Mama Papa Lithuania Restaurant

This a a great traditional Lithuanian restaurant. If you are of Eastern European heritage you must visit this place. The food is freshly made to order. Their pierogies look divine. I recommend getting ½ portion for ½ price at lunch time, as it is still a satisfying amount of food. Plus, you definitely want to leave room for desert! Plenty of gluten-​free options and excellent service.

Fantastic food and ambiance and service.
Try things on the menu that you haven’t had before and you won’t be sorry.
I tried some drink, I think it was called Kvass. It was so good that I couldn’t believe it. It tasted like rye bread but at the same time it was refreshing and the texture was very good, like the foam ratio in the drink.
The bread is so good. I took my wife’s bread slice home and ate it 2 days later with some cream cheese and now I am trying to figure out how to by a loaf.
I loved the food here and the experience

I didn’t realize that I never wrote a review for Mama Papa Lithuania the first time. I first came here when they that just opened for dinner with some girlfriends. We’d all never had Lithuanian food so it was a pleasant surprise to stumble upon this place in Alameda. Our server was so friendly and super informative, answering all types of questions we had about the menu. I believe we each individually ordered an entrée and shared with each other. Some of the things that we ordered were the summer borscht, stuffed cabbage rolls, potato dumplings, Lithuanian style chicken goulash, the chicken cutlets, amber tea, and bread kvass. Everything we ordered was really good. It was a very pleasant meal with great company and good food.
Most recently when I came back here to try their foods, I had to get their summer borscht and stuffed cabbage rolls again. I absolutely love the summer borscht. It’s a cold beetroot soup that comes out in a very vibrant fuchsia color, with a side of boiled potatoes. It’s so good, definitely a must try.
Not one to change once I find something that I like, I also ordered the stuffed cabbage rolls again, which also came with a side of boiled potatoes and dill pickles. It was just as good as I remembered. Tender and moist on the inside, juicy and flavorful from the homemade sauce on the outside.
We also ordered an appetizer that was a special of the day. I can’t remember what it was called but it was a type of puff pastry bread with mushroom and cheese inside. But it was really good. Light and flaky, but not to heavy to make you too full to eat your entrée.

It’s not very often you get to try Lithuanian food, and this place claims to be the only Lithuanian restaurant on the West Coast! My favorite dish was definitely the goulash, which was a hearty tomato based soup with chicken and vegetables. The lunch portion was half priced and just the right portion. The side of cabbage on the side also made it a very balanced meal.
The fried rye bread with garlic wasn’t exactly fried the way I had expected it to be (hot like fries). The rye bread sticks were actually served cold, so they must’ve been fried long ago. The garlic flavor was definitely prominent and lingering on the breath though.
Potato pancakes with meat were actually very similar to the potato dumplings but with different fillings. I’m not a huge fan of the sour cream on the side, but the dumpling itself was quite delicious. The potato dumpling was very filling, and two of them was a good serving size for one person.
The honey cake wasn’t what I expected either since as it was different from another Russian restaurant I tried it at. This cake is made with sour cream and as a result had a more tart flavor to it. Still very good though!

what’s not to love? If you’re been to Lithuania, you’ll know it has’that taste’. Lots of dill, just enough spice to not be boring. wish I lived closer.

Nice little place with an adjacent bakery. Decent prices. If you crave some eastern European food this is a good place to go. There you will find some traditional dishes such as borscht and pierogi. Cute interior.

After a trip to Lithuania in 2014 and falling in love with the goulash and zeppelins that are a staple of Lithuanian cuisine I was surprised and elated to see that my very own Alameda had the ONLY (seriously, it’s the only one) Lithuanian restaurant on the west coast. Happy diners can now enjoy Lithuanian pancakes, zeppelins and amazing goulash at a friendly restaurant, which also serves Alus (beer in Lithuanian). Also, for those warm summer eves there is a beer garden in the back! Highly recommended.

YAY for new food experiences! This place is absolutely perfect for this because of the smaller portions for more sampling, and all the menu items are interesting and different, but nothing so crazy that it can’t be enjoyed.
Sunday Brunch (~$ 50 with tax/​tip for 2):
— Summer Borscht is a refreshing cool soup paired with warm buttery potato for a purple party in your mouth. Super filling so its great to split into two.
— Pierogies triplet are these delightful pastries filled wih mushroom and cheese, crispy fried and paired with simple ketchup.
— Chicken Cutlet is a healthier meatloaf that comes with carrot salad and mashed potatos, heavy garlic so watch your breath afterwards.
— Potato Pancake with meat is exactly what it sounds like, which obviously sounds amazingly yummy. Nicely fried and packed with stuffing.
— Honey Cake was a must-​try per all the other reviews on Unilocal.Fantastically simple that is not too sweet or chocolately for a perfect ending to our meal.
— Coffee comes with the grinds, so its a bit more of a chore to drink… but I suppose that’s the style.
The staff was extremely friendly and gave us great advice on what to and how much to order. Table was a bit small for all the food, but waitress came by frequently to help clean up and check on us. The full meal took less than an hour from walk-​in to full-​tummy.
Thanks M&P for a great introduction to Lithuanian food!

I am a first timer and my mouth was pleasantly surprised by the awesome flavors.
I tried the cream of mushroom soup (which tasted super fresh! and homemade), we also had the potato pancakes and cabbage wraps, also both really good (rich with bold flavors).
Can’t wait to go back and try their assortment of teas!

Potato pancakes with meat-​delicious and hearty!
Cucumber yogurt salad-​suppaaa refreshing.
Smoked salmon salad-​it was okay. I prefer the cucumber salad!
Mix variety flour dumplings-​love the option to get a mix. I think the mushroom ones are my fav!
Potato dumplings-​two very hearty potato filled meat dumplings. Quite large.
Honey layer cake-​delightful! Light and flavorful. Different.
Lazy pie-​cute story turned into yummy chocolate cake thing. Very dense and bready. Good for chicks who have Aunt Flo visiting.
When I first came here I left starving because I thought they served European portions. The third time I came here, I was with a big group and realized their menu actually has options for both people with small and large appetites!

Pros: friendly service
Food wasn’t bad but wasn’t the best
Pricey for the quality
Cons: food was ok
Street parking

Really enjoyed our lunch here. The food is homey and tasty. We tried the cabbage roll and mushroom crêpe. Both were tasty with nicely balanced flavors, and not too heavy. The bakery next door was also very good. The Napoleon cake was great.

Worth trying but not for everyone. The lunch portion is worthwhile, I had the cabbage roll. It was good and the pickled vegetables a nice touch.

This place is just as good as the other Unilocal reviewers stated! I am so glad we gave it a try.
Mama Papa Lithuania is the real deal; as authentic as it gets. Our waitress was very cordial and attentive, eagerly explaining dishes and answering any questions we had. She also gave me her recommendation, which proved to be a great choice.
I tried the Stuffed Red Bell Pepper, while my husband chose the Potato Pancakes with Meat. Although very different choices, both were plentiful and full of flavor. The sauce, along with the stuffed red bell pepper, was a perfect combination. I truly enjoyed every bite!
The restaurant itself is small, yet cozy. It’s quite intimate, so I’d recommend leaving the children at home if possible.

This place has high reviews…
The menu contains about the same, potatoes… pork…rice
We ordered stuffed cabbage, sauce was very good…
Stuffed bell peppers, it was very filling…
Also the potatoes n meat cake… basically a big hash brown with a pork meat cake inside, it was ok
The special was these 3 puff pastries with cheese n mushroom, there was barely any filling, went flat and felt like we were eating just the puff, I had 2 small thin slices of mushrooms in mine, for 6 bucks, nevermind
The sauces were pretty good, all come with sour cream n dill…
Honey cake definitely worth a try… layers of goodness

LOLCRY! the amber tea is such a SCAM! its $ 6 for hot water and rocks! so in the end, you are paying $ 6 to drink 1 small pot of hot water!
ok, moving on to the food:
fried rye bread with garlic
— they don’t skimp on the garlic for sure! however being deep fried i would think it would come out hot… NOPE! stale and cold and tasting old AF. i understand if turnover is slow, but to serve old things is not really good business
potato pancakes
— exactly what they are and they are pretty good if you’re craving a hearty breakfast
stuffed cabbage rolls
— lots of ground pork and tasted very home cooked and authentic, not too salty with some flavors i haven’t tasted before
chicken goulash
— veggie stew with paprika — this was my favorite dish of what we got
service was extremely friendly and attentive, especially since we were the only ones in the restaurant in the morning, although i think they could be more strategic when seating people. we were the only customers for 1.5 hours, they brushed us off when we requested to sit at the 6 person table (which allows you to get out of your chair without crawling and climbing. the 4 person table and neighboring tables are extremely cramped, and there is literally no room to move in between /​around the chairs because of the puzzle-​block-​like design of the furniture, you will be shoulder to shoulder with the person next to you and you have step over the chair to insert yourself into the space underneath the table and above your chair.
this is a place to find novel food in the bay area, however i wouldn’t come back

I believe therapy sessions make patients hungry afterwards. Thus a real proper hearty lunch is warranted for those under psychiatric treatment. But really… If you are looking for hearty yummy lunches, you don’t really need any excuses. And if you really need a non controversial excuse, say instead, «Hey Alameda has a great Michelin Recommended restaurant now, why not go?»
I have been here before once out of novelty when it opened. It felt like out of place. Alameda is a conservative East Bay town known as «where the hipsters go to breed». This felt like it ought to be in the east village, nor east bay. The woodsy décor felt warm and bier deserving, and the food is hearty and flavorful, and reminds you of Eastern European food akin to Berlin or Prague bistros found scattered in Europe.
Lunch special is half of the dinner size at half price. Exceptionally large portion in my mind even for the lunch portion and really well done. Home made sausages is a spicier herbal version of bratwurst.
Best thing to get is the stuffed cabbage.
To end, cherry dumplings are both hot and cold, an odd combo that worked wonderfully, that no matter how decadent it is, you want to give it a try: maybe 2 pieces so you can maintain your svelte physique which you fought so hard to attain and now, to maintain. So share it generously.
A good dinner date place. Summer is excellent season for for Biergarten seating in the backyard. Next door is the only Lithuanian bakery in the west coast. I wish this place existed 20 years ago: I was dating a Canadian Lithuanian ski instructor then, totally could have vowed him with this heritage find.

12÷5÷15: Reviewing authentic places of cuisines you’ve never had is always hard. You just don’t know what «good» is supposed to be like. This place claims to be «the only Lithuanian restaurant in West Coast of the USA.» A quick Google seems to confirm this, with a few hits of places being Lithuanian-​owned, or serving a few authentic dishes, but not the entire restaurant beind dedicated to the fair.
This restaurant is really cute. Very homey with lots of vintage props, decorations, and furnitures. Great feel and look. However, the service is erratic. When we walked in, it took a while to be approached despite the restaurant being mostly empty, and the people up front clearly knowing we were standing there. But when we were finally seated the waitress was far more friendly. I would say I have mixed feelings about the service.
The food itself was for the most part great (with the exception of the fried bread appetizer.) However, BEWARE, their portions are TINY. To the extreme. They even offer «lunch sizes» (half size) of most of the entrees, and the waitress even encouraged us to get them. Luckily I resisted, but my gf succumbed. DO NOT get half sizes. You will starve. Really. You may even need to get double portions of the entrees if you want to stick to single dishes. But fotunately, they’re so good that it might warrant getting 2x…
1. Herbal Tea Mix — Maisytos Zoleliu Arbatos #2 $ 3 (oregano herb, rowan fruits, brier hips, red currants and lemon peels): Interesting. Never had anything like it. I remember it being a tad light though. I mixed in honey as the waitress told me would be the authentic way to drink it. ⁶⁄₁₀
2. Lithuanian Home Style Coffee — Lietuviska Namine Kava $ 4: According to my gf: «I had weird feeling about the coffee there. They did not filter the hand ground coffee beans, so it’s hard to drink. The flavor was good, but considering the way they serve I may never order the same thing.» I tasted her coffee and I did find it strange, as well, that each sip was full of the grit of coffee bits. The flavor was bitter and dark, which I like, but as she said, it’s really hard to drink. ³⁄₁₀.
3. Fried Lithuanian Rye Bread with Garlic — Juoda Duona Su Cesnakais $ 6: Again, per my gf: «I liked the garlic flavor. And texure was chewy, so apparently they used good rye bread for this one. But it was way too oily! You feel like every bite was like drinking a table spoon of oil.» I concur. It was like eating solidified oil. Despite being deep fried, they were not crispy at all. Pretty much bread soaked (and I REALLY mean SOAKED all the way through) with oil. ²⁄₁₀.
4. Flour Dumplings — Holdunai $ 15 (fillings: Meat (beef & pork), Chicken, Potato & Cheddar Cheese, Potato & Mushroom): The gf: «Loved it! Filling was moist and tasty! The wrap was soft and had the perfect thickness. Only problem is the portion is way too small. Thank god, we did not order the lunch portion (half serving of this one)! I do not know why they made portion so small. We stil felt hungry after the whole serving.» Again, she speaks the truth – there were about 10 – 12 pieces of 1″ wide dumplings. Imagine eating 10 – 12 pieces of small raviolis (the cheap frozen dinner-​sized ones) – that would be how much food there was. Crazy they even offer a half-​size! That said, they were truly delicious, with the meat ones the best. The potato ones were a bit plain. ⁸⁄₁₀
5. Mushroom Crepes — Blyneliai Su Grybais (half) $ 6: And the gf was impressed: «One of the best crepes ever had! The mushroom filling was creamy and flavorful. The same problem, it had very small portion. I should have order the whole serving, instead of lunch portion.» Yeah, don’t get the «lunch portion.» Ridiculous they even have one. It’s not even enough food for a kid in preschool. But that crêpe – AMAZING texture. I think it’s the most perfect crêpe I’ve ever had. And that includes all kinds, in and out of France. ⁹⁄₁₀.
6. Honey Cake «Medutis» $ 6: She says, «It was a perfect nutty cake! If they can do more on presentation, that would make it more perfect.» Very moist and flavorful. Such a great cake. Another one-of-the-best’s. You must get this. ¹⁰⁄₁₀
So, why just 4 out of 5? Cause despite the amazing main entrees, the other foods are more interesting than good. And the prices are crazy high considering how much food they give you. It’s almost near pricing and sizing for Michelin-​Star places, but without anything else that goes with those titles. And the service is just strange, or at least when we came.
I’d love to come back though and try more stuff!
⁴⁄₅
#lithuanian

Mama Papa Lithuania pulled out all the stops for the décor here — it really feels like you are walking into a small wintery village home when you open the door.
Things I tried:
–amber tea
–potato pancake with meat
–cabbage roll
–honey cake
So basically, the Unilocal highlights your plus a tea. In general, the food was not bad, but nothing to rave about:
–amber tea
I didn’t taste much amber (should it taste like anything?), but after putting in the honey, it was a nice cup of warm honey tea for a cold day!
–potato pancake with meat & cabbage roll
not overly impressed with either, but was really happy that the potato pancake was so crunchy on the edges. I think they both use the same meat?
–honey cake
I’d skip this one — it comes pre-​sliced out of the sliding refrigerator, so it tasted a bit stale.

When I read a snippet about Mama Papa in a 7×7 article about spending the ideal day in Alameda, I had this unwarranted image that this restaurant would be an old-​world place with hearty-​looking peasant women in babushkas serving food from big wooden bowls. I figured it would be a lot of potatoes, cabbage and other staples that could survive an arctic winter. Well, I was half-​right, and Jamie W. and I were so non-​committal about coming here that we were tempted to go to the ramen house next door since I would know what to order there. However, I said to Jamie that it was good to try new cuisines, and Lithuanian fit the bill.
While the décor was heavy on wood, it was hardly rustic even though the weighty chairs reminded me of something Gene Wilder and Teri Garr must have sat on in the castle in «Young Frankenstein». Blücher…cue for the frightened horses to start whinnying. The menu was definitely Eastern European as borscht was the main soup they offered, and sure enough, they offered a $ 6 Green Cabbage Salad (Kopūstų Salotos) that was highly recommended in the 7×7 article. So we ordered it, and it was pretty tasty, as it was a big bowl piled with shredded lettuce liberally marinated with their housemade dressing (photo:
).
While quite fresh, there was a pickled flavor to the dressing that I quite enjoyed. Next we went for the $ 15 Flour Dumplings (Koldūnai) stuffed with a ground beef and pork mix. Every culture has their ravioli, potsticker, gyoza, empanada and momo, and Lithuania is no exception. A dozen covered a plate accompanied by a huge dollop of sour cream and fresh dill (photo:
). I can never pass up a dumpling, and these were quite good if a bit on the bland side. Our last dish was a special that day, the $ 12 Stuffed Red Pepper filled with the same ground beef and pork mix that filled with dumplings.
It was served with boiled potatoes and sour cream in a pool of sauce that I assume was used for their goulash since it was thick and tomato-​based (photo:
). It was hearty peasant food that definitely provided comfort even on a balmy Sunday evening. Service was quite hushed since there was no one else in the restaurant, and we were handed the check before being asked if we wanted any of their Honey Cake or «Lazy Pie». Oh well, it just gave us an excuse to come back sometime maybe after we plowed the fields and ground the wheat so we could make our daily bread. At least that’s how they did it in the old country.
FOOD — 4 stars… hearty peasant fare that was quite tasty if you have a bland comfort food need
AMBIANCE — 3.5 stars… more modern than the old country I remember (photo:
)
SERVICE — 3.5 stars… shhh…
TOTAL — 4 stars… you should try something different, it’s good for ya