Restaurant review: Bistro Telakka in Lauttasaari

20 05 2017

Summer restaurant Bistro Telakka opened it’s doors just before MayDay. First warm weekend in Helsinki and had to have late lunch there. Telakka operates in the premises of Yacht Club Sinbad like Blue Peter in HSK. By the way, Telakka means shipyard in English.

Restaurant renews its menu every summer and this year it seemed to be very promising. More ambitious and more vegan versions.

For starters ordered Vietnamese summer rolls, ginger-sweet chili dressing. Extremely healthy version of so called spring rolls but as it is summer (almost), rolls were cold, not stir-fried as spring rolls usually are. Carrot dominated as filling and coriander as a taste. Promising start as said before about the menu.

Main courses enjoyed this time were Salmon and tiger prawn smoked at Telakka, asparagus, summer potatoes and lime hollandaise and Roasted Cauliflower Ras el Hanout, warm soy bean-millet salad, lemon yoghurt.

Fish dish looked luxorius as prawn was placed on top of salmon. Salmon was perfectly smoked, not too dry and very soft. Summer potatoes will hopefully be new ones when they are available because of the name. Fried potatoes are not that summery.

Ras el hanout or Rass el hanout is a spice mix from North Africa. It plays a similar role in North African cuisine as garam masala does in Indian cuisine.  Light and tasty dish perfect for a summer day, but it was more like a salad or a started dish when talking of the serving size.

Avarage price of wine bottle on short list is about 35€, which is really affordable concerning wine prices in Helsinki restaurants in general.

Telakka bistro - reijosfood.com

 

Telakka bistro is excellent supplementary dining place in Lauttasaari. Food is excellent when it comes to outlook and taste. With existing prices bistro is quite expensive compared to size of portions and the interior of restaurant.

Terrace outside tempts to dine outside but as May has been one of the coldest in Finland so far, one should have dine inside. We were lucky to have sunny afternoon and could eat at the terrace.

It is a little bit difficult to review service as you have to order from the bar inside. Portions are brought to the tables, no need to pick them by yourself.

REVIEW: FOOD 4+/5 – SERVICE 4-/5 – OVERALL GRADE – 4-/5

http://www.bistrotelakka.fi/

 

 





Restaurant review: Venn Helsinki

1 05 2017

Restaurant VENN Helsinki was established in late April 2017. It replaced Michel, which more restaurant than bar, which VENN aims to be. VENN positiones itself as wine bar and obviously there is going to be new nationwide chain as city is added after the name of the restaurant.

Menu is short including modern pizzas, burgers and salads. Wines are reasonable priced, which of course increases attractivess of VENN.

Decided to try burgers for late lunch.

Avocado burger consisted of avocado, grilled vegetables, salad and piri-piri mayo. Tasty burger with big slices of avocado, zucchini and red peppers.  A nice choice as a vegan version, and different from other burgers served in other restaurants.

VENN burger included 200g minced meat steak, comte cheese, grilled zucchini, tomato and horseradish mayo. Steak was ordered as medium but it was medium – due to redness of meat. And could not find zucchini this time. Otherwise burger was very tasty and fresh.

For both burgers ordered potato blocks which paired well main dish. Other options would have been potato chips (big ones) or salad.

For wine had Californian Barefoot Merlot, which was classified as Velvety red on wine list. Wine has good combo of cherry, plum, and even chocolate. A mocha finish is complemented by hints of smoky vanilla oak.

Decoration is cozy, same big bar in the middle of room dominates the space. Windows open on two sides, both pedestrian streets, but one of them is in the summer time famous outdoor night club with live music.

Venn is part of S-Group restaurant complex in old buidings in one of the best location in Helsinki. New concept will be more popular than Michel was due to more relaxed athmosphere and easy food. Drinks and wines are now main part of operation.

REVIEW: FOOD 4-/5 – SERVICE 4-/5 – OVERALL GRADE 3,5/5








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