Restoranas Meridianas

About

FISH RESTAURANT "MERIDIANAS" in Klaipeda – FOR ELEGANCE AND LOVERS OF GOOD TASTE The restaurant “Meridianas” opened its doors to visitors in December 2014 at a unique place on the Dane River quay, in the reconstructed sailing boat “Meridianas”. The wooden Finnish barquentine was built in 1945, and was used for many years as a training ship for Klaipeda Maritime Academy cadets. Later, the ship was transferred to the Klaipeda canteens, restaurants and cafeterias trust and became a symbol of the port city. In 1994, the barquentine was privatized, but after a few years was sold for the symbolic price of 1 litas and transferred to a Fund created for the support of the “Meridianas” sailing ship – a symbol of the nautical city, Klaipeda. At the beginning of October 2012, the Head of the Fund at the time applied to the Government requesting permission to sink the ship in Lithuanian territorial waters. The motive behind this was that the ship’s repairs would require a significant amount of money, which the Fund did not have. And here started a new page in the “Meridianas” story. On 19 October 2012, the Fund “Meridianas” was taken over by Aloyzas Kuzmarskis and Aidas Kaveckis, who initiated the ship’s reconstruction and major repairs. “Meridianas” was successfully restored: with repairs to the body, deck superstructures, masts, internal installations and decorations, and a museum exhibition etc. After two years, on 19 July 2014, “Meridianas” spread her sails and the boat was symbolically handed back to the city and its community. The quay became the site of an outdoor exhibition including authentic foremast parts, the original propeller, wooden structural (frame) components, and stone ballast blocks. On 18 December 2014, a contract transferred title for the operations of “Meridianas” to Friedrich’s Arcade which brought the name of Klaipeda into fame. Since then, on the inner deck of the sailing boat, a luxury restaurant and a bar have been opened. The culinary team of the restaurant “Meridianas” – the long-standing staff of “Friedrich‘s Arcade” – have been thoroughly prepared for the opening of the restaurant. The senior cook, the proficient chef Simas Kaziniauskas, has increased his knowledge and skills in cooperation with the best French and British chefs, who astonish visitors to Michelin-starred restaurants with their gastronomic masterpieces. S. Kaziniauskas has composed a special menu for the restaurant “Meridianas”: 80 percent of dishes are fish and seafood, while the rest are meat and vegetarian. Masterpieces seeing the light of day in the restaurant kitchen are made of fresh products only, some of which are delivered from various European countries several times a week. The chef has also generously demonstrated uniqueness and imagination when inventing each individual dish and looking for a different gastronomic solution. The chef’s menues are renewed seasonally, every few months. For guests to the restaurant who cannot frequently stop by “Meridianas”, but want to try a variety of dishes in an evening, the chef, in collaboration with the sommelier, has composed a tasting menu with wines. The “Meridianas” restaurant’s alcoholic beverage list has been compiled in consultation with leading experts, in search of the best combinations of fish, seafood, and beverages. The French champagne “Pommery” has been deliberately selected as the “high spot” of the beverage menu – visitors to the restaurant have a chance to choose from more than ten of its varieties. In addition to the unique cuisine, the modern and stylish setting should impress the restaurant’s visitors even more with a thoughtfully furnished hall and a range of non-standard, attentively selected items. Dishware with the “Meridianas” label was specially designed in England, and the cutlery in Italy; all the glassware is the creation of “Riedel”, a two and a half-century-old company. What is more, the glass floor in the main dining area allows you to actually see the boat’s old construction, while built-in wall portholes display a direct-broadcast view from the quay. In the evenings, the restaurant “Meridianas” offers special entertainment: live music performances. Exhibition visitors get a single “Meridianas guest passport”, which includes a tour of the sailing boat and coffee/tea/soft drink in the Meridianas bar. You can also tour the ship with the captain. You may enter the 60-seat restaurant located on the lower deck of “Meridianas” by booking a table in advance by phone or by email. Stop by the “Meridianas” bar or the outdoor cafe on the upper deck every day from 12:00 to see the exhibits and have a cup of coffee.

At a glance

• Verified listing
• Typical visit: about 1 hour