When we visited Budva, we stayed at Hotel Splendid, which mostly lived up to its name.
Its lobby contains a range of seating areas where drinks and food are served paired with live music. No expense was spared in making the venue look top notch such as the rooms' exquisite bathrooms, spa and the fantastic swimming pool. What I found perplexing though is how little details were overlooked, such as the cheap, dented dustbin in my room; its broken lid fell off at first use. The TV remote didn't work either. These minor issues were easily forgotten as we walked to the beach, which borders onto the hotel's swimming area.
We got to visit Old Town Budva, which has been completely rebuilt after the catastrophic earthquake in 1979. Other than admiring millionaires' yachts in the marina, you can explore the shops in the narrow streets in this area and also take in the breathtaking scenery of the sea along the way.
We had lunch at Dukley Beach Lounge and even though we were still stuffed to the brim we had dinner at Casa Mia, an Italian restaurant. My expectations were far from high when hearing we were to dine at the latter - thinking of a carbohydrate-rich menu filled with pizza, pasta and pizza. As we gradually climbed up the cliff via a windy road it struck me that this wasn't any old neighbourhood restaurant with red and white chequered tablecloths we were about to attend.
Casa Mia has its own farm, raising their own chickens, ducks, turkeys and goats. There are around 300 of the latter whose milk is used for cheese. Disconcertingly, if you're a fan of goat you can pick a kid and they'll cook it for you. Older goats are slaughtered and the meat is smoked, used in sausages or whole legs are dried Parma Ham style. Holiday apartments are near completion and you can stay at the venue as well.
Words fail to describe the view from the restaurant overlooking the Adriatic Sea. What was even more amazing was the stellar seafood we were about to have.
Let's start with the low points of the meal. A stream of small plates arrived at our table with strangely presented food, one could not help but feel something is missing. There were only two, whole prawns swimming in the sea of Marie-Rose sauce in the first retro starter, a prawn cocktail. The Italian cakes for dessert looked as if they were decorated by toddlers who went on a psychedelic trip.
What makes this meal memorable for me though was losing my sea urchin virginity. Halved and served raw I couldn't get enough of these beauties that tasted of the sea with a custard-like texture. A plate piled high with empty shells attested to it. The tuna tartare was perfect and the sea bass baked in a salt crust was from the highest shelf you could possibly get. If you're not a fan of fish, you would love the veal with mushrooms.
Tempted To Visit Montenegro?
Check out the travel guides below to help you plan your trip!
- Lonely Planet Montenegro (Travel Guide)
- Montenegro (Bradt Travel Guides)
- Montenegro Travel Guide: Attractions, Eating, Drinking, Shopping & Places To Stay
What is your favourite seafood dish?
Quick Overview
Food
7/10: The seafood is outstanding but the presentation and food pairings need work.
Value
8/10: You wouldn't get up hungry.
Service
8/10: Attentive and friendly.
Ambience
10/10: You won't find a better view on the Montenegrin coast.
Recommend
8/10: The seafood is what would make me come back again and again and again. And again. You get my drift.
Casa Mia
Reževići, Krstac , Petrovac
Montenegro
+382 69 200 555
P.S. I was a guest of Casa Mia.
Tracey Peach
Place & Chips! xxx
Tracey Peach
Place & Chips! xxx
Tracy Nixon
I love marianated tuna steaks in a garlic a herb sauce!
kellyjo walters
seafood risotto
Paula Readings
I like Sea bass with new potatoes & sweet corn salad.
Miss Tracy Hanson
Spicy grilled shrimp with apricot, ginger glaze.
LESLEY BRADLEY
My favourite seafood dish I discovered on holiday in Egypt and is delicious Nile Perch
Jenifer
I love mussels in a garlic sauce (boyfriend's not so keen to kiss me after though!) 🙂 Cockles are great too, especially with plenty of vinegar!
Jen xx
Jenifer
I love mussels in a garlic sauce (boyfriend's not so keen to kiss me after though!) 🙂 Cockles are great too, especially with plenty of vinegar!
Jen xx
Barry Page
Scallops and bacon
Sarah Griffiths
Anything from the fresh fish counter, what ever looks great or is recommended by the locals
Claire woods
I don't have one.
Amanda Hart
I love prawns
Sharon Herbert
Sounds delicious x
Sharon Herbert
Delicious!!!
Emma
A really creamy prawn korma is hard to beat
Emma
A really creamy prawn korma is hard to beat
Elizabeth
Oh this looks like such an amazing place! I can feel the warmth and the flavours emanating through the photographs! Stunning place!
Chris Andrews
What is your favourite seafood dish? ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Paella, freshly made not from instant
Chris Andrews
What is your favourite seafood dish? ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Paella, freshly made not from instant
Chris Andrews
What is your favourite seafood dish? ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Paella, freshly made not from instant
Chris Andrews
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Kavey
Lovely photos, looks such a lovely holiday!
Kavey
Lovely photos, looks such a lovely holiday!
Kavey
Lovely photos, looks such a lovely trip. I think anything with really juicy fresh and large prawns is a favourite, just simply grilled in the shell works for me!
Kavey
Lovely photos, looks such a lovely trip. I think anything with really juicy fresh and large prawns is a favourite, just simply grilled in the shell works for me!
Kavey
Lovely photos, looks such a lovely trip. I think anything with really juicy fresh and large prawns is a favourite, just simply grilled in the shell works for me!
Angie Hoggett
I love crab linguine with a nice hit of chilli
Kimberley Howes
I love sea bass
leanne weir
Plaice & chips
Victoria Prince
My favourite is good old fish and chips - from a classic fish and chip shop, and wrapped in paper 🙂 I hate all this polystyrene tray nonsense. I don't mind them sitting in a tray in the paper, but all these places that just give you a polystyrene container with a lid is just rubbish - they don't taste right!
sarah
love all seafood, but love fried calamari
sarah
love all seafood, but love fried calamari
joanna sawka
paella
Kristy Brown
I love crab salad
Lisa Wilkinson
Calamari - when it's done right!
Lisa Wilkinson
Calamari - when it's done right!
Michelle Kemp
Good old fish and chips (proper chips not frozen)
Karen R
I love spaghetti with smoked salmon, garlic and olive oil
Harriet Higgs
Moules & Frites
Sally Collingwood
The good old traditional prawn cocktail!!
kris
none, i am a veggie 🙂
M Allen
Moules frites, especially if served in a street cafe in Northern France
M Allen
Oh, and I subscribed too...
Natalie Crossan
Crab salad is just goooooorgeous
Emily Leary
This whole post is just breathtaking. I got a bit lost in all the beauty *sigh*
adam
I shed a tear of joy looking at those photos.