No. 29 Brasserie de Verres en Vers

Those who are not much interested in restaurant activities, a restaurant which is next to a big hotel can look unattractive, unaffordable or too closed and luxurious. However, a French restaurant Brasserie de Verres en Vers which is next to the hotel Radisson Blu Royal Astorija negates this myth.

This restaurant satisfies a number of tastes, is accessible and affordable. There are no white tablecloths here, the audience is mixed (business representatives and foreign guests prevail) and the view outside the windows conveys costless luxury. The restaurant looks at two prominent Vilnius landmarks, namely, the city’s Town Hall, and the St. Casimir Church. The basis of the menu is French classics with a light-hearted improvisation of local chefs.

People, who avoid publicity and expect high quality service but do not want any exceptional attention due to their status, famous face or influence, like this place very much. The restaurant has, therefore, been visited by a number of important people: presidents, kings and pop stars.

CHEF.

The current chef Gediminas Andriuškevičius started in this restaurant as an ordinary cook. He later did his internship abroad and returned to Lithuania where he became the executive chef in the same place where he started – in Brasserie de Verres en Vers.

DINNER.

A la carte menu is changed twice a year. Actually, 30% of French classical dishes (ratatouille, foie gras, mussels in white wine sauce, oysters, etc.) are never removed from the main menu. Clients can order them any time of the year.

The restaurant also has 7 seasonal menus which supplement the main menu. An additional seasonal menu means that consideration is taken of seasonal hits. It can be a set of dishes inspired by asparagus or dishes prepared on the basis of mushrooms. Late autumn the restaurant always has the menu of game meats, and summer is dominated by a special cold menu (home-made ice-cream, cold coffees, home-made lemonades, etc.)

BREAKFAST.

If you want a hotel buffet type serve-yourself breakfast meeting the Radisson Blu standard, the hotel is open from the early morning not only to the hotel guests. Good news is that standard Radisson breakfast is complimented with some more interesting foods and a glass of sparkling wine. Such breakfast costs EUR 19 per person.

BRUNCH.

Every month, except for summer and September, Brasserie de Verres en Vers organises thematic brunch, i.e. late Sunday breakfast. Dates vary subject to feasts, holidays and other important events, but the website of the restaurant announces the brunch schedule at least 6 months ahead. The topics are various. For instance, before introducing a special seafood menu, first a Sunday brunch is organised on this subject matter. Such food feasts cost EUR 35-50 per person.

LUNCH SPECIALS.

Lunch menu is changed every week. It always features two starters, two hot dishes and two desserts. Lunch at Brasserie de Verres en Vers costs EUR 12-15. Coffee, tea or water are included.

WINE CARD.

The choice of wines covers all regions of France. Sommelier and the most professional expert of champagne in Lithuania Jolanta Smičienė helped personally to create the restaurants wine card. She herself can be often found in the restaurant and can help choose the wine to match the dish, or vice versa.

INTERESTING.

The building in which one of the 30 best restaurants in Lithuania is established has long performed the function of hotel and restaurant. It is thought that hotel Italha which opened here in 1891 was the first hotel in Vilnius. This building is the most impressive examples of the Secession architecture in our region.