PASSAROLA RESTAURANT

Excelente musica y ambiente

Last night, we enjoyed a thoroughly delightful dinner in the heart of Hvar at Passarola. While we’ve been largely disappointed by fine dining in Croatia, Passarola definitely exceeded our expectations!

We were greeted earlier in the day by Charlie and invited in the view the panoramic terrace before making a booking that evening. Charlie mentioned his family owned the restaurant, and his pride in this wonderful space was evident.

Spanning two stories (in addition to a bar/event space in the basement) it was a lovely blend of ancient stonework, contemporary art, and tasteful lighting. While not sporting a view of the harbor, it was nestled into the heart of old town, with the open dining space on the rooftop having a view of the Spanish Fortress (apparently so named for the Spanish architects and not occupation) as well as picturesque alleyways.

Our meal began with complementary tuna pâté which was creamy and well seasoned, easing us into the meal. Next we were treated to our appetizers, and this is where the chef’s expertise began to really shine.

Mrs. IsntWitty opted for the sea bass tartare, which highlighted the versatility of this fish. It was very well prepared, with the perfect balance of firm fish and creamy binder, with an absolutely delicious saffron sauce accenting the plate. Our companions opted for a local charcuterie plate for two, which was overflowing with delicious local cheeses, smoked meats and perfectly ripe figs and cherry tomatoes from the owner’s garden. At Mrs. IsntWitty’s behest (ok, twist my rubber arm) I selected the beef tartare and foie gras appetizer, which was served with grilled in-house baked bread and a portion of reduced browned butter. This appetizer was absolutely delicious, and likely ranks as one of the very best beef tartare I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy. At our server Mario’s recommendation, the combination of the three ingredients combined to make a savory crostini bursting with flavor.

For our mains, Mrs. IsntWitty opted for the lobster ravioli in a luxurious bisque reduction formed from a variety of local crustaceans (excellent btw) while I, intent on continuing the theme of local seafood, went with the seafood risotto. The scallops and scampi were perfectly prepared, and worked well with the fresh tomatoes, creamy sauce and al dente rice. Bill’s steak, prepared medium (medium rare tbh) at the chef’s discretion was served with a brilliant grainy mustard sauce that had us all eyeing his plate, and Elizabeth’s sea bass and fennel was tender and flaky.

We paired the meal with another wine from Krajančić, this time selecting the sur lies expression of their Pošip, which paired wonderfully.

Finally, a word of thanks to our brilliant server Mario, who was gracious and attentive throughout the evening. Despite a small mix up at the end, we couldn’t have asked for more. We highly recommend this restaurant if you’re in Old Town Hvar and in search of an excellent fine dining experience. Cheers!

Trt

One of the best meals we have ever had. The lamb chop was perfect. My wife had the ravioli and it was excellent as well. Beautiful outdoor retractable roof with very nice music playing. Very enjoyable evening. Service was great as well.

Live music, attentive staff, beautiful ambiance and tasty food. Night to remember!