The MICHELIN Inspectors spent a year in Lithuania on looking for the best restaurants there and the result was impressive. In total, the debut edition of MICHELIN Guide Lithuania recommends 34 restaurants, including four awarded One MICHELIN Star, 4 Bib Gourmands, 1 Green Star, 1 Service Award, 1 Young Chef Award and 1 Sommelier Award.
All 4 One MICHELIN star restaurants are located in Vilnius.
DEMO takes the form of a café during the day and then morphs into a restaurant on certain evenings. The Michelin Inspectors found Chef-Owner Tadas’ suckling lamb to be a highlight, as well as the desserts – particularly the Kogel Mogel.
Džiaugsmas is located in a period house in the center of Vilnius and consists of several modern, industrial style dining rooms. The restaurant offers sharing plates but the Michelin Inspectors particularly valued Chef Martynas’ tasting menu, which came with snacks such as a doughnut with black pudding and mains like halibut with shrimp mousse.
Nineteen18 an industrial-style restaurant where guests can sit at the kitchen counter and interact with Chef Andrius and his team. Guests are given a sealed menu with a series of around 10 dishes. The Michelin Inspectors particularly enjoyed the dumplings with mushrooms – made using Chef Andrius’ mother’s recipe – and the Danish beef with a chicken caramel.
Last but not least One MICHELIN star restaurant in Vilnius is Pas mus run by Chef-Owner Vita. The menu is based on seasons , the Chef picks the ingredients in her mum’s garden. The Michelin Inspectors found the raspberry snow dessert with white chocolate ganache mind-blowing.
Restaurants 14Horses, Gaspar’s, Le Travi located also in Vilnius and Nüman from Kaunas were awarded Bib Gourmands. The Bib Gourmand distinction highlights restaurants which offer good quality food at a moderate price.
In this inaugural year, 26 restaurants – whose cuisine really impressed the Michelin Inspectors – join the main selection. These are:
Amandus, Vilnius
Apvalaus Stalo Klubo, Trakai
Arrivée, Kaunas
Augustin, Vilnius
Da Antonio, Vilnius
DIA, Kaunas
Dine, Vilnius
elven, Vilnius
Ertlio Namas, Vilnius
Fabrikėlis, Vilnius
Farmer & The Ocean, Vilnius
Gastronomika, Vilnius
HeJi, Vilnius
Justa Pasta, Vilnius
Momo Grill, Vilnius
monai, Klaipėda
Monte Pacis, Kaunas
Pacai, Vilnius
Protėviai, Vilnius
Red Brick, Radiškis
Somm, Vilnius
Stebuklai, Vilnius
Stikliai, Vilnius
Telegrafas, Vilnius
Uoksas, Kaunas
Vila Komoda, Palanga
Red Brick located in in Radiškis was awarded a Green Star. A Green Star is awarded to restaurants which offer dining experiences that combine culinary excellence with outstanding eco-friendly commitments and are a source of inspiration both for keen foodies and the hospitality industry as a whole.
The 3 Michelin Special Awards, being given to outstanding individuals who, thanks to their infinite passion and considerable skills, can make a restaurant experience unforgettable were awarded to:
Young Chef Award – Tadas Eidukevičius of Demo, Vilnius
Service Award – Gaspar Fernandes of Gaspar’s in Vilnius
Sommelier Award – Kamilė Bartusevičiūtė of Pacai in Vilnius
Source: Michelin Guide Lithuania
Image: Vilnius, ©communications-unlimited.nl
