Croatia - Riviera Bistro

Restaurant:  Riviera Bistro

Location:  265 High Street, London, W3 9BY

Date of visit:  2 July 2016

Time of visit:  8pm

The project stalled a little in the lead up to this restaurant visit. We originally attempted to visit the restaurant over a month earlier. Admittedly, we didn't phone ahead and we paid the price for that. On arrival, the sign in the restaurant door said "Closed". We did see a couple of diners inside, so we still enquired. We were told by an older gentleman that they were about to close the restaurant as he had to fly to Montenegro! So that was that.

At various points during the next month or so we called the restaurant to book, but no answer. I was starting to give up hope, and resigned myself to the fact that the only Croatian restaurant in London may have closed. Then, finally, Elle called, a lady answered, and we booked a Saturday night slot.

On arrival, it appeared we had booked the only slot. We were the only diners in the restaurant from the time we arrived until the time we left. But what happened in-between made this one of the most enjoyable restaurant visits of this project so far...

From the start we knew the service was going to be very special. The waitress made us feel very welcome as soon as we arrived, and was quick to bring us the menus and offer us a basket of bread to start - which we accepted.

A basket of lovely light sliced bread with small blocks of butter arrived in no time. Also, on every table, there was a rather expensive looking bottle of water. Unopened. And unopened it remained. The table settings were lovely, as was the restaurant itself - decorated with many pictures and mementos of the Dalamatian coast of Croatia, the cuisine of which this restaurant specialises.

Thankfully, we didn't mull over the menu too long as we had a sneak preview of the menu online. I ordered the hladi pladanj (cold meat with olives) to start, followed by the pasticada (braised beef in red wine sauce). Elle went for prezeni kolutici odlignke (calamari) to start followed by svega po malo (mixed grilled meat). Plus a bottle of white wine to share.

Elle did ask the waitress what kind of meat was in the grilled meat platter, just to make sure there wasn't anything particularly unusual on there. Her mind was put at rest by the waitress' assurance that it was all standard meats.

With hindsight, it took some time for the food to come out. However, it certainly didn't feel that way as we spent the whole time in full conversation with the waitress who, to be fair, didn't really have much else to do anyway with Elle and I being her only customers. But the conversation was friendly, interesting and insightful. We spoke at length about Dalmatia, Croatia and Montenegro, and about the former Yugoslavia in general. We spoke out our families, we discovered that she had many children, and that her husband was the gentleman we spoke to a month ago and was currently in the kitchen cooking our dinner.

She told us about the business, and how - admittedly - they were struggling, despite having been in the current location for five years. It turns out she and her husband have ran restaurants all over London for the last few decades, and this was the first time they had owned their restaurant outright.

She seemed genuinely interested in us and what we had to say, and she certainly had much of interest to talk about in return. And then, at some point, came the food which almost seemed secondary to the experience by this point!

I rarely go for cold starters, but this one really appealed. I like cold meats, but I'm also really into olives these days after spending most of my life avoiding them. A rather full plate arrived with a very generous offering of two types of sliced salami, prosciutto, sundried tomato stuffed olives, a couple of pieces of goats cheese and very fresh tomato and cucumber. The portion size looked daunting, but it was just right. The meat was very flavoursome, and the olives were just fantastic. Fresh, firm and juicy. As was the rest of the salad selection. It was exactly the kind of thing I could imagine eating at a seaside restaurant on the Dalmatian coast.

Elle's starter portion looked less generous, but still more than ample for a starter. It was clear to see that the calamari looked beatifully cooked, light and crisp. And this is exactly how it was to the bite - spot on. The squid itself very soft to the bite. Again, with a lovely side salad and gorgeous creamy dressing.

I had high hopes for the main dish, especially on the strength of the description on the menu. All those hopes were pretty much realised as soon as the dish arrived on the table. The meat look exceptionally good. And presented on a lovely rectangular plate (worth noting again that the presentation of the tables, the restaurant and the food was fantastic). The beef was even more amazing that I thought. Three thick melt in the mouth slices of the most tender beef, in a rich red wine gravy. Garlic and cloves were pushed into the soft meat, giving it an even more distinctive flavour. It was served with gnocchi, of which I've never been much of a fan. Until now. This was beautifully soft and worked so well with the red wine gravy. This was one of the most enjoyable meals I have had for some time.

Elle is a meat fiend. As such, she often goes for whatever on the menu involves the most meat. Especially several meats. When something is offered as a "mixed meat platter" I can usually guess that's what I'm going to see come to the table. And I wasn't wrong. The only thing about that is that... meat is meat. There's only so much you can do with a grilled meat platter. Elle has chosen such a dish a few times before in this project, particularly with south east European countries. And each time it's all quite similar. A plate of grilled meat. Which is exactly what this was. Not to say that it wasn't good. It was just a little predictable. A selection of pork, gammon, lamb and beef burger. With the unexpected addition of calves liver. Served with sliced roasted potatoes, fresh vegetables and a red pepper paste. Very well presented and well cooked. The meat was almost all reshaped from minced meat. Elle left the calves liver, as she doesn't eat offal. The waitress was a little surprised that she left it, as it was - according to her - one of the best cuts on the plate. When Elle asked at the start of the visit if the platter had anything "unusual", this is where we could have avoided the wastage if the presence of offal was flagged up. Anyway, no harm done to what was an enjoyable main meal.

Overall, the portions left us absolutely stuffed. As we paid, wrapped up our conversation with the waitress, and headed for the exit, she invited us to stay a little longer and join her at the bar, at the back of the restaurant. There, she told us we had made her night, and she poured us - and herself - some orahovac, a thick, black, strong brandy made from pressed green walnuts. On the house.

A fantastic digestif after a wonderful meal, and a lovely way to end what was one of the most enjoyable experiences so far in this project.

As for how much it cost overall... I can't remember. It's not important. You can't pay for nights like this.