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A decade of tradition on the table/ The history of the 'Ndona' Tavern in Pogradec

2025-06-30 15:05:00, Qyteti im CNA

A decade of tradition on the table/ The history of the 'Ndona' Tavern

In the heart of Pogradec, where the shadows of tradition intertwine with the freshness of the lake, there is one of the most beloved spots for visitors and locals, Taverna 'Ndona'. For more than a decade, this restaurant has been a haven for those seeking the true taste of traditional Pogradec cuisine and hospitality that doesn't let you leave without saying "thank you". The history of the tavern is closely linked to the rebirth of a forgotten building. It was an old house, which had lost its former splendor, but not its potential.

Lorenc Marko tells CNA TV details from the history of the construction of the Ndona tavern, which has become a favorite destination for everyone who visits it.

"The place was beautiful, it happened that the premises by the lake were demolished and Pogradec needed it. This was an old, dilapidated house, we fixed it up and turned it into a restaurant. We have been working for 10 years now. People come, respect us and we respect them, they say thank you," says Marko.

A decade of tradition on the table/ The history of the 'Ndona' Tavern

Every corner of this place speaks of care, history and heritage. From the old furniture that is part of the Albanian family, to the traditional objects that take you back in time, everything here gives you the feeling of home. It is not just a restaurant, it is a cultural experience.

"The main thing here is that everything is original. Everything you see and everything that is cooked is "from the real thing". The wine is traditional, the fish is from the lake, belushka, koran, we make the kula? ourselves. We make traditional tavas, which have been made in Pogradec for centuries. We have the original tradition of the people of Pogradec, the koran tavas with onions, the most special one", - said Marko.

The daily menu includes the city's emblematic dishes, especially the koran casserole with onions, a recipe that preserves the flavor and respect for natural ingredients.

"The Koran dish is highly preferred. Foreigners have no idea, we recommend it to them and when they try it, they like it a lot. It has a special taste, it can be made in other countries, but we have a uniqueness in the way we make it, because every restaurant has its own specialty. We are satisfied," said Marko.

The table is enriched with baked lakroor in a saç and kulaç in a çerep, dishes that you rarely see in restaurants today. During the winter, the menu is enriched with dishes like tava me shta ?i, a dish that requires rare ingredients, saved for special guests.

"We make lakror in a saç, we make kulaç in a çerep, completely traditional. In the summer we use more fish, beluga, koran, carp. And in the winter we use meat, we make tavas with beef tails, which everyone who has tried has been satisfied. It is a little difficult to find but we don't make it much, only for special people," said Marko.

A decade of tradition on the table/ The history of the 'Ndona' Tavern

Even the wine is a story in itself. It is not sold, it is not blended. It is made there, with local grapes and with inherited care.

"Wine is delicate. It loves its time, it loves grapes, it loves many things. There are some things that are not shown, but whoever tries the wine, likes it. We only make red wine, we have made white wine before, but it has a problem. You can't keep it for more than 1 year because it starts to oxidize. That's why we thought it would be better to make red and we give it with a guarantee. The restaurant is simple, it's not complicated. We have tried to keep it in a traditional way so that people feel at home, like in the village," said Marko.

The tavern has not been without visitors. On the contrary, in the summer it is filled with tourists from all over, from Tirana, Durrës, Shkodra and Korça. But also from Macedonia, Greece, Germany, and this year, in particular, from France.

"Our tourists are primarily Albanian. We have them from Tirana, Shkodra, Durres, Korça, from all the districts of Albania. We have them from Macedonia because we are close, Greeks come a lot, Germans. There have also been a lot of French this year. They have also come from more distant countries like Greenland. Their impressions are written, they have left positive comments," said Marko.

A decade of tradition on the table/ The history of the 'Ndona' Tavern

Even though the economic side can be a bit difficult, the atmosphere at Taverna 'Ndona' is always warm. Because you don't come here just to eat, but to experience a piece of the real Pogradec.

"I say it will be a good year. The weather is good, people are coming. It's a bit of a problem that the economy is in decline now, but in general things are going well. We have a time factor in everything, if the weather is nice, people will come," says Marko.

At a time when everything seems to be changing rapidly, Taverna 'Ndona' remains a quiet reminder that traditions do not need innovation, but care, love and dedication. In every glass of wine, in every spoonful of tava or in the aroma of the cake that comes out of the bag, a piece of the Pogradec soul is preserved. And this soul, thanks to people like Lorenc Marko, continues to live, not only at the tables of this tavern, but in the memories of every visitor who leaves with a full heart. /CNA





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