Even though the restaurant scene in Zagreb has been on fire for the past few years, one thing Zagreb seems to seriously lack in are breakfast/brunch restaurants. We have both ourselves and the restaurants scene to blame because:
a) most Croats aren’t really used to eating breakfast outside their homes (a LOT of people I know don’t even have breakfast) – they either grab a quick bite in one of the omnipresent bakeries (don’t get me wrong, I worship Dubravica) or eat something at home, and
b) there just aren’t that many restaurants offering breakfast options. Sure, you can get your basics in regular restaurants – two eggs, sunny side up, toast with butter and jam, but good luck with finding anything other than that.
All my breakfast and brunch wishes came true when Eggspress, the first Croatian Omeletterie opened in the centre, and when I noticed the pun, I loved it even more.
Not knowing where to eat around noon today, and not yet quite ready for lunch, my friend and I decided that it’s finally time to give Eggspress a shot (plus, they were open today, even though it’s a holiday).
The restaurant is located in a red-brick vaulted basement in Josipa Ruđera Boškovića Street, in a central part of town which I always felt was unjustly neglected, so kudos on trying to bring life back to it, Eggspress team!
Much to my linguistic amusement, all the items on the menu contained the word “egg” and the options were pretty limited – which I always feel is a good thing because it means the restaurant has perfected that specific number of dishes, instead of offering a huge selection of average options.
So far, so good!
As I mentioned before, I wasn’t that hungry (but I can always eat), so I took a regular omelette (30 kn), which I thought would be smaller (it wasn’t) than the specials, which were also slightly more expensive – 50-65 kn, but the options included combinations with avocado and spinach, as well as Shakshouka (Tunisian and Israeli dish consisting of eggs poached in tomato sauce) and Eggs Benedict. I love tomatoes and spring onions, and they obviously read my mind because they had just that, and my friend ordered Eggzotic – soft boiled eggs with avocado and hollandaise sauce.
Both were delicious and huge!
If you have a separate stomach for desserts, have no fear, there are croissants and other sweet breakfast options as well.
Choice of drinks was impressive – lots of different types of wines, beer, fresh juices, and coffee, and something you won’t often find in Zagreb restaurants – mimosas.
All in all, we finally have a breakfast place, and an eggsellent one at that.
Eggspress
Josipa Ruđera Boškovića 11
Monday: closed
Tue – Sun: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
