Foodie’s Paradise Revealed: Why Restaurant Natali in Dubrovnik Will Blow Your Mind!

We had the pleasure of hosting our dear friends Katija and Ante from the Lost in Dubrovnik blog at Restaurant Natali. Here is what they had to say about their experience.

Discover the extraordinary dining adventure we experienced at the Restaurant Natali in Dubrovnik and find out why dining at this remarkable place is an absolute must!

On a rather hot summer night, not too long ago, we paid a visit to the recently opened Restaurant Natali situated within the magnificent Palace Natali nestled in a tranquil neighbourhood, offering stunning view of both the horizon and the entire city.

Our intention was to have a serene dinner, slightly romantic, but our main craving was for top-notch food, and wines that would impress us. Restaurant Natali was an obvious choice as we heard only good things about this place, and we love the peace and quiet of the area, free of large crowds and boasting a refreshing breeze. We opted for chef’s recommendation of sea food dishes and boy were we happy we did!

The Palace itself is truly breathtaking; the garden is magical, and the view is an absolute knock out! Together with all this, the food served at Natali is nothing short of extraordinary – each dish is a work of art and excitingly delicious. The flavours are decadent, and the plating is very impressive.

As soon as our meal was placed before us, we knew we were in for a treat. Restaurant Natali has undoubtedly been the most delightful discovery for us lately, a true hidden gem in every sense of the phrase.

We kicked off with our family’s favourite, the Tuna Tartare. The dish was beautifully decorated, and it showed us immediately that the chef at Natali is a “maestro” of his craft and has truly mastered the art of food to perfection. Obviously, the star of the show was the high-quality tuna, which had been expertly diced to preserve its natural flavours and delicate texture. The homemade chili mayo added a delightful kick, perfectly complementing the taste of the tuna. And instead of the usual toasted bread, Natali serves their tuna tartare with thin, crispy flatbread crackers, adding an enjoyable crunch to each bite. It’s a playful and fun twist on a classic dish.

Another intriguing element of this dish is the addition of caper chips that provides a unique and flavourful touch to the tartare, especially after you learn that capers are sourced from the bushes that grow in the walls of the Palace Natali. With this dish we were served Rose Galić that has a seductive shade of pink and very fruity fragrance that complimented the tuna perfectly, so this excellent pairing really was a great start into the evening and left us excited about what’s coming next!

We were absolutely blown away by the second dish, Scallops in a luscious foie gras and truffle sauce, garnished with crispy garlic chips. This dish was an elegant take on the classic surf and turf concept. The scallops were perfectly seared, with a tender texture, and practically melted in our mouths, and the combination of the rich flavours from the foie gras, bone marrow and truffles elevated the dish to a whole new level of absolute indulgence. It truly was a culinary masterpiece! To compliment the exquisite flavours of the dish, we were served a chilled white wine from the Istrian region – the Malvazija Bastian.

Last savoury dish we had was a Slow Cooked Octopus with a side of fennel puree and very interesting and pleasingly soft lime buttons. As you take your first bite, the bold and decadent flavours take over leaving you wondering have you tried this dish before, because it feels oddly familiar and for a second one could be reminded of childhood tastes, before travelling back and realizing this is probably the best octopus dish you ever had in your entire life!

The octopus is cooked to perfection, tender and succulent, and the dark somewhat mysterious octopus sauce adds a depth of flavour that is rich, savoury, bold, and pairs perfectly with the tender octopus. The smooth and velvety fennel puree brings a hint of freshness and sweetness to the dish, balancing out the richness of the sauce, and the lime adds a burst of tanginess that cuts through the flavours, leaving a pleasing aftertaste. This dish was paired with a magnificent Pošip Grgić produced on the Pelješac peninsula using grapes growing on the island of Korčula. This wine is famous for the vanilla and oak aromas that create a very interesting bouquet typical for Grgić wines.

At the end we enjoyed a mango and pistachio vegan tart, and a classic take on chocolate soufflé, which were a superb end to this culinary journey.

Ukusna veganska torta od manga i pistacija bila je bogata okusima, prava zvijezda među tortama. Kremasti nadjev od manga savršeno se slaže s hrskavim pistacijama, stvarajući ugodan kontrast tekstura i okusa. A najbolji dio? Potpuno je veganska, tako da se, teoretski, možete prepustiti bez osjećaja krivnje.

A delicious vegan mango and pistachio tart was bursting with flavours plus it’s packed with goodness, so it’s a true showstopper. The creamy mango filling pairs perfectly with the crunchy pistachios, creating a delightful contrast of textures and tastes. And the best part? It’s completely vegan, so in theory, you can indulge guilt-free.

And chocolate soufflé? Well, it’s a well know and beloved classic, poetically can be described as a dance of flavours, with warm, gooey chocolate oozing out of the delicate soufflé and uniting with the cool, refreshing vanilla ice cream. It’s a dessert that not only satisfies your sweet cravings but also your soul.

We enjoyed our desserts with chilled Benvenuti Corona grande dessert wine, famous for its deep golden colour and fruity notes. It was a perfect way to end the evening.

We must mention the staff at Restaurant Natali who were very professional with just the right amount of friendly. They explained all about the food and the wines, and in one point we were graced by the presence of their chef Dubo, who greeted us and explained in more detail about the dishes we were served.