Restoran Bevanda
It was a warm afternoon, but the evening was starting to cool off and it just felt like a night for fish and with Ella out of town, no one was in the mood for cooking. We had been to Bevanda Fish once before but just for a Rakia as we parked right in front while we were looking for apartments and they were kind enough to seat us and let us just have a drink. They have a small patio and in the summer, it has a fan with the mist to help keep it cool so it was fine on this evening. They specialize in fish from the Adriatic which they bring out on a tray for you to pick. You can tell right off from the clear eyes of the fish that it is really really fresh.
We had the muscles from the Adriatic with garlic first as an appetizer. These were different muscles that you usually see the were longer more shamed like a football and brown, not black. Cooked in white with it onion and garlic and were to die for. We had chosen Zubatac as our main course. It is one of the most popular fish from the Adriatic and gets its name from its weird teeth. It is a predator fish that loves to hunt. There are several options for how the fish can be prepared including grilled and baked in the oven. We chose to have our coated in salt and then baked. The prep and cooking time take a bit longer but our expert waiter said it was the juiciest method.
The fish when presented is in a thick coating of salt that is at first doused with brandy then set on fire. The waiter admitted this was more for presentation than anything else. The salt has to be cracked open as it has hardened and then removed. The waiter does all of then and then cleans the fish off the parts that are uneatable and debones the fish before serving. It has an amazing taste, very meaty and full of flavor. The salt does not get absorbed because of the skin of the fish. It is served with a pesto of parsley, garlic and oil and with a lemon.
The service is excellent and the staff knowledgeable. We had a house white wine from the Fruska gora region that paired delightfully well with the muscles and Zubatac. We highly recommend this resturant. It is a bit off the main path but we think you will be pleased with your meal.