As well as boasting crystal clear seas, stunning architecture and an amazing climate, Dubrovnik, as of August 2018, is also home to a Michelin Star. The shiny accolade belongs to Restaurant 360, a fine dining eatery built into the city’s historic walls. My friend Gemma and I dined there on the first night of our Croatian trip and it’s safe to say we peaked too soon. For the following 8 days, no restaurant came close to the standard 360 achieved. Every element of our visit was perfect.
First of all, their setting is incredible; there’s not one bad viewpoint from the outdoor seating area. Each table offers an incredible view of either the harbour or Dubrovnik castle. And then there’s the service: each member of staff treated us like red carpet celebrities – I have a sneaky feeling that’s because there were A-listers in attendance. One of my pet peeves at Michelin restaurants are robotic waiters, void of personality, but the waiters at 360 had bags of charm and conversation.
But setting and service doesn’t earn you a Michelin Star; that rests on the food, which, in 360’s case, is simply out of this world. Diners can choose between an array of tasting menus but, after seeing several incredible dishes not included on the list, we decided to go with starter, main and dessert. The kitchen is headed up by Marijo Curić. Born and bred in Dubrovnik, he’s worked in a kitchen since he was 17. And you can taste it. There are years of experience behind every dish. Curić is immensely creative and has mastered the art of balancing tastes and textures. His infamous carrot plate is a prime example of this.
It’s not often you can say a cooked carrot brings in the crowds, but, every year, clients come back for this best-seller. Served with black garlic, a pine nut crumb and cooked FOUR different ways, it’s an absolute delicacy! We also adored the scampi starter; lightly fried in thin vermicelli noodles and served on a Jerusalem artichoke foam, the fishy bites were cooked to perfection. And if the plate wasn’t already complex enough, diners are also given a cappuccino-textured foam to pour on top.
My personal highlight was the chunky, panko-crusted monkfish fillet, which was served on a bed of parsnip mash, with squidges of onion jelly and a zinging pea sauce. I’m writing this review several weeks after dining at 360, but I can still taste how good it was. Not only did it taste good, but it also looked beautiful too.
Somehow, we managed to squeeze in pudding and thank goodness we did because the mango and coconut dish was divine. Again, Marijo Curić demonstrated his immense skill in combining textures and flavours, putting together a delightful champagne mousse with coconut sorbet and crunchy mango chips.
When it came to drinks, we opted for local wines. 360 have an incredible wine list, so, as opposed to choosing just one bottle, our waiter wisely advised we go for wine pairing – a marvellous decision. All of the drinks we sampled were Croatian and complimented each dish perfectly.
If you’re seeking a night of luxury, Restaurant 360 is the place to dine in Dubrovnik, and probably Croatia too. I’m no Mystic Meg but I have a sneaky feeling the one Michelin star could well double to two in the next few years!
Contact:
Address: Sv.Dominka bb, 20000 Dubrovnik
Phone: +385 20 322 222
Website: 360dubrovnik.com
