Borgonja

Rating: 12
Author: Gault&Millau

Istarska ulica 10, 52463 Višnjan, Croatia

12/20
Gourmet Restaurant

Chef: Loreta Čendak
Cooking: Local | Traditional

Gault&Millau's review 2026

Višnjan is a somewhat sleepy town in central Istria, where there are generally no typical tourist crowds. On the main street, there is the traditional restaurant Borgonja, perfect for an escape from the coast. It has been in the same place for about a hundred years, and has now been owned by the Čendak family for about fifty years. The large terrace, full of shade created by chestnuts, is ideal for the summer months, and the charming interior of the restaurant comes to its full expression in the winter months when ombolo (a cold cut of dry pork tenderloin), sausages, etc. are prepared on the fireplace. Unfortunately, local sausages are only available from October to May. The offer includes standard Istrian dishes, maneštra (a thick soup with corn and different sort of beans), homemade pasta, truffles, various types of meat. The superbly prepared Fiorentina, a large beef T-bone steak, roasted over high heat, minimally seasoned with salt and pepper, stands out. The portion is determined by the size of the steak, and it is usually good for several people. All the products used in the kitchen as well as the meat are purchased from long-standing local partners, as well as the wine in bulk. Of course, a selection of other Istrian winemakers is also available. A surefire hit is a visit to Borgonja in the winter months, when the local cuisine comes to the fore, while in the summer months the menu is slightly adapted to tourists. Borgonja is an excellent example of traditional Istrian cuisine and hospitality.