St. Blaise: The only Croatian restaurant in Sydney’s eastern suburbs

by croatiaweek
April 4, 2024
in Food & Wine

(Photo: St Blaise)

Despite Sydney’s sizeable Croatian community, St Blaise Bistro stands as the only Croatian restaurant in the Australian city’s Eastern Suburbs.

We caught up with owner Vedran Perojevic, who first told us about his Croatian roots and how he got started.

“I was born and raised in the enchanting city of Dubrovnik, I’ve always been captivated by traditional flavours and local herbs. After completing my hospitality studies, I ventured into the culinary world with Azur in China, where I brought the vibrant tastes of Dalmatia to Zhuhai.

This journey led to the natural progression of opening a sister restaurant back home in Dubrovnik. Together with my brother, we infused both restaurants with Dubrovnik’s flair, creating not just places to dine but true community hubs.

Upon moving to Sydney with my wife and son, I felt inspired to bring a piece of my hometown to this vibrant city. Thus, St Blaise Bistro came to life, offering a holistic and traditional approach to dining that I hold dear.”

St. Blaise: The only Croatian restaurant in Sydney’s eastern suburbs

(Photo: St Blaise)

St Blaise Bistro, named after the patron saint of Dubrovnik, holds a special significance for Vedran. It pays homage to the centuries-old tradition of celebrating St Blaise in Dubrovnik.

“As a chef with a passion for hospitality, opening restaurants feels like my true calling. Australia’s love for good food and craftsmanship motivated me to showcase my skills here. The name “St Blaise” pays homage to the patron saint of Dubrovnik, a celebration we cherish annually for over nine centuries, 942 years to be correct.”

The concept behind St Blaise revolves around offering a holistic dining experience rooted in Dubrovnik-inspired cuisine. The menu showcases classic Dalmatian dishes alongside other Croatian delights.

“St Blaise embodies Dubrovnik-inspired cuisine, highlighting classic Dalmatian dishes with a blend of tradition and modern flair. Our menu extends to include culinary delights from Istria and continental Croatia, ensuring a diverse experience.

(Photo: St Blaise)

Signature dishes like Dalmatian octopus salad, salted cod pate, black cuttlefish risotto & seafood risotto reflect our commitment to authentic flavours. Menu is small and it constantly changes and evolves, so every time you come there is something new to surprise you.”

(Photo: St Blaise)

Since its opening, St Blaise has been very well received by the community, earning accolades from patrons and critics alike.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the incredible support from Sydney’s diverse community, relying mostly on word-of-mouth to fill our reservations weeks in advance. Among our most beloved dishes is Dubrovnik style seafood risotto, salted cod pate and pasta with trational Pag Island Lamb Ragu (janjeća toćada) , which have garnered rave reviews.”

(Photo: St Blaise)

While St Blaise welcomes a few Croatian patrons, its appeal attracts guests from all backgrounds seeking to explore Croatian cuisine or reminisce about their travels to Croatia.

“We’re delighted to welcome guests from various backgrounds who appreciate Croatian cuisine or seek to explore its rich flavours for the first time. Lot of our guests already travelled to Croatia and they keep coming back to St Blaise for that food craving and to refresh their memories.

(Photo: St Blaise)

Introducing locals to our slow-paced dining experience has been both a challenge and a joy. We aim to create an atmosphere where guests can savour every bite, sip, and have conversation in a slow and cosy place with no rush.”

(Photo: St Blaise)

Vedran’s vision for the future extends beyond the restaurant’s current success. As St Blaise celebrates its first anniversary, he envisions securing a larger waterfront venue.

“First milestone is achieved and that is to survive and become a part of the Matraville community. On April 3rd we celebrated our 1 year of operation. Our vision for St Blaise extends beyond its current success. We aspire to secure a larger waterfront venue that echoes the charm of Dubrovnik. Additionally, we plan to introduce a wine bar featuring exceptional European wines, perfectly complementing our Dalmatian culinary delights,” Vedran concludes.