Novigrad boasts a trio of restaurants worth writing home about: Damir i Ornella, Mandrac and the Konoba Cok There are a handful of others on Rivarella with a sea-view terrace and a good kitchen. Menus are often in Croatian, Italian and Germany only.


Damir i Ornella
Zidine 5 (052 758 134). Open noon-3pm, 6.30-11.30pm Tue-Sun. Credit AmEx, DC, V.
Commonly acknowledged to be the best place in town, this 28-seat diner is worth booking at least a day in advance. Signposted on Velika ulica, it's set in a nar­row side street near the seafront. Inside, a simple, tasteful bare-brick interior is a com­fortable setting for raw fish and shrimp spe­cialities. The grilled lobster is excellent too. Desserts include a popular kiwi flan. Expect to pay about 400kn a head.


Konoba Cok
Sv Antona 2 (052 757 643). Open noon-3pm, 6-llpm daily. Credit AmEx, DC, MC,V.
On an enclosed front terrace by a round­about on the edge of the Old Town, a board reads: 'Welcome from Family Jugovac'. While his son Viljan runs the kitchen, Sergio takes care of guests and the wide range of Istrian wines. On offer are fresh sea bream, sea perch and sole, lobster, and all kinds of shellfish including oysters. Truffles decorate the steak and pasta starters, and meals are generally bookend-ed by a complimentary fruit brandy.


Mandrac
Mandrac 6 (052 757369). Open noon-3pm, 6-llpm daily. Credit AmEx, DC, V. The walls of Mandrac's backroom are covered in gastronomic awards and even though there are seats for 200 diners, it's still best to reserve in summer. Fresh fish and grilled meats are well presented on warmed plates, garnished according to the friendly advice offered by the waiter. Despite the high standard of service and preparation, prices are a reasonable 250kn-300kn per kilo of sole, sea bass or sea bream. House wine is an equally reasonable 60kn a litre, although there are plenty of vintages on view in a cabinet in the back. If it's full, try the traditional Sidro (052 757 601) next door.