Karčma 1863 — Restaurant in Vilnius

Half my ancestors come from Wilno/Vilnius and from Polesie in today Belarus and Poland. Some of them still live on the Polish side on the Belarus border near Brest. So I was very excited to go to such a restaurant in Vilnius with the theme Karčma 1863, you know the Uprising organized by Poles where some Rusinians and Lithuanians participated not only ethno Belorusians? There is even a restaurant called Karczma in my Polesian village in Poland. So I thought I would feel at home. Firstly, I speak Polish and Russian, thus understand Belorusian but do not speak it. Thus when I ordered the ribs I said żeberka, instead of ribry or rebry in Belarusian or Russian and the waitress did not understand me or pretended not to understand me. And the ribs were so so and tasted like tires and the Minsk Holdnik (cold soup) is not better than Litewski Chłodnik/Šaltibaršcai. It is great that the Lithuanian deep state organized this restaurant next to where used to be a Russian art gallery or culture institute or something for obvious political reasons, but please try a little harder to be smarter than them. 1863 was not an ethno Belarusian nationalist movement. Konstanty Kalinowski's parents were from Mazovia in Poland, he was fluent in Polish language thus he was as much Polish as he was Belarusian. It is also not appropriate not to have a picture of General Zygmunt Sierakowski on your wall of pictures of Emilia Plater (Polish speaking Lithuanian) and Kalinowski since his role in the 1863 Uprising was greater to that of Kalinowski and his remains/bones were found miraculosly next to Kalinowski's on the hill of Gedeminas tower (no info about this event in your Karczma?). What I am trying to say is that this dishonest ethno nationalism is childish. In order to change that you should have menues in three languages, Belarusian, Lithuanian and in Polish and bring out the multicultural and cosmopolitan aspect of 1863 Uprising rather than neo-ethno Belarus nationalist made up aspect of it. There are many Poles in the Vilnius region as well as many Polish tourists, thus it makes economic sense to attract them or does the "lietuvis deep state" not allow you to do that? You are 500 meters from the Polish Embassy and Cultural Institute. Poland helps "Zyvy Belarus" a lot. No connection of 1863 to Poland? I bought one of your 1863 cups for 16 euros and wanted to also buy a 1863 braclet but it was also 16 euro that is a bit expensive for a braclet. The 1863 bracelets are worth 5-10 euros max and provide marketing for your restaurant thus 16euro is too high. I am looking forward to your improvements to enjoy your restaurant in the true spirit of 1863 and not in the spirit of Stepan...

Must visit place in the heart of Vilnius. Belarussian cuisine. In google maps it's categorised as a bar, but they do serve food, starting from the morning. The variety of the menu is not huge, but everything is fresh and on a reasonable price. (See attached the menu as of 30/01). The menu is available in Belarussian (extremely rare outside Belarus), Lithuanian and English. And they do take into account all the reviews here, as they told me they are working on the menu in Russian :)

The atmosphere is very cosy. The personnel is very helpful and friendly. Must try 'Draniki' (any type will be good, served with sour cream, only 4€). For dessert Pechony Yablyk (in Belarus they don't have too sweet deserts, so it s a baked apple with nuts and cranberries, 5€) and any tea (which is served with berries in the pot). Very atmospheric and nice place! Better come in the morning or for lunch though, as you may risk not to have place, like me a couple...

My girlfriend and I came here during our visit to Vilnius from Washington, D.C. We’ve never had Belarusian food before but were extremely impressed with everything we had here.

My two personal favorites were the sorrel soup, flavored nalewka, and prosperous draniki with beef.

I can’t remember our server’s name, but he was an extremely kind young man from Belarus who was studying in Vilnius. He took time to tell us about the dishes, some of the history of his country, and what he’s studying here in Vilnius. Talking with him was a highlight of our trip.

I hope one day for a free Belarus that we can visit. I can’t recommend this...