Restaurant review: Teatterin Grilli

1 05 2012

Restaurant Teatteri is one of the most popular places to spend evening in Helsinki night life or to relax at the terrace on warm summer day. Complex consists of dining room Teatterin Grilli, night club, two bars (Kellobaari and Teatteribaari), popular terrace and self-service wine & deli cafe. Decor is modern including pictures/paintings; one can catch a glimpse of those in picture below.

Decided to dine this time on Labour Day or 1st of May Eve instead of having lunch on May Day which is typical lunch and picnic date for celebrating spring and studies.

Teatterin Grilli a la carte list is tempting; many savory dishes which makes difficult to decide what to order. Think I have eaten here best hamburger ever, TG burger, which includes chilli flavoured shrimp mayonnaise and country style potatoes. Would also say it was worth of price 19,10€.

This time ordered for starters Starter selection Creamy langoustine soup, salmon roasted with black pepper and slightly smoked deer which is well qualified combination of single starters and Salmon roasted with black pepper, marinated fennel and avocado crème.
Soup was best part of the selection of 3 starters, otherwise quite ordinary tastes. Nicely arranged on the plate, however.

For main courses ordered  Fried whitefish, puikula potatoes mashed with lemon butter and vendace roe sauce and Grilled halibut, fried salsify and parsley sauce.
 Both fishes were well prepared and cooking time was rightly calculated. One needs to take Side orders for these portions like Country style potatoes, otherwise one might stay hungry. Mashed potatoes were replaced by vegetables; kitchen is ready to make changes if needed.

For dessert had Cheese Plate; manchego, gouda and Peltola blue. Portion could have included fig or fig jam because it was quite dry but Peltola blue is always savory and glass of port wine made it easier to enjoy dining.

Teatterin Grilli is always popular, need to make table reservation in advance. Got email reply in few minutes which might be the record in confirming reservation. Little bit focus on taste of food and restaurant would earn full 4, because all other elements are in good shape.

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

http://www.teatteri.fi/gallery

Ravintola Teatterin grilli


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Restaurant review: Salutorget

20 04 2012

Restaurant Salutorget, Scandinavian bistro, includes an unassuming dining room, bar and classic cafe with waitress services and terrace. Restaurant serves lunch and dinner but also brunch on Sundays and English style Afternoon Tea.

Salutorget is located by Kauppatori (Salutorget in Swedish and  Market Place in English) which is most known market or plaza in Helsinki. One can see that there has been financial institutions operating in the  same location earlier  as rest rooms are in old bank vault. Place has been renovated with craftmanship; 1800’s construction and pillars create a dignified athmosphere. Salutorget is part of Royal Ravintolat chain which has several fine dining restaurants in Helsinki. On Friday it was quite busy inlcuding bar.

Menu consists of traditional Finnish and Scandinavian dishes, such as Toast Skagen, Baltic herrings, raindeer and pike perch.  One can also choose lobster for starter or main course. Wine list is quite short; interesting to see that all wines are from European countries, mainly France, Italy and Spain.

Had to choose  Fried scallops with ceps, pine kernels and salsify puré with garlic for starter; being big fan of scallops. WOW, one of the best scallop starter ever tasted. Second choice was Broiled whitefish tartar with Jerusalem artichoke cream, good but cucumber might have been more flavoured.

For main courses ordered Tender braised reindeer shank with oven baked beetroot, bacon and almond potato puré.  Bacon was more like smalll pieces of  pork ribs and absolutely portion was best part of the kitchen. Reindeer smelted in the mouth and was tender. We also ordered  Roasted pike perch with champagne and pea risotto, fennel sauce but asked vegetables instead of risotto. Fish was absolutely prepared with professional way but vegetables were lightly boring. Suggest to keep with risotto.

Dessert was a ittle bit disappointment. We were prepared for chocolate cake  Chocolate cake with mango sorbet and one was ordered with ice cream. Unfortunately chocolate cake was more or less mousse. If it would have been real chocolate cake you could add + on Food Review.

Dining room and bar were almost all the time full of diners and people having drinks; both places worth of visiting.

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

http://www.salutorget.fi/en

more fotos: http://www.salutorget.fi/en/gallery


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Farang Stockholm!

14 04 2012

Restaurant Farang will open in Stockholm, Sweden late 2012. Farang, owned by Tomi Björk, is one of the first fine dining asian cross-kitchen restaurants with unique concept in Helsinki. Excellent spicy menus with wine recommendations and always crowded.

http://farang.fi/?lang=en

Take also look at the pieces of art Farang serves…..

http://farang.fi/restaurant/gallery/

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You might remember that Tomi Björk opens third restraurant late May in Helsinki.

https://reijosfood.com/2012/03/20/bar-and-restaurant-boulevard-social-opening-in-may/


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Kattila – new Cuisine World at Linnanmäki amusement park

13 04 2012

Finland’s biggest amusement park Linnanmäki will open  cuisine world featuring the offerings of six renowned chefs. In addition to the primary target group of Linnanmäki visitors, the cuisine world Kattila will serve all urban people who value high-quality food made from premium ingredients.

Kattila comprises six restaurants serving fine examples of world cuisine. The experienced restaurant-keepers have a total of four Michelin stars between them including 2 Michelin star chef Hans Välimäki, but the restaurants’ price range should suit also for smaller budgets.

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Kattila restaurants are:

– Kuula – meatball bar (chef  Tommi Tuominen, owner of Demo and Grotesk)

– Coccola – mediterranean food (chefs from Postress)

– American Wonder (created by Hans Välimäki)

– Ilona – Finnish restaurant (based on restaurant Aino concept)

– Sushibar + Wine – Scandinavian desing and sushi

– Caruzello – family buffet (created by Kim Heiniö)

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If you have visited amusement park Tivoli in Copenhagen, this sounds similar concept.

Linnanmäki will open its doors again for summer season on 21st of April.

(BTW, Kattila is Pot in english)

http://www.linnanmaki.fi/en/


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Restaurant review: Grill Glöd (closed)

1 04 2012

UPDATE ON 1ST OF NOV. RESTAURANT GLÖD HAS BEEN CLOSED. STEFAN’S STEAHOUSE WILL OPEN AT THE SAME LOCATION IN DECEMBER.

Bar and Grill Glöd was opended in Autumn 2011 by Jan Åkerström who owns also restaurant Solna. Earlier restaurant Mecca was operating at the same place, so do not try to find it anymore. Some of the Mecca decor was still found at sanitary facilities.

Glöd fine grill concept is based on coal grill and open kitchen for preparing game food, fresh fish, seafood and vegetables. Glöd has also honoured with two cutlery pairs by Michelin Guide in 2012; excellent achievement in just a short time. In addition to restaurant there is also bar and Klub Casablanca (with K, not C) lounge with oriental athmosphere.

From 17 courses diners can select menus consisting of either 3 (35€) or 4 (39€) courses. Courses are devided in cold, warm and sweet dishes. We recommend to order one cold and two warm dishes if you decide to enjoy three courses, because they are quite small. By ordering four dishes you can take dessert also.

Restaurant was quite noisy due to background music  and tables which were close to each other. Seemed that cramped space made serving more difficult at least where we were seated.

Started with Cheviche Hibiscus Fish marinated in citrusdressing with rose flavoured blood orange and fennel (fishes were salmon and white fish, some salt would have improved taste, but none was at the tables) and Tuna “Tokyo Grill” Char goal grilled tuna, warm sushi rice and avocado ice cream (excellent combination but also missed some salt).

Warm dishes were Beets and Barley Oven roasted beets marinated in mustard dressing, barley risotto and whipped cream cheese (beets comes from beetroot and this dish was one of the best of all a la carte dishes eaten this time, barley replaced rice perfectly), Black Salmon Teriyaki roasted salmon, tomato-anise couscous and sake sauce (couscous did not match so well), Risotto Nero Black risotto, grilled tiger prawn tails and Tom Kha Khai foam (another bull’s eye, can recommend) and Ribs BBQ Grilled pork ribs, frisee lettuce and Texas Ranch dressing (did not classify in top three ribs, lettuce had some Caesar dressing)

For dessert Almond, Praline and Soup Almond cake, praline ice cream and warm chocolate and rum soup (asked sorbet instead of ice cream but got ice cream) and Chocolate Mousse “Cafe Vietnam” Chocolate mousse with blackcurrant, caramel and coffee foam and fudge ice cream (delicious; can recommend)

Although price for 4 dishes is affordable, bottle of wine increases total amount of bill. Avarage price for wine bottle is over 50€. Most of the dishes seek asian flavours and are well prepared. However, would have appreciated more deep savours to complement the experience. Full tables meant that customers have found Glöd.

REVIEW: Food 4-/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 4-/5

http://www.glod.fi/

http://www.viamichelin.com/web/Restaurants#description@poi=345812_41102


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Restaurant review: Loiste

18 03 2012

Restaurant Loiste is located in the heart of Helsinki at the 10th Floor of Hotel Vaakuna and Sokos department store. There is a fantastic view from terraces and part of the restaurant windows. If you are seated on the right side of the restaurant when you come in you can not enjoy of the view, unfortunately. Therefore ask for window table and you can take a look at Kamppi shopping center, old bus station and Lasipalatsi (in english Glass Palace). Loiste is casual type of restaurant but tries to put effort on the menu and food.

There is also playground for the children; if you do not need this “service” as many hotel guests might, be sure your table is not close to it because of the noise. For this reason we gave lower overall grade.

If you want to enjoy aperitif or you are not hungry enough you can always visit Bar Loiste which serves you on the same premises, at 10th floor.

You could choose three different type of starters. Restaurant has on the menu “Snadit”, small appetizers, as one option to start your dining. Two other options for starters and main courses are “Herkkuja Pohjolastaie. Delicacies from the North” and “Pohjolasta Etelään  ie. from North to South”. Menu includes mainly Finnish genuine food but also provides flavours of European kitchens; mainly Southern part and Italy.

From a la carte list we first chose “Snadit” i.e. Duck liver toast with fig compote and Goat Cheese with honey-beetroot syrup. Duck liver toast smelted smoothly in the mouth. Goat cheese should have been grilled a little bit more. Beetroot carpaccio and herb foam and Smoked reindeer with cowberry syrup. Both were delicious; one suggestion for improvement, should not use cold meat as restaurant obviously aims for high standards.

For main cource chose from Delicacies from the North Fish of the day with vegetables and aspargus potato pyre. Fish was typical Finnish fish Pike Perch and perfectly roasted. Excellent flexibility from the kitchen also when we asked some changes. And from North to South chose Red Mullet with shellfish risotto and crab stock which was generous portion, risotto properly prepared and surprise was the amount of prawns and pieces of scallop. Usually you can only taste the flavours of risotto.

For dessert chose only Red Currant sorbet which was nicely served as you can see from the picture above.

Wine list is short and consists of quality wines. Means also that bottle of wine increases quite a lot the total price of the  dinner.

Restaurant Loiste has upgraded it’s menu, a year ago served also hamburgers. Requires a lot from casual type of restaurant but succeeded well this time!

REVIEW: Food 4+/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 3,5/5

http://www.ravintolaloiste.fi/ravintola-loiste.html

Virtual presentation:

http://www.sokoshotels.fi/hotellit/helsinki/vaakuna/virtuaaliesittelyt/

But: if you just want to have a drink at Loiste and wine bar is closed, recommend to find another place because they are not able to serve you from the bar in mid of dining room (update on 21st July 2012)


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Restaurant review: Strindberg

29 01 2012

Part of the modern Kämp Gallery, Restaurant Strindberg is located alongside and offers a fascinating view of the beautiful and historic Esplanade Park.

At street level, in the heart of Strindberg is internationally fashioned café where many delicacies are prepared. Just sit down and wait to be served, there is table service available. Mari cafe was opened at the same time after restaurant complex moved 50 meters from its original location.

On the second floor is Strindberg à la carte, where we had dinner, a restaurant which combines the ever-popular Nordic home cooking -“husmanskost”- with contemporary international flavours. The atmosphere at this high quality restaurant is urban, but at the same time pleasantly peaceful. From the Caesar’s salad to the crispy, yet juicy Rydberg steak, and from fresh domestic fish to the dish of the day – there is always plenty to choose from at Strindberg. Remember to ask for window table when making reservation!

The spacious Library bar, with its soft couches, has become a popular rendez-vous spot for many. Worth a visit!

For starters we had 1 x Goat cheese with pine kernels, salad and figs; 1 x Garlic snails;  2 x Shrimps with watercress and parsnip pyre

Kitchen had added sun-dried tomatoes in goat cheese starter and lavaret which we asked to serve without milk products. As tomatoes were quite bitter we would rather had seen portions without them. On the other hand Strindberg can really take into consideration possible food allergies. One example of that is suprise dessert from the kitchen. Shrimps were delicious but portion itself was quite small.

For main courses we ordered 1 x Duck with two ways and 3 x Lavaret with vegetables.

Unfortunately duck is not anymore on the menu because is was delicios. This was the second time eating same portion and again it was bulls’s eye. Duck drumstick and stew were so tender you would not have to bite. Lavaret was maybe a little bit too roasted.

For dessert we had 1 x French toast; 1 x Oatmeal apple pie with ice cream; 1 x Sorbet; 1 x Surprise from the kitchen.  French toast does not literally describe the dessert. Exact translation is “poor knights” but that might not encourage to order if you are not familiar with this dessert. French toast as so generous that it would have enough for two. Worth a try!  Apple pie was warm and tasty; ice cream completed enjoyment. Suprise from the kitchen was close to Pavlova including fresh berries, meringue and something very tasty we could not identify. Dessert was warmly welcomed as it proved kitchens know-how to comply customers wishes.

Our waitress did a great job but when her shift ended it was quite difficult to pay the restaurant bill.

Menu changed just after we visited restaurant.

REVIEW: Food 4/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 4/5

http://www.strindberg.fi/en/restaurant


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Restaurant review: Bon Vivant – at Cruise Ship

13 01 2012

Bon Vivant is a fine dining restaurant at Tallink Silja cruise ships Symphony and Serenade on route between Helsinki and Stockholm.

Restaurant is quiet compared to buffet restautants which gives opportunity speak and hear. You could also dine “outside” at the terrace which you can see in front of the restaurant (picture below)

Menu changes occasionally and wine list is wide due to special wine bar and shop. Dinner included appetizers, main course and cheese plates.

You also get greetings from the kitchen to start with.

At Christmas cruise we had reindeer with potato crocket  and fish in stock and vegetables. Reindeer was tender and rose as you can see in the picture. Fish portion was little bit difficult to eat because vegatables were too raw and soup around them splashed easily (no spoon available).

If you take cheese as dessert you can choose them from trolley; 5 different choices. Blue cheese and white-veined cheese always as favourites.

Waitress also wrote down all choices for us as we tasted all of them.

Ship itself especially cabins need renovation. Those cruising between Helsinki and Tallinn are newer and therefore in good condition.

REVIEW: Food 3,5/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 4/5

http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/shipsAndTerminals/symphony/restaurants/eating.htm

 


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Restaurant review: Sasso

8 01 2012

Visited Restaurant Sasso already in November 2011. Used to be one of favourite Italian restaurants because of delicious food and cozy athmosphere. Some renewals should be made now due to a little bit worn interiors.

Downstairs you can find fish restaurant if you happen to prefer frutti di mare.

Pasta is always cooked al dente. Antipasti, Primi, wine + coffee for 2 close to 150€

REVIEW: Food 4/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 3/5

http://www.palacekamp.fi/in_english/restaurants/sasso/


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Restaurant review: Food and Lounge Restaurant Namu

8 01 2012

UPDATE ON 1ST OF NOV: NAMU PROVIDES NOWADAYS CALIFORNIAN KITCHEN

Visited Food and Lounge Restaurant Namu a month after opening. Early dinner, half of the tables occupied. Decoration quite unusual for restaurants having asian menu but maybe main idea is to provide opportunity eat while spending time at lounge type of night club. Huge place from which restaurant was about 1/5. Typical customer was around 25-30 years old. It is interesting to see if huge terrace which open ups to railway station will be busy in the summer.

Menu was short consisting on Japanese, Korean and Chinese flavours. Interesting to see Kimchi was served in different modifications. Wine list was maybe too complicated for asian food.

Had Sashimi and Tsukemono  for appetizers which were really OK. Best part were main courses Kakuni to kimchi and Som tam nieriä ie trout; delicious and perfectly prepared! Kimchi with pork included kimchi which was like coleslaw salad but tasty. Pork was tender and also tasty. You have to choose side dishes for main course from 3 options. But unfortunately warm dishes came right after appetizers which is quite common way to serve asian food but as appetizers were quite big portions, had to eat warm dishes first.

Price for appetizers, main courses and bottle of rose Cava was 108€.

En

REVIEW: Food 4+/5, Service 3/5, Overall rating 3,5/5


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