EDITOR’S NOTE: That is one in a sequence taking a look at how immigrants and kids of immigrants settled in Northeast Ohio and introduced their native dishes and cooking kinds with them.
For almost 40 years, Dubrovnik Backyard Restaurant in Eastlake has turn out to be a well-liked vacation spot for purchasers who get pleasure from meals from Jap European international locations like Croatia, Austria, and Hungary.
Dubrovnik Backyard’s Fb web page describes the restaurant as “a fusion of Jap European delicacies with American favourites.” Nonetheless, for many patrons, Dubrovnik Backyard’s worldwide menu objects, with names like cevapcici, raznjici and palacinke, are more likely to be the primary attracts.
Positioned at 34900 Lake Shore Blvd., Dubrovnik Backyard Restaurant is a part of a constructing that additionally homes the 2 banquet halls of the American-Croatian Lodge.
The restaurant, Most important Ballroom and West Finish Corridor are owned by American-Croatian Lodge Inc., a for-profit entity comprised of shareholders.
The lodge grew to become an organization in 1982, and two years later, the entity accomplished building of its predominant Eastlake constructing, which right this moment homes the restaurant and banquet rooms.
“The concept was to construct the constructing in order that Croats would have a spot to assemble on the east facet of Cleveland,” mentioned Tina Skorin, supervisor of the Dubrovnik Backyard restaurant. “So now we have two get together facilities and a restaurant.”
Though American-Croatian Lodge nonetheless caters to many individuals whose major ancestry is Croatian, each its banquet halls and eating places are open to most of the people.
The title of the restaurant derives from Dubrovnik, a metropolis in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea.
The restaurant prides itself not solely on high-quality meals, but additionally on its snug ambiance, Skorin famous.
“We would like everybody to really feel welcome and at residence,” he mentioned.
The restaurant provides a tasty number of European delicacies, aiming to fulfill individuals who grew up consuming these ethnic meals, in addition to clients attempting an entrée for the primary time.
![Wiener schnitzel is the best-selling menu item at Dubrovnik Garden Restaurant in Eastlake. Here, a helping of wiener schnitzel is accompanied by sides of house fries and mixed vegetables. For almost 40 years, Dubrovnik Garden Restaurant has been a popular destination for customers who enjoy food from European countries such as Croatia, Austria, and Hungary. (Bill DeBus - The News Herald)](https://i0.wp.com/www.news-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/TNH-L-DUBROVNIKREST-2-01.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
Skorin mentioned the restaurant’s best-selling merchandise is the wiener schnitzel. Wiener schnitzel is understood to be a favourite nationwide dish in Austria. Pork schnitzel can be served.
Moreover, Dubrovnik Backyard serves cevapcici, a kind of sausage that’s fashionable in southeastern European international locations.
“(Cevapcici) is a mix of pork, beef and veal, and a variety of garlic,” Skorin mentioned.
![Fila Peco, cook at the Dubrovnik Garden Restaurant, cuts onions during her shift in the restaurant's kitchen. Located in Eastlake, Dubrovnik Garden Restaurant offers a tasty variety of European cuisine, aiming to satisfy people who grew up eating these ethnic foods, as well as customers trying an entrée for the first time. (Bill DeBus - The News Herald)](https://i0.wp.com/www.news-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/TNH-L-DUBROVNIKREST-0104-3-01.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
Different European-style meals featured on the Dubrovnik Backyard menu embrace:
• Slovenian sausage and kraut.
• Raznjici: the title of the pork skewers which are fashionable in south-eastern Europe.
• Beef Goulash — Dubrovnik goulash is a mix of sautéed onions, carrots, celery and beef in a sauce, served over noodles.
• Hen Paprikash – A preferred dish originating from Hungary.
With regards to garnishes, Skorin mentioned that Dubrovnik Backyard makes a speciality of home fries. It additionally serves home made soups, comparable to bean and hen and meatballs.
Within the dessert class, Dubrovnik Backyard Restaurant provides strudel and palacinke, which is the title for crepes in southeast Europe.
![Dubrovnik Garden Restaurant is located at 34900 Lake Shore Blvd. in Eastlake. The restaurant specializes in European cuisine from countries such as Croatia, Austria and Hungary. (Bill DeBus - The News Herald)](https://i0.wp.com/www.news-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/TNH-L-DUBROVNIKREST-0104-4-01.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
Whereas the restaurant provides quite a lot of meals that’s fashionable all through Europe, the enterprise has by no means overlooked its Croatian roots.
For instance, Dubrovnik Backyard sponsored a number of watch events to cheer on the Croatian soccer workforce because it superior deep into the 2022 World Cup match.
Croatian Christmas carolers additionally carried out this festive season within the restaurant.
And if native Croatians are visiting America for the primary time and find yourself consuming on the Dubrovnik Backyard restaurant in Eastlake, they will not be hindered by the language barrier.
“Nearly all of our staff communicate Croatian,” Skorin mentioned.
For extra info on the Dubrovnik Backyard restaurant, go to dubrovnikgardens.croatianlodge.com; go to their Fb web page; or name 440-946-3366.