Driving along the Opatija Riviera can be beautiful, but more often it is confusing due to the large number of roadworks that have been taking place there in recent years. Despite that, at the end of last week we eagerly set off towards one of the better seafood restaurants in Croatia.
This is the family restaurant Johnson, located in the lovely small town of Mošćenička Draga. The restaurant is situated on the upper floor of a family house next to a relatively quiet road and offers a view of the sea bay. As soon as you enter, you feel comfortable and welcome.
We had reserved a table by the window in advance because the well-known outdoor terrace was already fully booked, so be sure to secure your spot in time. We wanted to try a bit of everything, and so we did.
Johnson is known for guests frequently returning expecting familiar, old flavors, and we saw that for ourselves. Several tables around us were regular visitors, which immediately indicates a place that draws people back. They approached us as if we had already been there, with the smiles of old friends.
The service in the restaurant includes a presentation of the fresh daily offer, as the menu is based on the season and the catch, not a fixed list. This is, of course, to be expected from a place that puts freshness of ingredients above all.
We started with a glass of Kabola Re Brut sparkling wine (€6.45), very pleasant and with long-lasting bubbles in the glass. Then several small cold bites arrived at the table. The sea bream carpaccio (€20) was extremely delicate, soft, and tender. This was followed by firm, rich, and fresh silver anchovies (€9), and as the finishing touch – bonito carpaccio (€16). Beautiful, thick, and aromatic, enriched with just a few drops of soy sauce. The cold starters were elegantly split between two plates for us.
Then came two warm bites, fresh grilled scallops (€6 each). Hot, aromatic, they almost sang from the grill. Very basic, but fantastic. Soon the fish soup arrived (€9.50), which was also split between two plates for us. Slightly thicker in texture than average, with a larger amount of fresh vegetables, it was truly restorative. A cure for a bad hangover. With the soup and scallops, we drank a glass of beautiful Piquentum Malvasia (€7).
But the real reason why it‘s absolutely worth going to Johnson is their scampi. These are Kvarner scampi from the small catch of two brothers, and we know well that Kvarner scampi are known as some of the best in the world due to the indescribable sweetness of the meat. That’s exactly how they were at Johnson (portion €42). We chose the grilled version and did not regret it. With irresistible smoky aromas, these scampi represented pure Kvarner essence on a plate. Sensational. With them, we drank a glass of rich Rosenberg Chardonnay from the great Vlado Krauthaker.
Pasta with noble fish, in our case sea bream (€28), was also a brilliant display of simple but pure gastronomy. Gentle, light, subtly and attractively flavored, yet quite rich. An unobtrusive dish that is worth every cent.
Desserts were somewhat weaker than the savory dishes, but still nice. The sponge cake with orange (€7.50) was a little too bitter, although its texture was very airy. The version with strawberries and chocolate (€7.50) was a bit too heavy for a warm summer day, though tasty and very chocolaty. Nothing spectacular; the desserts could use a bit more work.
In the end, it‘s worth mentioning the atmosphere in the restaurant. The music is pleasant, almost unnoticeable, and the view of the sea is subtle – you can barely see it out of the corner of your eye, but you know it’s there and watching you. The restaurant is decorated in a modern style with rustic elements and paintings on the walls. On top of all that, the waiters are of the old school, all-knowing and with a sincere smile that is enough to draw you back.
And that is Johnson‘s greatest strength. The familiar ambiance, as if you are at a relative‘s you haven‘t seen in years, but you know they‘ll welcome you as if you parted yesterday. The food is, in almost every part, very good, and the scampi we will remember for years. We would only wish that the desserts were a bit more on point and that, as a final touch, the waiters poured wine in front of the guest.
Even after decades of operation, Johnson is absolutely worth visiting. You will get the freshest ingredients prepared very simply, with clean and precise flavors, and the service will help you choose the best while the view from the window or terrace soothes you. Restaurant Johnson remains an unmissable stop for every lover of honest Kvarner seafood cuisine.
Za sudjelovanje u komentarima je potrebna prijava, odnosno registracija ako još nemaš korisnički profil....