Plac Kitchen & Grill: a Zagreb Meat & Beer Haven

Coming hot off a smooth, comfortable, and quick bus ride from Budapest to Zagreb, I found myself in a new city and in dire need of meat. After some quick Googling, I settled on a small little cevapi joint located right near the Dolac Market in Zagreb’s city center. 

If you’re reading this and unsure of what a cevapi is, I also had no idea upon first arriving in Zagreb. However, you are about to find out exactly what makes a cevapi all that is right in this turbulent world.  

Little did I know that the cevapi and I would go on to have a passionate, addictive, and beautiful three month affair during my time in Split, Croatia (and a short stint in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina). For that, I have Plac Kitchen & Grill to thank. 

Let’s get into exactly what a cevapi is and why Plac Kitchen & Grill should be on your radar when traveling to (or through) Zagreb, Croatia. 

The Cevapi: Meat, Onions, Turkish Bread, & Kaymak

The cevapi, also known as a cevapcici, is an extremely popular grilled minced meat dish (actually more of a handheld item) found in the Balkans and similar to the Turkish kofte kebab. The beauty of the cevapi lies in how simple it is. Meat, onions, bread, and your choice of a dairy product (kajmak or feta cheese) or red bell pepper based condiment (ajvar). 

Depending on the Balkan country, the grilled meat will typically consist of either beef, lamb, mutton, pork, or a healthy mix of two (or three). The best description I can provide you of the grilled meat in a cevapi is that it is American breakfast sausage links on steroids (and one thousand times more delicious). 

I know I’ve thrown around this word a few times already and haven’t addressed it, so what the heck is kajmak (also spelt kaymak). Kajmak is an unripened cheese (similar to clotted cream) made from either cow, sheep, or water buffalo milk, that is a popular condiment and spread on cevapis. Kajmak is what I would refer to as “cheese butter,” as it is creamy and rich in taste (and slightly sour) and melts into the Turkish bread used to hold the cevapi links together. 

Meat with cheese butter – does it get any better? 

Throw some raw onions on top of freshly baked Turkish flatbread (that is typically thrown on the grill and used to soak up the grease and juices of the meat), and you have one of the closest things to perfection I’ve come across during my eating travels. Cevapis are literally a giant, creamy, personal meat purse. 

So, what made Plac Kitchen & Grill stand out and must-try for the hungry in Zagreb?

Plac Kitchen & Grill: Clean, High Quality Meat & Fridges Full of Beer 

Located right below the bustling Dolac Market, Plac Kitchen & Grill is cozy and extremely welcoming. During my combined two weeks in Zagreb (I spent one week initially, and then bussed back several times to meet a lady friend), I made Plac Kitchen & Grill my regular cevapi spot. And there’s good reason you should make it yours. 

The cevapcici combo, aka the ‘Cevapcici + Shish Cevapi’, was my regular order – a mix between traditional ground and spicy ground beef links, served with flatbread, onions, and of course kajmak. I also would typically order the ‘Plac fries with sauce’ just to round out the meal. 

Side note: I have no idea what is in the Plac sauce but it reminds me of Popeyes’ blackened ranch sauce and is definitely addicting. 

First, the bread was legitimately comparable to a pillow. I know, I know. Hyperbole is cliche, but it was pretty damn close. This is fluffy, fluffy bread. And, it soaks up the meat juices perfectly. There’s something to be said about tearing off individual hunks of flatbread, pairing it with one or two ground beef links, and digging in. 

Plac knows how to do meat. Having tried my fair share of cevapi spots across Zagreb, Split, and Mostar, I noticed a common trend with some lower-end cevapi joints – the meat was extremely greasy and I often felt awful after eating it. Plac’s meat is not overly greasy and is extremely clean. 

Don’t get me wrong, a little grease is good of course, as the flatbread soaks it up beautifully. However, you don’t want to walk out of there feeling like you took a gulp out of McDonald’s frialator. 

Personally, I’m a huge fan of onions. Raw, grilled, caramelized – I’ll take onions anyway you throw them at me. The raw onions served with the cevapi at Plac provide such a sharp taste, some texture, and a nice contrast to the creamy kajmak and fluffy flatbread.

I remember emailing my mother halfway through my meal telling her, “I’m eating cheese butter right now and I couldn’t be happier.” This was my kajmak inauguration.  

Craft Beers Galore

Now, for the beer – this is a fantastic spot to get a glimpse into Croatia’s craft beer scene (which pleasantly surprised me). I worked my way through quite a few of the beers here over my many trips, however, there was one Croatian favorite that stood out for me – Zlatni Medvjed. 

The Zlatni Medvjed is a golden-yellow pilsner (straight outta Compton, whoops – Croatia) boasting that classic refreshing pilsner taste, with slight bitterness and dare I say it, notes of honey? I add a question mark to it, as I’m not really sure and cannot confirm or deny if it does have some honey flavoring. This beer honestly reminded me of a high-class mead from the the Middle Ages (I’ve never tried mead, but if I was a bettin’ man). 

A second favorite beer that Plac serves up is the Flamingo by Zeppelin Craft Brewery (another Croatian brewery), which is definitely the European equivalent to a pale ale in the United States. The Zeppelin is a bitter amber that brought me back to the New England-style IPAs and pale ales that I have come to know so well over the years.  

What’s fantastic about the beers is that you are able to go grab them from the multiple beer fridges, which adds a more intimate, Cheers-esque type feel to Plac.  

The Rest of Plac’s Menu

Plac Kitchen & Grill boasts so much more than just the cevapcici. They also sport a healthy mix of specialty burgers, chicken and veal dishes, and salads (two or three that I can remember). 

This isn’t a cevapi joint – this is a spot for the whole family. There’s no doubt there is something on the menu for everyone here – even vegetarians (they actually have a seitan burger). 

You can find the complete menu over at: https://plac-zagreb.com/plac_cjenik_2018_P3-2.pdf 

Plac Kitchen & Grill Location & Details

What I low-key loved about Plac was that it was frequented by everyone from all walks of life. Old-time Croatian men looking to throw back a few beers over a traditional favorite? Check. Families seeking out an affordable and high quality sit-down meal? Check. Tourists looking to get a taste of what Croatian cuisine is truly about? Check, check, check. 

Plac was a welcoming, warm, and quality first stop (of many) on my near-three-month Croatia adventure. I wholeheartedly recommend this place and look forward to stopping by next time I’m in Zagreb.

Oh, and there is ample outdoor seating for the summer and winter, which is great for people watching!

If you’ve been to Plac Kitchen & Grill, or have a favorite cevapi spot in Zagreb, let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you and add to my cevapi rolodex. 

Be grand,

Big Body

Website, Address, & Details: https://plac-zagreb.com 

When: Every Day of the Week: 9AM-11PM

Location: Dolac 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia