WikiTravel has become one of the go-to websites to get an idea of which restaurants to check out in a new area. When people edit the page, you would like to think that throughout the edits, the cream of the crop will rise to the top, as in best foodie sites under the above mentioned budget category (budget, moderate, splurge). Currently, Sarajevo as a travel destination is slightly off the beaten track of tourism, especially to Western nations. As a beautiful city with friendly people, Sarajevo should not be skipped over despite its war-torn past.
As the rare vegetarian restaurant in town, Karuzo is the best place to find veggie and fish dishes where everywhere else focuses on meat. The owner, Saša Obućina, greets you at the door and is your server and chef (along with his assistant). His aim is to transform Bosnian cuisine by promoting a healthier livelihood using his menu preference of "a combination of vegetarian, macrobiotic and Mediterranean cuisine" and no trace of meat or eggs. Let the games begin.
The whole experience was made more personal when the chef and owner asks for your order and presents your plates with great care. The aromas and flavors are heavy on the Mediterranean flair. Simple vegetables were tossed with herbs and covered with cheese before being blasted in the oven and brought to the table in its pan to introduce the palate to the flavors of the night. Lightly toasted brown bread drizzled with a sort of parsley or herb pesto was a great medium to soak up the juices from the vegetables. The best part of the meal is the deep red seafood risotto, which was also highly recommended from travel websites and was listed on the menu as the house specialty. The bits of clams offered a very meaty texture and taste to a dish that did not have a hint of animal. Well-seasoned with a touch of heat, the fruits of the sea explode in your mouth. The variety of seafood and vegetables with the risotto made each bite completely unique. Delicious. To conclude the meal, the chef recommended his ice cream with black sea salt and extra virgin olive oil as well as the pineapple sundae. The ice cream was creamy and smooth with the black sea salt bringing out the tang and sweetness from the cream. The olive oil was an interesting touch and not directly noticeable, but did offer a more smooth texture as the ice cream slid down the throat. The pineapple sundae was one hot mess. At the base was a couple large rings of grilled pineapple covered with ice cream and more fruity goodness.
All in all, so satisfying and tasty. The experience was made more unique only by the presence of the owner who gladly offered friendly conversation when invited. To hear a story of a man born in Bosnia and traveling out to Western Europe and bringing what he learned to his home culture brings you back from the Mediterranean to the charming city of Sarajevo where you are listening to the Saša Obućina.
Karuzo. Ul. Dženetića Čikma bb (71000), Sarajevo. www.karuzorestaurant.com
