Le Mandrac

We started Restaurant Week with a visit to Le Mandrac restaurant in Volosko. Volosko is a small, fishing village close to Opatija. We’ve already written about Konoba Tramerka, another great place to eat in Volosko. Anyway, not being the subject of this post at the moment. I want to share my experience on Le Mandrac during the Restaurant Week. We arrived to Volosko for a late lunch. It was sad to see neighbouring Plavi podrum restaurant pretty busy (although not participating in the event), and Le Mandrac absolutely empty. Ok, it was the first day of the first Restaurant Week in this Croatian Region, so lets say people haven’t yet get accustomed to the idea (not everybody is as early adopter as we are).

Not having a proper summer terrace (unlike Plavi podrum next door), Le Mandrac remains absolutely non smoking place. Even during the summer. Very young waiters greeted us. Another pleasant surprise was that we were able to trade glass of wine for glass of sparkling wine (although not part of the offer). We ordered a bottle of Trapan Malvazija 2008, and later on a bottle of Kozlovic Muskat (I am not alcoholic; I went there with 4 friends).

For entree, Le Mandrac prepared: Fish Soup, Green Peas Soup and Octopus Carpaccio; I chose an Octopus Carpaccio and it was excellent. Paper-thin octopus served on a bed of rocket salad. Very good! Main courses were a bit less excited, not in the way they were described and presented, but the taste didn’t impress us. Main courses offered were: Seafood Pasta, Calamari Risotto with Truffle Foam and Black Cuttlefish Polenta.

Deserts included: Chocolate Gateau, Ice cream and Cheese & Lemon Cake.

Although we enjoyed this meal, we are not sure that we would be ready to pay a full price for what we experienced. As a 100 Kn deal, there is nothing to complain about. But we feel that Le Mandrac’s ambition is higher than that.