Bocca di Lupo (Ital. "wolf‘s mouth" - a theatrical idiom for invoking luck) is located in the so-called Beverly Hills of Dugave at Josipa Seissela 68. We got a table in the glass-enclosed area, which was - as expected - nicely lit, and it‘s good to know that the restaurant also has a terrace that will certainly be convenient during the warmer days ahead.
We were seated by Luka Elezović, a man who works as a waiter and chef, and is also the owner of the place. Instead of a standard greeting, he welcomed us with two glasses of Teranino on the house, a gesture that‘s becoming increasingly rare in today‘s restaurants. While we enjoyed sipping the wine liqueur, we looked over the menu, which spans two pages and offers a diverse selection - from pizzas to meat dishes, burgers, various starters, and salads. But we came for the pizzas, and their selection is modest, just a few options, from the classic Margherita for 8.5 EUR to the most expensive Bresaola for 14.5 EUR.
When the owner returned, we asked him about the wine list. He explained that they offer about five white and five red wines by the glass, and we opted for Plavac Mali from Hvar. What happened next turned an ordinary lunch into a memorable experience. The owner came back with a bottle of Enjingi‘s red Venje from as far back as 2007, a wine you can‘t find for less than 20-25 euros. He explained that they had run out of Plavac Mali and that he usually doesn‘t serve Venje by the glass. But as a replacement, he offered us this cult wine at an incredible price of 3.5 euros per glass. Of course, we accepted.
We chose the Margherita and Bresaola pizzas, which arrived after about fifteen minutes, just enough time for the wine to warm up a bit. We learned that the dough here ferments for three days and is kept at very low temperatures. Both pizzas had a somewhat thicker but airy crust and were nicely baked. The Margherita (san marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, kalamata olives) wasn‘t visually appealing, but the taste convinced us of its quality. The dough was airy, the tomatoes well-seasoned with a vibrant flavor, and the mozzarella salty enough. The kalamata olives were very tasty, and the basil was a good addition. The only criticism goes to the oregano on the pizza (although we understand some like it), as well as the fact that there could have been more cheese or at least better distributed, since the whole line of sauce along the edge remained visible.
Bresaola, with yellow squash cream, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, burrata, bresaola, aceto cream, basil, and Pag cheese, turned out to be the better option. The ingredients were high quality, and the squash cream gave the pizza an interesting aroma. The bresaola was very juicy, with a soft texture, and the other ingredients were nicely balanced. After numerous bresaola pizzas with a red sauce base, this combination of ingredients brought real refreshment. The only thing missing were the marinated yellow datterino tomatoes, which they were currently out of. The price of 14.5 euros is high, especially for a neighborhood restaurant, and we think it could be a few euros cheaper. But aside from that, we really have no complaints; on the contrary, the pizza is both tasty and very original.
Throughout the entire lunch, the owner was extremely accommodating, witty, and informative. Although we had reserved a table and ended up being the only guests for a late lunch, he revealed that the day before they were completely full, suggesting that making a reservation is still a wise decision.
We left Bocca di Lupo in a good mood, mostly thanks to the warm service and the unexpected wine treat. Although it‘s certainly not the restaurant‘s practice to serve Venje by the glass, such a gesture shows how much they care about their guests. At the end of the evening, the owner offered us another glass of wine on the house, which further cemented our fondness for him and the place. The pizzas were tasty, with minor criticisms that can easily be fixed.
One thing is certain, Dugave finally has a local spot with serious potential for excellent pizza in the neighborhood, and we will definitely return to explore the rest of their menu.
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