Jack’s steak house

Jack’s steak house is a long-established restaurant in Naha that opened in 1953. It used to be an “A-sign” restaurant that was an approved establishment for the US military personnel when Okinawa was still under American rule. The restaurant has maintained its retro old American diner decor. No reservations are available; however, service is fast, and you won’t have to wait long for a seat.

I arrived at the restaurant around 6 pm, which was already packed. There are three kinds of steak on the menu – tenderloin steak, New York steak, and hamburger steak. The tenderloin steak is available in three sizes; small, medium, and large, while the New York steak and hamburger steak comes in two sizes; large and small. All steaks come with a side of potato wedges and onions, soup, two toasted buttered buns, and salad. I opted for the medium tenderloin steak.

The soup was bland. It was a very light cream of corn soup. The steak was well done, but I was not impressed with the flavor. It was good but not outstanding. It lacked that rich smokey beef flavor.

Tenderloin steak (medium) ¥ 2,500

Jack’s steakhouse

Website: https://www.steak.co.jp/

Opening hours: Daily 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m (except for the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month)

Telephone: (098)868-2408

Address: 1-7-3 Nishi, Naha City

Ramen at Kamakura

If you are in Kaunas and have a craving for an authentic bowl of ramen, then this eatery is an excellent place to visit. Kamakura’s owner and chef – Matt Sasaki, is Japanese. Kamakura’s menu offers a variety of ramen, curry rice, sushi, and other popular Japanese dishes, all for a reasonable price. The decor of the restaurant is simple, decorated with a few Japanese elements.

I ordered the miso ramen. The chicken broth was delicious! I have been to Japan a few times, and the flavor of the ramen is pretty close to what you get there.

Miso ramen € 5

Kamakura

Website: http://www.kamakura.lt/index.php

Telephone: +370 630 43325

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 a.m. – 20:00 p.m. / Saturday and Sunday 11:30 a.m. – 20:00 p.m.

Address: Maironio g. 24, Kaunas

Džiaugsmas

As one of the 30 best restaurants in Lithuania, Džiaugsmas serves contemporary Lithuanian cuisine. There is a history to this building. The building was once occupied by a famous Russian poet and Nobel Prize winner – Joseph Brodsky. The plaque in memory of Joseph is visible on the front of the building. There is a tiny sign next to the entrance. Unless you’re standing the front of the restaurant, you won’t be able to see it. I could not tell from the facade of the building that it was a restaurant. It was like walking into someone’s home.

The restaurant has three floors with rooms for private dining. The interior is decorated with dark accent walls and furnishing.

The food was served in rustic porcelain dinnerware.

I was first served their homemade rye bread with lard with sunflower seeds and butter with salt.

For the main course, I had the chicken schnitzel, which had a Nordic twist to it. The chicken had a lovely golden-brown super-crisp crust. The chicken was juicy and tender, and packed with flavor. The fermented currants pop in your mouth with acidic and sweet juices. The chimichurri topping was mild, earthy, herby with a hint of lemony taste, and the horseradish sauce was light, fluffy, sweet, creamy, and smooth. All of these flavors combined made this dish amazingly delectable. One of the best schnitzels I’ve had in terms of flavor and texture.

The salad was fresh with a vinaigrette dressing. The baby potatoes were waxy and smooth in texture with a subtle sweet flavor. The sauce for the potatoes was a rich umami broth, absolutely delicious!

I asked the waiter for a recommendation for the dessert. He suggested the angel wings, which is a nostalgic dessert for him, bringing him back to his childhood. The restaurant’s innovative version of the angel wings was beautifully plated. The red from the strawberry powder gave the dish a visual pop. The angel wings were delicately crispy. The ice cream and egg cream were light and velvety. There is a good balance of sweetness and acidity.

I enjoyed my dining experience at Džiaugsmas.

Džiaugsmas water € 3.50

Schnitzel, herb butter sauce, fermented currants, potatoes, fresh salad, horseradish cream € 15

Angel wings, tonka beans ice cream, strawberries, caramel, egg cream € 6

Džiaugsmas

Website: http://www.dziaugsmas.com/ & https://www.facebook.com/dziaugsmas.restoranas/

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 17:00 pm. – 23:00 p.m.

Telephone: +37063111153

Address: Vilniaus g. 28, LT-01402, Vilnius

Huracán coffee

Huracán coffee is a popular cafe chain in Lithuania. There are several branches in Vilnius, which you can find on their webpage. I visited the Pirkliai branch, situated across from Lukiškės Square along Gedimino avenue. The cafe is bright and welcoming with industrial-style furnishing.

I got myself a black forest cake and an iced latte. The cake tasted nothing like a black forest cake; it was dry and a little on the sweet side. The coffee was a letdown. It tasted watered down.

Although the food and coffee were a disappointment. This cafe has a lovely atmosphere, a great place to study or hang out.

Huracán coffee Pirkliai

Website: https://www.huracan.lt/

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 6:30 a.m. – 20:00 p.m. / Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 20:00 p.m.

Telephone: +370 659 36132

Address: Gedimino pr. 35, Vilnius 01108, Lithuania

BREW specialty coffee

BREW is a local specialty coffee bar offering a variety of freshly roasted beans for espressos and filtered coffees. The menu also offers fresh juices, smoothies, and sandwiches. There is outdoor seating in warmer months.

I visited BREW for breakfast. I ordered a Cappuccino and a warm chicken sandwich. I really enjoyed the coffee – it was strong and full-bodied. The chicken sandwich was good.

This is one of my favorite places for coffee in Vilnius.

BREW

Website: https://www.facebook.com/brew.specialty.coffee.lt

Telephone: +370 671 83248

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m – 21:00 p.m. / Saturday and Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 21:00 p.m.

Address: Pylimo G. 19. Vilnius

Valgomasis

Valgomasis is a small family restaurant. The facade of the restaurant is not attractive, but the interior is cozy and homey. The restaurant only serves lunch, Sunday brunch and caters private events. There was a good selection of the 70s/80s music playing in the background.

I made a reservation by email. Then, they sent an English menu in advance to check if I had any dietary restrictions on the day of my visit.

The restaurant offers a very simple menu. The daily menu is listed on the wall but only in Lithuanian. The waitress was sweet and approachable.

I ordered a cabbage soup and a pearl couscous porridge with a minced beef patty and cucumber tomato bean salad for lunch.

While I was waiting for my food, I was served a sweet, dense bread with hummus, which was nice as it was different from the usual butter.

The cabbage soup was hearty with a hint of sweet, creamy note.

The vibrant colors of the pearl couscous porridge were very appetizing. The beef patty was well done, accompanied by a lovely light peppery cream sauce, which balances out the overall flavors of the dish.

What I loved about this restaurant is the different uses of ingredients and flavors. The service and quality of the food exceed the price. The restaurant is a distance away from the old town but totally worth the trip!

Cabbage soup with sour cream €2

Pearl couscous porridge, minced beef patty with black pepper sauce and cucumber tomato bean salad € 5.50

Raspberry tart €2

Valgomasis

Website: https://www.facebook.com/valgomasis

Opening hours: Tuesday – Friday 11 a.m. – 14:00 p.m

Telephone: +37061092124

Address: Muitinės g. 43, Vilnius 03109, Lithuania

Vanaema Juures – grandmother’s cooking

Vanaema Juures is strategically located in the old town along Rataskaevu street with many other popular restaurants. The restaurant is located in the basement with a cozy ambiance accompanied by old-fashioned decor with antique furniture reminiscent of a grandmother’s home.

There was just one waitress, and an older lady, whom I assumed was the owner or manager. The waitress was friendly and spoke good English.

The bread tasted homemade. It was soft and light with a hint of sweetness.

I ordered a smoked meat soup. The soup was hearty and heartwarming. It was perfectly seasoned. The kind of soup that grandmothers would make on a cold winter day.

I had the honey-flavored chicken fillet in parsley sauce, garlic potatoes, wild mushroom sauce, and marinated onion for the main course. The pickled onions were appetizing and refreshing for the palate. The chicken was cooked perfectly, very tender, and juicy. The mushroom sauce was light and creamy.

This is one of my eating highlights in Tallinn – simple and delicious traditional Estonian cuisine.