In our opinion, Mala Hiza (little house) is one of the finest Croatian restaurants in the country. The building itself is an 1887 structure that once stood outside Zagreb. Thankfully, in 2002 owner Branimir Tomasic had the vision to dismantle and reassemble it in the village of Mackovec, 4km (2 1/2 miles) outside Cakovic. He then surrounded it with a knock-out garden, created a Croatian interior with lots of wood, stone, and artifacts, and began serving guests a menu full of creative interpretations of regional Croatian cuisine. You can start with three kinds of kulen from Slavonia, proceed to turkey roulade with chestnut puree, Dalmatian prsut, and sour cherry sauce, and complement the lot with thumb-size portions of heavenly gnocchi stuffed with cheese and spinach. Or you can experiment with ostrich medallions smothered with mushrooms, green pepper, and cranberries. For dessert, try zlevanka, a special dessert of cornmeal cake topped with walnuts and poppy seed. A huge selection of off-menu old-time Croatian dishes and peka-cooked meats is available with notice, and the wine list is a showcase for Medimurje vintners. Service is delightfully helpful and friendly, and there is a well-protected smoke-free section, a rarity in Croatia.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
