Morinj - Donji Morinj, a small town in Boka, is also called the Venice of Boka, due to the large number of springs and streams that flow into the sea. Maltene's swampy configuration of the terrain on the western part of the Risan Bay in a combination of incredible natural beauty under the eastern edge of the Orjen massif, due to which the streams never dry up throughout the year, was an ideal position for the construction of mills.

"Ćatovića mills" were created right there, as their current owner Lazar Ćatović says, among about forty other mills that served all the surrounding places for grinding olives and grain until almost the middle of the twentieth century.

"When I started, exactly ten years ago, it was not my intention to create a restaurant like 'Ćatovića mlini' today, I simply wanted to restore the family house and the mills, which my grandfather used last, because it was already ruined and I didn't want to let it fall into ruin.

So in 1994, I repaired the old family stone house and mill, and built a small tavern where drinks, prosciutto, cheese and salted sardines were served,'' Lazar Ćatvoić recalls his beginnings.

However, as the tavern 'Ćatovića mlini' is located in a truly beautiful setting, and as the original construction and offer was skilfully coordinated and used, a restaurant of its kind was doomed to success from the very beginning.

With a lot of work and, above all, love for what he does, Ćatović created a gem of catering and ambient architecture, always adapting the extension of his restaurant to the surroundings and not for a single moment disturbing the ambience of the old mill and its surroundings:'' I constantly tried to fit everything into the already existing ambience and all these oranges, lemons, nespulas, bananas, bamboos and all this vegetation has been there since time immemorial and I didn't want to change anything.

There are many springs around the building, I don't think anyone knows how many there are, but what is known is the characteristic temperature of the water, which is six to eight degrees Celsius throughout the year.

The main stream that runs through the building originates from the source of Trn and can be reached from the sea but only in a low boat because of the bridge, and wild animals have become so accustomed to our presence that the ducks, geese, peacocks, minks have become tame and sail around the tavern here without fear,'' Lazar Ćatović is proud of his tavern for a reason.

The restaurant is based on fish specialties, of which there are about 70 on the menu in 'Ćatovića mlini', while the wine list is focused on the best wines from the area of ​​the former Yugoslavia, and in the cellar there are about a hundred varieties, both from private and state wineries from Triglav to Ohrid, of course with a selection of world-famous French, Italian and Spanish wines.

Twice the tavern "Ćatovića mlini" was declared the restaurant of the year, and twice it received the award for the best kitchen at the famous Novi Sad food fair. But the greatest reward is the satisfaction of the guests who understand the term hedonism in the true sense, probably only here: "It is not difficult to have a good kitchen when you have fresh fish and when you know that you use the herbs and other natural things that are around you as spices."

There is not much philosophy, each part of the world has its own specificity in truth, so there is no need to invent anything, we are a Mediterranean country and the cuisine and our offer are in line with that. The main desire is to favor the authenticity of this region and always surprise our guests with some speciality, such as now, for example, lobster medallions. Previously, it was a problem in various ways, but above all, what should be taken care of is that the dishes are fresh and that the service is at a high level,'' concluded Lazar Ćatović, who, in order to always have fresh fish, cooperates with fishermen from Bar to Igal, and by insisting on quality, as he says, he no longer receives any offers if fish or other the intentions are not first-rate.

Tavern 'Ćatovića mlini' is certainly a place that should not be skipped when visiting Montenegro. Nebojsa Mandic