2024-07-07 11:36:38
When asked for advice, the name of the legendary place “Volungė” located on the side of the old market of Palanga is usually heard from their lips. True, it is no longer possible to call this cafe a secret, because since 1998, the establishment, which has been feeding locals and vacationers all year round, has become popular among city guests as well.
It is easy to make sure of that. At lunch time on Friday, there was such a line in the cafe that it was difficult to even get into it. Local residents of Palanga, seniors, vacationing families with children, workers plowing nearby – the cafe’s contingent was really wide, and its employees were spinning like bituts.
Portal lrytas.lt decided to find out what the recipe for this place’s success is. Aušra Mikalajūnienė, who was caught in the middle of the work, gladly agreed to reveal it. And when she received such a question, she waved her hand at her parents, already retired Lucija and Vytautas, who were sitting at one of the tables and having lunch.
Vytautas opened this cafe 26 years ago, and soon his wife, who worked as a doctor, joined him. When they grew up, they helped their parents, and until now, their two daughters also work in the cafe almost every day.
Lucija helps in the kitchen, Vytautas, as his daughter Aušra says, directs and takes care of the food orders, while she and her sister work behind the bar and help with various jobs in every corner.
“This is a family cafe where we are every day. The most important thing is that everything is made here like at home – we grind the meat here, we make zeppelins here, we don’t use any semi-finished products. Potatoes have to be shaved for hours, which is why sometimes people are even angry that they come to eat zeppelins at 2 pm and they are gone.
We don’t have the ability to produce using traditional methods all day long. It takes a lot of effort. Anyone who makes zeppelins at home knows that you need to peel the potatoes, make the whole mass, grind the meat, fry the onion, make the crisps, etc. People start choosing at 11 o’clock,” said Aušra.
While we are talking, there are practically no free tables left, and plates with homemade meatballs, pigeons, steaks and other traditional Lithuanian dishes are lying on each of them.
The interviewed people assured that they are drawn here not only because of the homemade food and the size of the portions, but also because of the prices – the soup and the second dish cost only 6.5-7 euros, and for this amount you can fill your stomachs.
“Our bartender Diana has been working here for exactly 26 years. She never changed. She is like a family member to us. That says a lot. We try to keep everyone here as a family, regardless of bloodline. The employee must feel together, be interested in working,” Aušra said.
According to her, people who come to eat at this cafe feel that they are getting food prepared with love by the family, the kind that everyone eats at home.
According to Aušra, the cafe has already raised three generations – since its establishment, customers who come here bring not only children, but also grandchildren, and the employees recognize many of their guests and address each other by name.
The woman does not hide that although the prices here are not high, over time they have to be raised a little, taking into account the economic situation and other factors.
“Our goal is to make people full. When a family comes with children, usually mom and dad order a portion each and the kids just ask for extra plates – there’s enough for everyone,” Aušra shared the secret of her success.
2024-07-07 11:36:38