PinČiukas — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

A onderful night had by all with fantastic service and great atmosphere. A New addition to Edinburghs diverse dining scene. Lithuanian food, especially Lithuanian restaurants are hard to come by outside of Lithuania itself. 🇱🇹

I went with two Lithuanians and anyone who knows one, knows their a tough audience. Nonetheless I would say on the whole we had a great experience and will certainly be back!

The food for me was really good, served traditionally with a fine dining edge. It was agreed that the portions could have been a touch bigger. To start we had kepta duona (Fried Rye Bread) with a traditonal cheese and garlic dip, it was lacking the garlic edge that makes it so renound, but I ate it all up regardless, the perfect beer pairing! I had cepelinai for mains and it really hit the spot, the others went for Zemaiciu Blynai and Balandeliai. Most traditionally the Cepelinai were a favourite by all. The Zemaiciu Blynai came with lamb and while yummy, missed the traditional feel a little, traditionally pork. The Balandelai or Cabbage wraps are served very large traditionally but these were small in size. Generally I think the dishes were all successful in execution and as a new restaurant the owner was passionate he would make changes over time. The food can only go from strength to strength.

Cocktails, the first thing I'll say is I'm always highly critical of cocktails in all my reviews, they find their way onto menus everywhere and typically most fail to execute well, this of course is highly subjective and by no means an assassination. The drinks menu presents very well and initially the pictures of the drinks grab you, the cocktails are named after various Lithuanian mythology and folklore with a slice of the story to grab you, which I think is fantastic and a great concept! However that's where the fun ends, the pictures don't represent the drinks that come out and there is no description of any ingridient / spirits whatsoever so its not a menu at all and you have no idea what you will get making it very hard to order! This is problematic for a variety of reasons. The drinks that came out were middle of the road, lacking balance and represented basic cocktail knowledge at best. A real shame because the concept is great. This needs rewritten and updated to include ingridients.

The beers on the other hand are awesome, a good variety of traditional Lithuanian beers imported to showcase what the country has to offer, while only bottled available this will excite all beer drinkers from craft enthusiasts to Lager lovers. I went for the Volfas Engelmen Porter which hit the spot and paired well with the food, they have loads of other styles too from dark to light beer, I was then recommended by the owner a Lithuanian chocolare stout, I believe this was off menu as a guest beer (see pictures). I must say the beers really make this place and should be a focus in future drinks menus, but please include ABV in future iterations.

I underatand they have a really good wine menu we didn't really look at this though. One for next time.

For dessert we had some traditional sweets which we shared, Honey Cake, Spurgos (balled doughnut made with curds) and Tingyns (a little like rockyroad). These were all great.

Overall I had a great night, food was presented and served well, the service made our night very special. I would definitely order more starters and maybe a bunch of dishes to share next time. I am already thinking about our next visit. Thanks for a great night and treating us...

We were really excited to come back to this Lithuanian restaurant after visiting on their very first day of opening, but sadly this time we left disappointed. The online menu, updated only a month ago, showed a wide selection of traditional Lithuanian dishes such as šašlykas, balandeliai and more – which is exactly what made us return. However, when we arrived, we were told to scan a new menu, which turned out to be very limited: kepta duona, šaltibarščiai, a few pancake options, and a Lithuanian thali plate (a mix of small samples on one plate). There were also a few desserts, but overall the choice was extremely poor compared to what was advertised. The food itself was good and freshly made, but the misleading menu and lack of selection were very disappointing. The restaurant is slowly shifting away from being a traditional Lithuanian place toward a fusion concept, which feels like a shame given that this is the only Lithuanian restaurant in the area. Many customers, like us, come here specifically for authentic Lithuanian dishes, yet the social media still promotes items and drinks (including alcohol) that are no longer served. This creates a confusing and frustrating experience. Another big concern is the way feedback is handled. Of course, I understand that not every review online is always fair, and that misunderstandings can happen – everyone has their own opinion. Changes are always needed everywhere, but not all changes are the right decision always, and not all changes will be accepted by everyone. That is why all feedback – whether positive or negative – should be listened to and respected. Responding in a rude or dismissive way doesn’t leave a good impression of the restaurant at all. It would be much better to invite people to reach out directly, discuss suggestions, and see what could be improved. That kind of approach would show care for customers and much stronger customer service. With my own background in both customer service and hospitality, I can see there is a lot of room for improvement in this area.It’s also worth mentioning that the restaurant was completely empty during our visit, which was surprising and quite telling. While I appreciate that the owners may want to evolve and try something different, it would have been better if this had been clear from the beginning, rather than marketing it as a Lithuanian restaurant. At present, it feels like the identity of the place is being lost, and those who return for the traditional food will likely be left disappointed. I really hope to see the menu and social media updated to match what is actually offered, and hopefully more authentic Lithuanian dishes brought back in the future. Right now, the direction feels uncertain, and unfortunately that makes it hard to recommend to others looking for a genuine Lithuanian dining experience. Wishing you all the best...

I have visited this place several times now and I can confidently say they are great both for a quick office lunch, a nice and pleasant dinner, and an enjoyable evening drink.

The food is of great quality, reminiscent of what my family would make at home in Lithuania. It is true to the classics, using quality ingredients shipped from Lithuania. Additionally, some of the dishes have a nice original twist to them, introducing a pleasant surprise. There are some less traditional Lithuanian options as well, catering to ones that might not enjoy a potato heavy Lithuanian cuisine. Furthermore, an array of vegan options is provided.

The drinks are splendid too. A variety of original signature cocktails is offered, based on Lithuanian myths and legends, introducing a fun and playful aspect to the menu and educating foreigners on the Lithuanian folklore. Furthermore, guests have an option to try various Lithuanian beers and spirits, and even less common drinks like kvass and birch sap, in addition to more standard international drinks.

Pricing is very adequate for what is offered, on par with similar type restaurants nearby, especially after considering that the bulk of produce is shipped from Lithuania. Additionally, a lunch menu is offered at a great deal, perfect for a work lunch.

Lastly, the staff are truly amazing. They are always happy to have a chat to explain anything about the food & drinks or the restaurant to the customers and make any suggestions. They are very proud of the Lithuanian culture and having an opportunity to share it with others which translates to everything they do towards the customers.

My only comments on improvement toward the restaurant would be to possibly make the menus (especially the cocktails) to be more descriptive (possibly including the ingredients). As currently it may be a little hard for someone unfamiliar with the cuisine to know what they are ordering. However, the staff are very helpful in answering any questions if needed. Looking forward to seeing some more Lithuanian themed decor in the place as well.

Best of luck and can’t wait to see what’s more to come in...