SITUATION IN THE TOP 30
“Nineteen18,” located in the “Senatorių pasažas” and run by the renowned chef Andrius Kubilius, has consistently been in the TOP30 top five. This year, it rises to the top and earns the second place.
3 WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE THE RESTAURANT:
free-spirited, creative, rule-breaking.
WHY IS IT WORTH VISITING?
The restaurant is housed in a XVI-century historical building, right in the heart of the Old Town of the capital.
“We really enjoy when guests come to us. We want them to leave happy. Our main task is to take care of the guest,” emphasizes chef Andrius Kubilius.
In the restaurant, you might also encounter a plush toy—Æbelskiver, the unicorn bartender, probably the only one of its kind in the Baltic states. Æbelskiver came to be after a bet with the owner of “Senatorių pasažas,” where, upon achieving an unlikely goal, the owner promised that a unicorn sculpture would appear on the building’s roof. And it did! Æbelskiver is now not only well-known to regular guests but also has its own Instagram account, occasionally going to the spa for a wash or to the sanatorium for a refill.
“This unicorn symbolizes that not everything in life needs to be extremely serious, not everything should be viewed only seriously and according to rules. For me, it represents creativity, freedom, and inspiration,” says the chef about the history and meaning of the entertaining toy.
WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT THE MENU?
“Nineteen18” offers a tasting menu of 11-12 dishes, which changes seasonally and is based on ingredients from the Baltic states. “We choose typical products from our region, and if we can’t find them here in Lithuania, we look around the Baltic Sea,” emphasizes Andrius.
According to him, the restaurant is not committed to changing the menu every month or quarter; instead, it changes based on the season, the team’s creative drive, and desire.
WHY DO GUESTS RETURN?
Guests return for the atmosphere, quality, and the opportunity to see everything happening in the kitchen. “And the food is delicious,” adds the chef.
WHO WORKS IN THE KITCHEN?
Andrius Kubilius is a well-known chef who started his career as a sous chef for another well-known Lithuanian chef, Egidijus Lapinskas. After working in several restaurants, he was the head chef at “Time” for nearly five years. Seeking to expand his culinary knowledge and better understand regional nuances, he conducted a six-month study on Baltic cuisine and became the head chef at “14Horses” in the same “Senatorių Pasažas.” For nearly three years now, he has been the chef at “Nineteen18,” and this year, under his leadership, the restaurant has earned a Michelin star.
He mentions that daily kitchen operations are managed by Vilgailė Kaušylienė, while Raimundas Salvinskis is responsible for the service staff.
Photos by Robertas Daskevičius.
