Autumn in Zagreb

Pag cheese cheesecake with roasted black grapes, rabbit confit with porcini cream, seared foie gras with sour cherries, blood sausage croquettes with cabbage kebab, black pig pork chop with truffles, venison ossobuco,dentex with brown butter and desserts featuring chestnuts, pumpkin and apples — bold seasonal pairings, intriguing textures and Chef Ana Grgić Tomić’s signature creativity make every visit to Le Bistro a new gourmet experience.

The new à la carte menu arrives just in time for autumn get-togethers, business lunches and romantic dinners. In a setting where Parisian charm meets Zagreb’s relaxed everyday rhythm, Chef Ana Grgić Tomić once again reveals just how exciting bistro cuisine can be. Seasonal ingredients, thoughtful combinations and unexpected details create dishes that catch the eye at first glance and win guests over with the first bite.

To begin, Pag cheese and olive oil cheesecake is served with roasted black grapes and a red wine and lavender gel, while creamy black quinoa with pickled pumpkin and quince, feta crumble and caramelised pumpkin seeds offers an intriguing interplay of sweet and tangy notes. Rabbit confit with porcini cream, pickled shallots and mustard, served with warm sourdough toast, evokes the rich aromas of the forest. Those who enjoy bolder flavours will love the blood sausage croquette with cabbage kebab, honey, chilli and smoked yoghurt, as well as seared foie gras with sour cherries, Timut pepper and cocoa brioche.

The starters also include beef tongue with Stilton cream, morel ragout and pickled radicchio, and roasted white polenta gnocchi filled with mushroom marmalade, accompanied by a toasted pine nut sauce and crispy lardo. For a warming introduction, there is creamy chicory soup with capers, while creamy beetroot risotto with blue cheese sauce, rosemary powder and toasted hazelnuts brings together vibrant colours and layered flavours.

“Autumn is a particularly inspiring time in the kitchen, bringing an abundance of ingredients, rich aromas and countless opportunities for creativity. When developing the new menu, I wanted to combine familiar seasonal flavours with a few unexpected touches, play with textures and create dishes that are simple, elegant and a little surprising all at once. Porcini mushrooms, pumpkin, chestnuts and truffles provide a wonderful foundation for these combinations, and I especially enjoy seeing a familiar ingredient take on a completely different character in a new pairing. What matters most to me is that every dish tells its own story and that guests find pleasure in every bite — the kind that makes them want to return to Le Bistro,” says Chef Ana Grgić Tomić.

The main courses showcase Ana’s skill in bringing classical techniques together with contemporary ideas. Black pig pork chop with roasted white bean and truffle cream, parsley root and truffle sauce is a delight for lovers of rich aromas. American striploin in a panko and Parmesan crust comes with black trumpet mushroom ragout, pickled baby carrots and a cardamom-infused carrot sauce. Venison ossobuco with juniper berry sauce, chickpea and cumin cream and fresh coriander offers a sumptuous, aromatic taste of autumn.

Seafood lovers are equally well catered for: roasted dentex with brown butter is served with cauliflower cream, rich truffle consommé and toasted hazelnuts, while sea bass fillet wrapped in vine leaves comes with citrus butter sauce, creamy buckwheat and artichokes. Naturally, the menu also features Le Bistro’s much-loved classics: Wiener schnitzel with creamy mashed potatoes, steak tartare, the iconic baked Esplanade štrukli, Caesar salad and French onion soup gratinée.

To finish, sweet creations follow the rhythm of the season. Hazelnut and coffee sponge cake combines forest berries, vanilla cream and coffee gel, while cinnamon panna cotta is accompanied by dark chocolate foam and almond crumble. Pumpkin seed oil sponge cake with burnt honey crémeux, pumpkin seed praline and apple compote captures the warmth of autumn flavours. Chocolate lovers will enjoy chocolate custard with chestnut ice cream, orange and hibiscus gel and a chestnut crisp.

For a relaxed lunch, the daily Menu du Jour offers three courses of freshly prepared dishes selected by the chef, accompanied by a glass of Krauthaker house wine and coffee or tea. It is available daily from 12 noon to 5 pm. For a perfect start to the day, Le Bistro offers an à la carte breakfast with irresistible morning favourites such as avocado toast with a poached egg, eggs Benedict on warm brioche and delicious French toast. Breakfast is served daily from 9 to 11 am. A children’s menu with nutritious treats for younger guests is also available.

Stop by Le Bistro for a leisurely lunch, business meeting, romantic dinner or simply coffee and something sweet. Discover new flavours in a charming atmosphere of Parisian chic in the heart of Zagreb.

Le Bistro is open daily from 9 am to 11 pm (the kitchen closes at 10:30 pm). Reservations can be made by calling +385 1 45 666 11 or emailing [email protected]. To give someone the gift of a Le Bistro experience, choose from a selection of digital gift vouchers and surprise a business partner or loved one in just a few clicks. Find out more at www.lebistro.hr.

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DOWNLOAD MATERIALS:

• PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO (Esplanade Zagreb Hotel archive): A la carte menu Le Bistro 10 – 2026
• À LA CARTE MENU
• WINE LIST

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ABOUT CHEF ANA GRGIĆ TOMIĆ

Ana Grgić Tomić, the leading lady of Esplanade’s kitchens, began her culinary career at the hotel 25 years ago and has headed Zinfandel’s, one of Croatia’s finest restaurants, and the charming French-style Le Bistro for more than fifteen years, while also successfully overseeing Esplanade Catering. Over the years, her innovative and creative menus have impressed countless guests and celebrities, members of royal families including King Charles III, world leaders and many others. Ana has received numerous awards recognising her personality, excellence and culinary style. Prestigious publications have nominated her for Woman of the Year and Person of the Year. In 2013, 2016 and 2022, her risotto was included among the world’s best risottos by the renowned Guida Gallo guide. Her distinctive culinary style and personality led to appearances as a jury member on the popular television cooking shows Celebrity MasterChef and Tri, dva, jedan – kuhaj! Ana also proudly serves as an ambassador for WWF’s Fish Forward project in Croatia, helping raise consumer awareness of the global environmental and social impacts of seafood consumption. Working with WWF, she was among the first in Croatia to introduce a Food Waste programme into hotel operations, and her sustainable approach to cooking helped Zinfandel’s earn a prestigious Michelin Green Star. In 2023, at the European Hotel Awards in Barcelona, the World Gastronomy Organization presented Ana with the special Étoile Blanche distinction. In 2022, she was named Chef of the Year by Gault&Millau Croatia, having previously received its Chef of Tomorrow award in 2016. Her culinary virtuosity and creativity were also recognised by the gourmet association Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, which awarded her the prestigious title of Chef Rôtisseur. Throughout her career at the hotel, Ana has worked with numerous international Michelin-starred chefs from France, Italy, Israel, Korea, the United Kingdom and Austria, and has appeared with her team at leading restaurants abroad, showcasing the very best of Croatian gastronomy.

ABOUT THE GHA DISCOVERY LOYALTY PROGRAMME

Esplanade Zagreb Hotel is part of Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, with a network of approximately 1,000 hotels in 100 countries. The award-winning GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme offers members exclusive benefits, member rates and rewards in D$ (DISCOVERY Dollars), redeemable at participating hotels. Membership also provides access to selected local experiences and offers that can be enjoyed without an overnight stay, subject to programme terms and conditions.

@ghaDISCOVERY #RewardingLifesJournyes

Media contacts

Sanda Sokol, Director of PR & Marketing
T. +385 1 45 66 036
E. [email protected], [email protected]

Matea Sušac, PR & Marketing Associate
T. +385 1 45 63 888
E. [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
Zagreb, 23 October 2026