Lunch on the Kupa River! We visited Mlinski Kamen near Petrinja!

During the spring and summer months, destinations by a river or the sea become extremely popular. Everyone looks for a bit of extra shade and a chance to cool off, at least for a while. Although we visited it in the middle of winter, the Mlinski Kamen restaurant appears in online searches as an ideal excursion spot, yet very few people have actually visited the restaurant itself and left a comment about the offer.

That is why the Adria.Fun team set off to explore the local gastronomic scene on the very first day of the new year 2026, and on a public holiday no less. We were looking for a destination along the Zagreb to Osijek route, a restaurant willing to stay open even after a night of celebrations and offer a proper meal to those on the road, as well as to everyone who had already had enough of French salad and sarma. Guided by that task and ready to take on the challenge, we arrived in Petrinja.

We made a reservation even though we were not sure how many people would be there. To our surprise, we were among the few. As far as we were concerned, that was even better. As soon as we arrived, we were seated at a table of our choice, and a cheerful waiter soon arrived with the menu.

As is usually the case with us, it always starts with something short, so honey liquor (medica) and three pear brandies(rakija) arrived at the table for warming up, or as it would sound nicer to say, to open the appetite.

It quickly turned out that this was completely unnecessary because hunger took over, and the choice of starters, or rather soups, was made without much thought. We ordered homemade mushroom soup and chicken soup. To our surprise, they truly were homemade. The kind that instantly takes you back to your grandmother’s kitchen. In many restaurants, the label homemade soup can be uncertain ground, but here that was definitely not the case.

After double warming up it was time for the main course. We ordered the Mlinski Kamen platter for two, then zander with potato salad and chicken wings in BBQ sauce with roasted potatoes. The platter arrived at the table impressively served on a thick wooden board and came with baked beans that disappeared at lightning speed, even before the meat. They were truly excellent.

On the other hand, the pike perch, which is a highly valued river fish and also one of the more expensive items on the menu, unfortunately did not impress us. The flavour simply did not suit us, although that is largely a matter of personal taste. In contrast, the chicken wings, just like the platter, were outstanding. There was also an excellent roasted pepper salad with garlic.

Because of the size of the meat platter, we tried to finish everything, but this time it simply was not possible. For that reason, we decided to stop there and skip the rest of the menu. We usually like to test the sweet part of the offer as well, but this time there was simply no appetite left.

That brings us to the overall impression and prices.

The location is truly excellent, and the view of the river feels calming even in the winter months. The destination itself as well as the service leave a very positive impression, and we will without a doubt return when the weather is nicer. As for the price,s lunch for four came to 137 euros. Soups were around 4 euros, the platter was 32 euros, BBQ wings were 13.50 euros, zander was 19.50 euros, and saladwas  4.60 euros. It is also interesting to note that the wine list includes some wines that are not usually seen in this region.

Mlinski Kamen, Petrinja Photo: Adria.fun

All in all, the Mlinski Kamen restaurant comes with our recommendation if you are looking for something homemade in a peaceful and pleasant setting. This excursion spot is a very solid choice.