ĆATOVIĆA MLINI: FINE DINING IN MONTENEGRO IN A FAIRY TALE SETTING
The Cost - $35 per person
The Atmosphere – Two words: Picture Perfect. Set on a large piece of property with beautiful fields of grass and trees, a creek, ducks, geese and a beautiful view of the surrounding area, you may feel like you are in a fairy tale. The pretty stone restaurant offers both indoor and covered outdoor seating. Sit outside if you can!
Kotor Bay, Montenegro is a breathtakingly spectacular place off the Adriatic Sea that is a must visit when the weather is nice. In the nearby village of Morinj, you will find Ćatovića Mlini, a restaurant set on land that once housed a flour mill that operated for over 200 years.
The Order - Platter for Two, Rižoto Žuti, and Crešpana Hobotnica.
The Phenomenal - The platter for two came with homemade prosciutto and three types of cheeses. Let’s ignore the cheeses for now and focus on the prosciutto. O. M. G. I have never tasted prosciutto that good in my entire life. It was packed with flavor and freshness, wasn’t too salty and made my taste buds go wild. An absolute must-order.
The Fantastic - The Crešpana Hobotnica, octopus tentacles breaded in polenta and lightly fried, was served over arugula in a sauce made from fresh tomatoes, garlic, onions and Mediterranean spices. It was an incredible dish clearly made with the freshest ingredients. The uneven distribution of the light breading made it unique and the octopus was perfectly cooked. But the food isn’t the only thing that makes this restaurant so special; the setting is stunning. Surrounded by mountains with gorgeously manicures grounds and ducks and geese swimming about the ponds, the atmosphere is perfect for a romantic dinner.
The Great - The Rižuto Žuti or Yellow Risotto is a saffron and shrimp risotto with parmesan and spices. The sauce was nice and the saffron really made this dish special.
The Okay - While the meat on the platter for two was spectacular, the cheese was unfortunately not. There were three types of cheeses (two cow, one sheep) but none of them really stood out. do it for me.
The Verdict - Ćatovića Mlini has it all - great service and great food in a beautiful setting. Take a trip to the Montenegrin coast and make sure you visit this culinary gem.