Near the main square, in the street that bears it’s name by the fallen Kaptol wall stands the eponymous Bistro & Wine Bar Pod Zidom («Under the wall»), now very popular gathering place for lovers of good food and wine. Warm and modern interior inspirated by the wake of the industrial design makes this place even cozier and special.
In little more than a year Pod Zidom has gained a loyal audience that is regularly visited by the locals so to find time for the reservations is more than welcome.

With a wine list witch contains carefully selected Croatian wines, coffee, cocktails and colorful natural smoothies, they also started with simple bistro food, mezas, tapas and an occasional dessert. With the arrival of chef Nikola Bilandžija who has gained his experience in renowned restaurants such as Boškinac on Pag and Bistro Apetit in Zagreb, Pod Zidom became concrete bistro worthy of attention, offering food that guests praise and love to come back.

When we recently went to grab a lunch, we noticed the new menu with some very interesting dishes; as an appetizer ” Kost & Tost ” (bone&toast) – roasted bone marrow, toast, chili butter; a kind of dish that you do not have the opportunity to taste anywhere else. The menu consists of concrete dishes such as open ravioli with ragout of veal shank – pasta yolks, merlot sauce, peas, crunchy Grana Padano; arancini in salsa stuffed with mozzarella where the tomato sauce, of course, is homemade. We also tried their butternut squash risotto with mashed chestnuts, mushrooms, pumpkin seed oil and fried sage, juicy tenderloin in pumpkin seed crust on mashed sweet potatoes with poppy seeds, topped with vanilla Jus and thyme. A lot of guests come for a glass of wine and some of their classics such as pastrami sandwich, pork sliders and BBQ pork ribs are always a great choice. For a dessert we could choose a delicious liquid chocolate cake with cherries, vanilla ice cream and cardamom sauce and tiramisu with chestnut cantuccini, espresso with chocolate and carob liqueur and carob and cocoa sprinkles.

Pod Zidom lives to the fullest through the whole week. Wine tastings where they host a renowned Croatian winemakers who strive to better introduce the wines to the guests with a guided tasting in the presence of the winemakers themselves, then special wine dinners with selected dishes from chef Nikola paired with commemorative wines. The best visits can be related with regular performances on guitar every Friday and Saturday night, and Saturday lunchtime jazz, followed by the new event called Wednesday wines.

One of the novelties in the wine list is also a cooperation of Pod Zidom and, probably the most famous Croatian winemaker, Vlado Krauthaker that has exclusively created the Pod Zidom wine, a white blend of three varieties (Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Gray), and they announced a red blend as well. The wine list is made primarily of Croatian wines, where particular care was taken in the best ratio of price and quality with a focus on Croatian indigenous varieties where the tourists could more easily try «something original».

If by any chance you have not already visited, give this established place a chance and taste the delicacies from the new menu with refreshed wine list in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere that is Bistro & Wine Bar Pod Zidom.

Text: Hrvoje Petrić
Photography: Rajna Raguž, Marijana Zlomislić

Bistro & Wine Bar Pod Zidom  
Pod zidom 5, 10000, Zagreb
Phone: 00385 98 669 690
Mail: info@podzidom.hr