Kepta Duona

Kepta duona is the classic Lithuanian bar snack: sticks of dark rye bread fried until crisp, rubbed or tossed with garlic, and usually served with a cheese dip. Salty, garlicky and made to go with beer, it appears on nearly every pub menu and is the thing to order first.

What to look for

• Fried rye sticks - dark rye bread cut into fingers and fried crisp.
• Garlic and cheese - the garlic rub and the melted or grated cheese served with it.
• Beer pairing - the snack made for a cold Lithuanian lager.
• Pub ubiquity - on the menu of taverns everywhere.

When to go

Year-round, any time you have a beer in front of you; it is a pub and evening snack rather than a meal. Every traditional tavern serves it.

Practical notes

It is simple, salty pub food, delicious with beer but not a dish to travel for on its own. The garlic is assertive, so it is a shared-plate, social snack. Quality varies from crisp and fresh to greasy, so a good tavern matters.

Nearby

Any Vilnius old town tavern serves it; it belongs on the table with the local craft beer.