Nineteen18 in Vilnius, one of my favourite dining experiences in the Baltics! My first post here, but I love the idea of sharing these meals and my thoughts with others, so may start doing it in future.
As the photos hopefully demonstrate, the food here was beautifully presented and super enjoyable, and it was certainly well explained by the friendly team. An 11 course menu priced at €94 was well worth it in my opinion. However, as can be the case with some (but definitely not all) fine dining establishments, calling this 11 courses felt like it was over representing what would be presented, since this number included the welcome amuse bouches, the bread and butter, the palette cleanser, and a small jelly at the end. Of course I am not complaining as to the portion sizes, but I usually enjoy when the menu underpromises and overdelivers with extra snacks and surprises (which these 4 felt like they would have been categorised as at other similar restaurants I have been to). I would much prefer they call it 7 courses and add these as a gift from the house in between – but this is just my personal opinion.
The restaurant certainly had a sustainable vision, with the bread and butter course coming alongside a selection of vegetables from their own farm (which I thought was a neat touch). Dishes also came with stories from the chef which was a pleasant addition (e.g relating the dumplings to his memories with his mother and doing a take on her original recipe).
The steak was magnificently cooked, and was a generous helping yet densely packed with so much flavour.
A particular highlight of the meal was the ANTS! Yes, real ants! Included in one dessert and added a potent citrus flavour. We asked the server how they killed the ants and she clarified, almost shocked, that they didn’t kill them, and that they are just sleeping from the freezer. I’m not sure how that was supposed to reassure us, but nonetheless the dish tasted excellent.
Great experience, probably a tad better than the other starred restaurant we went to in Vilnius (Dziaugsmas), and certainly worth a try if you are nearby.
by DismalAlternative