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 approved for 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. The menu has three kinds of steak: 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

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. You won’t be able to see it unless you’re standing in front of the restaurant. 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 and rooms for private dining. Its interior is decorated with dark accent walls and furnishings.

The food was served in rustic porcelain dinnerware.

I was first served their homemade rye bread with lard, 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, 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. It’s one of the best schnitzels I’ve had in terms of flavor and texture.

The salad was fresh and dressed with a vinaigrette. The baby potatoes were waxy and smooth in texture and had 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