Pet bunara, which means five wells in the Croatian language, is located alongside the square bearing that same name. During the 16th century, the Venetians helped the city withstand Turkish sieges by building a large drinking water cistern with five ornamental wellheads. When the Turkish threat ended, a park was built on top of the nearby bastion. Pet bunara, the restaurant, has been a highlight of the Zadar gastronomic scene for more than 35 years. The unique, seasonal, organic and innovative menu makes this spot a must on your dining list.
Our delightful experience began at the front door, where we were met by our server, Dragan. Once seated we were walked through the menu, the wine list, and offered several wonderful recommendations for our meal. This is clearly a service driven restaurant with a highly knowledgeable, passionate team.
Wine figured prominently into the evening and we enjoyed three reds from regions and producers we have yet to taste on this trip. The Testament Babič is a dry, medium bodied wine from a growing region between Zadar and the neighboring town of Šibenik. Dingač is a strong, full bodied red from Croatia’s first protected wine region, located on the Pelješac peninsula. The Dvije Ruze is a medium bodied pinot noir. The Pet bunara team are passionate about wine and these recommendation were all excellent and paired well with our meal.
It was hard to choose from the many wonderful choices on the menu. We started with a seasonal pumpkin soup, which was light and flavorful. For entrees, Adriatic tuna with broccoli puree and cherry jus, as well as marinated rump steak with gnocchi. Dessert showcased two local delicacies, a carob cake and a fig cake. Each dish underscored the carefully sourced, high quality ingredients. In fact, each year in the village of Poljica, the restaurant cultivates its own herb garden to provide the freshest flavors possible as well as organically grown olive & fig yards.
To conclude, Dragan treated us to a sampling of carob and fig liquor. Both were unique and delicious. What a perfect evening! We will certainly return to Pet bunara on our next visit to Zadar.
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