Food & Drinks

1. Jedan stol za dvoje, molim

   A table for two, please

   Usage

   Used when entering a restaurant and requesting a table

   Grammar Note

   "dvoje" is a collective numeral for two people. Changes to "troje" (3), "četvero" (4), etc.

2. Jelovnik, molim

   The menu, please

   Usage

   Requesting the menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Jelovnik" is the native Croatian word. The English loanword "meni" is also widely used

3. Što preporučujete?

   What do you recommend?

   Usage

   Asking a waiter or local for food recommendations

   Grammar Note

   "preporučujete" is the polite second person form. Casual: "preporučuješ"

4. Alergičan sam na orašaste plodove

   I am allergic to nuts

   Usage

   Informing about a nut allergy (masculine form)

   Grammar Note

   Feminine form: "alergična". "Nisam alergičan na..." means "I am not allergic to..."

5. Račun, molim

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Requesting the check at the end of a meal

   Grammar Note

   "Račun" also means "calculation" or "account". Alternative: "Možemo li platiti?" (Can we pay?)

6. Ovo je ukusno

   This is delicious

   Usage

   Expressing that the food tastes good

   Grammar Note

   "ukusno" is the neuter form of adjective "ukusan". For emphasis: "jako ukusno" (very delicious)

7. Imam rezervaciju

   I have a reservation

   Usage

   Informing the host that you have a reservation

   Grammar Note

   "rezervaciju" is the accusative form of "rezervacija". Direct objects require the accusative case

8. Možete li to bez mesa?

   Can you make it without meat?

   Usage

   Requesting a meat-free dish for dietary or personal reasons

   Grammar Note

   "bez" (without) requires the genitive case. "mesa" is the genitive of "meso" (meat)

9. Jedno pivo, molim

   One beer, please

   Usage

   Ordering a drink at a bar or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "pivo" is neuter gender, so the numeral takes neuter form "jedno". Coffee: "kava", water: "voda"

10. Gdje je najbliži restoran?

    Where is the nearest restaurant?

    Usage

    Asking a passerby for the nearest restaurant

    Grammar Note

    "najbliži" is the superlative of "blizak" (near/close). "Gdje je...?" is the basic location question

11. Kruh

    Bread

    Usage

    Order bread, or check whether a dish contains it

    Grammar Note

    Croatian uses "kruh", not the Serbian "hleb". Masculine noun; a bakery is a "pekara"

12. Riža

    Rice

    Usage

    Order rice with this. Croatian uses the one word "riža" for both raw and cooked rice, so in an eatery it reads as cooked rice

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun

13. Tjestenina

    Pasta / noodles

    Usage

    The word for pasta. Croatian has no general word covering all noodles; wheat-dough products fall under "tjestenina", and ribbon noodles are "rezanci"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; Istrian hand-rolled pastas such as "fuži" and "pljukanci" fall under it too

14. Juha

    Soup

    Usage

    Order soup with this; fish soup is "riblja juha"

    Grammar Note

    Croatian uses "juha", not the Serbian "supa". Feminine noun

15. Sir

    Cheese

    Usage

    Order cheese or check for it; the island of Pag's sheep's-milk "paški sir" is the famous one

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; it covers both fresh curd cheese and aged cheese

16. Jogurt

    Yoghurt

    Usage

    Buy or order yoghurt with this; in Croatia the drinkable kind is the default

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the thick kind is "grčki jogurt"

17. Ljuto

    Spicy hot

    Usage

    Chilli heat specifically. "Je li ljuto?" asks if it's hot; "Ne ljuto, molim" asks for it mild. "Začinjeno" is a different word meaning seasoned/spiced, not hot

    Grammar Note

    Neuter form, used adverbially. The same word also means "angry/fierce", but in a food context it reads as heat

18. Sirovo

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Checks whether something is uncooked: "Je li ovo sirovo?". To ask for it well done, say "dobro pečeno"

    Grammar Note

    Neuter form. Note that cured ham (pršut) and tartare are served uncooked by design

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