Street exude an old-fashioned atmosphere; everything is reminiscent of times gone by. The exceptionally cordial service creates the feeling as if you are at some big family reunion. Here, food and guests come first. It is precisely this immediacy and homely warmth the reason why Purger is full of regular guests, many of them elderly Zagreb residents who have been coming to this place for decades — they have their own preferred table and the waiters know their orders.
What is served?
The menu at Purger is a true textbook on Croatian cuisine — there is literally nothing missing, and a fun fact is that they even have it translated into Chinese! During our visit, Purger was full of regular guests and business people, as well as tourists, including the ones from Far East! The recipes have remained true to the original flavours, the portions are generous and filling, and the food is mostly served on stainless steel trays.
Purger has one of the largest menus in Zagreb. Some dishes are obviously seasonal, but most of them are on permanent offer — from cheese and cream, various soups (they even have a bouillon soup that is pure old-school), breaded cheese, Zagorje štrukli, goulash and paprikash, sarma, stuffed peppers, blood sausage, kebabs and other grilled dishes, fillets and veal roasts, to the inevitable duck with mlinci and Zagreb fish dishes.
For stew lovers, there are classics like beans and seasonal green beans and peas with dumplings served with minced meat steaks.
The dessert menu is dominated by pancakes, served with walnut filling, in a wine chateau sauce.
Most guests drink gemišt (wine spritzer), which makes perfect sense in a restaurant like this.
What our chefs had?
The Delicious Zagreb team visited Purger for lunch on a warm summer day, so we decided to sit in the air-conditioned front hall. A friendly waitress guided us through the seasonal menu, so we decided on pea stew with dumplings and minced meat steaks, veal escalope a la Parisienne served with homemade fries, and a salad of fresh cucumbers with sour cream. While we waited for our food, we observed the guests around us and those who were constantly coming. At the two tables next to us there were some elderly gentlemen from Zagreb who were obviously regular and long-time guests. Here, people read newspapers at the table, chat with waiters, and there is a real buzz. Guests, both local and foreign, are constantly coming and going, and you will most likely meet someone you know. At the table behind us, a young Asian woman was enjoying her breaded meat.
Our food arrived promptly, served in the characteristic metal dishes — veal à la Parisienne and minced meat steaks on oval trays, and the stew in a soup pot. Everything was delicious and served in hearty portions. We came for honest, authentic flavours — and that’s exactly what we got.
Today, when restaurants just come and go, it’s refreshing to return every once in a while to a place that truly earns its place in Zagreb’s culinary legend.
