El Padrino rooms

Martin was our waiter, and he was thoughtful and very attentive throughout the meal. We weren't completely happy with the food, but he kindly lowered the price, which showed he cared about making things right for his customers. His understanding and professional, friendly service made the visit a good one. We'd gladly return and hope to have him serve us again. 😉

We came back a second time, and the food was just as good, with much better service. Our server was lovely, offered local tips, and told us a little about life in Croatia. On our first visit, the lasagna was amazing, but the service fell short. It's the best lasagna we've had so far, though, in fairness, we haven't been to Italy yet. 🤪

With tables right by the sea in Zadar's very busy old town, the view is really scenic. The staff outside were attentive and accommodating, checking several times whether everything was okay or we needed anything. What we needed was the food we'd ordered 50 minutes earlier. Other tables that arrived after us were served first, even though we had ordered ordinary menu dishes. After several very kind apologies from the waiter, our meals finally came after about 1 hour and 10 minutes. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't good enough to make up for that wait. I'd call it an okay place if you want to eat by the water, though we may just have caught it on a bad day or at a bad time. Give it a try and decide for yourself, but be ready to wait a bit.

The outdoor setting is quite romantic, especially at sunset on Riva pier in Zadar's old town. The food was delicious, and the location makes this a top spot for dinner. Service felt a little indifferent.