Bernelių Užeiga — Restaurant in Vilnius

Let me put it this way – the food was absolutely delicious, aromatic and memorable, but the service left a lot to be desired. We came here for lunch after a walk around the center of Vilnius. We had to wait a bit for a table for five, which surprised us since we saw free tables around. It turned out, however, that none of them could accommodate an extra chair. Then, when they finally found another table for us, we saw that a chair had been added to another one. That was odd.

From the very beginning, the waitress didn’t seem very welcoming. She seemed quite indifferent, maybe even a bit rude, but I thought – okay, it happens. Then we struggled with the menu, which was poorly designed and hard to read, especially the English translations. It took us several minutes to find the cepelinai, as they were listed under a long, descriptive name that didn’t reference their traditional term. The menu didn’t seem to take cultural similarities into account. Maybe the description would make sense to someone unfamiliar with regional food, like an American tourist, but for us, as Poles, it was just confusing.

Eventually, using the restaurant’s website, we managed to locate the dishes we wanted and were ready to order. But then we had to wait again for the waitress to come back and take our order. When she finally did and the food started to arrive, we thought the worst was behind us – and for the most part, it was.

First, the drinks arrived, but not all at once. Then my friend got his soup, and I waited for mine. Turns out the waitress wrote it down but forgot about it. So I ended up eating my soup only after he had finished his, and it came at the same time as my cepelinai. We had also ordered mushroom sauce with the cepelinai, but that was forgotten too, and we had to ask for it again.

I hope it’s just a bit of chaos in the dining area, but I wouldn’t say the place was too busy to handle. It seemed more like a lack of coordination or not enough staff. Also, taking orders by hand on paper feels outdated – it makes it easier to make mistakes, as we experienced twice.

Now about the food – both the meat and vegan cepelinai were phenomenal, the soups were aromatic, and the koldūnai were juicy and full of flavor. And that’s exactly what frustrates me – the food passed the test, but the service did not. I might come back eventually, but not too soon. I’m simply used to a different kind of service in...

On my third visit to "Bernelių Užeiga," I discovered a taste of authentic Lithuania right in the heart of Vilnius, just beside the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre.

One sunny afternoon, my wife and I enjoyed lunch at this charming establishment. The sunny weather further enhanced our experience, setting the scene for a delightful meal.

The restaurant buzzed with moderate activity, and the service remained timely. Given the heat, we opted for Aperol Spritz to cool off. While not your traditional Aperol Spritz, it possessed a unique and oddly refreshing quality that left a positive impression.

Our choice of chicken bites as a starter proved to be a delicious introduction. The accompanying sauce played a harmonious role, complementing the flavors and enhancing the overall taste. My only suggestion would be to generously add more of that creamy sauce, enriching the experience further.

The main dishes upheld the same level of excellence. The grilled chicken exuded tenderness and juiciness, beautifully accompanied by perfectly matched sides—chips and salad. My wife's selection, the traditional Koldūnai (venison dumplings), left her raving about its mouthwatering appeal. She expressed immense satisfaction with the quality and flavor of the venison, expertly cooked and seasoned.

In conclusion, our time at "Bernelių Užeiga" was splendid. However, I did notice a concerning trend. Over the past six months, there has been a notable increase in prices, accompanied by substantial changes in the menu offerings. Moreover, portions have slightly diminished.

Nonetheless, the restaurant retains its inviting atmosphere, charming decor, and the echoes of tradition. I earnestly hope the management will revisit the revised menu and consider preserving certain cherished aspects. While my initial visits left an incredible impression, I believe there's room for the restaurant to recapture that essence.

Despite these observations, I eagerly anticipate revisiting "Bernelių...

We came to this place to try traditional lithuanian dishes. We entered the garden and stood next to the table with the menu - the waitress passed us several times without any signs of interest. It was early evening and there were free tables. We decided to go inside - there we met a waiter who asked us where we wanted to sit - inside or in the garden - we chose the garden and were shown to a table. After ten minutes waitress - the same that earlier missed us - came to take our order: handmade pork stuffed ravioli served with mushroom sauce - according to the waitress, these are traditional Lithuanian dumplings - koldūnai; grated potato dumplings stuffed with minced meat served with sour cream, fries onions and bacon - according to the waitress, these are traditional Lithuanian cepelinai. To drink we decided on local beer. Food came after 30 minutes - ravioli was nice, meat was well seasoned, the dough was ok and only the mushroom sauce was weak - three pieces of mushroom is very bad. Potato dumpling were ok - meat was well seasoned but potato mass was bit too hard. Beer was good - unfiltered, darker in color, pleasant in taste with low bitterness. Overall place is really nice, food is tasty and the weaker part was waitress - no smile, no interest, no information on how long you will have to wait...