Collected for the sixth time
“This year, when compiling the list of 60 candidate restaurants, we also listened to the voice of the public, we asked restaurant visitors to express who, in their opinion, could apply for the best rating. Thanks to all lovers of gastronomic culture for the hundreds of comments with suggestions – we carefully evaluated and considered them all. We believe that this year’s list of 60 candidate restaurants has become even more diverse and interesting, reflecting how rapidly the country’s restaurant market has changed and developed over the past year. Next, all selected restaurants, of which there are 60 on the shortlist, will be judged by members of the Academy of Good Food. Voting will continue throughout May and June, and the top thirty will be revealed in July,” says Linas Petrukaitis, founder of the Good Food Academy.
Similar restaurant ratings are held globally, and some countries also have their own restaurant ratings. In Lithuania, the “30 best restaurants” election is being held for the sixth time. The ranking is organized by the Academy of Good Food together with the Lithuanian Hotel and Restaurant Association, the Lithuanian Association of Head Chefs and Pastry Chefs and the magazine Geras Skonis.
“Revived last year after the Covid break, the rating is once again becoming an integral part of the country’s gastronomic life, a welcome tradition and an impulse for restaurants to strive for more every year, to become visible and noticed.” The ranking of “30 best restaurants” is important not only for restaurant owners or chefs, but also for visitors – for many a lover of food culture, it has become a kind of guide that is taken into account when looking for places to eat a cozy evening, celebration or business partners. This is a list that both visitors to local restaurants and tourists follow when looking for new tastes,” says Evalda Šiškauskienė, president of the Lithuanian Hotel and Restaurant Association and member of the board of the Good Food Academy.
The most representative restaurant guide in Lithuania is called the “30 best restaurants” list – a collection of the best places of that year, which reflects changes and trends in the public catering sector.
“This rating strongly contributes to the development of restaurant culture in the country, draws public attention to the sector, its development, and new trends. For the restaurant industry – owners and kitchen chefs – this is a kind of bar that you want to overcome, for visitors – a new map of tastes and experiences every year, which allows you to discover, experience and savor the best that we offer here in Lithuania”, says the head of the magazine “Geras Skonis” . editor, chancellor of the Lithuanian branch of the International Gastronomy Association “Chaîne des Rôtisseurs”, Rasa Ščeponienė-Gurevičė.
A new sponsor of the project is from Denmark
This year’s news is that Copenhagen Sparkling Tea, producers of non-alcoholic premium sparkling tea from Denmark, became the main sponsor of the “30 Best Restaurants” project.
“Copenhagen Sparkling Tea is no longer new on the market – it is poured and paired with food by Michelin restaurants all over the world, and in Lithuania you can order it in almost all the best restaurants in the country”, says Vyno klubas, the distributor of this sparkling tea in Lithuania.
Company co-owner Bo Sten Hansen, who has visited Lithuania many times, was happy with the partnership with the “30 best restaurants”: “Lithuania was one of the first markets where Copenhagen Sparkling Tea became popular.” When we visited here, we understood why. We saw the high standards and ambitions of the local restaurant culture. We have no doubt that Vilnius, whose population is similar to that of Copenhagen, will soon become a real capital of gastronomy, so it is good for us to contribute to that.
We are glad that global restaurant guides are also coming to Lithuania, but being from a small country ourselves, we understand that evaluation within the country is no less important, if not more so. After all, local people are the ones who fill the restaurants every day”, comments Bo Sten Hansen.
How will restaurants be rated next?
Restaurants from a shortlist of 60 candidates will be judged based on the food and drinks they serve, the environment they create, the culture of service and the quality. The restaurants will get the highest score for the revealed flavors of the food.
The members of the Academy of Good Food will appreciate restaurants that have already established themselves in the market, have their own clear face and direction, and have been developing their activities no less than March 1 of this year.
Who made the restaurant shortlist?
As before, the list of 60 candidate restaurants was compiled by the Council of the Good Food Academy taking into account the list of all catering establishments in Lithuania.
This year’s short list of 60 candidates is characterized by a very wide geography: although the largest part consists of restaurants in the capital (39 out of 60), in total, restaurants from twelve different cities and areas of Lithuania were on the list – from Nida, Juodkrantė and Kretinga to Radiškis in the Ukmergė district.
This year, 17 newly nominated restaurants made it to the short list, most of them in Vilnius, where the food culture has developed rapidly in recent years and more than one place with a new concept has opened its doors. Newcomers to the list are also on the seaside – “Monist” in Palanga, in the regions – “Red Brick” in Radišky.
The list includes all restaurants that entered the TOP 30 in 2023. Next, all selected restaurants, of which there are 60 on the shortlist, will be judged by members of the Academy of Good Food.
The shortlist of the project, from which the country’s best 2024 students are selected. restaurants:
in Vilnius: “14Horses”, “Amandus”, “Augustin”, “Bizarre” (in Vilnius and Nida), “Bon Chop”, “Casa Peligrosa”, “Da Antonio”, “Demo restaurant”, “Dine”, “Joy”, El Gato Negro, Elven, House of Ertli, Factory, Farmer & The Ocean, Firenze, Gaspar’s, Gastronomika, HeJi, I Hate Sushi, La Capital”, “Le Travi”, MEAT (in Vilnius, Nida and Palanga), “Momo Grill” (in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda), MOTÍF, “Narushi” (in Vilnius and Nida), “Nineteen18”, “Pacai”, “Pachamama” Dinner Club, Our Restaurant, Ancestors, River Town, Saint Germain, Somm, Wonders, Glasses, Sushi Masters (several cities), Taste Boutique, “Telegraph”.
in Kaunas: Agave, Arrivée, DIA, La Papa Loca Monte Pacis, Nüman
Klaipėda: Alba Bistro, Monai, ToLi from Classics
in Palanga: “Avenue Brasserie”, “Monist”, “Pušų Paunknė”, “Restoranas Palanga”, “Todá” (in Palanga and Nida), “Vila Komoda”.
In other cities: Round Table Club (Trakui), Fisheria (Nida), Juodasis kalnas (Juodkrantė), Red Brick (Radišky, Ukmergė district), Štrumų lighthouse (Ventės Raga), Zelvė Village & SPA (Kretinga district)
Tags: catering establishments big cities
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