TOP restaurant

On one of Žilina’s housing estates, you can experience fine dining from one of Slovakia’s most experienced Chefs, Peter Ďurč, a pioneer of the country’s high-end culinary scene. We had the opportunity to visit the restaurant and enjoy the Chef’s ten-course tasting menu. Although the restaurant doesn’t operate very active on social media and provides limited information on its website, it still caters to guests who appreciate well-prepared food and exceptional service; a warm welcome at the door, being seated and offered water or a drink on arrival. The space is elegant, though it shows signs of wear from time. The evening was themed as a “journey around the world”. The starter combined Slovak elements with Korean kimchi: a homemade piroh filled with sauerkraut and a bold kimchi sauce. The flavours were pronounced and enjoyable, though the sauerkraut in the piroh could have been juicier. The main course offered an inventive take on Szegedin goulash, again paired with kimchi, sous-vide pork tenderloin, and a dumpling stuffed with pork shoulder. The wagyu tartare was also excellent, enhanced by truffle and the subtly sweet cheese; the only area for improvement was its visual presentation. Another creative twist on a classic was the paprikash, presented as pulled meat in a piroh with a rich sauce. Dessert was a beautifully presented trio of cinnamon cream, chocolate mousse, and vanilla cream with caramel. The creams were delicious, though the sponge was slightly dry, balanced by the blackberry sauce, which added a refined tartness. TOP restaurant is a place defined by warm hospitality and is certainly worth a visit.