I got to JOBEN in Cluj Napoca after a friend recommended it to me and I was really impressed by this steam punk bistro. This place feels like travelling to an imaginary world where time has stopped; it’s like a magic setting where ancient decorations, long time forgotten, are displayed in a great lighting, and carry you in a fantasy land.
The menu is innovative. Each dish has a suggestive name and has a story that makes you curious and makes choosing very difficult, as all the dishes sound amazing.
The drinks and cocktails are carefully prepared at the bar, and have surprising combinations and names. Cluj Sunset is an original drink, based on prosecco, sweet vermouth, bitter and rose syrup, dedicated especially to the ladies. For lemonade lovers they prepare Bazalka Lemonade with passion fruit and basil and Rhubarb Lemonade with ginger and rhubarb.
So many dishes sound good; your choice depends only on your mood. There is plenty to choose from: various food from starters, soups and salads, to pasta, seafood risotto (Thai style), fish dishes, pork, duck, chicken, burgers and, of course, sweets.
For starter I tried Jude, an eggplant salad with avocado slices and toast and King Solomon, a salmon tartar infused in vodka, served on toast with butter.
I was pleasantly surprised by the Ramen, a Chinese chicken noodle soup, served properly with boiled egg, flavorful and tasty.
The burgers menu is varied. We tried four of them: The Honest One, Torn Apart- Pulled Pork sandwich, The Burger’s Poem and Horty. It was hard to choose a favorite, but I choose the Horty with black bun, chili and jalapeno.
For desert I tried Piatra, a surprising desert, a mix of textures and colors, a flavor explosion: a citrus base with raspberry jam, covered in basil mousse (shaped as a rock), chocolate sauce and crispy candy. This desert is one of a kind!
Drama Lama is also a great combination: lava cake with a generous gorgonzola heart. It’s worth trying!
Daze is a classic cheese cake with a crumble base, cream cheese and forest fruit sauce. Simple and tasty!
I must admit that I was skeptical about this bistro because of the bohemian decor, which is not a favorite, but yet again, this experience proved that nothing is what it seems. Another learned lesson! This is a friendly place with special ambiance and excellent service. Joben rocks!