Reijosfood

Hampton Bay was opened for May Day 2018. It is located by the waterfront, at the end of Bulevardi Street. Restaurant chef is Harri Syrjänen, celebrity chef known from his own TV series. Concept includes 2 outdoor terraces under the sky, one roof top and one sea side and porch where one can also dine and indoor main dining room. For that one needs to make a table reservation. Room is quite small and after terraces will be closed, athmosphere will change a lot.

The menu gets its inspiration from the sea and social eating – sharing your meals. Restaurant has charcoal grill on which chefs prepare steak and ribs as well as giant prawns. As there was crayfish season also Hampton Bay Signal Crayfish menus were available.

Started the dinner with Salmon ceviche with yoghurt and rye chips and half portion of Pomegranate-quinoa salad, pomegranate seeds, roasted sweet potato, almonds & apple cubes.

Salmon ceviche looked more like tar-tar but was tasty. Typically this starter is more acid and spicy but as Hampton Bay honors more Scandinavian style, taste suited well to restaurant’s cuisine.

As there were no vegan options for starter, asked for half portion of one of the salad options. Portion was big although price really was half the price. Pomegranate was the highlight of this dish. Salad also tasted fresh and it was versatile. Original honey based dressing was changed, which change the dish from vegetarian to vegan.

For main courses had Bowl of blue mussels ”Asian Style”, French fries and Pasta linguini, green asparagus, broccolino, tomato, spinach.

Asian style broth was the best ever tasted with mussels. Enough spicy and with white bread a bulls eye. Unfortunately mussels were very small, so for main course dish needs French fries.

Linguini pasta was replaced with vegan penne. Dish was palatable, all in all combination of well matching ingredients forming interesting pasta portion.

Wine list is quite short but one does not spend a lot of money to bottle. That is definately plus as too many times most of the restaurants try to make most of the money with wines.

Italian waiter recommended, of course, only Italian wine on the wine menu. Cesari Jema Corvina 2013. Corvina is at the heart of the great red Valpolicella wines, and in its integrity we can apreciate its different colours, fragrance and body. The grapes were carefully harvested and placed in drying cases for 20 days. Ageing in small French wooden barrels lasted 18 months, after which it was blended and aged a further 6 months.

Excellent wine and paired well with all dishes eaten.

Decor is marine themed and athmosphere casual. People prefer to eat and drink at the terraces as long as it is possible. If dining inside, try to ask for window table.

Food, especially vegan dishes, were delicious.

Service was professional and polite, in accordance to cuisine.

Location, by the sea and amount of terraces earn extra +. Interesting to see how restaurant changes for the winter season when only indoor dining area can be used.

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