Croatian restaurants around the world: Top Bar & Restaurant in USA
- by croatiaweek
- in Food & Wine
(Photo: Top Bar & Restaurant Las Vegas)
In the new series ‘Croatian restaurants around the world’ we showcase places where you can enjoy Croatian cuisine abroad.
Our next stop is Las Vegas, USA, where the newly-opened Top Bar & Restaurant is located.
Co-owned by Sejo Kašić and former Croatian football star Davor Šuker, the restaurant opened its doors on 4th of July last year, with the aim of bringing authentic Croatian and diverse Mediterranean cuisine to the American palate.
“There was no planned date; that’s just how everything worked out,” Kasic says, describing the spontaneity behind the grand opening.
(Photo: Top Bar & Restaurant Las Vegas)
“The basic idea was to open a European restaurant with a focus on diversity of Croatian cuisine. The majority of the European or Balkan restaurants in America offer very similar things, we wanted to show people that our cuisine has much more than just cevapi or burek, as people here think.”
Kašić, originally from Dubrovnik, teamed up Šuker and it was his idea to infuse a sports-centric theme into the venue. There is also a Croatian touch among the staff.
“Our general manager Kristina is from Feričanci in Slavonija, and our head chef Mate is from Zadar. The rest of the crew is from all over, we have servers from Moldova, Romania, Montenegro. Las Vegas has a beautiful diversity of cultures from all over the world, and we are lucky to have an opportunity to include so many of them in our story,” Kašić reveals.
Davor Šuker (Photo credit: Ludovic Péron/CC BY-SA 3.0)
The restaurant’s concept is simple yet distinctive: Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on authentic Croatian dishes.
“We serve everything from Dalmatinski black risotto and shrimp ‘na buzaru’ to Slavonian goulash and Istrian Truffle fettuccine with shrimp, Slavonian chicken soup, and many more,” Kasic shares, emphasising their dedication to traditional recipes and authentic ingredients sourced directly from Croatia.
(Photo: Top Bar & Restaurant Las Vegas)
“We’re even using Croatian olive oil, truffles, and carob powder.”
Since opening, the response from both locals and international guests has been overwhelmingly positive.
“People are excited to try something new, and many already know about Croatia. They love that we’re offering a part of our culture right here,” he says.
(Photo: Top Bar & Restaurant Las Vegas)
“Some customers have even visited Croatia before, and for them, it’s a chance to relive those memories. We also have local Croatians as customers, and a lot of visits from Croatian people from other States. We are especially surprised when we get customers that come directly from Croatia to support us.”
When asked about curating the menu, Kašić credits their head chef, Mate Stulić, for bringing their vision to life.
“From day one, he understood what we wanted to achieve,” he says. “We keep expanding based on customer feedback; it’s the best way to stay on top in this business.”
(Photo: Top Bar & Restaurant Las Vegas)
As for the future, Kašić’s plans are as ambitious as they are rooted in passion.
“We’re growing day by day. We follow Croatian national team games and can’t wait for the 2026 World Cup in the USA. It’ll be a chance to welcome fans from all over,” he says with excitement.
“We’re also hosting live music events, featuring artists from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, and Montenegro, to give our guests a taste of the region’s vibrant culture.”
Running a restaurant in Las Vegas has its challenges, but Kašić remains optimistic.
“Las Vegas is a city with many restaurants and bars, and our story is still small. Marketing and promotion can easily get lost in all that this city is doing daily. But we are doing our best, adapting as we go, and we believe that this will be a beautiful and unique place that customers will keep visiting.”
Top Bar & Restaurant is located at 6160 W Tropicana Ave, E8, Las Vegas.
If you know of a Croatian restaurant in your area, please get in touch with us and send us the details at: [email protected]
Croatian restaurants around the world: St Blaise Bistro in Australia
